Chapter 1 Cheaper Than Therapy
The Unexpected Benefits and Challenges of an Academic Writing Partnership
In: Critical Collaborative CommunitiesPurchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Abstract
Academic writing can be a daunting, lonely process. To alleviate what we perceived as the unpleasant aspects of writing and to meet our writing goals, we formed a two-person writing group. Using a self-study action research approach, we reflect on our experiences within our writing partnership according to Pick-n-Mix typology of writing group dimensions. While our initial goals for increased productivity were not met, we benefitted from our partnership in unanticipated ways. Our results point to the importance of social support and goal alignment for writing group success. This chapter contributes to the body of knowledge documenting the importance of social support in overcoming the challenges of academic writing. We also offer suggestions for academics wishing to develop their own social support systems for academic writing.