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I’ve been winning a lot lately and I was thinking about the fact that for three years I sat and saw so many of my peers publish and I was getting rejected all the time. So much so I was convinced I couldn’t do the work. So here’s a thread of things I do to keep me going. (1/?)
1. Surround yourself with people who will cheer you on consistently. All skin folk ain’t kin folk and all friends ain’t really friends. Learn to “See a side eye in your sleep” as Jay says cause academia does a good job of making people feel small.
2. Write however you want to get it down. Some of my sentences start out dumb as hell but after some work the sophistication emerges.
3. Study the art of writing. I spent all last year dedicated to learning how to write each section of an academic paper. And also what is good writing. Then, ask profs, advisors and mentors to give advice and feedback on the one section.
@sarahlouwou Asked the first day of her class asking her students their goals and I told her I’d like to write a dope methods section. Over a semester she coached me along. She helped me understand that I had to identify what I needed to learn and get better at.
4. Find someone outside your program to give you feedback and support. To do this, use conferences to establish authentic relationships with old heads in the game. After I sat in on a session with @frankjperrone in 2018, we kept in touch and he always offers support.
5. Develop a love village. I have mine and it’s small but sometimes I just need to call them and cry and they know this shit is rough. Ty to my near and dear friends.
6. Know your research is valid. I’m still working on this.
Read various types of text. The New Yorker is my favorite to read super dope writing.
That’s all I have for now. Hope this helps and always feel free to reach out.
