What is AcWriMo?
AcWriMo is a month-long academic virtual write-a-thon. And it happens every November. It is inspired by the amazing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) but caters to the specific needs of academic writers at all stages of their career (from undergrads to the most distinguished of professors).
It was started in 2011 by Charlotte Frost (founder of PhD2Published) and was originally called AcBoWriMo (Academic Book Writing Month). Charlotte established a set of 6 ‘relatively relaxed’ rules and used this website, our Facebook Page and Twitter (plus the hashtag #AcBoWriMo) to co-ordinate (and cheer on) participants.
When the month was over, those involved agreed upon the #AcWri hashtag to continue a channel for focused discussion on academic writing. And following this, PhD2Published managing editor Anna Tarrant was part of the founding team for the regular AcWri live chats.
In 2012 we dropped the ‘Bo’ to make the project more inclusive (and so tweets would show up in the regular #acwri Twitter stream) and we slightly refined the six rules of AcWriMo (#AcWriMo on Twitter).
Though we suggest you set ‘some crazy goals’, rather than promote quantity over quality AcWriMo is about promoting process over product. The initiative is designed to help academics:
1) Think about how we write,
2) Form a valuable support network for our writing practice,
3) Build better habits for the future,
4) And maybe – just maybe – get more done in less time!
During the month of AcWriMo we feature dedicated blog posts here at PhD2Published that support writerly discovery. And we share this content along with literally hundreds of other tips, resources and words of guidance and support through Facebook and Twitter (although Twitter is where most of the action happens).
Ultimately though, AcWriMo is a community project, we throw the party you make it fun and worthwhile!
AcWriMo 2012, the links:
Original Announcement for AcWriMo 2012 by Charlotte Frost
Guardian article about AcWriMo by Anna Tarrant
Twitter stream (#AcWriMo) – where most of the chat happens (or if you’re new to Twitter you might prefer watching this TweetChat room version of discussions.
AcWriMo 2012 Twitter List – a list of the first wave of Twitter users signed up to AcWriMo 2012
AcWriMo 2012 (2) Twitter List – a list of the second wave of Twitter users signed up to AcWriMo 2012
What you’ve been saying about AcWriMo – a Scoop-It of articles and blog posts on AcWriMo 2012
AcWriMo 2011 (when it was called AcBoWriMo), the links:
Original Announcement for AcBoWriMo by Charlotte Frost
The original rules for AcBoWriMo
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee news report on AcBoWriMo
