Can writing help bring to the fore what is at stake in the climate crisis? If so, what kind of writing is best suited for the task? Many academics have important things to say in this space but are unsure how best to go about it. In the face of the intensifying climate chaos and the grief and confusion they engender, many feel that traditional forms of academic writing are not sufficient to articulate the urgency of the situation. Moreover, much research is difficult to package and communicate to a larger audience. But convincing the larger segments of society that immediate action is necessary is key to making any progress towards a more sustainable future.
The goals of this workshop are to support, encourage and provide resources and skills for people to write in genres and modalities beyond the standard academic article or monograph. These might include blogs, op-eds, longer-form non-fiction pieces for generalist audiences, short stories, creative non-fiction, and fiction.
Dr. James Bradley, Professor Danielle Celermajer and Professor Julia Kindt will reflect on their own and others’ writing practices across these genres to provide resources for participants. The focus of the workshop will be on the practice of writing in different genres. Participants will be taken through a number of short exercises and have the opportunity to reflect together on writing in progress, challenges they are facing, and their planning. If participants are interested, the writing produced during the workshop may form the basis of a publication.
Please note this is a closed workshop for USYD academic staff only. For inquiries, please email sei.events@sydney.edu.au.
Facilitators
Dr James Bradley, Author and Critic
Professor Danielle Celermajer, Department of Sociology and Social Policy
Professor Julia Kindt, Department of Classics and Ancient History
