UQP Non-fiction Incubator

Beyond the Academic Paywall: Translating Research for New Audiences

Dr Caroline Graham

Meet the Non-Fiction Incubator, a bold new project at UQ that's teaching academics to trade dense journal articles for compelling storytelling. At the helm is Dr Caroline "Caro" Graham, an award-winning investigative journalist and UQ Digital Journalism lecturer who knows a thing or two about making complex stories sing.

Graham brings serious credentials to the table. Her 2021 book "Larrimah" - a gripping investigation into a mysterious disappearance in a tiny outback town of just 12 residents - became an Australian bestseller and earned spots on multiple award shortlists. Now she's sharing these storytelling secrets with academics.

The four-month workshop series, launched in late 2024, starts with the basics: "What's unique about your work?" Graham challenges participants. "How do you articulate it? What's at the heart of it for you and how do you make sure that's baked into the architecture of the project?"

From there, the program dives deep into narrative structure and creative writing skills before culminating in real-world pitches to industry professionals. But Graham's vision extends beyond book deals. "It will be lovely if they get contracts," she says, "But it will also be lovely if some participants find a way of thinking about their work that they didn't before."

Designed in collaboration with University of Queensland Press, the Incubator challenges the academic world's obsession with measurable outcomes. As Graham puts it, "What is the creative role of the arts in the community? Narrative is a part of that." Her message is clear: sometimes the journey of learning to tell your story matters as much as the destination.