Academic Book Writing Simplified: Write and Publish Your Academic Book

Do you know how long it will take to write your academic book? I don’t mean how long it took your friend with the cushy postdoc or how long you wish it will take - I mean how long it will actually take. The reality is that most people don’t. If you don’t know now, it’s your responsibility to figure it out as soon as possible. That’s why in this episode, Jane breaks down how long it REALLY takes to...

Good feedback is an invaluable resource for academics writing books, but how do you get it? In today’s episode, Jane gives you a primer on the importance of feedback and how to ask for feedback that will help you make progress. She covers:  Why feedback is so important (hint: it’s not just to have eyes on your work) Why you might hesitate to ask for feedback Several low-stakes approaches to gettin...

With any piece of academic writing, you are going to write multiple drafts. The question is, how many? In today’s episode, we’re going to discuss the writing and revision process to determine how many drafts it will take to get you to a publication-ready book. Tune into today’s episode to learn:  The work that each draft should do in your revision process. Why you should ALWAYS have an intention o...

Are you wondering when along your tenure-track journey you should write your academic book? Do you think you have to “clear the decks” to gain traction in your book writing? In this episode, I’m going to show you that the right time to write your book is the time you make for writing it.  Tune in to learn how to align your writing goals with your timeline, my 3-step process for identifying the rig...

Are you concerned that you aren’t working on your book often enough? In today’s episode, I’m teaching you how to create a consistent book writing practice.  Tune in to learn how to create a realistic schedule, why you’re probably being too hard on yourself about the frequency of your writing, and what to do when you hit a roadblock. Be sure to listen with a notebook in hand because there will be p...

Many academics treat a sabbatical like a magic solution for finishing their book—but is that really the best approach? In this episode, I’m breaking down the myths around sabbaticals and what it actually takes to make real progress on your academic book. Grab your headphones and your notebook because in this episode we’re getting to work.  We’re going to discuss:  ➡️ Why you should diversify your...

Ever wondered what it really takes to leave academia and build a business of your own? In this episode, I’m getting personal and sharing my story of leaving a tenure-track job to start my own coaching business.  Tune in to hear:  How my early doubts about academia laid the foundation for my choice to leave  Why I felt like I “had to” get a tenure-track job before taking a different path How an une...

Ready to finally start writing your book - with clear and actionable guidance? In this episode, I’m reintroducing the podcast (we’ve had a glow up!) and sharing what you can expect this season, plus the practical strategies that have helped over 100 academics get their books written.  Tune in to learn:  Why so much academic book writing advice is overly complicated. How you can break through the g...

Have you ever stared at a blank page for what seemed like hours? Do you feel slightly nauseous at the prospect of sharing your work with others? Many academics are afraid to put their words on paper. You might be one of them! In today’s episode, Jane will explain where that fear comes from and how to mitigate it. If you’ve been delaying sharing your work, or writing it in the first place, this epi...

In part 2 of this 2-part micro-series, Jane will show you how to accurately assess the progress you’re making, so you don’t succumb to fear or feel overwhelmed by your work. You’ll learn the most important factors you should consider in gauging your progress. Then, you’ll learn how to use these factors to evaluate some common thought patterns that can help or hinder your work. If you tend to creat...

There’s a lot of noise in academia about productivity. You’re likely bombarded with opinions about how much time you should be writing, how many publications you should produce each year, and how you’re “wasting” your time on mentoring, service, and teaching. In today’s episode — the first of a 2-part microseries — Jane explains how and why you’re using the language of productivity to punish yours...

What does the way you think about your writing have to do with the way you leverage the secondary literature in your work? A lot! In today’s episode, I’m going to tell you what I see as the three most common approaches to citing the secondary literature, and the thought you have about your writing that is most likely motivating that approach. Then, I’ll describe what your approach looks like on th...

Are you regularly giving your writing time away? Do you find it hard to say no to requests for your energy and effort? If you answered yes, then it might be time to reassess your boundaries. In this episode, Jane will explain how tapping into your values will help you protect your boundaries. She’ll also teach you a simple way to understand the relationship between your values and your boundaries....

Do you believe that writing your first academic book is going to be as simple as “revising your dissertation”? In today’s episode, Jane discusses how the prevalent but pernicious advice to “revise your dissertation” actually stifles your book writing process and creates unnecessary stress. She’ll cover the reasons why revising your dissertation is an unrealistic goal, how you should approach writi...

Have you ever agonized over selecting a project management software? Do you peek around Scrivener every so often, only to abandon it because it’s too confusing to get started? Staying organized can seem like an intractable problem if you’re an academic writer. It’s tempting to think that there’s a tool out there to solve all of your organization desires. In today’s episode, Jane is going to discus...

Across the humanities and social sciences, many faculty are expected to write an academic book to earn tenure. Yet, even though this is a job requirement, the structure of academic life creates many obstacles to successfully achieving this goal. In today’s episode, Jane is going to break down some of the challenges academics face while trying to write a book. In doing so, she’ll dispel some of the...

​​In this episode, Jane tackles the common issue of permission-seeking in academic writing, especially among scholars socialized as women. Many academics find themselves constantly deferring their book-writing time to meet the needs of others, ultimately putting their own projects on the back burner. Jane explores the reasons behind this behavior and provides practical steps to help you reclaim yo...

In this episode, we delve into the challenges and strategies of claiming your expert energy as a woman in academia writing a book. We explore why it’s crucial to embrace your expertise during the writing process and how to do so effectively, even when self-doubt creeps in. From leveraging existing evidence of your expertise to seeking support from a community of peers, this episode provides action...