How to Write for a General Audience: A Guide for Academics Who Want to Share Their Knowledge With the World and Have Fun Doing It


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Guide offers tips,
useful advice
(August/September 2008 Issue)

“How to Write for a General Audience:
A Guide for Academics Who Want to Share Their Knowledge With the World and Have Fun Doing It”
By Kathleen A. Kendall-Tackett, Ph.D. American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2007

By James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA

"Writing is an essential part of the academic life, but something we often do badly." So begins this practical writing guide by psychologist Kathleen A. Kendall-Tackett. Her book focuses on academic professionals and how they can expand their writing to popular press periodicals, trade magazines and self-help publications.

Kendall-Tackett reasons appropriately that writing for the lay public requires an approach that differs significantly from the process of publishing in peer-reviewed journals. The book emphasizes prospective authors learning to manage time and techniques so that writing becomes routine and pleasurable.

First, why write for the popular press? One reason is that academic professionals should be motivated to "get the word out" to the largest population of potential readers. Seeking a wider readership also enhances the writer's creativity and pursuit of knowledge. Note too that writing can generate income as well as invited speaking engagements that have additional financial reward.

As someone who has been a writer from the word "go," I enjoyed Kendall-Tackett's many recommendations: establish a writing schedule, write small segments at a time, work from rough drafts, set publication targets and monitor your productivity. In effect, the book offers many suggestions for designing a successful "writing plan."

I also appreciated the book's perspective on integrating writing into our busy schedules. The road to publication is long, so parcel your time strategically, write whenever there is opportunity, prepare a comfortable work environment and incorporate functional "rituals" to get you going. Effective time management, as reviewed in the book, is a key to writing productively.

One of the best chapters in the book explains "The Seven Deadly Sins of Academic Writers." There are many tips here about writing jargon-free manuscripts, eliminating unnecessary words, cutting page length and avoiding passive-voice composition. These and additional pointers will benefit anyone who must put words to paper.

True to its title, the book informs about writing articles for magazines, newsletters and Web sites. In several chapters, Kendall-Tackett gives an insider's look into large-market publishing, with guidance about contracts, collaborating with editors and promotional activities. Her instructions for selecting publication outlets, selling a book idea and self-publishing will assist many novice writers as well as published authors pursuing new ground.

"How to Write for a General Audience" will improve the writing and productivity of any professional in and out of academia. Kudos to Kendall-Tackett for following her own advice because the book is a model of clarity and readability. If you're interested in writing and would like to see your name and work on the newsstand and bookstore shelves, this book will help get you there.

James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA, is senior vice president, applied research, clinical training and peer review at the May Institute in Norwood, Mass.