Full Description
Draws on the rich history of Black feminist writing to help scholars manage the stress of writing and publishing academic books.
Finalist for the 2024 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in the Reference category
Writing scholarly books is stressful, and academic publishing can be intimidating-especially for women, queer folks, and scholars of color. Black Feminist Writing shows scholars how to prioritize their mental health while completing a book in race and gender studies. Drawing on Black women's writing traditions, as well as her own experience as the author and editor of nine university press books, Stephanie Y. Evans gives scholars tools to sustain the important work of academic writing, particularly in fields routinely under attack by anti-democratic forces. Evans identifies five major areas of stress: personal, professional, publishing-related, public, and political. Each chapter includes targeted discussion questions and tasks to help authors identify their unique stressors, create priorities, get organized, and breathe. Whether working on your first scholarly book or your tenth, this robust, heartfelt guide will help you approach writing as an ongoing practice of learning, creating, and teaching in ways that center wellness and collective self-care.
Contents
Abbreviations of Books by the Author
Preface: Time to Think
1. Introduction: Academic Stress
2. Regenerative Writing: Learn, Create, and Teach the Practice of Collective Self-Care
3. Voice: Personal Practice
4. Argument: Professional Practice
5. Editing: Publishing Practice
6. Community: Public Practice
7. Institution: Political Practice
8. Conclusion: Academic Wellness
Coda: Feeling Good
Acknowledgments
Appendix A: List of Reflection Questions
Appendix B: List of Practical Tasks
Appendix C: Playlists
Notes
Select Bibliography
Index
Author Bio
