Episode #165

“I’ve Done Everything To Fix My Writing And Publishing Problem”

Have you thought to yourself, “I’ve tried everything – there is nothing I can do to fix my writing process”?

If you have read books, listened to podcasts, or paid for development programs and still struggle to clear your publication pipeline, this episode is for you!

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In this episode, I talk about the difference between books, podcasts, and coaching programs for professional development in academia. I speak about common hesitations and obstacles that keep professors in a writing process that is unsustainable.

Reading Isn’t Enough

If you’re like me, you read a lot of books about writing and professional development. These books have helpful tips that can influence your perspective or approach to writing. However, these resources aren’t enough to create lasting change. To achieve a true shift in mindset regarding your writing, you need support from real people.

Have You Really Tried Everything?

Before throwing up your hands in frustration, I want you to ask yourself these three questions:

How far are you willing to go?
What are you willing to settle for in your career?
What kind of career are you willing to fight for?

As a tenure track or non-binary professor with a disruptive perspective on your field, your value far exceeds an annual salary. You have the ability to enact real change in your field through insightful publications, engaging student experiences, and service work. Don’t give up on your writing or settle for long work weeks that lead to burnout. You are too important!

Importance of Group Coaching

If you are ready to make a real change in your writing process, group coaching is essential! Utilize a coach to get through obstacles and adapt teachings to work for you. Lean on group members who are struggling with the same writing issues to develop sustainable change and disrupt the way academia approaches professional development.

“If you’re thinking – I’ve done everything to fix my writing and publication problem. What you mean by everything is that you’ve read some books and you’ve tried some things that you learned in those books or you listened to my podcast or other people’s podcasts so you’re familiar with the kinds of things that we talk about. But that is not enough.”

“There is really nothing more valuable than your ability to do this amazing work that you’re doing. If you don’t take care of yourself, the road that many people are headed down is a road towards burn out. It’s not your fault if you had a burn out. I’ve had a burn out. If you work yourself so hard that you’re starting to think you know, maybe academia isn’t for me, you’re not alone. All of us in academia are being overworked and under-supported, and it shouldn’t be normal.”

We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and start your application process here.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION:

Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track women and nonbinary professors with a disruptive perspective on their field to publish their backlog of papers so that their voice can have the impact they know is possible. Apply here!
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!
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.