Creative Writing for Academics: methodologies, motivations and impacts

Speaker(s):

Gayle Letherby, Visiting Professor, Plymouth, Greenwich, Bath (Centre for Death and Society (CDAS))

Abstract:

The focus of the workshop will be to explore – through creative writing – different ways to tell our substantive and methodological research stories. This will include reflection on various materials including research diaries and data, pedagogic reflections, emotional, practical, theoretical and P/political concerns. This way of working, of writing, of academic storytelling, explicitly blurs the boundaries of ‘fact’ and ‘fiction’, which is arguably true of all narratives, whether made explicit or not (e.g. Letherby 2022). In addition to challenging traditional understandings of ‘good’, ‘valid’ and ‘tidy’ research it also has implications for the ways in which we define, and attempt to enact, engagement and impact, within, besides and beyond the academy. In addition to writing some short pieces of prose/poetry/song lyrics we will also engage in some creative editing.

 

Letherby, G. (2022) ‘Thirty Years and Counting: an-other auto/biographical story’ Auto/Biography Review 3(1) View of Thirty Years and Counting (autobiographyreview.com)