Researching academic writing within a structured programme: insights and outcomes

In spite of the contemporary emphasis on publishing to enhance individual a nd institutional profiles, there is little in the British literature on the nature and process of academic writing. Nor is there sufficient research o r support for academics aiming to improve quality and productivity in writi ng. The Writing for Publication (WfP) programme described in this article a ims to enable academic writers to improve their public output. Evaluation o f the programme provides evidence of success in terms of 'hard' outcomes, s uch as journal publications and conference presentations, and 'soft' outcom es such as increased confidence and motivation, improved strategies for pro ductive writing and increased self-knowledge through reflection. There is a lso an observed impact on local research cultures. Monitoring of individual s throughout the programme provided data on academic writing processes. Thi s research suggests that a structured programme in writing development can enable academics to improve their written output and writing process.