In this episode, I’m sharing a shift that quietly changes everything for a lot of academic writers: moving from seeing writing as just a skill you perform to recognizing it as a relationship you live inside over time.

So many of us are technically capable of writing and still feel stuck, resistant, or exhausted by it—and that disconnect isn’t a personal failure. It’s often the result of how we’ve been taught to approach writing as a transaction: produce the output, meet the deadline, get evaluated. When writing “works,” the relationship feels fine. When it doesn’t, it can quickly turn tense, judgmental, or even adversarial.

I talk about what happens when trust erodes in that relationship—and why more tips, tools, or pressure rarely fix the problem. Instead, I explore what it looks like to replace judgment with curiosity, and how small reflective practices can help repair the relationship so writing feels safer and more workable again. This isn’t about lowering standards or forcing yourself to love writing. It’s about paying attention to how you show up, learning from what happens, and making it easier to return to the page over time.

If writing has felt heavy or fraught lately, I hope this episode helps you see why—and offers a gentler, more sustainable way forward.

Get the Support You Need to Write, Publish, and Flourish

If you’re craving more support with your writing, here are a few ways we can work together:

Writing Coaching—For scholars who want structure, accountability, and a sustainable writing practice that actually works in real life. https://www.jennmcclearen.com/coaching

Developmental Editing—When you need an expert pair of eyes on the argument, structure, or clarity of your manuscript. https://www.jennmcclearen.com/editing

Book Coaching—Six months of coaching + developmental editing to help you make meaningful progress on your manuscript. https://www.jennmcclearen.com/bookcoaching 

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