Write for impact:  Techniques to get writing done, done well, and published — ASN Events
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  2. Half Day Afternoon Workshop - Write for impact: Techniques to get writing done, done well, and published
  3. Write for impact:  Techniques to get writing done, done well, and published

Write for impact:  Techniques to get writing done, done well, and published (#310)

Kathryn H Britton 1 , Lisa Sansom 2
  1. Theano Coaching LLC, Chapel Hill, NORTH CAROLINA, United States
  2. LVS Consulting, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Albert Bandura has said that psychologists are terrible at social diffusion of what they learn.  How can we get better?  One way is by writing books and articles that engage readers and move them to try new ways to think, feel, and act.

Many people want to have written, but the writing itself is hard.  This workshop will help people move from the fear of writing to getting the work done.  Participants will learn ways to write often enough to be productive (Gray), write for intended audiences without getting stalled by perfectionism, and publish content that people are eager to read. 

The workshop will invite participants to build a personal writing practice by experimenting (Britton). There is no single way to write, but many techniques can help people be productive, reach target audiences, and even enjoy writing.  Participants will experience some of these techniques, such as using the WOOP framework (Oettingen) and tying context to reward (Wood) to build a writing habit, intentionally cultivating inspiration (Holzer, et al), separating drafting from editing, telling stories that motivate behavior change (Bandura, Smith, Dittman), getting and giving feedback in strengths-based workshops (Britton, Gabriel), and exploring pathways to publication. 

As a result, participants will enhance their ability to have an impact on a community that is much larger than the set of people they interact with directly.  This can help us address our collective deficits in social diffusion by spreading the word in ways tailored to fit the needs of people of different ages, cultures, and education levels.

In the words of Adam Grant, “The most undervalued skill of our time is the ability to write.”    As we keep up with the new discoveries in our field, let’s also build the ability to convey them to the people whose lives can benefit.  

  1. Albert Bandura made the comment about social diffusion in a presentation at the Gallup Well-being Conference in 2006 when he presented his work on serial dramas.
  2. Britton, K. H. (2014). Think of it as an experiment. Positive Psychology News.
  3. Gray, T. (2020). Writing your thesis quickly and well. Chapter 45 in How to keep your doctorate on track: Insights from students’ and supervisors’ experiences. Cheltenham, U. K.: Edward Elgar. 2020.
  4. Oettingen, G. (2015). Rethinking positive thinking: Inside the new science of motivation. Current, 2015.
  5. Wood, W. (2021). Good habits, bad habits: The science of making positive changes that stick. Macmillan.
  6. Holzer, A., Spataro, S., & Grace Baron, J. (2019). Dare to inspire: Sustain the fire of inspiration in work and love. Da Capo Life Long Books.
  7. Bandura, A. (2017). The Power of Soap Operas. Interview. Cinema of Change. https://youtu.be/i2uw76XQVU4
  8. Smith, D. (2002). The theory heard ‘round the world. American Psychological Association Feature.
  9. Dittman, M. (2004). Changing behavior through TV heros. American Psychological Association Feature.
  10. Britton, K. H. (2022). Sit Write Share: Practical writing strategies to transform your experience into content that matters. Theano Press.
  11. Gabriel, R. (2002). Writers’ Workshops & The Art of Making Things. Addison Wesley.
  12. Grant, A. (2022, October 20). Post about writing as an undervalued skill. Instagram.
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