My Four Favorite Waco Writing Spots

Caroline Franks, Consultant

Over the past two years at Baylor University, I’ve spent countless hours completing homework assignments, studying for various exams, and writing (so much writing)! And through this experience, one thing that I’ve discovered is absolutely necessary is a creative work environment. As a result, I’ve spent time at every coffee shop in town while searching for my favorite places, and I’ve compiled my top four spots here to share with you (in no specific order). Each spot has a different atmosphere and energy to match your writing day mood, helping you to make great progress, no matter the writing task.

Pinewood

    Pinewood is a popular study destination for Baylor students, and with good reason. There’s nothing like a rainy-day Pinewood experience for cozy atmosphere, surrounded by dim lighting, wiid accents, big windows, and general 70s style. When I have a long paper to write, I tend to gravitate to Pinewood and set up camp there for at least few hours at a time, with the quiet background noise of the space helping me focus on extended tasks. The only downfall is the busy nature of the coffee shop, which can make finding a spot quite difficult, particularly in the afternoon. However, if you get there early and find a nice seat, you’ll definitely be able to complete an assignment or two.

    Fabled Bookshop and Café

    Fabled is an absolute favorite of mine! The creative energy is like no other, with the colorful accents, whimsical décor, and tasty drinks. This makes it the perfect spot when I need to brainstorm new ideas or to edit a paper to enhance its quality. However, Fabled is also the perfect spot for taking a much-break from a current writing task, with little surprises around each corner of the store that are perfect for taking a few moments away from your work. I typically gravitate towards the seasonal table, coffee table books, or JellyCat selection in the children’s section, but there’s something close by for every personality and preference. Because of this balance, Fabled has consistently been a spot where I can read articles, write a paper, or relax and enjoy a new book. 

    Magnolia Press

    This spot genuinely makes me feel like I’m on vacation, which is quite inspirational when I feel burnt out from the writing workload of the semester. Almost every time I go to Magnolia Press, there’s a multitude of tourists, which provides such an electric and excitable energy that is positively contagious. This energy inspires me when I’m trying to start new projects or begin writing a paper that I might have been procrastinating on, making it really helpful for breaking through barriers like writer’s block. And for an added incentive, whenever it’s time to take a break, I can just pop into one of the many stores on Magnolia’s property. This unique space provides a lot of motivation for me, and I hope it can for you too!

    For Keeps Coffee and Bakery

    This is one of my newer study spots. For Keeps is further from Baylor’s campus, but it’s a nice retreat from the typical campus environment. The relaxing and subdued atmosphere genuinely makes me feel like I’m at a coffee shop on the beach (which would be my ideal work environment). This environment inspires me to work on writing projects that I may have had on the back burner or that seemed stressful to get started on, as the calming energy enhances my readiness to take on these projects. Along with the calming atmosphere, For Keeps always has a delicious selection of pastries that perfectly complements the drink selection, so you can get yourself a treat for taking on a difficult task. One downfall is that parking is hard to come by, but if you get there early you’ll definitely be able to find a spot.

    Space

    All in all, there’s a lot of great coffee shops around Waco, and each has something unique to offer as a workspace. Hopefully this review will inspire you to try some new study spots as well, ones that will inspire your writing as they have inspired my own.

    Writing a Research Statement: A Brief Overview and Tips for Success

    Jasmine Stovall, Consultant

    Research statements have become an increasingly common required component of job application materials for positions in academia, specifically those that are research focused. The purpose of this blog post is to provide a brief overview of what a research statement is, why they are important, how they differ from other job application materials, and offer some tips and helpful advice for writing one.

    What is a research statement?

    To begin, let’s first discuss what a research statement is. Whether you are new to the job application material world or just need a refresher, this is always a great starting point. Having a clear definition of the type of writing you are setting out to do will help you to set more precise writing goals and develop an outline that is in alignment with the required and expected content of the genre as well as any job or field specific conventions.

    A research statement is generally defined as a written summary of your research experiences past, present, and future (Writing a Research Statement-Purdue OWL). Specifically, it highlights your previous accomplishments (most often your thesis, dissertation, or postdoc research), any current projects you are working on, and proposed projects for the future (Research Statement-Cornell University).

    Why is it important?

    Research statements are important because they allow a hiring committee to evaluate your academic journey and get to know you, not just as a student but also as a professional researcher and active member of the scholarly community. They further allow you as the applicant to inform the committee of what exactly it is that you do, how your previous and future work aligns with the position to which you are applying, how you would be an asset to the department, and ways in which your scope of research can potentially form fruitful collaborations with existing faculty, partnerships with other industries, and engage students. And on a broader scale, the research statement highlights how your research interests and areas of expertise will bring funding to the university and advance the research status of the institution.

    How is it different from a CV, cover letter, etc.?

    The biggest differences between a research statement and most other job application materials, particularly a CV, are the length and the style of content. While CVs can be several pages, research statements tend to be shorter (three pages maximum) and discuss your research projects detail, rather than as a brief line on your CV. Another difference is that a research statement discusses proposed research, which is generally uncommon for CVs.

    Research statements are different from cover letters in that the subject matter is narrower, with your work as the central focus more so than yourself as a person. Cover letters are generally all-encompassing, highlighting hard and soft skills and speaking to your accomplishments personally, professionally, and academically. They make you stand out while also expressing your interest in the position you are applying for and showing why you would be the ideal candidate.

    Tips and Helpful Advice for Getting Started

    As is the case with most writing projects, the hardest part is getting started. Listed below are some helpful tips to keep in mind and use as a guide when beginning to write your research statement.

    1. Use your CV – While the CV differs from a research statement, it still contains a plethora of valuable information as it relates to your research projects and accomplishments, making it a great starting point when it comes to outlining your research statement, deciding which information to include, how to structure it, etc. So, don’t hesitate to lean on it to get the ball rolling if you find yourself stuck.
    • Focus on examples – Rather than just stating what you’ve done and would like to do, be sure to use specific examples to describe how your research findings have contributed to the scholarly community and the different ways your proposed future research will continue to build upon that. Don’t be afraid to showcase your work (Writing a Research Statement-Carnegie Mellon University).
    • Make connections – When brainstorming ideas for your research statement, let the main themes of your research and the problems you have tackled or plan to tackle within that main theme serve as a guide in your thought process. When writing, try to prioritize drawing upon these main themes, keeping the big picture and your ‘why’ in mind, then make connections between these main themes/big picture ideas and your specific research goals.
    • Be clear, concise, and realistic – Remember that there will be people from various subdisciplines reading your research statement. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of your audience when it comes to the use of technical jargon and overall word choice. This is where having peer reviewers outside of your field can be helpful.

    I hope you found this blog post to be helpful. Should you find yourself in need of a second set of eyes to look over your research statement draft or to help with the drafting process, feel free to reach out to the GWC to schedule a consultation.