Writers Without Borders: Workshops

Writers Without Borders (WWB) runs writing workshops in the developing world in order to help those working in public health write about about their work for an academic publication or for the general reader.

People taking WWB workshops have included undergraduates, graduate students, public health workers, Ministry of Health officials, physicians, nurses, school of public health faculty and administrators, and NGO employees.

More than 25 pieces of writing generated in these workshops have been published in a variety of forms: articles in academic and professional journals, newspaper articles, reports, fliers, pamphlets, informational publications, editorials and personal stories.

The workshops typically focus on academic publication or general-readership publication.

Academic Publication

Typical WWB academic-publication workshops will address how to overcome the common pitfalls in peer-reviewed medical and health sciences publishing. Particular areas to address:

-Starting from the basics: why publish?
-Choosing publishable topics
-When to write a chapter, when to write a paper
-What are the various types of papers?
-What type of paper does your work fit into?
-Types of peer-reviewed publications
-Choosing one’s audience
-Creating a process for writing the paper
-Developing a process for responding to peer review
-Disseminating the results
-Open Access publishing: opportunities and barriers for developing country professionals

These classes will ideally be run as an interactive forum of 10-15 participants. Each participant will bring their ideas in any stage of development, from idea to manuscript. Peer feedback will comprise a significant value from this workshop.

General Reader

A typical WWB series of general-reader workshops will address the following topics. These can be expanded or contracted to fit available time, and special issues or subjects can easily be accommodated. Maximum number of participants would ideally be 20-25, though a more lecture-driven format could be used for larger audiences.

What is a story?
Differences between academic/professional and popular writing
The incident that embodies the issue(s)
The role of narrative, description and character
The role of the I
Sources of information
Degree of explanation
Analysis, reflection and the role of the expert

What is reporting?
What do I need to know?
Where do I go?
Whom do I ask?
Foreground, midground and background.
The role of discomfort
Using the phone, email and the internet
Cultivating and protecting sources

What and how do I write?
Differences between academic/professional and popular writing
Opening
The nut graph
What questions will you be answering?
Narrative, description and character
The argument
Paragraphs and sections
Quotation
Citing sources
Wrapping up

How do I get my writing published?
Developing relationships with editors
Submissions
The role of WWB in helping you get your work published