Crayons In My Manuscript

If you're a parent, you've probably watched more Bluey than you ever expected. And we all know that it’s full of life lessons. But what surprised me is that some of the most meaningful lessons and advice I've learned about writing, research, rejection, and academic life have come from…a cartoon dog. In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, I share six unexpected lessons from Bluey that have sh...

What happens when your vocation outlives your job? In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, I share a personal confession: I still live like a scholar, even though I don't currently hold an academic post. After earning my PhD and turning down two visiting assistant professor positions during a season of major life changes, I've had to wrestle with questions of identity, vocation, scholarship,...

Why is it so hard to start writing in summer, even though you finally have the time? In this Summer Office Hours episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, I'm getting honest about a question that haunts graduate students, faculty, adjuncts, working professionals, and nontraditional scholars alike: "Why can't I just start?!" If you've ever stared at a blank document, avoided opening your dissertation ch...

Episode 11 | Book Review: Procrastination Proof by Jon Acuff I used to think procrastination was a discipline problem, that if I just had more willpower, I’d get things done. After reading Jon Acuff’s Procrastination Proof, I came to the realization that I was wrong. In this episode, I unpack some of my biggest insights from the book, including: Why procrastination may have less to do with lazines...

Struggling to write, even when you finally sit down to do it? You’re not lazy. Yo u don’t need more willpower. What you need is a system.   In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, Dr. Stacey Garrepy breaks down the Pomodoro Method—a simple, powerful way to overcome writing anxiety, silence your inner critic, and actually get words on the page.   Whether you're a busy parent, first-gen scholar...

In this episode, Dr. Stacey Garrepy shares the real story of taking a 2-year-old on an international conference trip, delving into the good and the surprisingly sweet, to the exhausting, chaotic, and downright overwhelming moments (yes, including that flight 😅). If you’re an academic, writer, or working parent trying to balance your career with family life, this is for you. We’ll talk about: What...

Writing sucks sometimes. Actually… a lot of the time. If you’ve ever stared at a blank page, questioned your ability, or felt completely stuck in your research, just know you’re not alone. In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, Dr. Stacey Garrepy breaks down: Why writing feels so hard (even for experienced scholars) How your inner critic is holding you back 5 simple strategies to keep moving...

Struggling to focus when you sit down to write? You’re not alone, and the solution might be simpler than you think.   In this video, I’ll share how simple writing rituals (yes, even lighting a candle!) helped me to stop my procrastination loop and start writing with more ease and clarity.   But here’s the truth: It’s not about the candle. Instead, it’s about how your brain responds to patterns, cu...

Have you ever had that awful moment at 11:00 pm when you realize… you’re not going to finish your chapter in time? 😱 If you’re a grad student, early-career academic, or scholar balancing research with a full life, you intimately know and feel the pressure of writing deadlines. In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, Dr. Stacey Garrepy shares a personal story about missing her own review arti...

If you’ve ever wondered whether you truly belong in academia, whether getting in was luck, timing, or some kind of fluke, I want you to know you’re not alone. In this deeply personal episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, I’m sharing the fear I don’t often say out loud: that one day someone will “find me out,” see how messy my journey has been, and decide I don’t measure up. From rejected grad schoo...

✨ Free Resource: Download my 10 Writing Prompts to Beat the Blank Page → https://staceygarrepy.net/prompts If the sight of a blank page sends you into a mild panic (or a full-blown spiral), you are so not alone, friend. In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, we’re tackling the fear of the blank page head-on. I’ll share 6 real, doable strategies to get you unstuck and writing again. As a Fir...

You’re in the flow, revising an article. Your deadline is tomorrow. And just then, your laptop freezes. Work lost. 😱   This episode explores 7 tips for how to respond calmly, protect your work, and build a writing practice that doesn’t collapse when technology does.   📔 Download the cheat sheet – 12 Writing Prompts to Bust Through Academic Writer’s Block! https://www.staceygarrepy.net/prompts 😊...

Dr. Stacey Garrepy explains why we procrastinate: our brains crave finished loops, need rest to process ideas, and avoid the vulnerability of writing. She reassures listeners that procrastination is not laziness. She offers practical strategies, namely: naming and befriending your feelings, trying an imposter or "worry hour" to get them out, set tiny, achievable goals (even one paragraph), and use...

Dr. Stacey Garrepy explores writing anxiety and the inner critic, sharing a personal story about harsh feedback and the physical, emotional toll it can take on academic writers. She offers practical strategies—self-compassion, mindfulness (5-4-3-2-1), creating a supportive environment, short regular writing sessions, reframing the inner critic as a coach, and celebrating small wins—to help writers...

Launch day is here! 🎉 I originally planned to release three full episodes today, but my final one encountered technical rendering issues on my current computer. Rather than delay the entire launch, I’m releasing two full episodes now — and next Tuesday you’ll hear a minisode on what to do when your writing tech fails you (a very timely topic). Welcome to Crayons in My Manuscript — where real acad...