Creating a Satisfying Academic Career with Jo Van Every

On the 10th anniversary of starting A Meeting With Your Writing, I reflect on how it started and what I've learned over the last 10 years. Key elements of A Meeting With Your Writing: commitment, compassion, structure, and community. I also thank those who helped me along the way. This track refers to the following: Spotlight on Just Enough Structure: JoVanEvery.co.uk/just-enough-structure/ T...

When reviewing their accomplishments for the previous quarter a couple of members of the Academic Writing Studio noticed that they'd been telling themselves that some of the work they'd done wasn't Real Writing. In this track I look at 2 examples -- revisions after peer review, and working on projects with others -- why that happens, and what to do about it. Read the post here: http...

Following on from Making Decisions About Writing, I provide suggestions for starting new projects. I talk about why it's uncomfortable, the kind of work that might be involved, and how to make some time for it. Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/starting-new-projectsFor more about the concept of a guiding star, listen to Juggling, Jigsaws, and Navigating by the Stars. I refer to Epi...

Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/making-decisions-writing/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/newsletterFollow me on Twitter: twitter.com/JoVanEveryFind my Facebook Page here: facebook.com/JoVEAcademicCareerCoach Join the Academic Writing Studio: academicwritingstudio.co.uk This is a belated addition to the series that begins with Managing th...

Saying no is hard. A good first step is to get better at giving yourself time to make a decision. First published on my website in 2019.Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/before-you-can-say-no/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/newsletterFollow me on Twitter: twitter.com/JoVanEveryFind my Facebook Page here: facebook.com/JoVEAcademicCareerCoac...

The people who are doing less than you are are not necessarily any better at saying no. They may have found ways not to get asked. I don't recommend strategic incompetence, but knowing it exists can help you get better at saying no. First published on my website in 2019.Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/your-colleagues-arent-any-better-at-saying-no-than-you-are/For more content lik...

Often the difficulty of saying no is exacerbated by an implicit assumption that we should say yes. We look for "good" reasons to say no. Switching your default response can often reveal information that helps you make a better decision. First published on my website in 2010. It has been edited a few times since. Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/opposite-day-decision-making/Fo...

In which I make a case for brevity when saying no to a request. First published on my website in 2012.Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/do-you-over-explain/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/newsletterFollow me on Twitter: twitter.com/JoVanEveryFind my Facebook Page here: facebook.com/JoVEAcademicCareerCoachJoin the Academic Writing Studio: a...

Just because you have to contribute to the running of the organization, doesn't mean you have to say yes to every request. In this track I help you figure out how to be more strategic about this area of your work. First published on my website in 2011.Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/permission-to-refuse-requests/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovan...

Sometimes quitting is the right decision. Knowing you could quit if something doesn't work out as expected can also help you take risks that might turn out really well. First published on my website in 2011.Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/the-importance-of-quitting/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/newsletterFollow me on Twitter: twit...

Sometimes you have to say no to your own internal voices. Teaching preparation is important, but how much is enough? How can you limit how much you do while maintaining your commitment to being a good teacher? First published on my website in 2015 and edited since then. Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/how-much-teaching-preparation-is-enough/For more content like this, sign up to the m...

Advice to "get better at saying no" can sound like a recommendation to care less about the collective and focus more on yourself. In this track I talk about how you can be more strategic about the tasks of academic citizenship to align with your values and ensure that you are making a strong contribution here without compromising other important areas of your work. First published on my...

Past You made good decisions based on the information and resources available at the time. Present You needs to start from here and figure out where to go next. Originally published on my website in 2013.Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/the-cardinal-rule-of-time-travel/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/newsletterFollow me on Twitter: twitte...

It's understandable why you would say yes to research and writing opportunities. However, there are good reasons to be more strategic and get better at saying no in this area of your work as well. First published on my website in 2018.Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/saying-no-fomo-strategic-research/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/n...

Originally published on my website as part of a short series on guilt and priorities, in this track I address the problem of being confident about your priorities, especially in the face of unclear expectations. Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/guilt-is-complicated/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/newsletterFollow me on Twitter: twitter.co...

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you commit to too much. You can either make some conscious decisions and renegotiate some of your commitments, or drop balls. In this track I talk about what's involved in the first option. There is a reference early in the track to the Emergency Planning Technique, which you can find here: JoVanEvery.co.uk/emergency-planning-technique/Read the post here:...

First published on my website in 2013 in response to a short Twitter conversation in which some of my followers admitted that they were getting better at taking my advice about identifying priorities but still felt guilty. Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/stop-feeling-guilty/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/newsletterFollow me on Twitter:...

Being a straight A student has some significant downsides which I explain in this track. It's okay to identify priorities. "Your doing fine" is actually reassuring. First published on my website in 2014.Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/priorities-straight-student-isnt-necessarily-good-thing/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/n...

In addition to just not feeling great, guilt is probably taking up time and energy that you could be using for other things. First published on my website in 2013 as part of a short series on guilt. Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/take-guilt-off-your-to-do-list/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/newsletterFollow me on Twitter: twitter.com/J...

Writing is part of your work. You should be able to do it in your office during normal office hours, even if you choose not to. In this track I talk about how to deal with interruptions to your focused work. There is a downloadable Writing In Progress sign available in the text version of this post on my website. Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/protecting-time-for-writing-interruption...

A common question about saying no, especially to research related requests, is whether it is appropriate or expected to suggest someone else that might be asked instead. In this track I talk about the various considerations, and also discuss how suggestions can be thought of as part of your role as a mentor to other scholars. For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanever...

In this track I talk about queries I've had from people who, despite using the term "burnout", didn't realise clinical burnout was a real illness for which they could seek medical care. I explore about the red flags I see in their queries to help you figure out if this might be your situation. I then talk about what you can do if it is, and also when my services might be helpfu...

The main introductory post for this Spotlight on Meaningfulness and how it shapes academic careers and values in subtle ways. Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/spotlight-on-meaningfulness/For more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/newsletterFollow me on Twitter: twitter.com/JoVanEveryFind my Facebook Page here: facebook.com/JoVEAcademicCareerCoachJoi...

It is not the lack of love for your work that defines you as a professional. It is the deep learning you undertook to become a professional. It is the level of skill and care you bring to the work. It is your membership in a scholarly association. You can still be an amateur in the (perhaps obsolete) sense of lover. Related reading:Matthew B. Crawford (2009) Shop Class as Soul Craft Penguin. Richa...

This track was inspired by the argument made in _“Excellence R Us”: university research and the fetishisation of excellence_ by Samuel Moore, Cameron Neylon, Martin Paul Eve, Daniel Paul O’Donnell & Damian Pattinson published in Palgrave Communications 3, Article number: 16105 (2017)​doi:10.1057/palcomms.2016.105Published online 19 January 2017 http://www.palgrave-journals.com/articles/palcomm...