Write Your Academic Journal Article in 12 Weeks - 2nd Edition: A Step-by-Step Guide

Jeremy Garber: I haven’t wanted to write, let alone publish, any of my academic writing for years. Wendy Belcher’s workbook makes me want to change that. Based on her years of experience helping both students and professionals write academically, Belcher provides a detailed and comprehensive plan for turning that random essay into an article that will actually get published. Literally a workbook, Belcher provides helpful exercises and daily assignments that move you toward completion.

I originally picked up this book as a guide for other students in my writing program, and intend to use some of Belcher’s exercises in class as well. She includes helpful assessments like determining how you know you have an argument and good supporting evidence; ingredients of a good abstract; how to keep up to date in your field (including a journal-reading club, fun!); and how to give and receive thoughtful feedback about your work. I intend to assign and use this book regularly, both to teach students how to write and publish, and to get some of it done myself.

United States on Dec 12, 2022

GG: Bought the new edition even though I already had the first. Well worth it!

Italy on Jul 20, 2021

Susana de Oliveira Santana: De um jeito leve e estruturado, a autora vai orientando o passo a passo para construir uma boa argumentação e tornar seu texto publicável. A escrita é dividada em etapas menores e tangíveis para concluir a escrita do texto completo de forma mais efetiva. Também promove a construção do hábito de escrever. Estou adorando a experiência de usar esse livro. Gratidão à autora!

Brazil on Mar 04, 2021

Michael W Moore: If you like to transform writing from sitting staring at a page into specific, closed-ended tasks, you will love this approach.
There is detailed advice - more than you expect - for taking a structured approach to revising (or writing) an argumentative journal article. It is a thorough workbook that offers a day-by-day process.
It fits any discipline.
It does focus on making a strong case about something. This can fit many different types of articles, but all the advice and exercises do revolve around making a strong argument towards a conclusion, so it is important to consider that your article is heading that direction to fit this book.

United States on Jan 22, 2021

Ashutosh Kaushik: Pity I discovered after buying that you cannot read it on my kindle. It can only be read on laptop or iPad.

India on Jan 01, 2021

JP: Excellent book! Very easy to understand, breaks down the steps of producing your article in a clear and succinct way!

United Kingdom on Aug 22, 2020

Anne Claydon: I have published about 20 peer reviewed articles before buying this book, so not ‘new’ but so many people rave about this book in the writing groups I belong to and wanted to check it out. For a ‘newbie’ I think this would be such a great guide. I have been using it to help with with parts of my writing process when I feel ‘stuck’, but haven’t systematically gone through the timeline as I am working to publish data from my thesis and I find my process is a little different. I’m looking forward to using the step by step approach in my upcoming research project. I’m in education/social science and find there is a good mix of discipline and methods specific advice.

Canada on May 27, 2020

Jam: I stumbled upon Dr. Belchers work because I recently graduated with my doctorate degree. As a doctor, researcher, and scholar... I feel it is very important to not only celebrate (yay!!!) the fact that I made it through such a rigorous process, but to in fact, add to my field. This is done by publishing peer reviewed journal articles. It is also, important to help strengthen a CV. Ok so, I got together a group of newly mented doctors, and we all needed direction. as well as guidance. I stepped out and purchased Dr. Belchers book. I am so pleased. My group have all purchased too. So, not only is it chocked full of very explicit instructions...it is clearly written and designed in a way that a student's mind can articulate. It is devised with weekly time tables/frames and helpful Appendices as well. This resource is very well coordinated to help take one from A to Z.

United States on Oct 16, 2019

GwenHarleth: Some second editions have new prefaces and a new chapter or two. But this new edition has so much new material that it really is an entirely new book--with all the virtues of the first edition. The first edition had about 320 pages, excluding notes, bibliography and index. This new one has 400 pages, excluding end materials, and the print is smaller, so it's really more than 100 more pages worth of new material. The changes come out of Belcher's experience of countless people who have used the original workbook. I love how she separates out some field specific advice--for humanists, for social scientists and for scientists (she's added material for scientists, who were not part of the first book). She's rearranged, reorganized and changed the topics for the twelve weeks in ways that look like they'll work even better. This is an even better resource than the first edition, and worth every penny of its hefty price.

United States on Jul 09, 2019

Anon: In my role as Reader and Chair of an International Jury to award Scholarly Articles, I have seen a great need for both editions of Dr. Belcher's book over the years. Her writing is masterful in both and this second edition isn't a retelling of the first. One of the beauties of her workbook is a timeline of 'tasks' that not only encourages rigor (e.g., claims for significance and analyzing evidence) but does so with a tone of humanity, humor and ease of telling stories all writers will recognize! For example, a story from one of her students (paraphrasing), "I was writing and then somehow I found myself sweeping the kitchen floor!" [I am still laughing as I write this review!] Another example is the story of a seasoned writer who literally takes off his belt and ties himself to the desk chair! Oh my goodness ... while I love writing and teaching, I consider both endeavors "giving blood," but these two stories are priceless! A terrific book for all scholarly writers as well as undergraduate students to Masters and Doctoral students. Highly recommend.

United States on Jul 05, 2019