Write a Book More People Read with Darla Schumm
Darla’s expertise lies at intersection of religious studies and disability studies. Here she shares how she turned an academic book into a crossover book and how she fits writing into a packed admin workweek.
DARLA SCHUMM
Associate Provost for Curriculum and Faculty Engagement, Hollins University
Specialist in disability studies and religious studies
Policy ideas: “Why Higher Ed Needs Leaders With Disabilities” and “It’s Time for ‘Crip’ Time”
Author of Healing Ableism: Stories About Disability and Religious Life
S&W support: Transform and Public Scholars with Anne; Pitch with Daniela
Q&A
Healing Ableism started out as a traditional academic monograph and then became a general interest book. How did that change happen?
After I wrote very rough drafts of three chapters, I realized I did not like where the book was headed. I sat down and started writing a new chapter in a totally different voice and with a different audience in mind. It was far less academic-sounding, and I tried to write in a way that non-experts in my field or a general audience could appreciate. When I sent these four chapters to a developmental editor, she said, “You need to decide what kind of book you want to write: the general audience book of chapter one, or the academic book of the other three chapters.” As soon as she asked the question, my answer was clear.
What did you have to do differently to write a book aimed at a larger audience?
The most helpful advice I received was to write for an intelligent but uninformed audience. Where I had concepts like “hegemony of normalcy,” I defined the phrase or word in non-academic, non-jargony language. I assumed my readers had not previously encountered certain concepts but that they were perfectly capable of understanding them if I explained them well.
How do you make time to write while being an associate provost?
I follow a strict writing routine and block out time on my calendar. That last part is critical: I must have writing time on my calendar because if I don’t, it fills up with meetings and I never write. For me, the best time to write is first thing in the morning before I open my email. I block out 8:00 to 10:00am and I write or work out during that time. Both are essential to my sanity!
Bonus: What do you wish we had asked or what other advice do you have for writers who want to do what you have done?
When I rewrote the first chapter for a general audience, I started by telling a story instead of reporting on my research. It’s a seemingly simple shift but it revolutionized how I approached writing from that point on. I tell many stories in the book. I tell my story. I tell interviewees’ stories. But I also tell stories about concepts and theories. I try to tell all these stories using language that anyone can understand. I was surprised and delighted to discover that not only did this make the book more accessible and interesting, but it also made writing a lot more fun!
HEALING ABLEISM
“The book is a powerful call to religious practitioners — and all of us — to rage against ableism in our communities, transforming them together through love." - Naomi Lawson Jacobs, co-author of At the Gates: Disability, Justice and the Churches
Buy at Rutgers UP
Buy at Amazon
Buy the audiobook at Audible
WOULD YOU LIKE TO WRITE A BOOK MORE PEOPLE READ?
We’ve helped many successful academics think bigger and reach larger audiences. Book a consultation with Anne to talk about how Engage or any of our other public scholar support services can help you raise your profile and make a more significant impact with your research. Or with Daniela to develop your book idea and get the proposal to an agent or editor.
