writing for the public

 

Objectives

Now that you’ve re-thought your expertise, let’s get you writing for your public(s)!

 

TO Do

  • Listen to the “Writing for the Public” podcast (either here on the website or through the Storyboard app) or read the transcript

  • Check out the slideshow, which prompts you to think about claiming, translating, and broadening your expertise for public audiences

  • Pitch to keep their pants on!

    • Draft your your pitch by 2 June

    • Workshop your pitch with your podmates by 4 June

    • Send your pitch to Dr. Kelly Baker by 11 June

    • Kelly will offer feedback on your pitches via email by 25 June

  • Review the additional resources as your schedule and bandwidth allow

 

important dates

(2 June)
Upload your Pitch

(4 June)
workshop pitches w/ pod

(11 June)
pitches to kelly

(25 June)
feedback from Kelly

 
 

Podcast

Ask an expert: Dr. Kelly Baker

Not a podcast person? Read the transcript!

Note: the deadlines we give in this episode are for our previous session, but you probably knew that. The current deadlines are the ones listed on this page and on our calendar.

Read the transcript

Note: The levels are a bit uneven on this one; I find Kelly harder to hear, unfortunately. Feel free to refer to the transcript if you’re having trouble following the conversation.

References: Ms. Frizzle (or as we should say, Dr. Frizzle)

 

Slideshow

password: S@credWr1tes! (same as for this section of the website)

Activity: Pitch to keep their pants on

Pick a publication you'd like to write for and write a pitch for them!

Write

Check out Kelly’s guide to pitching before you start. Liz has also included tips for writing for non-academic audiences and a few sample pitches to get you started. We’ve also included some guides to pitching specific publications below, in case you’d like to write with a specific audience in mind.

Be sure your pitch includes:

  • What your article is about

  • How it fits the publication and would be of interest to their readers

  • Why you?  

  • Why now?

And don’t forget — public scholarship is about building relationships.

You can claim your expertise and still talk to editors like they’re intelligent human beings (because they are).


Share

  • As in real life, this pitching activity has a tight turn-around time. Upload your pitch by 2 June.

  • Workshop your pitch with your pod by 4 June.

  • Email your pitch to Dr. Kelly Baker, subject line: SW pitch + [Working Title Here] for feedback by 11 June.

    • Be sure to include your pitch in the body of the email. Many editors won’t open pitches included as attachments!

  • Kelly will provide feedback on your pitch by 25 June.

As always, feel free to reach out if you have questions! Can’t wait to read your pitches.

 

Additional Resources

If/as you have time, check out these resources before moving on to the next unit. Let us know what you think on twitter (#SmartInPublic)!

Pitching Guides