• How to

    Sessional Academic Challenges—Part 1

    ‘What are we going to do with you?’ said my supervisor, tapping at the table with his pen. ‘There’s no job for you here.’ I stared at my hands. I knew there was no job, nor the likelihood of a future job. In fact, I didn’t know if I even…

  • Writing

    Send Your Words Out into the World

    Seeking feedback on your writing is scary. It requires the ability to be vulnerable with something that is often very close to your heart. It can feel like you are putting yourself on the page and emailing it for people to judge. But feedback, when given effectively, can drive us…

  • Editor

    Scholarship to Become a Professional Editor

    Capstone Editing is excited to announce the launch of a new scholarship to help people in need to train to become professional editors. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many people are changing careers or seeking flexible work they can perform from home. We have noticed a sharp increase in the…

  • Writing

    Misuse of Idioms in Academic Writing

    I won’t beat around the bush; idioms shouldn’t be used in academic writing. I don’t mean to big note myself, but this article will explain why idioms are inappropriate in formal contexts. If you’re sitting on the fence about it, let me tell you that academics wouldn’t be caught dead peppering their writing with idiomatic expressions (like…

  • How to

    Kids and Conferences

    Carers returning from maternity leave or other career breaks often need to rebuild their networks, refresh their knowledge and reinvigorate their enthusiasm for their career. Conference attendance is a vital part of a professional career. But caring responsibilities can make it difficult or, at the least, financially very expensive to…

  • How to

    How to Write a Thesis

    Read, read, read. Find a subject that interests you and work with your supervisor to find a specific and under-researched topic. Writing a thesis is a gradual procedure. You chip away at a thesis, adding content as you plan, research, gather data and analyse results. Thesis structures differ, but generally…

  • How to

    How to Write a More Sophisticated Introduction

    In a recent article, ‘How to Write a Great Introduction: The Basics’, I provided a quick and simple outline of the two main things that an introduction must do in order to be considered a true introduction to an essay. In this article, I’d like to take you a step…

  • How to

    Outsourcing for Academics: Is it Worth it?

    ‘It’s 8.15 pm. I’m in bed, exhausted, with pain in all my joints and my ribs. I haven’t been this tired since 26 hours of active labour four years ago. In the last 48 hours, I’ve submitted a grant and a paper, reviewed three manuscripts, and travelled interstate for a…