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 create a lot of drama in your head about writing, take a listen to this episode. 

If you haven’t listened to the first part of this micro-series, go back: 

Episode 8: Are you weaponizing your productivity? 

Resources: 

The Right Prose website: www.rightprose.co
📝 Do you want to write a publication-worthy book without having to work twice as hard as your peers? Learn how we can work together at rightprose.co/book-brilliance/
Connect with me on Instagram

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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 yourself and set unrealistic expectations. She’ll also teach you how to think about your progress with more compassion. If you’ve been beating yourself up for being “slow,” this episode is for you. 

Resources: 

The Right Prose website: www.rightprose.co
📝 Do you want to write a publication-worthy book without having to work twice as hard as your peers? Learn how we can work together at rightprose.co/book-brilliance/
Connect with me on Instagram

✉️ Want even MORE bookish advice, right in your inbox? Sign up for Shelf Help, the newsletter with actionable tips for scholarly writers. 

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 the page. By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to identify your approach and if necessary, correct it so you can engage the secondary literature in a more sophisticated way. 

Resources: 

The Right Prose website: www.rightprose.co
📝 Do you want to write a publication-worthy book without having to work twice as hard as your peers? Learn how we can work together at rightprose.co/book-brilliance/
Connect with me on Instagram

✉️ Want even MORE bookish advice, right in your inbox? Sign up for Shelf Help, the newsletter with actionable tips for scholarly writers. 

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. If you’re ready to reclaim your time so you can work and rest in ways that are fulfilling, you won’t want to miss this episode. 

Resources: 

The Right Prose website: www.rightprose.co
📝 Do you want to write a publication-worthy book without having to work twice as hard as your peers? Learn how we can work together at rightprose.co/book-brilliance/
Connect with me on Instagram

✉️ Want even MORE bookish advice, right in your inbox? Sign up for Shelf Help, the newsletter with actionable tips for scholarly writers. 

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 writing your book, and the real role that your dissertation will play in the process. 

✉️ Want even MORE bookish advice, right in your inbox? Sign up for Shelf Help, the newsletter with actionable tips for scholarly writers. 

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 discuss why academics get hung up on finding the perfect tool, and why there should be a focus on systems instead. The good news is that once you create a reliable system, you’ll remove the guesswork in selecting a tool that works. 

✉️ Want even MORE bookish advice, right in your inbox? Sign up for Shelf Help, the newsletter with actionable tips for scholarly writers. 

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 actionable tips to help you write with confidence and authority. Whether you’re struggling with imposter syndrome or simply need a boost in self-assurance, this episode is here to guide you on your journey to owning your expert status.

✉️ Want even MORE bookish advice, right in your inbox? Sign up for Shelf Help, the newsletter with actionable tips for scholarly writers. 

​​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 your time and prioritize your book-writing process. By setting boundaries, deciding in advance when to write, and learning to say "no," you can take control of your schedule and ensure that your book gets the attention it deserves.

✉️ Want even MORE bookish advice, right in your inbox? Sign up for Shelf Help, the newsletter with actionable tips for scholarly writers. 

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 myths about how easy or fast it’s supposed to be to write a book. 

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