Comments on: How to write a fancy-ass paper

By: Tiara the Merch Girl

Tiara the Merch Girl — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:50:00 +0000

Did you find resources that helped you? I’m (perhaps) writing a paper for a different conference and I’m stuck too for many of the reasons you mention! damn academia.

By: 7memories.com blog

7memories.com blog — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:31:53 +0000

Bits of wisdom from BJ…

I found your entry interesting thus I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…

By: moon

moon — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:37:42 +0000

I always am scolded for not elaborating on my purposely succinct points. I think of it as repeating myself, but I've learned, no – elaboration's required in a good paper.
I hate to do it, but it does make a better paper.

By: Dani Barley

Dani Barley — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:00:50 +0000

Yep, that was me! Also, hello fellow fat sexualities panel presenter! :D

I won't hijack this comment forum to talk my research, but send me an email and we can discuss it further:
dani.barley (at) gmail (dot) com. I don't think I can get much more excited for this conference.

By: Greenest

Greenest — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:54:35 +0000

Heather's right – I'm in academia and I've presented at conferences but I still feel like some sort of fake!

Practice, practice, practice is the way to go with presentations. I'm not so good at remembering things either so I just write up my paper and slides and go over it again and again.

By: sizeoftheocean

sizeoftheocean — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:16:09 +0000

Oh hello, person writing about internet porn! I think we're on the same panel (I'm doing Shallow Hal). I'm also planning to write about internet porn in my thesis, so I'm super-interested to hear what you have to say.

I think I saw your paper at last year's conference too – was it on body modification as reclamation?

By: sizeoftheocean

sizeoftheocean — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:12:34 +0000

I'm pretty sure your paper is going to be great! You're an excellent and incisive writer, and I know you have stuff to say.

If it helps at all, I don't think the internet thing is going to be an issue at the conference because, well, academics are generally geeks; the internet is profoundly changing the world and anyone who thinks about culture on any level will have an understanding of and respect for that; all the cool kids in my school are doing their thesis on networked identities and such; the somatechnics research centre is pretty amazing in terms of savvy and supportive peeps; the fatosphere is really central to contemporary fat acceptance and therefore to fat studies so it's a fantastically relevant thing to talk about.

I know all about the imposter thing, though. Ugh. Sometimes academia sucks (but mostly I heart it with big shiny love heart eyes).

I am SO excited about this conference and meeting up with everyone!!!

By: Dani Barley

Dani Barley — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:06:17 +0000

A friend just linked your flattering outfit post, so I'm a new reader, but I'll also be at the Fat Studies conference (talking about Internet Porn!).

Seriously, the folks at the Somatechnics centre are awesome. I presented at their conference last year (my first academic paper) and it was amazing. Everyone was wonderfully supportive and the people who are bound to be at this one are likely to be equally awesome. Don't stress because we'll all likely be in the same boat.

And I am so down for this to be a rad Internet fatty meetup thing. :D

By: Kristin

Kristin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:00:15 +0000

I'm not often compelled to comment on blogs, but I wanted to make a few refutes to your fears, which, although they are perfectly normal and great to have, shouldn't stop you from doing what you want to do.
First of all, you HAVE done something significant in your life; you have reached out to many, many people and spread the word of fat acceptance. I think that's certainly more significant than what most people will do by age 29.
Next, in my experience as a modern literature major in college, although some people in academia will frown upon you being "real" and vulnerable in your choice to share life experiences, most will very, very much appreciate that you were willing to share yourself. You'll also do it in a fresh way that I think can get your point across better than a robotic traditionally academic paper. Just because you're doing your own thing that others wouldn't do doesn't mean they won't appreciate what you're doing.
If you're scared of embarrassing people, simply ask them if it's ok to share that story! There is certainly no shame in asking, and they'll probably be happy you asked, but if they're as open as you are, they will probably be ok with it.
Mostly, I wanted to say thanks for being unabashedly YOU...that's what makes your blog interesting and inspiring to read, and that's what will make your paper great. If you speak to what is truly you and what's meaningful to you, it'll come a whole lot easier.
Good luck!

By: definatalie

definatalie — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:02:52 +0000

I'm beginning to suspect you are so right about everyone feeling a bit impostery in academic land!!!

And it's funny, I'd already decided to present my talk with the support of fun visuals. I'm thinking about using software called Prezi, which is a really fun and fluid way to do presentations. You can even embed video from memory!
http://prezi.com/