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According to Robert Boice, a highly respected authority on academic writing, nearly 85 percent of all publications are written by only 15 percent of the academic population. If you are not part of this 15 percent equation, then you can benefit from reading Finding Your Own Voice in Academic Publishing: Writing Your Way to Success. This succinct text offers a practical approach to helping those new to academia get published. Co-authored by two successful writers, Finding Your Own Voice in Academic Publishing offers a no-frills guide to establishing yourself as a writer. Each chapter is laid out in easy to read terms and offers practical, step-by-step advice in navigating the nebulous world of publishing. A unique dual-approach is used in this book. While both authors are very successful in their respective fields, their methods for writing and publishing are the result of two diverse approaches, which they share with the reader. Thus, the authors use their divergent styles to guide readers in finding their distinctive voices, and their advice appeals to a wide variety of those struggling with the overwhelming task of getting published. Both authors offer personal anecdotes, and describe their different work habits, philosophies, and strategies in their writing process. This dual approach also serves as an excellent example of why those new to academia should strive to collaborate with others outside their academic discipline. Other beneficial strategies include a plethora of relevant guidelines ranging from how to begin the writing process to learning to deal with rejection. Especially advantageous are the chapters concerning choosing a focus for writing, finding the right journal for publication, and discovering the most efficient way for each writer to produce material consistently. The authors present many valid ideas for selecting a topic, such as first trying out ideas in the classroom, finding inspiration from personal interests, and suggestions about attempting to publish a doctoral thesis. The authors also offer sound reasons for why beginning professors should strive to have their work published; there are many rewards besides gaining tenure, such as improving writing skills, spending time with a topic that is important to you, and guiding one to other possibilities like networking, presenting at conferences, leading workshops, and collaborating with others within one’s field and beyond. However, the text is not without fault. The prose is often simplistic, and this reviewer found spelling and typing errors sprinkled throughout the text. Occasionally, having two voices within one text leads to some confusion in terms of writing styles. But if you are new to academia and are intimidated by the overwhelming task of having your research published, then this book does have merit. Even after having published several works, I found pertinent ideas, motivation, and inspiration for new avenues for having my writing published. Despite the few flaws, this reviewer enjoyed reading Finding Your Own Voice in Academic Publishing: Writing Your Way to Success, and would recommend it to anyone who has a desire to have their work published but is unsure of how to begin this exciting yet daunting task. ----------------------------
Dr. Michelle Latour, soprano, is currently a Visiting Lecturer in Music, Voice, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is active as a singer, teacher, and writer. She has performed throughout Europe and the U.S., singing operatic and musical theatre roles as well as appearing as a soloist with local and regional symphonies. An avid recitalist, Michelle has presented numerous recitals throughout California, Nevada, New York and the Midwest. In 2006, she presented a recital for soprano and piano trio at Steinway Concert Hall in New York City. She has also premiered works by Peter Terry and Igor Korneitchouk, and most recently, presented the world premiere of On the Green Trail, a song cycle composed by Lori Laitman for Dr. Latour. She has taught voice at the University of Southern California, San Diego State University, the University of San Diego, and prior to joining the faculty at UNLV, was an Associate Professor at Bluffton University. Dr. Latour has also presented numerous lecture-recitals at international and national conferences on the Lieder of Viktor Ullmann, has given workshops and master classes, frequently serves as an adjudicator, and has published four concert reviews of the Lima Symphony Orchestra in The Lima News. Her most recently published article, entitled “Summer Training Programs for the Teacher-Artist,” can be found in the January 2009 Classical Singer. Dr. Latour received her DMA from the University of Southern California, her MM from Boston University and her BA from CSU Fresno.
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Reviewed by Dr. Michelle Latour
