Allison Van Deventer
@allisonvandev.bsky.social
Developmental editor for academic authors. Author: The Dissertation-to-Book Workbook (UChicago Press). Workshop facilitator. She/her. Comp lit PhD. https://www.allisonvandeventer.com/
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
For #UPWeek I teamed up w/ Alec Loganbill, my co-chair of the @aupresses.bsky.social Fac Outreach Cmte, to write tips on publishing yr 1st book for Higher Ed Jobs. Tip 1: Don't Go It Alone! Pub'ing is more collaborative than it seems & resources abound. #TeamUP www.higheredjobs.com/Articles/art...
Don’t Go It Alone! And Other Tips on How To Get Your First Book Published with a University Press
<p>Publishing a book can be an isolated -- and isolating -- experience, but it doesn't have to be. Two university press editors share
www.higheredjobs.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
For #UPWeek I teamed up w/ Alec Loganbill, my co-chair of the @aupresses.bsky.social Fac Outreach Cmte, to write tips on publishing yr 1st book for Higher Ed Jobs. Tip 1: Don't Go It Alone! Pub'ing is more collaborative than it seems & resources abound. #TeamUP www.higheredjobs.com/Articles/art...
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Our 7yo has coined a new word: "interrupdate."
I think he meant it as a fancier or more nuanced version of "interrupt," but I'm sure we can all see the possibilities.
I think he meant it as a fancier or more nuanced version of "interrupt," but I'm sure we can all see the possibilities.
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Our 7yo has coined a new word: "interrupdate."
I think he meant it as a fancier or more nuanced version of "interrupt," but I'm sure we can all see the possibilities.
I think he meant it as a fancier or more nuanced version of "interrupt," but I'm sure we can all see the possibilities.
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
This is one of the best accounts I’ve read and I wish every newspaper would run it and every college would invite students to a community conversation where it would be read out and students given space and time to talk and think about it.
But, at least, you can read it.
But, at least, you can read it.
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 10, 2025 at 1:00 PM
This is one of the best accounts I’ve read and I wish every newspaper would run it and every college would invite students to a community conversation where it would be read out and students given space and time to talk and think about it.
But, at least, you can read it.
But, at least, you can read it.
7yo: "The pants in the dreaded size don't fit me as well as the other ones."
(He's growing out of, you guessed it, size 6/7)
(He's growing out of, you guessed it, size 6/7)
November 8, 2025 at 12:07 AM
7yo: "The pants in the dreaded size don't fit me as well as the other ones."
(He's growing out of, you guessed it, size 6/7)
(He's growing out of, you guessed it, size 6/7)
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
She did it! Woburn has a new school committee (=school board) member who is an immigrant and speaks Spanish!
We knocked on so many doors and had so many conversations, and now the person who gives Know Your Rights presentations has her own seat at the table of our little city's government.
We knocked on so many doors and had so many conversations, and now the person who gives Know Your Rights presentations has her own seat at the table of our little city's government.
November 5, 2025 at 7:20 PM
She did it! Woburn has a new school committee (=school board) member who is an immigrant and speaks Spanish!
We knocked on so many doors and had so many conversations, and now the person who gives Know Your Rights presentations has her own seat at the table of our little city's government.
We knocked on so many doors and had so many conversations, and now the person who gives Know Your Rights presentations has her own seat at the table of our little city's government.
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
How do I write a response to peer reviews? https://bit.ly/3F51anF
University press publishers answer frequently asked questions like this one on our #AskUP site.
Curious about how university press publishing works? #AskUP!
University press publishers answer frequently asked questions like this one on our #AskUP site.
Curious about how university press publishing works? #AskUP!
November 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM
How do I write a response to peer reviews? https://bit.ly/3F51anF
University press publishers answer frequently asked questions like this one on our #AskUP site.
Curious about how university press publishing works? #AskUP!
University press publishers answer frequently asked questions like this one on our #AskUP site.
Curious about how university press publishing works? #AskUP!
You guys, she won, she WON, I’m crying
Last night my kids and I went door-knocking with a new candidate for school committee (= school board; it's a highly competitive election here).
She's the Director of Immigrant Services in a nearby city, a native Spanish speaker, and I'm hoping SO HARD that she wins a seat
She's the Director of Immigrant Services in a nearby city, a native Spanish speaker, and I'm hoping SO HARD that she wins a seat
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 AM
You guys, she won, she WON, I’m crying
I’m at a local polling place (not mine) waiting for the results to be posted on the wall so I can text them to my friend Andrew and he can put them into his spreadsheet and we can get the unofficial totals before the city tallies them
We‘re no NYC, but we’re really into our elections
We‘re no NYC, but we’re really into our elections
November 5, 2025 at 12:53 AM
I’m at a local polling place (not mine) waiting for the results to be posted on the wall so I can text them to my friend Andrew and he can put them into his spreadsheet and we can get the unofficial totals before the city tallies them
We‘re no NYC, but we’re really into our elections
We‘re no NYC, but we’re really into our elections
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
Join us for a workshop on publishing books in Korean studies (broadly defined). Speakers will tackle questions like: How long from idea to contract? How to pitch to editors? What goes in the book vs. articles? How to stay authentic?
🗓 Nov 12 (Wed), 3:30-5PM EST
🔗 Sign up: bit.ly/dkscbookwork...
🗓 Nov 12 (Wed), 3:30-5PM EST
🔗 Sign up: bit.ly/dkscbookwork...
DKSC 📖 Publication Workshop | November 12 (Wed), 3:30-5PM EST
Panelists will share insights on turning dissertations into books and navigating editorial and disciplinary expectations in the context of Korean studies.
Sign up here: bit.ly/dkscbookwork...
Panelists will share insights on turning dissertations into books and navigating editorial and disciplinary expectations in the context of Korean studies.
Sign up here: bit.ly/dkscbookwork...
November 3, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Join us for a workshop on publishing books in Korean studies (broadly defined). Speakers will tackle questions like: How long from idea to contract? How to pitch to editors? What goes in the book vs. articles? How to stay authentic?
🗓 Nov 12 (Wed), 3:30-5PM EST
🔗 Sign up: bit.ly/dkscbookwork...
🗓 Nov 12 (Wed), 3:30-5PM EST
🔗 Sign up: bit.ly/dkscbookwork...
Update: he caught me canvassing his actual street!
(I actually really like this guy and have his sign in my yard!)
(I actually really like this guy and have his sign in my yard!)
Adventures in small-town politics: finding myself canvassing the same list on the same day as my candidate’s main competitor, then spending the evening trading campaign stories with that competitor at a Halloween party, then heading out today to canvass his neighborhood 🤣
November 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Update: he caught me canvassing his actual street!
(I actually really like this guy and have his sign in my yard!)
(I actually really like this guy and have his sign in my yard!)
Adventures in small-town politics: finding myself canvassing the same list on the same day as my candidate’s main competitor, then spending the evening trading campaign stories with that competitor at a Halloween party, then heading out today to canvass his neighborhood 🤣
November 2, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Adventures in small-town politics: finding myself canvassing the same list on the same day as my candidate’s main competitor, then spending the evening trading campaign stories with that competitor at a Halloween party, then heading out today to canvass his neighborhood 🤣
OK Woburn, let's GOTV! Maria Teresa Nagel for school committee, let's gooooo!
November 1, 2025 at 7:22 PM
OK Woburn, let's GOTV! Maria Teresa Nagel for school committee, let's gooooo!
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
We can hardly believe it's been two years since The Dissertation-to-Book Workbook released.
Used the workbook? Consider leaving a review. It may seem small, but reviews are a great way to help other academics decide if the workbook is right for them.
www.amazon.com/ap/signin?op...
Used the workbook? Consider leaving a review. It may seem small, but reviews are a great way to help other academics decide if the workbook is right for them.
www.amazon.com/ap/signin?op...
October 31, 2025 at 7:05 PM
We can hardly believe it's been two years since The Dissertation-to-Book Workbook released.
Used the workbook? Consider leaving a review. It may seem small, but reviews are a great way to help other academics decide if the workbook is right for them.
www.amazon.com/ap/signin?op...
Used the workbook? Consider leaving a review. It may seem small, but reviews are a great way to help other academics decide if the workbook is right for them.
www.amazon.com/ap/signin?op...
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
This is now at least two Massachusetts teens torn from their families, our schools, and our communities and sent back to the country their families are seeking legal ASYLUM from. Where is the leadership??
October 30, 2025 at 12:36 PM
This is now at least two Massachusetts teens torn from their families, our schools, and our communities and sent back to the country their families are seeking legal ASYLUM from. Where is the leadership??
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
Worried your book doesn't have a chronological narrative? Allison discusses why you may need to view your book from a different perspective.
Listen to post: vimeo.com/907021011?ck...
@allisonvandev.bsky.social @uchicagopress.bsky.social
Purchase our book here:
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Listen to post: vimeo.com/907021011?ck...
@allisonvandev.bsky.social @uchicagopress.bsky.social
Purchase our book here:
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
360 Degree Narrative Arc
Katelyn E. Knox and Allison Van Deventer, authors of The Dissertation-to-Book Workbook (U Chicago Press, 2023), answer your questions about academic books. To order…
vimeo.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Worried your book doesn't have a chronological narrative? Allison discusses why you may need to view your book from a different perspective.
Listen to post: vimeo.com/907021011?ck...
@allisonvandev.bsky.social @uchicagopress.bsky.social
Purchase our book here:
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Listen to post: vimeo.com/907021011?ck...
@allisonvandev.bsky.social @uchicagopress.bsky.social
Purchase our book here:
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
And this work leads to other Qs: Is Y actually influencing X? What is the mechanism of the change in this chapter? (IS there a change in this chapter?) How does this change fit into the book argument? How do X and Y vary from chapter to chapter, and what are the implications? (3/4)
October 11, 2024 at 1:37 PM
And this work leads to other Qs: Is Y actually influencing X? What is the mechanism of the change in this chapter? (IS there a change in this chapter?) How does this change fit into the book argument? How do X and Y vary from chapter to chapter, and what are the implications? (3/4)
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
How does this relationship (of influence, change, etc.) play out in a different way *in each body chapter*?
In Chapter 1, how does the chapter-specific version of X influence the chapter-specific version of Y?
How would you describe what changed in this particular chapter? (2/4)
In Chapter 1, how does the chapter-specific version of X influence the chapter-specific version of Y?
How would you describe what changed in this particular chapter? (2/4)
October 11, 2024 at 1:36 PM
How does this relationship (of influence, change, etc.) play out in a different way *in each body chapter*?
In Chapter 1, how does the chapter-specific version of X influence the chapter-specific version of Y?
How would you describe what changed in this particular chapter? (2/4)
In Chapter 1, how does the chapter-specific version of X influence the chapter-specific version of Y?
How would you describe what changed in this particular chapter? (2/4)
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
I sometimes work with academic authors whose books, in the big-picture vision, are making an argument along the lines of “X influenced Y” or “The interaction between X and Y changed X.” And I’ve seen some incredible results when these authors focus on a particular type of question: (1/4)
#AmEditing
#AmEditing
October 11, 2024 at 1:35 PM
I sometimes work with academic authors whose books, in the big-picture vision, are making an argument along the lines of “X influenced Y” or “The interaction between X and Y changed X.” And I’ve seen some incredible results when these authors focus on a particular type of question: (1/4)
#AmEditing
#AmEditing
Our 7yo pointed out that if George Washington had been a king, he would have passed the crown down to his descendants and then we...wouldn't be in the situation we're currently in.
We're a No Kings household, but I have to admit his logic makes a certain sense.
We're a No Kings household, but I have to admit his logic makes a certain sense.
October 28, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Our 7yo pointed out that if George Washington had been a king, he would have passed the crown down to his descendants and then we...wouldn't be in the situation we're currently in.
We're a No Kings household, but I have to admit his logic makes a certain sense.
We're a No Kings household, but I have to admit his logic makes a certain sense.
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
I got a really nice email the other day about my free mini-course on clear communication in teaching material. Maybe you'll like it too!
Clear Communication in Teaching Material: An Introduction
resources.erinkmaher.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:35 PM
I got a really nice email the other day about my free mini-course on clear communication in teaching material. Maybe you'll like it too!
Town Halloween parade, fifth-grade float, let’s gooooo
October 26, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Town Halloween parade, fifth-grade float, let’s gooooo
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
Ah, locals mention the federal court order here, which also requires agents to wear some identification.
Also, quite an image in here: masked, fully-geared-out DHS agents getting screamed at in a residential neighborhood by some dude who is barefoot and in pajama pants.
Also, quite an image in here: masked, fully-geared-out DHS agents getting screamed at in a residential neighborhood by some dude who is barefoot and in pajama pants.
October 25, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Ah, locals mention the federal court order here, which also requires agents to wear some identification.
Also, quite an image in here: masked, fully-geared-out DHS agents getting screamed at in a residential neighborhood by some dude who is barefoot and in pajama pants.
Also, quite an image in here: masked, fully-geared-out DHS agents getting screamed at in a residential neighborhood by some dude who is barefoot and in pajama pants.
Reposted by Allison Van Deventer
PhD in 2017, here. My work is, broadly, about oppressive regimes and cultural forms. For me, it’s not self-consciousness or discouragement. It’s feeling like I need to realign my work to meet the moment. And the moment is an erratically moving target.
Something I've heard a lot in the past few months: "I got my PhD in [year between 2015 and 2020]. I've been spinning my wheels on this dissertation-to-book manuscript ever since. I feel so self-conscious / discouraged / alone / bogged down / embarrassed about how long it's taking."
October 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
PhD in 2017, here. My work is, broadly, about oppressive regimes and cultural forms. For me, it’s not self-consciousness or discouragement. It’s feeling like I need to realign my work to meet the moment. And the moment is an erratically moving target.