If you’ve been following my AcWriMo posts, you’ll know I’m passionate about making academic writing more accessible. Today I want to tackle a common myth – that creative writing isn’t “academic enough”. Let’s unpack this a bit.

Why Consider Creative Writing?

Creative writing in academia serves multiple purposes, and I think we often overlook its potential. For you as a researcher, it can be:

  • Part of your regular practice
  • A fresh way to reach new audiences
  • A brilliant way to mix up your writing style
  • A tool to reconnect with your writing when you’re stuck

But it’s more than just a personal tool. As a research method, creative writing opens up some really interesting possibilities:

  • New ways to collect and analyse data
  • A method to engage with groups who might not connect with traditional research approaches
  • An avenue to explore difficult or sensitive topics
  • A bridge to work with excluded communities

If you’re interested in learning more about creative research methods, I highly recommend checking out the International Creative Research Methods conference happening in Manchester in September.

What Makes Writing “Academic” Anyway?

This is where it gets interesting. While traditional academic writing is often associated with formality, complex grammar, and dense referencing (thanks, Doctoral Writing Blog!), academic writing can actually take many forms.

What we’re really looking for is:

  • Critical thinking
  • Context (usually from literature and our findings)
  • Evidence-based discussion

As Julia Molinari points out in her brilliant book “What Makes Writing Academic“, it’s really about how writers engage with their field and create meaningful arguments – these don’t always have to be traditionally structured to be valid.

Impact Matters

Here’s something important – academic writing isn’t just about publishing anymore. We need to think about:

  • Creating actual change (that we can evidence)
  • Reaching audiences beyond our research field
  • Making our work accessible and engaging

This is where creative approaches can really shine, whether through:

  • Blog posts
  • Poetry
  • Comics
  • Other creative formats

Where Can You Publish Creative Academic Work?

There are loads of options out there! Here are some of my favourites:

Consilience

A brilliant journal exploring where science meets art. They’re currently planning:

  • Issue 20 ‘Change’ (submissions close on Sunday 12th January 2025)
  • Issue 21 ‘Chaos’ (submissions close on Sunday 6th April 2025)
  • Issue 22 ‘Waves’ (submissions open close on Sunday 6th July 2025)
  • Issue 23 ‘Tension’ (submissions close on Sunday 5th October 2025)

Sociological Fiction

Love this format! They want:

  • Short stories (up to 3000 words)
  • Plus a short exegesis (500 words)
  • Must be previously unpublished

Other Academic Venues

DIY Options

Don’t forget you can also:

  • Start your own blog
  • Self-publish your work
  • Write for magazines or established blogs
  • Include creative elements in traditional papers

Getting Started

If you’re thinking about trying creative academic writing, here’s what I suggest:

  1. Start where you’re comfortable – maybe a blog post or reflective piece
  2. Think about your audience and what format might work best
  3. Look for journals in your field that welcome creative approaches
  4. Consider how creative methods might enhance your existing research
  5. Check out my post on Story completion

Remember, you don’t have to choose between creative and traditional academic writing – they can work together brilliantly!

Have you tried incorporating creative writing into your academic work? Or are you thinking about it? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!