[Co-Authoring Series] “I Can’t Control My Publication Pipeline Because Of Co-authoring”

First, I will give an overview of the definition of a publication pipeline. Then, I dive into the reasons academics find it difficult to overcome a clogged pipeline when working with a co-author who is a colleague. I offer practical advice and strategies to navigate colleague relationships while underscoring the importance of refining time and project management skills.

Mastering co-authorship is an essential part of academic writing. Tune in to learn how to keep your publication pipeline flowing when co-authoring with a colleague.

Reasons Why Co-Authoring with a Colleague Can Clog Your Pipeline

#1: Co-authoring with your advisor or a senior colleague.

When you are in the early stages of your academic career, it is common to co-author with your advisor or colleagues in senior positions. The problem with this co-authoring relationship is misaligned priorities. Most likely, this project is much more important to you than it is to your senior colleague. In addition, it can be challenging to navigate the uneven power dynamic and assume control of the project as a junior colleague.

Strategy: Emphasize the power of clear communication to understand roles and responsibilities in executing the project. This will not only help you navigate the power dynamic but also empower you to manage due dates effectively.

#2: Co-authoring with a junior colleague or your mentee.

When you are working with junior colleagues and mentees, establishing clear communications and priorities together is key. All authors need to know the priority the writing project has for each member of the team. 

Strategy: Take ownership of the project and lead. Don’t be afraid to re-clarify the project’s priority along the way and re-adjust.

Understanding Yourself and Your Writing Practice

If you’re feeling like you’re not in control of your pipeline, the first step is to work to develop your writing project management and practice. Remember, reacting to others won’t move the project forward–you need to act! Reflect on your project management skills and your co-authorship choices. It’s important to work on developing self-trust and self-compassion. If you need support to improve your writing practice and unclog your publication pipeline, we invite you to apply for  Navigate. 

“We are addressing the thought, I can’t control my publication pipeline because of co-authoring. If you curate, you are controlling your pipeline. If you embrace seasonality you are intentionally controlling your pipeline. When you have good writing project management, that is the skill you need to control your publication pipeline and have articles submitted in a timely manner according to the season you are in and the image of yourself in your work that you want to put out into the world.”

“If you are sitting with a stalled out pipeline because everybody who you are co-authoring with is holding you back and you feel you can’t move forward because you are relying on everybody else so you can’t move forward, the first place to look is inside yourself.”

We’re receiving applications for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®! Check out the program details and start your application process here.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION:

1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn and nonbinary professors to publish their backlog of papers so that their voice can have the impact they know is possible. Apply here!
2. Cathy’s book, Making Time to Write: How to Resist the Patriarchy and Take Control of Your Academic Career Through Writing is available in print! Learn how to build your career around your writing practice while shattering the myths of writing every day, accountability, and motivation, doing mindset work that’s going to reshape your writing, and changing academic culture one womxn and nonbinary professor at a time. Get your print copy today or order it for a friend here!
3. Want to train with us for free on your campus? Now you can when you recommend our Scholar’s Voice™ Faculty Retreats to a decision-maker on your campus! Download the brochure with the retreat curriculum and both in-person and online retreat options here.
4. If you would like to hear more from Cathy for free, please subscribe to the weekly newsletter, In the Pipeline, at scholarsvoice.org. It’s a newsletter that she personally writes that goes out once a week with writing and publication tips, strategies, inspiration, book reviews and more.

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