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Katherine Carroll

@katherinecarroll.bsky.social

72 followers 65 following 110 posts

Developmental Editor: I help academic authors from book proposal to final submission (theeditorialally.com). Art & Architectural Historian/Author: "Building Schools, Making Doctors: Architecture and the Modern American Physician" (UPittPres). She/Her/Dr

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Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · Jan 31

As a developmental editor for academics, I help authors feel confident about the work they submit, from the book proposal to the final manuscript. I support authors working in art & architectural history; history of medicine; science & technology studies; & other history fields. theeditorialally.com

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 22h

Revisions can be overwhelming, and I often encourage authors to rank revisions from "critical" to "if-there-is-time."

I also tell authors to write down three parts of the manuscript that make them proud because every manuscript has fantastic parts, too.

#AcademicSky #amediting #academia #writing

Tree trunk with autumn leaves on the ground around it.

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Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 2d

3. You don't need to name every source, esp if they only appear once. If the reader sees a name, they think they may need to remember it. But if you describe the person instead ("One audience member"), you've explained the source without distracting the reader unnecessarily from the argument. (3/3)

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 2d

2. When you quote, be sure to introduce the source of the quotation in the text. For instance, "Historian I. M. Awesome explains..." or "One audience member described ..." You want the reader to recognize the source without checking the footnotes, which many people won't do. (2/x)

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 2d

🧵Tuesday's Tip: Quotations
1. Don't overuse quotations. Paraphrase unless the *language* of the quote is significant to your argument. Paraphrasing keeps the narrative in *your* voice, and quoting conservatively ensures that the text doesn't start to feel like a potpourri of writing styles. (1/x)

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 7d

2. Does the topic sentence (argument) for the paragraph fit logically between the ideas presented in the paragraphs before & after the one you are editing?

This technique is almost sure to help you find structural gaps & places where the argument needs tightening. You can do it! (2/2) #AcademicSky

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 7d

🧵Stuck on revisions? Here's an idea to clarify the argument.

Find the most troublesome section, and go paragraph by paragraph underlining the topic sentence (TS). Then ask:

1. Does the TS express the paragraph's argument (i.e. does the TS relate to the evidence you present in the paragraph)? (1/2)

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Reposted by Katherine Carroll

Ryan Marino, MD @ryanmarino.bsky.social · 8d

ER doc here! This is a lie. Wait times are up because the American healthcare system is an unsustainable business model and a for-profit national healthcare system just doesn’t work. These problems will continue to get worse until we change that system. It literally has nothing to do with immigrants

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 8d

Vance: "If you're an American citizen & you've been to the hospital in the last few years, you've probably noticed wait times are especially large & very often somebody who's there in the ER is an illegal alien. Why do those people get healthcare benefits at hospitals paid for by American citizens?"

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Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 9d

Crafting titles is hard for a lot of authors, but understanding one of the standard title formats in academic writing can make the process more manageable.

In today's TEA Delivered, I demystify the Concept: Topic format.

#AcademicSky #amediting #writing #academia
open.substack.com/pub/theedito...

A Formula for Titles

Welcome to TEA Delivered, the newsletter of The Editorial Ally (TEA)!

open.substack.com

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Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 13d

#acadmicsky #amediting #writing #community #academia #academicwriting

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 13d

I sent a similar email this week. Writing books is hard, working in academia is hard, let's celebrate each other.

Nathan K. Hensley @nathankhensley.bsky.social · 14d

I started doing this thing where when I read a book I admire I try to find the author’s email & send a quick message saying I appreciated it. No big deal, not trying to be weird, but like: thank you for helping me think something new. It’s hard writing books. It matters when people read them.

Juan Meneses | Postpolitics and the Aesthetic Imagination @dissentum.bsky.social · 14d

Did you see your friend's book at the store? Email them a pic! See them cited? Email them (esp. as aggregators fail to catch many citations)! Did a scholar mention their work! Email them! Did a student use their work in a paper? Email! Did a professor teach their work? Email! Email! All the time!!!

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Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 15d

Hey writers and editors--
Let's collectively acknowledge that revising a MS happens in rounds. It's not a one-and-done proposition. No one moves from rough draft to polished manuscript in a single pass. We all know this, so why do we say "I'm going to revise my MS" like it's a one-step process?

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 21d

Revision is a process because it is, by definition, iterative. Manuscripts don't go from "rough" to "polished" in one round of revision.

Don't beat yourself up if your manuscript is on draft 3 or 5 or 8. You are doing the hard work required to make the manuscript strong.

#AcademiaSky #amediting

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Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 23d

Booking an edit with me for late in the semester helps authors because

1) a deadline with me keeps them writing when their schedules get full, and
2) they get to pass off the project to me & focus on other tasks for a bit *while* the MS is still moving forward.

Book now for Nov/Dec!
#academicsky

Person walking down a rural road with arms on their head.

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 28d

In today’s TEA Delivered, I discuss the difference between a subject-area expert (someone who helps you think through the impact a project may have on the field) and a developmental editor (someone who helps you express your ideas as clearly as possible).

open.substack.com/pub/theedito...

I Don't Know if the Project is "Good"

Welcome to TEA Delivered, the newsletter of The Editorial Ally (TEA)!

open.substack.com

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · Sep 9

Academic authors--
If everything feels hard right now, you aren't alone. Maybe this week we just all do the best we can and commit to staying in community?
I'm here if anyone wants to reach out.

Reposted by Katherine Carroll

Dr Anna Jamieson @annafranjam.bsky.social · Sep 9

Delighted to share our Call for Papers for the workshop *Object Stories in Health and Medicine 1700-1900*. Taking place online on 5 December. Pls share and consider submitting an object story! @rebeccawhiteley.bsky.social @unibirmingham.bsky.social

www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/objec...

Object Stories in Health and Medicine, 1700-1900 - University of Birmingham

x9artsandlaw-event,x9history-event,x9historycultures-event,x9clemt-event

www.birmingham.ac.uk

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Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · Sep 5

When authors meet with me, I create a safe space, a place where they can share their writing challenges, wildest publication goals, and professional vulnerabilities.

As this busy week wraps up, I hope everyone can catch their breath this weekend and reset in the ways that work best for them.

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · Sep 2

Keep applying for other fellowships. Each committee follows unique guidelines. A project that might not align with one group could fit well with another.

And first and foremost, we aren't our research. These decisions are not a reflection on you as a human, or even as a scholar. (3/3)

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · Sep 2

If you can, re-apply for the same grant. The new review committee may see your materials differently than its predecessor, or your project may evolve in ways that make it more appealing to the organization. (2/x)

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · Sep 2

🧵Numerous grant applications are due this month. If your application is not successful, don't criticize your project(or yourself)
Remember that review committees are unpredictable; just because one committee didn't endorse your project doesn't mean another committee will make the same decision(1/x)

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · Sep 2

Thank you for creating and sharing this resource, @allisonvandev.bsky.social.

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · Aug 29

Last night I had a stress dream where I was stuck in traffic and couldn't get to my dissertation defense (which, for context, took place 13 years ago). Of all the things my brain could worry about at 3 am, I can't imagine why it chose that. Oh, academia.

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · Aug 29

My kids' schools open on Thursday. Last year, we started the year with multiple weeks of lockdowns and threats. I feel this so hard.

Erin Fogg says Free Link @criminalerin.bsky.social · Aug 29

I cannot fucking believe we're supposed to just take our little showers and put on our little outfits and drop our kids at their little schools and go to our little jobs and pick up our little groceries like everything is fucking okay

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · Aug 29

Last call for the Community & Accountability group.

We're a small cohort who values diversity, encourages innovative thinking, & maintains each other's privacy. Meetings never recorded. Bring your insecurities & writing challenges, & we'll troubleshoot together!
www.theeditorialally.com/community

Community — THE EDITORIAL ALLY

"Katherine provided nuanced suggestions that ranged from word choice to argument development to chapter organization. Nothing escaped her attention!"

www.theeditorialally.com

Katherine Carroll @katherinecarroll.bsky.social · Aug 27

The Editorial Ally's Community and Accountability group offers the same type of opportunity to academic authors. Email me by 9/2 if you want to join this fall's cohort. (2/2)

www.theeditorialally.com/community

Community — THE EDITORIAL ALLY

"Katherine provided nuanced suggestions that ranged from word choice to argument development to chapter organization. Nothing escaped her attention!"