Author Archives: Kat Dawes

About Kat Dawes

My name is Kat Dawes and I began my PhD in Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University in September 2010. My course involves writing a novel and an accompanying critical commentary. I have a BA and MA in English Literature from Cardiff University. Following on from that I worked in the IT department of Aberystwyth Uni for a couple of years before travelling, then worked as a writer and editor for a surfing magazine company in Cornwall for five years. When I saw the Creative Writing PhD opportunities on offer so near my home village in Wales, I knew it was meant to be! The course and practice-based research itself is quite new, so it’s an exciting place to be.

Are You A Digital Researcher?

Contributer: Kat Dawes    Posted: February 18, 2012
Categories: Careers Advice & Job Information, Conferences & Networking

What do people find when they Google you — an attractive profile on LinkedIn or your own website or blog? Some photos you’d rather your mate hadn’t put Facebook? Or just some random comments hidden inside a PDF from three years ago? Do you think you don’t have time to develop digital research skills and profile yourself and your work on the web? Can you afford not to? Read More »

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Creative Writing: blogging about it

Contributer: Kat Dawes    Posted: January 30, 2012
Categories: Conferences & Networking, Creative Writing

I haven’t found all that many people blogging about their PhD experiences, probably because they’re way too busy researching to keep something else going (here I point to my own rather irregular publishing on this blog!). So I was pleased … Read More »

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NUS survey on financial support

Contributer: Kat Dawes    Posted: January 19, 2012
Categories: Careers Advice & Job Information

The NUS have initiated a large research project which includes a national qualitative survey, a literature review and analysis of government spending, and qualitative research projects commissioned from the students’ union membership. Findings from this project will be used to develop … Read More »

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Rejection and Re-motivation

Contributer: Kat Dawes    Posted: November 1, 2011
Categories: Creative Writing, Literature

I received my first rejection letter for my as-yet unfinished novel last week. A proud moment for any author! Advice to writers always stresses that you will receive many, many rejections  and that you must learn to deal with them. … Read More »

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Supervisor and Career Advisor?

Contributer: Kat Dawes    Posted: October 4, 2011
Categories: Careers Advice & Job Information, Creative Writing

A recent (very American) article in The Chronicle Of Higher Education struck an initial chord with me: To: Professors; Re: Your Advisees (September 28, 2011, Karen Kelsky). Karen Kelsky runs an ‘academic-career consulting business’ to help students, basically, get jobs … Read More »

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Reference management and citation software

Contributer: Kat Dawes    Posted: September 9, 2011
Categories: Literature

Back at the start of my first year, a member of Information Services led us through how to use EndNote to collect and manage references and sources, and I could see the joy it could bring to researchers. The amount … Read More »

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Voices in Fiction part 2

Contributer: Kat Dawes    Posted: September 1, 2011
Categories: Creative Writing, Writing Tips

After struggling to find my character’s voice, pretty essential for a first person narrative, I have re-written two substantial chapters, and the writing went fast and easily. The voice is stronger, but whether it’s totally believable I’m still not sure. … Read More »

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