Thread by @bcqer

I wrote about how I came to write for the public for @Post_45.

post45.research.yale.edu/2019/07/why-wr…

@Post_45 It’s probably the most personal thing I’ve ever written. But my experience isn’t unique.

If you’re an academic who is at all curious about writing for websites and magazines, please read it and be in touch.

@Post_45 As anyone who does this kind of work knows all too well, it’s important to have supportive friends and colleagues. They are my most important public.

But it’s also important to admire from afar. To look up to academics who are great writers. To read and share their work.

@Post_45 And so I want to thank all those great writers who, whether they know it or not, supported my journey through the wilderness of writing for the public through their excellent prose.

@Post_45 As I mention in the essay, they include people in other disciplines. Political scientists: @katforrester, @alybatt, @CoreyRobin. Historians: Thomas Meaney, @rachelbnolan, @Tim_Shenk, @samuelmoyn, @davidimarcus. And other scholars: @amiasrinivasan, @jack_hamilton, @SarahEBond.

@Post_45 @katforrester @alybatt @CoreyRobin @rachelbnolan @Tim_Shenk @samuelmoyn @davidimarcus @amiasrinivasan @jack_hamilton @SarahEBond But they also include people from my own discipline: @magsrdoherty, Tobi Haslett, @mervatim, @QifaNabki, @evankindley.

@Post_45 @katforrester @alybatt @CoreyRobin @rachelbnolan @Tim_Shenk @samuelmoyn @davidimarcus @amiasrinivasan @jack_hamilton @SarahEBond @magsrdoherty @mervatim @QifaNabki @evankindley I found my disciplinary colleagues late, but I nevertheless found them. I encourage everyone to do the same: look inside and outside of your discipline for writing that speaks to you in some way.

@Post_45 @katforrester @alybatt @CoreyRobin @rachelbnolan @Tim_Shenk @samuelmoyn @davidimarcus @amiasrinivasan @jack_hamilton @SarahEBond @magsrdoherty @mervatim @QifaNabki @evankindley But most importantly — beyond the writers I admired, beyond the kind of writing I looked to emulate — I got help along the way. And lots of it.

I can’t stress this enough.

@Post_45 @katforrester @alybatt @CoreyRobin @rachelbnolan @Tim_Shenk @samuelmoyn @davidimarcus @amiasrinivasan @jack_hamilton @SarahEBond @magsrdoherty @mervatim @QifaNabki @evankindley In my case, three colleagues helped me at crucial moments along the way.

Bruno Bosteels, my advisor, inspired me to think about it.

George Ciccariello-Maher introduced me to it.

And @sebasfaber encouraged me to find value in it.

@Post_45 @katforrester @alybatt @CoreyRobin @rachelbnolan @Tim_Shenk @samuelmoyn @davidimarcus @amiasrinivasan @jack_hamilton @SarahEBond @magsrdoherty @mervatim @QifaNabki @evankindley @sebasfaber Though this essay is mostly about writing, I have learned a great deal about writing from editing. And so there’s a second chapter to be written.

Many thanks to @MarcusSharon, @caitlinzaloom, and everyone at @PublicBooks, as well as Brad Holden and the folks at @MarginaliaROB.

@Post_45 @katforrester @alybatt @CoreyRobin @rachelbnolan @Tim_Shenk @samuelmoyn @davidimarcus @amiasrinivasan @jack_hamilton @SarahEBond @magsrdoherty @mervatim @QifaNabki @evankindley @sebasfaber @MarcusSharon @caitlinzaloom @PublicBooks @MarginaliaROB I should also mention that, though there were very few of them when I started, I was inspired by many of the people already writing about Spain for an American audience. Namely @JonathanBlitzer, @dankaufman70, Eli Evans, @MaxHolleran, @amshulman, and @jonleeanderson. Thank you!

@Post_45 @katforrester @alybatt @CoreyRobin @rachelbnolan @Tim_Shenk @samuelmoyn @davidimarcus @amiasrinivasan @jack_hamilton @SarahEBond @magsrdoherty @mervatim @QifaNabki @evankindley @sebasfaber @MarcusSharon @caitlinzaloom @PublicBooks @MarginaliaROB @JonathanBlitzer @dankaufman70 @MaxHolleran @amshulman @jonleeanderson And thanks, of course, to all the editors who endured my many rocky attempts to write coherent and intelligible prose. Namely Roane Carey, @micahuetricht, @quraishi, @silviakillings, @colinreads, Stephen Twilley, @cyborgianheart, @thelisateasley, @annashechtman, and @shawngude.