Welcome to My Blog
Thoughts on editing, writing, and academic life
Featured Posts
Holiday Gift Guide for Scholarly Writers (Spoiler: Contains Books!)
Holiday gift ideas for scholarly writers! They are not the easiest. So this faculty gift guide provides some reviews of great books on scholarly writing to help make shopping easy this year.
Seven Ways to Make the Best Use of a Developmental Editor
Working with an editor can be a big commitment, but it can also dramatically improve your work. Here are some tips to help you ensure that you have a productive, positive relationship with your developmental editor.
Getting the Most Out of Your Book Workshop
Here are some tips to help you plan a productive academic book workshop. Careful planning can lead to a workshop that meets your needs and helps you produce the best book possible.
A Pep Talk for Frustrated Academic Writers
Frustrated by how your academic writing is going? You are not alone! Here's my brief manifesto of things I'd like to say to frustrated faculty writers in the hopes that it helps them to gain a bit of confidence in their writing, learn some tips on how to move forward, and further value their work.
Give Your Writing Some Love!
It’s easy to feel down about how your academic writing is going. Here I encourage you to nurture positive emotions around your writing to help you produce a happier and more sustainable writing practice.
How Long Should My Book Chapter Be?
What’s the ideal length for a scholarly book chapter? This post talks you through word count and other elements to keep in mind when determining how long your book chapter should be.
Writing Challenges: What Do I Write Next?
What should I write next? This is a common question for scholarly writers. Here I provide some questions to think through as you plan out what you want to turn to next in your writing.
Asking Big Enough Questions
Why do research questions matter in our writing? What does it mean to ask a big enough question? How to do it? In this post, I answer these questions and discuss the importance of using research questions in your work.
1600 Weeks: Time Management for Faculty Writers
Getting writing done is challenging for busy faculty members. This post tackles time management, sharing tips for how to put writing first.
Gift Ideas for Scholarly Writers (Spoiler: they are books!)
Shopping for gifts for academic writers? I’ve got your back! Here are some fantastic books on scholarly writing that your friends will love. Suitable for any occasion!
Struggling to Get Writing Done? Try a Writing Log
How do you get scholarly writing done? Keeping a writing log can help you keep track of what works best for you in your writing!
Ten Tips on How to Write a Great Book Introduction
Book introductions are difficult. So let’s make them easier! This post talks you through the important elements of an academic book introduction and gives advice about how to write one.
When and How to Approach Acquisitions Editors
Approaching scholarly acquisitions editors can be stressful. But these conversations are important to have. In this post I explain when and how to start talking about your manuscript with editors at university presses.
Tackling the Dreaded Question: Why is My Research Important?
Why is my research important? Figuring out the significance of your research can be one of the most difficult parts of writing. This post helps to make it easier!
Seven Questions to Consider Before Starting a Writing Group (that Will Make it Work!)
Writing groups can be really positive experiences. But how do you start a writing group right? This blog leads you through a series of questions to help you determine the kind of writing group you want and how to build it.
Peer Review: How to Handle the Emotional Side
Peer reviews can be painful to receive, especially since scholars invest so much time in their manuscripts. This post provides some advice on how to deal with the emotional challenges of the peer review process.
Peer Review: How to Write Thoughtful Reader Reports (that won’t make authors cry)
How can you conduct peer review in a way that is useful to the author without making them feel terrible? This post shares tips on how to make your reader reports helpful and compassionate!
What Can Love Is Blind Teach Us about Academic Writing?
Why can’t I look away from Love is Blind? And what can the show teach us about academic writing? This post explores the importance of crafting a strong argument, crafting compelling questions, and bringing your subject to life.