Graham McAllister (Part 3) on the art and craft of writing (CAL122, S6E16)

Changing Academic Life

 ”Writing is thinking, I love thinking, I love working on problems, I love thinking through the problems…. So the whole writing thing is a thinking thing.” says Graham McAllister in this final part of our conversation. His foray into writing a book on Games Usability after he sold his company was also a foray into exploring the process of writing, asking himself questions like "How do you write a book? What's my voice? How do I write? What fits in with my life?”

Graham unpacks his experiences about the art and craft of writing that worked for him in answer to these questions. He starts with reflections on publishing challenges in academia and his commitment to making knowledge freely accessible. He also talks about the process of discovering his writing voice, the iterative writing process, setting up a writing routine and setting achievable goals. Graham also reflects on the broader implications of his work within academia and industry, the pursuit of clear communication for your audience, and his future aspirations in writing and consulting. The conversation highlights themes of personal growth, the importance of thoughtful work-life integration, and the impact of past mentors and opportunities.

Overview

00:00 Introduction

02:50 Introduction to the Book Writing Journey

03:28 The Philosophy of Free Knowledge

04:51 The Writing Process and Idea Generation

07:12 Structuring and Refining the Book

10:08 Finding Your Voice and Writing Routine

11:51 Future Writing Projects and Reflections

20:09 Balancing Work and Personal Fulfillment

26:04 Final Reflections and Gratitude

Related Links:

Graham’s Home page and LinkedIn Profile and his books

CAL120 Part 1 episode with Graham on his previous career pivots

CAL121 Part 2 episode with Graham on team vision alignment