ECR

Guess who’s back?

Well, Bonnie Charlie is gone for sure, but you lucky folks get ME! [after yet another unplanned hiatus – sorry] Part of the reason for that hiatus has been The Summer and The Aftermath of The Summer. In short, I went to a really cool conference, reconnected with a group of amazing scholars, and gotContinue reading “Guess who’s back?”

Phew! Paper Published.

Roughly a year ago, I embarked upon the ‘Way of Wendy’ – I used Wendy Belcher’s magic 12-week programme to help me draft and write my very first single-author paper, based on material from my thesis. Now, I’m on the other side of that process: the paper I started in January 2021 has just beenContinue reading “Phew! Paper Published.”

Democratization of knowledge and accessible writing practices

Recently, I shared a draft of my current manuscript with my father. He’d been asking for ages when I’d be done with my revisions, and I just wanted him to see what the peer review process was like. I wasn’t really intending for him to assess it critically, but that is what naturally happened. IContinue reading “Democratization of knowledge and accessible writing practices”

Pleased to make your acquaintance: making and maintaining contacts is vital for momentum

As an introverted person I have always found the ‘networking’ aspects of conferences and symposia* to be draining and sometimes downright traumatic. But recently I have had some reminders of why it is so very important to make yourself do it.

Pipped to the post – and thoroughly glad about it

What is your contribution to knowledge? This question haunted me and probably haunts any academic when contemplating their own research and scholarship. We are all aware that although there is undoubtedly value in scholarship which corroborates previous discoveries or arguments, the real clincher is what’s new and different. What is your unique contribution to theContinue reading “Pipped to the post – and thoroughly glad about it”

New adventures: the ‘way of Wendy’

I am embarking on the ‘Way of Wendy’ (hashtagwayofwendy). …But instead of beginning straight away, I am procrastinating by writing a blog post about my intentions to begin. Such is the way of things. Wendy (Imma call her Wendy) has a term for this: writing dysfunction. It’s like erectile dysfunction except it’s unlimited by gender/sexContinue reading “New adventures: the ‘way of Wendy’”

Short- and fixed-term contracts: a rant about research culture

I recently heard an established academic say that they didn’t really see there was any issue with short- and fixed-term contracts, as staff in their organisation were generally redeployed. Obviously, I have some T H O U G H T S on this. Redeployment does not address the real problems experienced by those on STCs/FTCs.Continue reading “Short- and fixed-term contracts: a rant about research culture”

I’m ‘waiting for Godot.’ Are you?

Samuel Beckett’s famous play has been… playing on my mind Ages and ages ago,* I submitted a fellowship application. It was by far the most complex application I have ever made, and the total number of pages surpassed 30. “Gosh!” I hear you exclaim. “This must have been for a major fellowship scheme. Three years,Continue reading “I’m ‘waiting for Godot.’ Are you?”