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/
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.
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!
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
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 1:33 PM
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."
Report from local politics: I'm having a ton of fun helping campaign for our school board candidate (Latina woman running in a historically blue-collar conservative suburb with lots of immigrants). So many unexpected connections! So much strategizing with friends! So many great text threads!
October 16, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Report from local politics: I'm having a ton of fun helping campaign for our school board candidate (Latina woman running in a historically blue-collar conservative suburb with lots of immigrants). So many unexpected connections! So much strategizing with friends! So many great text threads!
Authors of scholarly books: Are you struggling with perfectionism? Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of things you have to do to finish your manuscript?
Here's @katelynknox.bsky.social with a suggestion: find a way to get regular, low-stakes feedback on your writing.
Here's @katelynknox.bsky.social with a suggestion: find a way to get regular, low-stakes feedback on your writing.
October 3, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Authors of scholarly books: Are you struggling with perfectionism? Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of things you have to do to finish your manuscript?
Here's @katelynknox.bsky.social with a suggestion: find a way to get regular, low-stakes feedback on your writing.
Here's @katelynknox.bsky.social with a suggestion: find a way to get regular, low-stakes feedback on your writing.
Did some door-knocking for our school committee candidate; engaged in some light political bribery (giving the 7yo Skittles per door knocked/opened)
October 2, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Did some door-knocking for our school committee candidate; engaged in some light political bribery (giving the 7yo Skittles per door knocked/opened)
Congratulations to Seçil Daǧtaş, an early alum of The Dissertation-to-Book Workbook, whose timely and beautiful book "Under the Same Sky: Everyday Politics of Religious Difference in Southern Turkey" is out from the University of Pennsylvania Press! (1/2)
www.pennpress.org/978151282771...
www.pennpress.org/978151282771...
October 2, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Congratulations to Seçil Daǧtaş, an early alum of The Dissertation-to-Book Workbook, whose timely and beautiful book "Under the Same Sky: Everyday Politics of Religious Difference in Southern Turkey" is out from the University of Pennsylvania Press! (1/2)
www.pennpress.org/978151282771...
www.pennpress.org/978151282771...
Last spring, our older kid gave a prepared speech to the school committee (= school board) about the lack of vegetarian and multicultural options on the school lunch menu.
(All on his own initiative—he's the only vegetarian in our family! Though I did help)
And his effort paid off!
(All on his own initiative—he's the only vegetarian in our family! Though I did help)
And his effort paid off!
September 19, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Last spring, our older kid gave a prepared speech to the school committee (= school board) about the lack of vegetarian and multicultural options on the school lunch menu.
(All on his own initiative—he's the only vegetarian in our family! Though I did help)
And his effort paid off!
(All on his own initiative—he's the only vegetarian in our family! Though I did help)
And his effort paid off!
Reminder: Sign up for the 6-Week Dissertation-to-Book Workshop by September 12 to get the Early Bird discount!
You may be wondering whether it makes sense to commit to a synchronous workshop this fall. What if you get sick, get busy, are overwhelmed by outside events, fall behind?
You may be wondering whether it makes sense to commit to a synchronous workshop this fall. What if you get sick, get busy, are overwhelmed by outside events, fall behind?
September 4, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Reminder: Sign up for the 6-Week Dissertation-to-Book Workshop by September 12 to get the Early Bird discount!
You may be wondering whether it makes sense to commit to a synchronous workshop this fall. What if you get sick, get busy, are overwhelmed by outside events, fall behind?
You may be wondering whether it makes sense to commit to a synchronous workshop this fall. What if you get sick, get busy, are overwhelmed by outside events, fall behind?
Free webinar on Friday, Sept 5 for authors of scholarly books: Identifying Your Audience and Target Presses!
@katelynknox.bsky.social and I will talk about how to name your audience, adjust your manuscript for it, and identify presses that will get your book to it.
Join us on Zoom: bit.ly/3Uk0KBS
@katelynknox.bsky.social and I will talk about how to name your audience, adjust your manuscript for it, and identify presses that will get your book to it.
Join us on Zoom: bit.ly/3Uk0KBS
September 2, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Free webinar on Friday, Sept 5 for authors of scholarly books: Identifying Your Audience and Target Presses!
@katelynknox.bsky.social and I will talk about how to name your audience, adjust your manuscript for it, and identify presses that will get your book to it.
Join us on Zoom: bit.ly/3Uk0KBS
@katelynknox.bsky.social and I will talk about how to name your audience, adjust your manuscript for it, and identify presses that will get your book to it.
Join us on Zoom: bit.ly/3Uk0KBS
Door knocking in New England: caught in a sudden downpour edition
August 25, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Door knocking in New England: caught in a sudden downpour edition
One author described the Dissertation-to-Book workshop as creating "a sense of community so palpable that we all felt seen, heard, and accompanied." Another wrote that we gave her "foolproof tools that have helped me move forward even amid my deepest feelings of stuckness and self doubt."
Join us!
Join us!
August 21, 2025 at 3:32 PM
One author described the Dissertation-to-Book workshop as creating "a sense of community so palpable that we all felt seen, heard, and accompanied." Another wrote that we gave her "foolproof tools that have helped me move forward even amid my deepest feelings of stuckness and self doubt."
Join us!
Join us!
The stuffed penguins have developed a passion for the board game Splendor, and our 7yo is playing actual games with them.
(In pairs, because penguins need a little extra help.)
(In pairs, because penguins need a little extra help.)
August 20, 2025 at 5:05 PM
The stuffed penguins have developed a passion for the board game Splendor, and our 7yo is playing actual games with them.
(In pairs, because penguins need a little extra help.)
(In pairs, because penguins need a little extra help.)
Because there's so much that's despair-inducing these days, I'm making an effort to spend time on things that bring me joy. I picked up a set of travel watercolors and a sketchbook for the first time in two decades!
I had grand visions of painting with the kids, but they got bored and wandered off
I had grand visions of painting with the kids, but they got bored and wandered off
August 14, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Because there's so much that's despair-inducing these days, I'm making an effort to spend time on things that bring me joy. I picked up a set of travel watercolors and a sketchbook for the first time in two decades!
I had grand visions of painting with the kids, but they got bored and wandered off
I had grand visions of painting with the kids, but they got bored and wandered off
Calling everyone who's taken one of our multi-session workshops:
We have a new writing group just for you!
Are you still working on your book—or a new book, or an article? Would you like to keep the magic going? If so, join me to check in and problem-solve and get things done!
bit.ly/45hFT8t
We have a new writing group just for you!
Are you still working on your book—or a new book, or an article? Would you like to keep the magic going? If so, join me to check in and problem-solve and get things done!
bit.ly/45hFT8t
August 14, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Calling everyone who's taken one of our multi-session workshops:
We have a new writing group just for you!
Are you still working on your book—or a new book, or an article? Would you like to keep the magic going? If so, join me to check in and problem-solve and get things done!
bit.ly/45hFT8t
We have a new writing group just for you!
Are you still working on your book—or a new book, or an article? Would you like to keep the magic going? If so, join me to check in and problem-solve and get things done!
bit.ly/45hFT8t
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
August 13, 2025 at 2:03 PM
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
Who's your book's primary audience? (What does "primary audience" mean, anyway?) And which publishers can deliver your work to that audience?
These questions come up over and over in our workshops, so we decided to offer a free webinar to address them!
Join us on Zoom on Sept 5! bit.ly/3Uk0KBS
These questions come up over and over in our workshops, so we decided to offer a free webinar to address them!
Join us on Zoom on Sept 5! bit.ly/3Uk0KBS
August 8, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Who's your book's primary audience? (What does "primary audience" mean, anyway?) And which publishers can deliver your work to that audience?
These questions come up over and over in our workshops, so we decided to offer a free webinar to address them!
Join us on Zoom on Sept 5! bit.ly/3Uk0KBS
These questions come up over and over in our workshops, so we decided to offer a free webinar to address them!
Join us on Zoom on Sept 5! bit.ly/3Uk0KBS
Just got back from our annual camping trip with friends, and I think I can sum it up by saying I didn't realize it was possible for four 10yos to find so much to say about D&D
August 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Just got back from our annual camping trip with friends, and I think I can sum it up by saying I didn't realize it was possible for four 10yos to find so much to say about D&D
@ebrenner.bsky.social, your very helpful marketing worksheet pairs well with hammocks and fresh air!
August 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
@ebrenner.bsky.social, your very helpful marketing worksheet pairs well with hammocks and fresh air!
DIY childcare swap "camp," 8 kids ages 6-10 at our house, let's gooooooo
July 28, 2025 at 3:15 PM
DIY childcare swap "camp," 8 kids ages 6-10 at our house, let's gooooooo
I used to live in one of those white townhouses! In a tiny town on the outskirts of Bergamo, Italy, when I was a young teenager
(photo from our recent trip--I'm dreaming of the fun we had)
(photo from our recent trip--I'm dreaming of the fun we had)
July 23, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I used to live in one of those white townhouses! In a tiny town on the outskirts of Bergamo, Italy, when I was a young teenager
(photo from our recent trip--I'm dreaming of the fun we had)
(photo from our recent trip--I'm dreaming of the fun we had)
Back home after an amazing 6-week family trip, starting with a month spent hiking around and swimming in the spectacular Lake Annecy (France).
Or rather, the kids and I hiked and swam while @vandeventerjim.bsky.social taught a course on the chemistry of wine!
Or rather, the kids and I hiked and swam while @vandeventerjim.bsky.social taught a course on the chemistry of wine!
July 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Back home after an amazing 6-week family trip, starting with a month spent hiking around and swimming in the spectacular Lake Annecy (France).
Or rather, the kids and I hiked and swam while @vandeventerjim.bsky.social taught a course on the chemistry of wine!
Or rather, the kids and I hiked and swam while @vandeventerjim.bsky.social taught a course on the chemistry of wine!
I'm looking for a bilingual assistant to help with a short-term project in Korean studies!
Does anyone know of someone who a) speaks both Korean and English; b) has access to a univ library system; and c) is interested in editing? Maybe a recent PhD? If so, send them my way!
(Pic for attention!)
Does anyone know of someone who a) speaks both Korean and English; b) has access to a univ library system; and c) is interested in editing? Maybe a recent PhD? If so, send them my way!
(Pic for attention!)
June 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I'm looking for a bilingual assistant to help with a short-term project in Korean studies!
Does anyone know of someone who a) speaks both Korean and English; b) has access to a univ library system; and c) is interested in editing? Maybe a recent PhD? If so, send them my way!
(Pic for attention!)
Does anyone know of someone who a) speaks both Korean and English; b) has access to a univ library system; and c) is interested in editing? Maybe a recent PhD? If so, send them my way!
(Pic for attention!)
Just in case anyone was wondering whether I've always been obsessed with books
May 16, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Just in case anyone was wondering whether I've always been obsessed with books