This is a practical masterclass is aimed at researchers with some qualitative writing experience who are looking to extend their knowledge and learn some practical tips for managing the process more efficiently.
Course Structure:
This course will run across 2 x half days:
- 9.30am - 11.30am: Zoom session (2 hrs)
- 11.30am- 12.00pm: Break
- 12.00pm- 1.30pm: Zoom session (1.5 hrs)
This course is being held online via Zoom and run on Australian Eastern Standard Time (GMT +10)
Lyn Lavery established Academic Consulting in 1999 following a successful career in the tertiary sector. Her 25+ years background in education, combined with a PhD which examined self-regulated learning at a tertiary level, provide a solid platform for developing the company’s innovative training programme. Her love of teaching and education, alongside her flexible teaching style and engaging sense of humour, contribute to an outstanding reputation as a training facilitator. As well as overseeing the company, Lyn provides individual support to researchers and postgraduate students. This has seen her work alongside a diverse range of clients – including senior academics in leading tertiary institutions, PhD students both within New Zealand and internationally, and research teams within central government. With extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, she is also actively involved in all research project work undertaken by the company, particularly projects involving the advanced use of NVivo.
This is a practical masterclass is aimed at researchers with some qualitative writing experience who are looking to extend their knowledge and learn some practical tips for managing the process more efficiently.
This masterclass is designed for researchers with some experience in qualitative writing who are looking to take their skills to the next level. Whether you're grappling with how to clearly represent your participants’ voices, unsure how to structure your findings, or simply want to write more efficiently and with greater impact, this workshop offers a hands-on, supportive environment to refine your practice.
What to Expect
This is a practical, discussion-based workshop grounded in real research writing challenges. You’ll work with sample texts, engage in group discussions, and explore tools and techniques that can help you make your qualitative writing more effective and engaging. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions, reflect on your own writing process, and get feedback from both peers and the facilitator.
Course content will include:
- Understanding different styles of qualitative writing – from traditional academic formats to more creative or narrative approaches.
- Critiquing examples of published qualitative writing – identifying what works (and what doesn’t) and applying these insights to your own work.
- Managing the writing process – strategies for planning, drafting, and editing across multiple stages of a project.
- Using visuals and other tools – exploring ways to represent qualitative findings through diagrams, concept maps, tables, and more.
- Tightening and polishing your writing – practical tips for improving clarity, flow, and coherence.
- Overcoming common challenges – tackling writer’s block, dealing with feedback, and navigating uncertainty in analysis and interpretation.
This workshop is suitable for researchers at any career stage who are actively engaged in qualitative research. It will be particularly helpful to those who have already done some qualitative writing and are looking for inspiration, feedback, and strategies to improve. Researchers with quantitative backgrounds who are making the transition to qualitative writing are also very welcome.
Bring your questions, challenges, and examples from your own research – and be ready to write, reflect, and connect.
Day 1
- Getting started with qualitative writing
- Qualitative 'style'
- Writing a qualitative method
- visualising qualitative findings
Day 2
- Critiquing the workshop examples
- Tightening and polishing your writing
- Writing tips and strategies (including overcoming challenges)
This course will take place online using Zoom.
No specific software is required.
A basic understanding of qualitative research and data analysis is highly recommended.
Sword, H. (2012). Stylish academic writing. Harvard University Press.
Sword, H. (2016). The writer’s diet: A guide to fit prose (2nd ed.). The University of Chicago Press.
Sword, H. (2017). Air & light & time & space: How successful academics write. Harvard University Press.
Sword, H. (2023). Writing with pleasure. Princeton University Press.
Wolcott, H. (2009). Writing up qualitative research (3rd ed.). SAGE.
Woods, P. & Sikes, P. (2022). Successful writing for qualitative researchers (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Who is this workshop for?
This masterclass is ideal for researchers who have some experience with qualitative writing and are looking to refine and deepen their skills. It’s also suitable for those from quantitative backgrounds who are transitioning into qualitative research and want to build confidence in writing up qualitative findings.
Is this workshop discipline-specific?
Not at all. While examples may draw from social sciences and health research, the principles and techniques discussed are relevant across disciplines that use qualitative methods.
Will we cover how to analyse qualitative data?
The focus of the masterclass is on writing rather than data analysis. While we will briefly touch on the link between analysis and writing, this workshop assumes you have already collected and/or analysed your data.
What should I bring?
Bring any questions or challenges you're currently facing in your writing process. Most of all, bring a willingness to engage and explore new ideas!
I’m quite new to qualitative research. Will I be out of my depth?
This masterclass is aimed at researchers who have some experience with qualitative writing, but it’s also designed to be inclusive and practical. If you’re just starting out, you’ll gain some valuable insights into how to approach qualitative writing but if you can, we recommend holding off attending until you’ve collected/analysed your data and made a start on writing it up.