In academia, everyone has heard the adage, "Publish or perish." But how does one go about publication? The process is opaque, especially for graduate students, and departments do not always instruct emerging scholars in how publication works. This course will provide practical tips and insights into publishing research in the humanities and interpretive social sciences. We will consider the role of conferences and networking, the question of co-authorship, varieties of academic journals and genres of scholarship, the peer review process, and the academic book proposal, among other topics. We will also consider some of the challenges facing editors and publishers and how aspiring scholars can adjust to these challenges. Students will gain an understanding of the academic publishing industry and of the various ways they can publish their research. Students will also workshop a genre of academic writing--a book proposal, for example, or a review essay--and receive feedback on their work (Note: The expectation is not that students will complete such a piece of writing in only one week; instead, we will initiate the writing process with the aim of producing a short draft or outline). The course will feature guest lectures from editors and scholars who will describe their experience of publication and offer proven strategies for publishing humanistic research. Readings will include Wendy Belcher's Writing Your Academic Article in 12 Weeks: A Guide to Academic Publishing Success and Susan Rabiner's Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction--and Get It Published.

Course Schedule

Monday, Sept. 8 – Friday, Sept. 12, 9 AM – 3 PM

• Full attendance is expected.
• Additional 10 hours of work is expected after class.