Black Feminist Writing

Draws on the rich history of Black feminist writing to help scholars manage the stress of writing and publishing academic books.

Draws on the rich history of Black feminist writing to help scholars manage the stress of writing and publishing academic books.

Writing scholarly books is stressful, and academic publishing can be intimidating-especially for women, queer folks, and scholars of color. Black Feminist Writing shows scholars how to prioritize their mental health while completing a book in race and gender studies. Drawing on Black women's writing traditions, as well as her own experience as the author and editor of nine university press books, Stephanie Y. Evans gives scholars tools to sustain the important work of academic writing, particularly in fields routinely under attack by anti-democratic forces. Evans identifies five major areas of stress: personal, professional, publishing-related, public, and political. Each chapter includes targeted discussion questions and tasks to help authors identify their unique stressors, create priorities, get organized, and breathe. Whether working on your first scholarly book or your tenth, this robust, heartfelt guide will help you approach writing as an ongoing practice of learning, creating, and teaching in ways that center wellness and collective self-care.

Stephanie Y. Evans is Professor of Black Women's Studies in the Institute for Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Affiliate Faculty in the Department of African American Studies at Georgia State University. Her many books include Black Women's Yoga History: Memoirs of Inner Peace; Black Women and Social Justice Education: Legacies and Lessons (coedited with Andrea D. Domingue and Tania D. Mitchell); and Black Women's Mental Health: Balancing Strength and Vulnerability (coedited with Kanika Bell and Nsenga K. Burton), all published by SUNY Press.

Stephanie Y. Evans is Professor of Black Women's Studies in the Institute for Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Affiliate Faculty in the Department of African American Studies at Georgia State University. Her many books include Black Women's Yoga History: Memoirs of Inner Peace; Black Women and Social Justice Education: Legacies and Lessons (coedited with Andrea D. Domingue and Tania D. Mitchell); and Black Women's Mental Health: Balancing Strength and Vulnerability (coedited with Kanika Bell and Nsenga K. Burton), all published by SUNY Press.

"Black Feminist Writing places a wise guide beside you at your desk. Evans offers straightforward advice and details the often-hidden processes of academic publishing. But she also makes clear that this advice is not one-size-fits-all. Each writer must discover their own writing practice, and she reminds writers to read several other writing guides as well." — The Editors’ Weekly

"Highly productive, collaborative, wise … Professor Evans has penned a loving text, Black Feminist Writing, that stands alone conceptually as a guide to academic book publishing. Genre-defying, this guide for navigating the academy and remaining well, committed, and joyful is the most effective 'how-to' text for emerging and seasoned scholars as they struggle to stay afloat in challenging and often oppressive spaces. This 'self-help' text is theoretically sound and makes an important contribution to race and gender studies. Painstakingly candid, it also makes visible a clear path for a scholarly life that heals and inspires." — Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Comparative Women's Studies at Spelman College

"A new and needed take on the academic publishing guide, Black Feminist Writing presents a unique combination of personal life writing, intellectual history, and practical advice for emerging scholars. Dr. Stephanie Y. Evans generously offers a model for aspiring book authors by sharing her own journey to building a prolific yet sustainable and life-affirming writing and publishing practice firmly rooted in community. Writers, mentors, and publishing professionals in academia and beyond will welcome this humane and honest book." — Laura Portwood-Stacer, developmental editor and author of The Book Proposal Book: A Guide for Scholarly Authors