Academic Book Writing Simplified: Write and Publish Your Academic Book

Are you an expert who wants to share your knowledge with the world, but doesn't know how to communicate your expertise into a book, or even where you’d find the time to write it? If you’re ready to take what you know and become the successful author of a nonfiction book, this episode is for you.  In today’s episode, Jane sits down with her coaching client Dr. Kemi Doll. Kemi Doll is the autho...

In this episode, Jane breaks down the three systems that every scholar writing an academic book needs: a system to manage your writing process, a system to manage your planning, and a system to manage your mindset.  A writing system will help you get ideas out of your head and onto the page in clearly-written, structured prose.  A project management system fit or establishing your publication time...

A postdoc can seem like a great opportunity to write an academic book. After all, you have so much uninterrupted time where you can do deep work on a long project. If you have to go back on the job market, however, you might be wondering if writing your academic book is the best strategic choice. Like everything else, it depends on your goals.  In today's episode, Jane answers a question she...

In today’s episode, Jane is joined by Dr. Allison Daminger, Assistant Professor of Sociology at University of Wisconsin. She is the author of the new book, What’s on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life. Allison is also an alumni of Jane’s book coaching program, Elevate (now known as Book Brilliance), where she worked on her book. Tune in to learn:  ➡️ How coaching helped Allison bust the...

Self-efficacy in academia isn't just about mindset—it's about recognizing structural barriers while reclaiming agency in your writing process. Jane interviews Kel Weinhold, co-owner of The Professor Is In, to explore how self-efficacy shapes your academic book project, why systemic constraints make it harder for some scholars (especially Black women and other minoritized academics), and...

Join Jane as she celebrates a year of podcasting and shares the lessons she’s learned while embarking on a brand-new, long-term project. Podcasting is similar to writing a book in important ways, and in this episode you’ll discover some key principles for thinking about long-term projects, staying consistent, and setting up systems for success.  This podcast would not exist without YOU! Thank you...

On today’s podcast, Jane welcomes Laura Portwood-Stacer to the podcast to discuss her new book, Make Your Manuscript Work: A Guide to Developmental Editing for Scholarly Writers . Laura is the founder of Manuscript Works, a writing consultancy with a mission to help scholars achieve clarity and confidence in their published work. She offers straightforward, empathetic feedback that takes the guess...

In today’s episode, Jane discusses what scholarly writers are really looking for when they say they need accountability. While accountability is essential for strong communities, there can also be a risk in always relying on others to maintain writing momentum.  ➡️ The difference between fostering reciprocal accountability in a community and using accountability selfishly.  ➡️ Why constantly looki...

In this episode, Jane shares an exciting announcement about a new program called Fundamentals of Academic Book Writing. Learn everything you need to know about the program, including:  ➡️ Why Jane decided to create this program and offer it now ➡️ The features of the program ➡️ Who Fundamentals is for ➡️ What you’ll gain if you enroll You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at how Jane coached he...

If you’re starting to write an academic book, you probably have a lot of questions. One of them might be, “how exactly do I get started?” You have a lot of options, but some paths are going to prove to be more productive than others. If you want to start in a way that sets you up for success throughout your writing journey, then this episode is for you. In today’s episode, Jane is going to discuss...

What’s required to create a solid book writing plan? What do you need to know to make sure that you can actually execute the plan that you make? Planning isn’t always easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. If you are ready to make a writing plan, or feeling discouraged about the plan you have, this episode is for you. Jane is going to introduce you to the three essential pillars of successfu...

Are you struggling to get work done during the time you’ve scheduled to write? Do you walk away from a writing session feeling like your time would have been better spent watching water boil? It’s frustrating to protect your time then feel like you have nothing to show for it. In today’s episode, Jane is going to share three strategies for bringing more focus to your writing sessions. With a combi...

If you're writing an academic book in the humanities or social sciences, you might feel like the stakes are high when it comes to nailing your introductory chapter. How do you pique your readers’ interest while laying the foundation for a complex argument? What can you do to make sure you give the reader the appropriate amount of context without inundating them with details?  In this episode...

In this episode, Jane addresses one of the most commonly asked questions from academic writers who are turning their dissertations into scholarly books: What should I do with the literature review? As you transition from dissertation to book, it's crucial to rethink how you approach the literature review. While your dissertation’s literature review may have been long and detailed, the introdu...

In this second episode of our series on book introductions, Jane answers the question of timing for book introductions. When is the best time to write the introduction? Should you do it first, or wait until you’ve written the entire book?  This question covers a few issues: workflow, mindset, and organization. Tune in to today’s episode to learn:  The real question you’re asking if you ask when to...

Your academic book’s introduction is your first opportunity to make an impression on your reader. It’s natural that you’d be worried about writing it well. One aspect of the introduction that authors tend to fixate on is length. How long should your introduction be?  In today’s episode, which is the first of a series on book introductions, Jane will discuss length. If you’re worried that your intr...

As you start writing this summer, you might be feeling pressure to “get it right the first time.” After all, you have a lot to catch up on, right?  In this replay of our most popular episode, Jane discusses how and why you should treat your writing like a dress rehearsal. Embracing a sense of experimentation and curiosity can help you unlock your creativity.  You’ll also learn how to practice pati...

In today’s episode, Jane talks to Dr. Brittany Fox-Williams, an alum of the Elevate (now known as Book Brilliance ) coaching program. Dr. Fox-Williams is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Lehman College, City University of New York. She is also part of the Sociology Doctoral Faculty at the Graduate Center at City University of New York. Her forthcoming book examines the role of trust in stude...

In today’s episode, Jane has a conversation with Dr. Yalidy Matos, an alum of the Elevate book coaching program. Dr. Matos is an Associate Professor of Political Science, a Russell Sage Foundation Fellow,  and the author of Moral and Immoral Whiteness in Immigration Politics. Tune in to hear:  The resources from the program that Yalidy returns to again and again Why Yalidy thinks the program is a...

Join Jane for a look at the Book Brilliance program. In today’s episode, you will learn exactly what happens in the program, the types of goals you can achieve, and why working with a group is essential to your success.  We’ll cover:  What you can expect in the first two weeks, one month, and sixty days of the program.  How our three-pronged approach helps you develop your writing craft, project m...

Elevate has a new name!  In today’s episode, Jane is joined by Kali Handelman. Kali is the developmental editor for Book Brilliance. She has her eyes on every single piece of writing reviewed in the program, and she’s here to discuss what you can expect when you have your work edited. Jane and Kali discuss:  How we define developmental editing How developmental editing helps you develop and refine...

Do you always start your summer with grand ambitions, only to look back at the end of the summer and realize you only finished half of what you planned? If you’re ready to stop making unrealistic plans, this episode is for you.  Here’s what Jane will discuss:  💡The thoughts that are driving you to make unrealistic plans: “I need to catch up,” “I should write all day,” and “I should work on everyt...

To say that people working in academia are living through tumultuous times would be an understatement. You might be facing current circumstances and wondering if writing a book is worth your time.  In today’s episode, Jane takes a very candid look at the current landscape of academia to help you decide how to think about your scholarship and career. She’ll give you some ways to contextualize the c...

There are some strong opinions in academia about the merits of academic editing. In today’s episode, Jane discusses the perception that working with an editor is “cheating” or an indication that you’re not a serious scholar. She addresses some biases and misconceptions about what happens when a writer works with an editor, and breaks down how these misconceptions can hurt junior scholars, especial...

Have you ever worked with an editor? Does the process of working with one feel like a mystery? In today’s episode, Jane is going to pull back the curtain and explain how academics can work with editors to improve their writing. In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why academics work with editors The different types of editing available to academic writers The pros and cons of working with an editor to...