“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
– Zig Ziglar
Dear Colleagues,
It is the year’s final stretch, and I thought to share a few updates with you. Throughout the year I have been nurturing my writing, scholarly, and professional efforts in other platforms and I would like to share a few of those updates.
In February this year, I launched my new Academic Newsletter, “The Qualitative Inquisition.”
https://qualinquisition.substack.com/
This began as a monthly newsletter. I was able to complete my final edition of 2024 today.
I have 7 Editions thus far and plan to increase the distribution frequency in the new year.
I was planning to start an academic/professional blog for some time beyond my independent professional and personal blogging here and in other spaces online. I started blogging more frequently on this blog at the beginning of my second qualitative fieldwork assessment in Pakistan. You may see some of the images of those posts show up in the home page.
I will continue to update this blog and website, but this Qi newsletter aims to supplement my academic research alongside my professional consulting work.
You can read more about the vision and purpose behind the Qi newsletter, in my Medium article,which I wrote earlier this year.
The newsletter focuses on the transformative and philosophical power of qualitative research methods in the social and political sciences. The primary goal of a public platform for academics is to promote public scholarship and advance reach to a broader global audience. So I look forward to finding connections with other scholars and researchers through the avenue while offering my support and expertise.
Please consider subscribing to my Newsletter. There are monthly, annual, and free subscription options.
I am very excited about the prospects of my newsletter, in reaching people interested in qualitative research and connecting it to other endeavors.
Here are the first seven editions of The Qualitative Inquisition:
Welcome to the First Edition of “The Qualitative Inquisition” Newsletter!
Diving In: The Value of Qualitative Inquiry
The Power of Storytelling in Qualitative Research
The Art of Storytelling: When Journalism Meets Qualitative Research
Harnessing Creativity and Authenticity in The Qualitative Inquisition
Reflexivity: An Indispensable Tool for Self-Awareness in Qualitative Inquiry
Beyond the Lens: How Our Identities Drive Qualitative Inquiry
You can access these articles for free, as a free or paid subscriber.
If you enjoyed any of these editions, please consider being a subscriber, and I look forward to supporting your journey in qualitative and mixed methods research and all of what that entails.
I also write on Medium on various topics, including personal and professional development, mental health, academia, politics and general topics.
Here is the link to my Medium profile: https://medium.com/@elsatalatkhwaja .
If you are on Medium, please be sure to join my network and I look forward to reading your work!
Here are a few other links to articles relevant to my academic research:
Social Inclusion Amid Fragility: A Network Lens for Localization
Reflections on Afghanistan: A Nation in Crisis
Medium is a great place for public scholarship and writing apprenticeship and all kinds of writers, including academics, research analysts, and journalists.
I started The Qualitative Inquisition because I was looking for avenues to sharpen my skills on qualitative methods outside of academic spaces, sharing what I have learned and connecting with others in the larger community, after completing my doctorate and in the search for the next opportunity.
In my newsletter, I share some of the benefits and reasons for pursuing qualitative methods in our research projects, particularly from the lens of social science, touching on the potential of in-depth analyses of human and social dynamics, understanding subjectivity and diverse viewpoints, the flexibility and adaptability for challenging research designs, the empowerment for the researcher and research informants, elevating underrepresented voices and perspectives, and ultimately complementing quantitative research methods.
These concepts will be reflected in topics within future editions as well.
I also briefly discuss how qualitative research has enriched my professional pursuits in international development and public policy, particularly for the necessary critical thinking and personal/professional “empowerment.”
This only begins to unpack the promise and potential demonstrated by qualitative research methods, and I look forward to continuing this conversation with all of you!
I enjoyed writing the first 7 editions of the newsletter, and I know that others may resonate with my observations and insights here. It goes to the heart of why we are passionate about qualitative research, especially those who study the experiences of marginalized and vulnerable populations around the world.
Each newsletter edition will include some book recommendations below the piece, what I’m quoting these days, the answer to the previous edition’s trivia and a new trivia question, reflection prompts, alongside a top news roundup.
You can learn more about the benefits of being a subscriber in the newsletter About Section and first edition.
I am also building a Resources section for Qi that will include citations, references, books, and more.
I plan to gradually increase the frequency to a weekly newsletter, as time permits in the early months of 2025.
Among other updates this past year to my website was the Services menu tab.
Earlier this year, I started my independent consulting business, and have opened up my services to consulting for international development agencies and other organizations. I have also connected my consulting work to my Qi newsletter as well.
I am on a few other platforms, including Upwork and Devex as well. I look forward to continuing to offer my services and build connections and collaborations in 2025!
Lastly, you may find my full portfolio life here on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/dr.elsatkhwaja.
Alongside the general links to all my online platforms, you will find links to articles and my creative endeavors. I hope to continue building my portfolio on this website and other platforms.
Cheers to embracing the ‘portfolio life,’ immersing our whole selves in every space, and harnessing our creativity, authenticity, and fullest potential.
Thank you for staying connected and exploring the transformative power of qualitative inquiry.
I look forward to sharing more updates in the new year and continuing the momentum to build connection and community!
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Hope you’ll join the conversation.
Solidarity and Peace,
Dr. Elsa
