The Grey Lit Café

Spineless Wonders is the splendid title for a splendid exhibition at the University of London's Senate House Library - an exhibition of unbound material in myriad formats, spanning five hundred years of printing.This episode reviews the exhibition with its three curators:Tansy Barton (Academic Librarian)Christos Fotelis (Conservator)Leila Kassir (Academic Librarian)We consider how the exhibition came about, how exhibits were selected, what the aim of the exhibition is, and which exhibits constitute the curators' favourites. And, as a by-product of our discussion we reflect on established themes of the podcast, namely how grey literature is defined and what relationship it has to ephemera.Details of the exhibition, which continues to 15 November 2025, together with supporting digital resources, may be found on the University of London's website, here.Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:Before Spotify: the remarkable story of chautauquasBut what about letters? Their scholarly use as grey literatureHow to define grey literature? The implications of lettersCredit The music is from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

If you're studying on the University of Cambridge's Multidisciplinary Design course, this episode is for you.The episode focuses on the visual aspects of advice. It seeks to provide pragmatic recommendations that will make a marked difference to the communicative effectiveness of your poster presentation.Contents00:00 Navigation01:56 Visual aspects of text04:25 Contrast07:21 Alignment09:13 Naming10:29 Further resourceFurther ResourcesRobin Williams, The non-designer’s design book, 4th edn (PeachpitPress, 2014).Writing, designing, and presenting a poster (a writing protocol): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bW8sj5j1W70PjYLUuLgPLPADyOvUOXVV/view/.Credit: The music, from Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, is courtesy of the US Marine Band. Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

If you're studying on the University of Cambridge's Multidisciplinary Design course, this episode is for you.The episode focuses on the (quite radical) implications of the context of poster displayspectators' behaviouraspects of inclusive practice.These considerations will help you to optimise the communicative effectiveness of your poster presentation.Contents00:00 Key issues03:29 Allocation of space on the poster04:43 Non-linear sequencing07:40 InclusivenessCredit: The music, from Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, is courtesy of the US Marine Band. Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

If you're a student on the University of Cambridge's Multidisciplinary Design course (GM1), this episode is for you.Indeed, it focuses on considerations specific to the course, based on observations from previous cohorts' presentations.This is the third of three episodes on presentations. There is a parallel set of episodes on poster presentations.Contents00:00 Group prsentations01:35 Use of space03:30 Q & A09:14 Further resourcesLinkThe protocol, 'Giving a presentation', is available from the Frontinus website, here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QyT64vNnO7RXUhoWj9WBStOewtOwzv6s/view.Credit: The music is from Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, courtesy of the US Marine Band.Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

If you're a student on the University of Cambridge's Multidisciplinary Design course (GM1), this episode is for you.The episode stems from consideration of the pitfalls presenters fall into concerning use of slides.Simply by avoiding these pitfalls, you can make your presentation outstandingly communicative.This is the second of three episodes on presentations. There is a parallel set of episodes on poster presentations.Contents00:00 Key issues04:37 Audience engagement07:10 The three functions of slides12:57 Using slides interactively15:51 Implications for time managementCredit: The music is from Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, courtesy of the US Marine Band.Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

If you're a student on the University of Cambridge's Multidisciplinary Design course (GM1), this episode has been created for you.The episode stems from consideration of the big pitfalls presenters often fall into and provides advice on how to avoid them.Simply by avoiding the pitfalls, you can make your presentation outstandingly good.Contents00.00 'Presentation' and 'slides' aren't synonyms02:37 Where to look and why08:06 Creating flow10:18 Getting the timing rightFurther listeningThis is the first of three episodes on presentations. The other two concern:slidestactics concerning group presentations and course-specific factors.Credit: The music is from Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, courtesy of the US Marine Band. Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

If you’re a student on the Multidisciplinary Design course (GM1), this episode has been created for you.Understandably, students tasked with preparing a poster presentation tend to assume that it’s all about the poster itself. Of course, the poster’s the primary component of a poster presentation. But there’s more to poster presentation than that. This episode explains the why and the how concerning two further components of poster presentations. Attending to all three components of a poster presentation will help you to optimise the way you engage your audience and communicate your work.Contents00:00 What’s in the series?00:58 What are the components of a poster presentation?03:02 Who are you communicating with?05:36 What does your poster not say?07:07 How can you add value with supplementary resources?10:23 Where next?Further episodesThis episode is the first of a series of episodes on poster presentations. The others are:How to optimise your use of space on your posterHow to optimise design features on your posterA parallel set of episodes deals with presentations. Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

"Three years have passed; five summers, with the length/ Of five long winters!" (as William Wordsworth wrote). This episode was recorded to mark the third anniversary of The Grey Lit Café's first episode ('Welcome to the Grey Lit Café') and the conclusion of our seventh season. We briefly review the season in the context of our developing conception of how best to discuss grey literature and we look ahead to the next season, which promises a novel focus.Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:Another season over and what have we done?How meetings work, with Carrie GoucherDon't fall in love with your work, with Sabuhi EssaCreditsAudio production and editing: Anthony HaynesOpening announcement: Engy MoussaMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

A key role of grey literature is to provide an interface between industry and academic research. In this episode, we continue our focus on innovation in grey literature by interviewing Dr Joseph Gibbons, Principal Technical Advisor at Natural Power Ireland.Joseph outlines a scheme he established to enable doctoral students to spend time in industry, working on research projects that formed the basis of their dissertations.Joseph explains:what the scheme entailsits rationalehow it was implementedabove all, the benefits of the scheme for all stakeholders.LinksJoseph's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-gibbons/Natural Power: https:www.naturalpower.com/ukFurther listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:Dissertations and books: how are they related?How to give a presentation on engineering?CreditsAudio editing: Dr Bart Hallmark Music: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: A persistent theme on The Grey Lit Café is the role of grey literature genres in higher education. We've published episodes on abstracts, dissertations, essays, online lectures, posters, and slide decks.In this episode, we take up a challenge from our recent episodes on essays: what alternatives - when it comes to expository and discursive communication - are there to essays?Here, in the second of two interviews, Dr James Austin (University of Connecticut)  explains how his pedagogy encompasses student production of podcasts.ReferencesJames's publications are itemised on his university page: https://english.uconn.edu/person/james-austin/.Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:Slide decks: their developmental useHow effective are essays as an academic genre? The case of examinationsHow effective are essays as an academic genre? The case of examinationsOnline lectures: Bart Hallmark on pitfalls and good practicePosters as a form of research communicationCreditsAudio editing: Dr Bart Hallmark Music: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: A persistent theme on The Grey Lit Café is the role of grey literature genres in higher education. We've published episodes on abstracts, dissertations, essays, online lectures, and posters. In this episode we take up a challenge from our recent episodes on essays: what alternatives - when it comes to expository and discursive communication - are there to essays? Here, in the first of two interviews, Dr James Austin (University of Connecticut)  explains how his pedagogy encompasses student production and presentation of slide decks. ReferencesPublications referred to by James are itemised on his university page: https://english.uconn.edu/person/james-austin/. Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:How effective are essays as an academic genre? The case of examinationsHow effective are essays as an academic genre? The case of examinationsOnline lectures: Bart Hallmark on pitfalls and good practicePosters as a form of research communicationCreditsAudio editing: Dr Bart Hallmark Music: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

If you work in comms, you're used to clients (internal or external) announcing, "We need a poster!"You have to laugh.Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:The games we play in science and research communicationDon't fall in love with your work, with Sabuhi EssaBefore Spotify: the remarkable story of chautauquasCreditsAudio production and editing: Anthony HaynesMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: In our previous episode, How effective are essays as an academic genre?, we examined essays specifically as a tool for assessment in academic contexts. In this episode we return to the genre of essays but consider their use on courses outside examinations. Engy Moussa and I debate the strengths and weaknesses of the genre - and try to remain polite without holding back on our disagreements!Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:Dissertations and books: how are they related?On line lectures: Bart Hallmark on pitfalls and good practiceCreditsSound production: Bart Hallmark (who on this episode struggled nobly with poor recording quality!)Music: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: On The Grey Lit Café we frequently focus on specific genres.* In this episode, we focus on the genre of essays. In particular, we discuss the use of essays in examinations. Engy Moussa (University of Cambridge) and I debate:the strengths and weaknesses of essays as an assessment toolmultiple ways to help students improve the quality of their essays*Examples include abstracts, blogs, book proposals, dissertations, emails, funding proposals, letters, online lectures, newsletters, pitches, preprints, podcasts, posters, reports, and white papers.Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:Dissertations and books: how are they related?On line lectures: Bart Hallmark on pitfalls and good practiceReferenceStella Cottrell, The study skills handbook (Palgrave)CreditsSound production: Bart Hallmark (who on this episode struggled nobly with poor recording quality!)Music: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Policy Commons is on a mission to make grey literature - especially in the form of reports, more discoverable and accessible. Its content platform, Coherent Digital, hosts over 12 million documents - and the number is growing rapidly.Who better to discuss this massive initiative than Toby Green, Founder and Publisher of Policy Commons? In this episode, Toby explains what Policy Commons is, what it exists for, where it's going next, and, crucially, the benefits that it provides to stakeholders - notably publishers, librarians, and readers.In the process, Toby provides an expert perspective on several themes concerning grey literature in general. They include the definition and characterisation of grey literature, questions of scope and scale, and the need to make digital publications sustainable (notably through persistent identifiers). LinksPolicy Commons website: https://policycommons.net/Our episode with John Barbrook: Decolonising the library and grey literatureFurther listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:David Baxter on effective grey literature: the case of reports on gamblingSponsored reports: David Baxter on the interface between research and policyInnovation in grey literature dissemination: Cora Cole on GreyLitCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes is the author and publisher of an extensive series of Writing Protocols. In this episode, Engy Moussa interviews Anthony on how to produce protocols in order to get things done - and get them done well.In the process, they discuss such questions as:What is a protocol?How to compose protocolsHow are they used and what is their rationale?What is the relationship between protocols and learning?Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:How to write abstracts (I): structure and toneHow to write abstracts (II): processesThe case of case studies, with Dr Farrah ArifCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: In this, our latest genre-based, episode, Engy Moussa and I explore newsletters - primarily from the perspective of the reader. We range widely, exploring questions concerning quantity, spatial design, schedules, the reading journey, distinction, and offputting features. And we review our favorite examples, asking what can be learned from them about the art of the newsletter.And, finally, we consider the benefits to writers of contributing to newsletters.LinksOur episode on managing emails: Managing emailsOur episode on Robin Williams' book: The non-designer's design book The Royal Mint: www.royalmint.comBuzzsprout Weekly: www.buzzsprout.com/2366845/shareJenni Field: From chaos to calmBritish Ecological Society: newsletterJames Clear: 3-2-1Further listeningWe hope you've found this episode a rewarding listen. If so, you might enjoy the following genre-based episodes:White papers: what are they? what are they for? how do they add value?How to get blogging and stay blogging Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: It was a treat for this episode to be able to interview Rob Johnson, founder and Managing Director of Research Consulting Ltd. RC is a long-established organisation dedicated to improving the effectiveness and impact of research and scholarly communication. Rob and his colleagues have worked on a vast range of projects with a variety of stakeholders, including funding agencies, universities, learned societies, and, increasingly, publishers. This wide-ranging interview provides a multitude of insights into all things grey - including the changing landscape (including open access), genres ((including reports and alternatives to them), and the process of co-creation.In particular, Rob provides guidance on such topics as metadata and infrastructure, sustainability of publications, the marketing and promotion of research comms, and the crucial role in communication behaviours of incentives.LinkResearch Consulting's website is here: https://www.research-consulting.com/Frontinus's white paper, Research Communication and Grey Literature, is available here: https://writeyourresearch.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/03-nov-20-white-on-grey.pdf.Further listeningWe hope you've found this episode a rewarding listen. If so, you might enjoy the following episodes:David Baxter on effective grey literature: the case of reports on gamblingInnovation in research dissemination: Cora Cole on GreyLitSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

One question we explore on this podcast is that of antecedents: what came before podcasts? This episode tells the wonderfully rich history of chautauquas - an enterprising means of bringing entertainment and informal education to small-town America. Chautauquas can be thought of as a kind of predigital Spotify.Reference James R. Schultz, The romance of small-town chautauquas (Univ. of Missouri Press, 2002)Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might particularly enjoy the following:Where do podcasts come from? Letters as an antecedentHow to get blogging and stay bloggingCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: This episode is the third of our series on the relationship between letters and grey literature.  In the first, we made the case, using the case of the correspondence of communications theorist I.A. Richards, for considering letters as a form of grey literature. In the second, using the case of correspondence between George Lyttleton and Rupert Hart-Davis, we explore the idea of letters as an antecedent of podcasts.Now we consider what implications the idea of counting letters as a genre of grey literature has for the way we define grey literature.We discuss various definitions of #greylit, notably those related to publishers, genres, and distribution channels. We argue that such definitions are problematic and that consideration of letters helps to highlight several faultlines. Overall, the most established definitions of grey literature need overhauling.Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might particularly enjoy the following:But what about letters: their scholarly use as grey literatureWhere do podcasts come from?Why we need to talk about silver literatureCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: Cultural forms and communicative genres tend not to emerge from a vacuum: they tend to emerge from existing forms. In the case of podcasts, obvious candidates include lectures, essays, sermons, and radio interviews. And, we suggest here, letters. In this, the second of a series of three episodes devoted to the topics of letters,  we examine the resemblance between podcasting and letters.Using as a case study the literary correspondence between George Lyttleton and Rupert Hart-Davis, we explore the significance of various aspects of content and form, ranging from voice and types of orality to friendship and disagreement.ReferenceThe Lyttleton Hart-Davis letters were published in six volumes by John Murray (1978-84).Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might particularly enjoy the following:But what about letters: their scholarly use as grey literatureOnline lecturing, with Bart HallmarkCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Grey literature covers a multitude of genres - for example, reports, white papers, preprints, and newsletters. But what about letters?Letters are not usually listed amongst grey literature forms, but this episode puts the case for why letters should sometimes be considered as grey literature. Reflecting on the letters of literary theorist I.A. Richards, the episode both examines the advantages of considering letters in this light and explores issues and implications that arise from this way of thinking.References and linksGreyNet International's list of document types is here: https://thegreylitcafe.buzzsprout.com/1936705/13201726-understanding-preprints-with-jonny-coates.Selected letters of I.A. Richards, edited by John Constable (Oxford: Clarendon, 1990).Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode , you might also enjoy the following episodes:Consuming grey literature: a reader's perspectiveThe business of professional writingUnderstanding preprints, with Jonny CoatesCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Overwriting - producing a draft that exceeds your word (or page) limit - is an extremely common problem amongst writers in science, research, and professional areas. In this episode, Engy Moussa interviews Anthony Haynes. They examine why this problem arises, what harm it does, and, crucially, how to overcome the problem. The discussion outlines practical solutions, with an emphasis on how to prevent the problem from arising. Topics include the psychology of writing and techniques for planning, reviewing, and editing.Further listeningWe hope you enjoyed listening to this episode. You might also enjoy:Wasted words: our antidote to verbosityGrey literature workflows: the surprising role of pen & paperDon't fall in love with your work: Sabuhi Essa on creative processesCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: On The Grey Lit Café we frequently explore grey literature by genre. Here we extend our coverage to the genre of case studies.To guide us, we interview Dr Farrah Arif, Senior Lecturer at the University of Hull. Farrah takes us on an expert, and enthusiastic, tour of the genre, taking in:how case studies work and what they are used forthe attraction of case studies and their benefitswhat to do when writing cases - and what not to dohow to develop as an author of case studiesFurther listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might find the following of interest:The art of pitching, with Dr Yuxia ZouOnline lecturing, with Dr Bart HallmarkHow meetings work, with Dr Carrie GoucherReferences and linksShawn Callahan, Putting stories to work (Pepperberg Press), reviewed on our podcast here: https://thegreylitcafe.buzzsprout.com/1936705/13793500-review-putting-stories-to-work-by-shawn-callahan.Ken Jones, Designing your own simulations (Methuen, 1985).David A. Kolb, Experiential Learning: experience as the source of learning and development (Prentice Hall, Inc., Pearson Education, 1983)CreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: I've long fought for a greater appreciation of forms of serious communication, other than just books and journal papers - forms such as reports, white papers, presentations, and blogs.But it's difficult because the collective term for such forms is 'grey [or 'grey'] literature', which is a term likely to enthuse anyone.'Grey' too easily evokes dullness and drabness. So the term won't do. Instead, I propose 'silver literature' - a term that does more justice to the sense that such works are valuable. Silver literature constitutes a vault of huge value.Why, even those users of research who continue to assert that peer-reviewed journal papers represent a 'gold standard' of scientific communication must surely acknowledge that.Here, then, to mark our 50th episode is a proposal: speak not of grey lit, but of silver lit. #silverlitFurther listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might find the following of interest:The games we play in science and research communicationWelcome to The Grey Lit CaféAnother season over and what have we done?ReferencesThomas Gray, 'Elegy written in a  country churchyard'CreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Many engineers need to give presentations. They do so in a variety of contexts - for example, as part of a pitch, project report, conference, or  job application. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a top-quality resource on how to do presentations, specifically about engineering?Well, there is! This episode introduces Rothwell & Cloud's Engineering speaking by design,ReferenceEdward J. Rothwell & Michael J. Cloud, Engineering Speaking by Design: Delivering Technical Presentations with Real Impact (Routledge)Further listeningWe hope you enjoyed listening to this episode. You might also enjoy:Review: Putting stories to work, by Shawn CallahanThe art of pitching, with Yuxia ZouWordclouds: a neglected form of grey literatureCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Word processing has been around a long time now - so long, that we barely use the phrase anymore. So dominant in our workflows has it become that we act as though there's no need to distinguish it - as if there is simply no alternative. So pen and paper have become redundant forms of technology then?Well, no, actually. This episode dares, unfashionably, to explore how non-digital technology can contribute to the workflows used in the creation of pieces of professional and scientific communication.And before anyone shouts, "Technophobia!" - no, not a bit. The argument is simply that different forms of technology have different capacities and potentials - and that there are some processes where pen and paper can come into their own.In the process, we explore document design, types of paper, and the nature of composition,Reference and linksSven Birketts, The Gutenberg Elegies (Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 2006)The pen shop in Oxford is Pens Plus.Further listeningIf you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy the following episodes:Don't fall in love with your work: Sabuhi Essa on creative processesWasted words: our antidote to verbosityLearning to become design literate: a key resourceSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

You can wait a long time for ambitious innovations in the communication of science and research - and then two come along together.In our previous episode, Scholarly Podcasts, Mack Hagood articulated his thinking behind a novel approach to podcasting.Now we're delighted to publish our interview with Prof. Giovanni Salucci (University of Florence) and Dr Erika Paoletti on a novel approach to blogging.Blogging, of course, is no longer new to the field of scientific and scholarly communication. But in this interview Giovanni and Erika introduce a bold innovation - the notion of 'quality blogs' (QBs)They explain what QBs are, how they relate to both other forms of blogs and journal papers, and the crucial role of metadata. Though the interviews with Giovanni & Erika and Mack are designed to make sense independently, we suggest they're best thought of as a  diptych. Together, they indicate ways to enrich the communication of serious content.References and linksThe proposal for QBs is outlined in 'The Quality Blog: Proposal of a New Format in Lieu of Academic Research Blog' (Journal of Scholarly Publishing, Volume 54 Issue 4, October 2023, pp. pp. 524-551).Further listeningIf you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy the following:Scholarly podcasts, with Mack HagoodInnovation in research dissemination, with Cora ColeOnline lecturing, with Bart HallmarkSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: Many scientists and researchers have come to realise that communicating their work effectively requires them to tell a story.But how?One resource is brilliant at answering that question: Putting stories to work, by Shawn Callahan. This review introduces some of Callahan's key insights and recommendations.ReferenceShawn Callahan, Putting stories to work (Pepperberg Press).Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might particularly enjoy the following:The case of case studies, with Dr Farrah ArifThe games we play in science and communicationCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: Nobody could accuse The Grey Lit Café of ignoring innovation in the communication of science and research! In fact, we're delighted to showcase innovative thinking, as in such episodes as  Innovation in research dissemination: Cora Cole on GreyLitOnline lecturing: Bart Hallmark on pitfalls and good practiceUnderstanding preprints with Jonny Coates- and shortly we'll be publishing an interview with Giovanni Salucci on his notion of 'the quality blog'. Here, in an episode fizzing with intellectual excitement, Mack Hagood develops some innovative thinking on podcasting.This episodeWhy should scholarship be done aloud? And how should 'sonic' scholarship be done?In pursuit of the answers to these questions, Mack Hagood (Associate Professor of Media and Communication at Miami University, Ohio) distinguishes between three types of podcast: 'hi-fi, mid-register'; 'lo-fi, high-register'the 'third way'  podcast - the form that Mack proposes as an alternative form to journal papers. In the process, Mack delves into the characteristics and the benefits of this new form.References and linksMack Hagood, 'The scholarly podcast: form and function in audio academia' in Jeremy Wade-Morris & Eric Hoyt, Saving new sounds: podcast preservation and historiography (University of Michigan, 2021).Mack Hagood's sites include:MactrasoundPhantom Power The researcher mentioned at Cambridge Judge Business School is Pearl Phaovisaid.The book on narrative is Shawn Callahan, Putting stories to work (Pepperberg Press, 2016).Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might also enjoy:Writing reports successfullySponsored reportCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Though opinions differ on the scope of grey literature, there's consensus that white papers represent a core genre of white papers.This episode examines the place of white papers in the grey literature landscape. In particular, itexplores what constitutes the essence of white papers, distinguishing them from such forms as (a) pure marketing material and (b) technical documentsexamines the purpose and value of white papersReferencesMichael A. Stelzner, Writing white papers (Whiepapersource, 2007)Jonathan Kantor, Crafting white paper 2.0 (Lulu, 2009)Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might also enjoy:Writing reports successfullySponsored reportCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences.We provideconsultancymentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Much of the content on The Grey Lit Café is pragmatic, concerned with how to improve the creation or management of grey literature ('greylit'). And some of it is conceptual. concerned with how to inform our thinking about greylit.This episode seeks to make a contribution by combining the two sets of concerns.From a pragmatic point of view, we consider how to improve the processes involved in the creation of such documents as grant proposals and responses to peer review.From a conceptual point of view, we consider how the key processes involved in greylit represent a form of game-playing. We draw here on the notion of 'homo ludens' as articulated by Johan Huizinga in his great work, Homo Ludens (1938)Recognizing the games involved in such processes as obtaining funding or getting a paper accepted for publication helps writers to interact effectively with other players (such as grant committees, editors, and peer reviewers) and to produce successful texts.ReferenceJohan Huizinga, Homo ludens (Angelico Press, 2016)Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might particularly enjoy the following:Why we need to talk about silver literatureWordclouds: a neglected form of grey literatureCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Having to pitch yourself and your work in order to win an opportunity is a standard component of professional and scientific life - and one that many people find challenging.In this episode, Dr Yuxia Zou (Nanyang Business School) reflects on her experience of pitching and identifies actionable insights for other pitchers. Yuxia reflects both on the activity itself and on the formative process behind it.Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might also enjoy:Developing proposals: insights from behind the scenesHow to write a research proposal and succeedDon't fall in love with your work, with Sabuhi EssaCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences.We provideconsultancymentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: Our episode on the relationship between dissertations (or theses) and books marked the final episode of our fourth season.Here, in this additional episode, I reflect on the season. What types of content have we published, in what genres of podcast?And what have been the key learning points?Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might also enjoy:Welcome to the Grey Lit CaféWhat makes a good podcast? What makes good comms?What makes a good podcast? Review of the Redefining Communications podcastCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: You've written a dissertation or thesis. You'd like to write a book. How are the two forms related? How to transition from one to the other? In this episode, we seek to provide detailed, professional, insights into making a success of the process.ResourcesWilliam Germano, From dissertation to book (Univ. of Chicago)Beth Luey, Revising your dissertation (Univ. of California)Eleanor Harman, The thesis and the book (Univ. of Toronto)Anthony Haynes, Writing successful academic books (Cambridge Univ.)Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might also enjoy:Writing book proposals (I): four things not to doWriting book proposals (II): five common pitfallsWriting book proposals (III): good practice for authorsCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: What are preprints?Where do they fit into the ecology of science publishing? And how did the pandemic change their role?What do people believe about preprints? How accurate are those beliefs?In this interview, Dr Jonny Coates (Associate Director, ASAPbio) demythologizes preprints and their role in research dissemination. Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might also enjoy:Developing proposals: insights from behind the scenesSponsored reports: David Baxrer on the interface between research and policyCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: The title is this episode forms the sub-title of a book by Gerard M. Crawley & Eoin O'Sullivan called The Grant Writer's Handbook.The episode on the latest in our series of reviews of grey literature resources. In it, I seek to characterize the book as a whole and identify some highlights of the book.Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might find the following of interest:Developing proposals: insights from behind the scenesOther reviews of resources, including Learning to become design literate and The business of professional writing: review of Accidental AuthorReferences'Writing grant proposals' in the Writing Protocols series.Gerard M. Crawley & Eoin O'Sullivan, Grant Writer's Handbook (ICP)CreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: On this podcast, we like to explore best practice in content development and content marketing. What does best practice look like? What mindset and processes are required to support its development - and, especially, to enable consistently high quality? in this episode, we learn from a remarkable content producer, TREW Marketing. Our star interviewee, Lee Chapman (President of Trew) reveals what has made Trew so productive and has enabled them consistently to meet high standards.In the process, the interview contributes to The Grey Lit Café's sustained exploration of what we consider to be an under-researched theme - the relationship between content marketing and grey literature.Links'An industrial marketer's guide to generative AI''Generative AI for marketing''2023 state of marketing to engineers''An engineer's guide to B2B content marketing'Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this thesis, you might enjoy the following:Cooms, business, and creativity: interview with Stephanie ShirleyWriting reports successfully: a professional viewCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: Sabuhi Essa, from (as she proudly declares) "the feet of the greatest mountains in the world" in northern Pakistan, trained in an art school in Pakistan, practiced architecture, and is now researching the topic of resilience whilst based in the University of Cambridge's Department of Engineering. Of all the hundred or thousands of creatives, writers, and researchers I've mentored, few if any have proved more receptive to feedback than Sabuhi - especially critical feedback. When I noticed this, I asked her, 'How come?' It turns out that her openness and receptiveness are a function of her design philosophy, which itself derives from a charismatic teacher at National College of the Arts in Lahore. In this episode, Sabuhi tells the story of the evolution of her design philosophy and explains how she applies that approach to various media, including drawing and writing.Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this thesis, you might enjoy the following:Writing reports successfullyStephanie Shirley shares expertise on comms, business, and creativity  CreditsSound production: Bart Hallmark*Music: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra* I confess that we threw Bart a curve-ball with this episode. When we started recording, we experienced a problem with audio quality at Sabuhi's end. We fixed that, but in the process somehow created a problem at my end. As a result, the file that Bart received was not in good shape. The quality here may not be up to our usual standards - but Bart certainly did his bit to improve it!Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: We've recorded two episodes on the topic of meetings. Why, on a podcast devoted to grey literature?Well, our guest, meetings guru Dr Carrie Goucher, argues that understanding (and improving) meetings benefits a 'systems' approach, in which we consider how they interact with the culture of an organization and its other forms of communication (which will include grey literature forms such as newsletters, email, documents, and online copy).And, more simply, though we don't think of meetings as a form of grey literature, they fulfill (or are supposed to fulfill) comparable functions - notably sharing perspectives and disseminating information.We published our interview with Dr Goucher a year ago. The episode we publish here was actually recorded before that episode, but we decided to hold it back in order to focus our promotion on the interview.Publishing this episode subsequently does, however, present a difficulty! In our interview with her, Dr Goucher argues (as I mentioned above) for a systems approach. As a result, she is rather unenthusiastic about the idea of publishing lists of decontextualized tips.Well, having interviewed her, I have to say that I think Dr Goucher's right! That said, the episode we now publish very definitely falls into the genre of list-of-tips.  Our hope is that, though this genre might not be ideal, such lists need not be valueless. The tips we share here are certainly borne out of years of observing (and even perpetrating) various kinds of practice, good, bad, and challenging-the-will-to-live.CitationCarrie Goucher's thesis was published under her previous surname of Bedingfield. The reference is: Bedingfield, C. (2021). Designing Meetings Systemically: Towards a deeper, more holistic understanding of how meetings work (Doctoral thesis). https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.75625.Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this thesis, you might enjoy the following:How meetings work: a constructive approach:Managing emails- and our episodes on productivity (in November & December 2022).CreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: I like listening to good podcasts about communications because I can learn in two ways simultaneously - from what the podcast says about communication and also from what they show through the good practice they embody.Frankly, I haven't found as many good podcasts on the topic as I'd hoped or expected. But there are some. And, in our occasional series dedicated to reviews of grey literature products, we like to analyse the best. Our first such episode reviewed Redefining Communications. Now, here, we review Emma Drakes' Communication Strategy That Works. We seek to identify some of the factors that make it a rewarding listen.LinkCommunication Strategy That Works is available here: https://open.spotify.com/show/4j8Lf9YFkSpKFbr3XHMxpC. Further listeningIf you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy:What makes a good podcast? Review of the Redefining Communications podcastPractical insights on blogging from an industry expert: the Stephanie Shirley interviewCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: "Email? - no sweat!"; "Email is no kind of bane to me!" - one doesn't offer here such sentiments. Anyone who remembers the world of work before the advent of email will remember of feeling of wonder when email became available. When I started working in publishing, authors were required to mail hard copies of their typescripts (along with a 'floppy' disc - remember them?) With email, even those authors working in far-off lands could send their scripts with a push of a button.But for most people, that sense of wonder has largely been replaced by more negative emotions - feelings of being overburdened, wearied, and hassled.So there's a premium on efficient and effective means of managing email. Engy Moussa and I have for some time been collating practical resources on email management (the link is below).Here we share our top half-dozen tips. We hope they alleviate some of the pressure!LinkOur links to (a) a slide deck on how to manage email and (b) third-party resources are available here: https://writeyourresearch.wordpress.com/email-writing-and-management/. Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might enjoy listening to the following:Writing emails effectively: https://thegreylitcafe.buzzsprout.com/1936705/10664828-writing-emails-effectivelyHow meetings work: https://thegreylitcafe.buzzsprout.com/1936705/10743611-how-meetings-work-a-constructive-approachCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: 'Added bonus'; 'free gift'; 'forward planning'; 'pre-prepared': pleonasms - usages that involve redundant words - are all around us. In this episode, Engy Moussa and I have fun with the English language. We ask:what are the most common pleonasms?what types of pleonasm are there?do pleonasms matter?is pleonasm always a bad thing?how should we respond to pleonasm?Support the showReference and allusionsThomas Gray, 'Elegy written in a country churchyard'.Our use of 'one-uppersonship' (which we're hoping is a first: OED please note) alludes to Stephen Potter's writing on one-upmanship: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-upmanship.The allusion in the title of this episode is to the second stanza of Bob Dylan, 'It's alright, Ma (I'm only bleeding)'. (My rewrite of the text would be 'plays wasted words, proves to warn/ That he not busy thinking is rather sleeping'.)CreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: In our third season we had the pleasure of publishing an episode in which we interviewed Stephanie Shirley, Founder & Owner of Bennis Public Relations. on aspects of comms, business, and creativity. Here we're delighted to welcome Stephanie back for an interview focused on blogging. Stephanie is a consummate blogger: her blog, the Comm Entrepreneur, is a stand-out long-runner.   (By the way, on the recording I misidentify this as 'The Comm Engineer' :(  - my apologies to Stephanie for the slip of the tongue!)The interview enables bloggers, actual or prospective, to benefit from the insights and the wisdom that Stephanie has gained from her experience.Further information on Stephanie and her businessMost of Stephanie Shirley’s public relations career has been spent on the consultant side. At the age of 23, she left her newly appointed job within Pennsylvania's state government to take an entrepreneurial leap of faith and start her own PR consulting business, Bennis Public Relations.Now almost 12 years later, Bennis Public Relations has proudly assisted hundreds of clients locally and nationally, serving as their strategic partner who creates innovative and effective communication solutions to help grow a powerful and consistent brand. Stephanie has helped businesses of all sizes and industries navigate the challenging internal and external communications of branding, transitioning through acquisitions and leadership changes, developing comprehensive strategic communications strategies, and implementing those strategies, consistently and effectively. Stephanie is also called upon during critical moments when crisis communications and reputation management are central to the future viability of an organization, brand, or person.Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you may find the following episodes especially appealing:Stephanie Shirley shares her expertise on comms, business, and creativity: https://thegreylitcafe.buzzsprout.com/1936705/12168724-stephanie-shirley-shares-expertise-on-comms-business-and-creativityHow to get blogging and stay blogging: https://thegreylitcafe.buzzsprout.com/1936705/10248394-how-to-get-blogging-and-stay-bloggingCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: This episode is the first in an occasional series entitled "Behind the scenes", in which we seek to provide guidance to the creators of grey literature based on our professional experience of working on grey literature genres. Here we focus on grant proposals. First, we examine proposals from the authors' point of view: we identify typical pitfalls and then distill a series of constructive pointers. And second, we provide insights into the textual detail of proposals, based on our experience of editing a multitude of proposals.Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might find the following of interest:Writing reports successfully: a professional viewOur three-part series of episodes on writing book proposals, beginning hereReferences'Writing grant proposals' in the Writing Protocols series.Gerard M. Crawley & Eoin O'Sullivan, Grant Writer's Handbook (ICP)CreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

We published our first episode on 8 March 2022. This episode, our 29th, marks our anniversary. In it, we discuss the contribution of the podcast, placing it in the context of other grey literature publications.In particular, we attend to the question of perspectives - those of authors/originators, managers/information scientists, and readers/consumers.We suggest that distinctive contributions of our podcast include (a) its archival function and (b) an emphasis on pragmatic aspects of the creation/origination of grey literature. The latter concern articulates with the issue of quality infrastructure. Note: the episode referred to (around 02:07) has in fact now been published: Consuming grey literature: a reader's perspective (15 Sept 2022). ReferencesSarah Bonato, Searching the grey literature: a handbook for searching reports, working papers, and other unpublished research (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018).Michelle Leonard & Susan E. Thomas (eds), Managing grey literature: technical services perspectives (American Library Association, 1922).Dominic J. Farace & Joachim Schöpfel (eds), Grey literature in library and information studies (DeGruyter, 2010).The grey journal: an international journal on grey literature (TextRelease)Ulrich Harmes- Liedtke, Quality infrastructure for development: a platform for people interested in quality infrastructure. CreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: In the literary world there's no shortage of memoir or autobiography. If you want to read about the writing life from the point of view of a writer of fiction, say, or poetry, there's a multitude of options.But what about the writing life of an author of grey literature? I can't think of any such memoir - until now. Accidental Author is a memoir of the extraordinarily successful and prolific writing career of Dr Duncan Clarke. Accidental author narrates the story of his prolific career as the author of reports, briefings, presentations, and the like.In this episode, I'm pleased to review the book.ReferenceDuncan Clarke, Accidental author: fifty years writing Africa and the world (Royal Sable Publishing, 2023). ISBN 978-1-991220-12-7.Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might enjoy our other reviews:Learning to become design literate: a key resourceWhat makes a good podcast?CreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: Across the fields of librarianship, information science, and grey literature, questions concerning values have come strongly to the fore. In particular, the notion of decolonisation of intellectual capital has gained currency.In this interview with John Barbrook, Faculty Librarian at Lancaster University, we discuss the meaning and process of decolonisation. In the process, we consider the role of providing pathways for library users. In addition, we explore the relationship between grey literature and systematic review.LinksJohn Barbrook: https://lancaster.libguides.com/prf.php?account_id=140137Decolonising Lancaster University               https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/decolonising/Lancaster University library guides:Decolonising LibGuide                 https://lancaster.libguides.com/decolonisingSystematic review LibGuide              https://lancaster.libguides.com/SystematicReviews/Grey Literature LibGuide             https://lancaster.libguides.com/greylitResources: Overton.IO   https://www.overton.io/Policy Commons   https://policycommons.net/Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might enjoy the following:Interview with Sarah Bonato: Searching the grey literatureConsuming grey literature: a reader's perspectiveCreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: This podcast covers the production, management, and consumption of grey literature. Of these themes, we've placed most emphasis than most resources on the first.In the context of professional communication, we're interested in the creators - people and organizations - and their behaviors. This episode stems from that interest.I was delighted to have the opportunity to interview Stephanie Shirley, Founder & Owner of Bennis Public Relations. I've followed Stephanie online for many years and have been struck by the quality and consistency of her output - especially her long-running and outstanding blog, The Comm Entrepreneur,In the course of our conversation, we explore Stephanie's career history, vocation and motivation. In the process, Stephanie provides three pieces (bronze, silver, and gold) of advice, based on the lessons that she has learned from 12 years of business development.We also discussed The Comm Entrepreneur - Stephanie's reasons for running the blog and the benefits that accrue.Further listeningIf you enjoyed listening to this podcast, you might also be interested in the following episodes:How to get blogging and stay bloggingOur mini-series on productivity, including Improving your productivity through time managementWriting emails effectivelyFurther information on Stephanie and her businessMost of Stephanie Shirley’s public relations career has been spent on the consultant side. At the age of 23, she left her newly appointed job within Pennsylvania's state government to take an entrepreneurial leap of faith and start her own PR consulting business, Bennis Public Relations.Now almost 12 years later, Bennis Public Relations has proudly assisted hundreds of clients locally and nationally, serving as their strategic partner who creates innovative and effective communication solutions to help grow a powerful and consistent brand. Stephanie has helped businesses of all sizes and industries navigate the challenging internal and external communications of branding, transitioning through acquisitions and leadership changes, developing comprehensive strategic communications strategies, and implementing those strategies, consistently and effectively. Stephanie is also called upon during critical moments when crisis communications and reputation management are central to the future viability of an organization, brand, or person.CreditsSound production: Bart HallmarkMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

Anthony Haynes writes: In this episode, I was delighted to interview an expert on project management, namely Ville Helenius, Managing Director of Simbalite.In the interview, Ville draws on his vast and varied professional experience to articulate the relationship between contrasting approaches to project management. In the process he:reflects on the process of managing a writing project (using a dissertation as a case)introduces his ProMeSe (Program Method Selection) model.Further linksVille's programme management website, including his blog, is available via Si-PM.com. An entertaining novel on the subject, in an IT context, is The Phoenix Project.CreditsProduction: Bart HallmarkMusic: Harry ChalmersFurther listeningWe hope you enjoyed listening to this episode. If so, you might enjoy:Managing writing projects: two strategiesSelecting the best approach for your writing projectSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.