Academic Writing Amplified: Recent Episodes
Cathy Mazak, PhD
The podcast for academic womxn who want to write and publish more while rejecting the culture of overwork in academia.
Cathy Mazak, PhD, helps you create the career (and life) you want by centering your writing. Kick guilt and overwhelm to the curb and amplify your voice to make a real impact on your field--without breaking down or burning out.
Surprise! Here's the audio from yesterday's Fall Writing Planning Workshop! It was so much fun, I just had to share it with all of you!
In this workshop I walk you through my 3x3x3 writing planning method so that you can sustain your writing even through a busy semester.
I also talk all about Navigate, my signature program for publishing your backlog of papers which is open for enrollment NOW!
Don't miss the reveal of the AWESOME bonus that you get if you enroll in Navigate by Friday, August 14. Apply today!
Fall Writing Planning Handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lYC-V-kUgczU1CzAUnbUbFR6ZPasmI9_/view?usp=drive_link
Navigate program page: scholarsvoice.org/navigate
Navigate application: https://airtable.com/appt68DzgNLGdT6x2/shrQzVF6duBWEG6GS
What do you do with those writing projects that keep hanging around in your publication pipeline, but you never work on them? I call these Zombie Projects, and they are holding you back from submitting more papers.
In this episode, I explain what zombie projects are, why they are clogging your pipeline, and what to do about them.
Sign up for the Fall Writing Planning Session on August 10: https://scholarsvoice.org/writing-planning
Join my next LIVE Submit Your Almost-done Article in 3 Days Workshop: https://scholarsvoice.org/submit-in-3/
Join my signature program, Navigate, to publish your backlog of papers: https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate/
Sign up to my FREE email newsletter, In The Pipeline, for weekly emails on academic writing and publishing. Scroll to the form at the bottom of the page: https://scholarsvoice.org/
Why do projects get stuck? This summer I developed new curriculum around this question, and on today's podcast I'm sharing a concept from that new curriculum: transition friction.
Many stuck writing projects can be explained by the resistance we feel transitioning from one phase of the project to another.
In this podcast you will learn:
- Why transition points cause friction.
- How to get over the friction to keep your writing project moving.
- How embracing the discomfort of transition friction can liberate you from feeling stuck.
Sign up for the Fall Writing Planning Session on August 10:
https://scholarsvoice.org/writing-planning
Join my next LIVE Submit Your Almost-done Article in 3 Days Workshop: https://scholarsvoice.org/submit-in-3/
Join my signature program, Navigate, to publish your backlog of papers: https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate/
Sign up to my FREE email newsletter, In The Pipeline, for weekly emails on academic writing and publishing. Scroll to the form at the bottom of the page: https://scholarsvoice.org/
I know you want to submit that almost-done article in three days, so hear me out. Before you join me for my Submit Your Almost-done Article in 3 Days LIVE Workshop, you need to PICK which of your articles is actually "almost done". In this podcast I discuss how to gauge the "almost done-ness" of your paper, and break down what could be holding you back from being DONE.
Join my next LIVE Submit Your Almost-done Article in 3 Days Workshop: https://scholarsvoice.org/submit-in-3/
Join my signature program, Navigate, to publish your backlog of papers: https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate/
Sign up to my FREE email newsletter, In The Pipeline, for weekly emails on academic writing and publishing. Scroll to the form at the bottom of the page: https://scholarsvoice.org/
The hardest part about reading while writing is knowing when to stop. When is it enough? When is it too much? In Part 2 of this reading series, I help you diagnose a reading spiral and teach you how to stop it.
Join my next LIVE Submit Your Almost-done Article in 3 Days Workshop: https://scholarsvoice.org/submit-in-3/
Join my signature program, Navigate, to publish your backlog of papers: https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate/
Sign up to my FREE email newsletter, In The Pipeline, for weekly emails on academic writing and publishing. Scroll to the form at the bottom of the page: https://scholarsvoice.org/
How should you think about reading as a writer? In part one of this two-part reading series I talk about the role of reading in the process of writing an academic article. If you've ever struggled to manage reading while writing, tune in to hear how the role of reading is unique in the process of composing an academic article.
Join my next LIVE Submit Your Almost-done Article in 3 Days Workshop: https://scholarsvoice.org/submit-in-3/
Join my signature program, Navigate, to publish your backlog of papers: https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate/
Sign up to my FREE email newsletter, In The Pipeline, for weekly emails on academic writing and publishing. Scroll to the form at the bottom of the page: https://scholarsvoice.org/
If writing a journal article feels like a sprint, writing a book is a marathon—with changing terrain, unexpected detours, and a whole lot of mental endurance. In this episode of Academic Writing Amplified, Cathy sits down with returning guest Jane Jones to unpack the real differences between managing article projects and managing a book-length manuscript.
Together, they explore why books require a completely different relationship to time, planning, revision, and even your own psychology as a writer. Jane shares practical wisdom about scheduling writing sessions, estimating tasks realistically, and why so many academics underestimate what book writing actually demands. They also discuss the emotional side of sustaining a project over multiple years—and why developmental editing early in the process can save you enormous pain later.
Whether you're drafting your first academic book or trying to make meaningful progress this summer, this conversation will help you think differently about what book writing really takes.
"You don't have three months to write—you have the number of writing sessions you can actually schedule and honor." — Jane Jones
Jane's program for writing your academic book, Book Brilliance, is enrolling now!
Apply here: https://rightprose.co/book-brilliance-live/
Jane's website, Right Prose: https://rightprose.co/
Jane's podcast: https://rightprose.co/podcast/
This week I'm answering all your Navigate Intensive program questions right here on the podcast.
Navigate is a program that helps professors publish their backlog of papers. We are accepting applications until May 8. Enrollment ends May 15 and we start May 18!
On today's episode I tell you whether you should do Navigate if you're just about ready to collapse after this semester.
Apply for the Navigate 2-week Intensive here!
www.scholarsvoice.org/navigate
This week I'm answering all your Navigate Intensive program questions right here on the podcast.
Navigate is a program that helps professors publish their backlog of papers. We are accepting applications until May 8. Enrollment ends May 15 and we start May 18!
On today's episode explain how you can use the Navigate Intensive to work on any writing -- not just an almost-done article.
Apply for the Navigate 2-week Intensive here!
www.scholarsvoice.org/navigate
Today on the podcast I interview fellow academic coach, doctor, researcher, and now book author Dr. Kemi Doll.
Her book A Terrible Strength is available TODAY! Listen to the incredible Dr. Doll deep dive into her writing practice, how she decided to write this book, and what it's like as an academic to write and promote a popular press book.
Why This Book Matters (from https://kemidoll.com/book/)
"There is a silence in medicine that has cost Black women their health, their dignity, and their lives. This book breaks that silence.
Dr. Kemi Doll brings together her personal journey and her years of research to expose the hidden crisis of the Black womb. She speaks the truths many have lived but few have named."
Go to https://kemidoll.com/book/ to order your copy today!
This week I'm answering all your Navigate Intensive program questions right here on the podcast.
Navigate is a program that helps professors publish their backlog of papers. We are accepting applications until May 8. Enrollment ends May 15 and we start May 18!
On today's episode I explain how you will get 100% of the value out of the program even if you miss calls.
Apply for the Navigate 2-week Intensive here!
www.scholarsvoice.org/navigate
This week I'm answering all your Navigate Intensive program questions right here on the podcast.
Navigate is a program that helps professors publish their backlog of papers. We are accepting applications until May 8. Enrollment ends May 15 and we start May 18!
On today's episode I tell you all about why I hate the word accountability and what Navigate teaches you instead.
Apply for the Navigate 2-week Intensive here!
www.scholarsvoice.org/navigate
More like ☀️Summer Writing Planning PARTY 💃🏻
The energy was HIGH! My goal was to get 500 people registered and over 850+ of you did! You all are amazing!!
This workshop was like a big party with minds blown ("Let's normalize planning and re-planning" - YES!)...
lots of talk about how to recover from derailments…
and only a tiny bit of resistance to my "work on writing one thing at a time" idea (it's not a strict "rule", just a gentle suggestion 😉).
The workshop lasted 90 minutes and I answered every single question, so you're going to want to listen until the end!
In the workshop I also talked about the 3 essentials for publishing your backlog of papers (cause I guessed that if you want to do summer writing…you probably have a little backlog growing), and I introduced my Navigate 2-week Intensive program to help you master those three essentials.
The program is enrolling now! You can read all about the program, including dates, times, and tuition here:
🤓READ ALL ABOUT THE 2-WEEK INTENSIVE 🤓 then hit the pink button to apply!
Applications are open through May 8. If you loved this workshop, you will LOVE my Navigate program!
Welcome to this series of tiny podcast episodes designed to help you think through the process of reaching new levels of growth in your writing and publishing.
☀️FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop April 23 ☀️ You're invited to my FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop on Thursday, April 23 at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST!
In the free 90- minute workshop, I'll walk you through the same method I teach in my signature program Navigate for planning your writing in the context of your real life (The Writing Roadmap). For summer, that "real life" needs to include rest.
You'll leave the workshop with:
✅A clear set of achievable publication goals for the summer
✅A marked-up calendar that includes writing AND rest
✅A sense of power and agency over your time so that you can pour into yourself this summer
Register for the workshop here: https://scholarsvoice.org/summer-planning-warm/
Navigate 2-week Summer Intensive enrolling now: We're collecting applications for the Navigate 2-week Intensive. You can read all about it here and click on the pink button to apply. Or, if you're ready, jump straight to the application here.
Welcome to this series of tiny podcast episodes designed to help you think through the process of reaching new levels of growth in your writing and publishing.
☀️FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop April 23 ☀️ You're invited to my FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop on Thursday, April 23 at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST!
In the free 90- minute workshop, I'll walk you through the same method I teach in my signature program Navigate for planning your writing in the context of your real life (The Writing Roadmap). For summer, that "real life" needs to include rest.
You'll leave the workshop with:
✅A clear set of achievable publication goals for the summer
✅A marked-up calendar that includes writing AND rest
✅A sense of power and agency over your time so that you can pour into yourself this summer
Register for the workshop here: https://scholarsvoice.org/summer-planning-warm/
Navigate 2-week Summer Intensive enrolling now: We're collecting applications for the Navigate 2-week Intensive. You can read all about it here and click on the pink button to apply. Or, if you're ready, jump straight to the application here.
Welcome to this series of tiny podcast episodes designed to help you think through the process of reaching new levels of growth in your writing and publishing.
☀️FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop April 23 ☀️ You're invited to my FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop on Thursday, April 23 at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST!
In the free 90- minute workshop, I'll walk you through the same method I teach in my signature program Navigate for planning your writing in the context of your real life (The Writing Roadmap). For summer, that "real life" needs to include rest.
You'll leave the workshop with:
✅A clear set of achievable publication goals for the summer
✅A marked-up calendar that includes writing AND rest
✅A sense of power and agency over your time so that you can pour into yourself this summer
Register for the workshop here: https://scholarsvoice.org/summer-planning-warm/
Navigate 2-week Summer Intensive enrolling now: We're collecting applications for the Navigate 2-week Intensive. You can read all about it here and click on the pink button to apply. Or, if you're ready, jump straight to the application here.
Welcome to this series of tiny podcast episodes designed to help you think through the process of reaching new levels of growth in your writing and publishing.
☀️FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop April 23 ☀️ You're invited to my FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop on Thursday, April 23 at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST!
In the free 90- minute workshop, I'll walk you through the same method I teach in my signature program Navigate for planning your writing in the context of your real life (The Writing Roadmap). For summer, that "real life" needs to include rest.
You'll leave the workshop with:
✅A clear set of achievable publication goals for the summer
✅A marked-up calendar that includes writing AND rest
✅A sense of power and agency over your time so that you can pour into yourself this summer
Register for the workshop here: https://scholarsvoice.org/summer-planning-warm/
Navigate 2-week Summer Intensive enrolling now: We're collecting applications for the Navigate 2-week Intensive. You can read all about it here and click on the pink button to apply. Or, if you're ready, jump straight to the application here.
Welcome to this series of tiny podcast episodes designed to help you think through the process of reaching new levels of growth in your writing and publishing.
☀️FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop April 23 ☀️ You're invited to my FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop on Thursday, April 23 at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST!
In the free 90- minute workshop, I'll walk you through the same method I teach in my signature program Navigate for planning your writing in the context of your real life (The Writing Roadmap). For summer, that "real life" needs to include rest.
You'll leave the workshop with:
✅A clear set of achievable publication goals for the summer
✅A marked-up calendar that includes writing AND rest
✅A sense of power and agency over your time so that you can pour into yourself this summer
Register for the workshop here: https://scholarsvoice.org/summer-planning-warm/
Navigate 2-week Summer Intensive enrolling now: We're collecting applications for the Navigate 2-week Intensive. You can read all about it here and click on the pink button to apply. Or, if you're ready, jump straight to the application here.
Welcome to this series of tiny podcast episodes designed to help you think through the process of reaching new levels of growth in your writing and publishing.
☀️FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop April 23 ☀️ You're invited to my FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop on Thursday, April 23 at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST!
In the free 90- minute workshop, I'll walk you through the same method I teach in my signature program Navigate for planning your writing in the context of your real life (The Writing Roadmap). For summer, that "real life" needs to include rest.
You'll leave the workshop with:
✅A clear set of achievable publication goals for the summer
✅A marked-up calendar that includes writing AND rest
✅A sense of power and agency over your time so that you can pour into yourself this summer
Register for the workshop here: https://scholarsvoice.org/summer-planning-warm/
Navigate 2-week Summer Intensive enrolling now: We're collecting applications for the Navigate 2-week Intensive. You can read all about it here and click on the pink button to apply. Or, if you're ready, jump straight to the application here.
Welcome to this series of tiny podcast episodes designed to help you think through the process of reaching new levels of growth in your writing and publishing.
☀️FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop April 23 ☀️ You're invited to my FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop on Thursday, April 23 at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST!
In the free 90- minute workshop, I'll walk you through the same method I teach in my signature program Navigate for planning your writing in the context of your real life (The Writing Roadmap). For summer, that "real life" needs to include rest.
You'll leave the workshop with:
✅A clear set of achievable publication goals for the summer
✅A marked-up calendar that includes writing AND rest
✅A sense of power and agency over your time so that you can pour into yourself this summer
Register for the workshop here: https://scholarsvoice.org/summer-planning-warm/
Navigate 2-week Summer Intensive enrolling now: We're collecting applications for the Navigate 2-week Intensive. You can read all about it here and click on the pink button to apply. Or, if you're ready, jump straight to the application here.
Welcome to this series of tiny podcast episodes designed to help you think through the process of reaching new levels of growth in your writing and publishing.
☀️FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop April 23 ☀️ You're invited to my FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop on Thursday, April 23 at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST!
In the free 90- minute workshop, I'll walk you through the same method I teach in my signature program Navigate for planning your writing in the context of your real life (The Writing Roadmap). For summer, that "real life" needs to include rest.
You'll leave the workshop with:
✅A clear set of achievable publication goals for the summer
✅A marked-up calendar that includes writing AND rest
✅A sense of power and agency over your time so that you can pour into yourself this summer
Register for the workshop here: https://scholarsvoice.org/summer-planning-warm/
Navigate 2-week Summer Intensive enrolling now: We're collecting applications for the Navigate 2-week Intensive. You can read all about it here and click on the pink button to apply. Or, if you're ready, jump straight to the application here.
Welcome to this series of tiny podcast episodes designed to help you think through the process of reaching new levels of growth in your writing and publishing.
☀️FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop April 23 ☀️ You're invited to my FREE Summer Writing Planning Workshop on Thursday, April 23 at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST!
In the free 90- minute workshop, I'll walk you through the same method I teach in my signature program Navigate for planning your writing in the context of your real life (The Writing Roadmap). For summer, that "real life" needs to include rest.
You'll leave the workshop with:
✅A clear set of achievable publication goals for the summer
✅A marked-up calendar that includes writing AND rest
✅A sense of power and agency over your time so that you can pour into yourself this summer
Register for the workshop here: https://scholarsvoice.org/summer-planning-warm/
Navigate 2-week Summer Intensive enrolling now: We're collecting applications for the Navigate 2-week Intensive. You can read all about it here and click on the pink button to apply. Or, if you're ready, jump straight to the application here.
Why your emotions feel so overwhelming at work (and what's actually driving them) If you've ever had a disproportionate emotional reaction to something at work—like an email, a decision, or a setback—this episode will help you understand why. You'll see how quickly thoughts and emotions interact, and why that speed makes it feel like you're "just reacting."
A simple framework to stop spiraling and start responding This episode introduces a practical coaching model that helps you separate what happened from what you're thinking about it. That distinction alone can reduce overwhelm—and give you back a sense of control in situations that usually feel triggering.
How to move from emotional paralysis to meaningful action When strong emotions hit, many academics freeze, avoid, or spiral. This episode shows you how to trace your emotions back to the thoughts causing them—and how shifting those thoughts can unlock more productive, intentional action.
Why "just getting over it" doesn't work (and what to do instead) If you've tried to push down emotions or power through them, you already know it doesn't work. This episode reframes emotional processing as a skill—and gives you a concrete way to actually process emotions so they don't keep resurfacing.
A practical journaling tool to apply immediately to your writing life You'll walk away with a simple, repeatable exercise you can use anytime you feel stuck, reactive, or overwhelmed. Whether it's about writing, teaching, or academic politics, this tool helps you shift from reactivity to intentionality.
About the Self-Coaching for Academics Series
This special podcast series is a practical introduction to self-coaching—designed specifically for academics. Across these episodes, you'll learn how to examine your thinking, untangle emotional reactions, and make clearer, more aligned decisions about your writing and career. Instead of more productivity hacks, you'll gain tools to shift beliefs, reduce false urgency, and build real confidence from the inside out. If you're ready to think differently about your academic life, start with this series.
Links & Resources Mentioned * Navigate Program / Summer Intensive: https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate * Email list ("In the Pipeline" newsletter): https://scholarsvoice.org * Coaching model referenced: The Life Coach School (Brooke Castillo)
The hidden stories shaping your academic career You might think your habits, stress, and writing patterns are just "how things are." This episode will show you how they're actually driven by invisible narratives you absorbed in grad school—and once you see them, you can start to change them.
Why academia trains you into scarcity (and how that affects your writing) If you've ever felt like there's never enough time—or never enough money—this episode explains why that feeling is so persistent. You'll see how academia normalizes scarcity thinking and how that mindset quietly shapes your decisions, productivity, and even your willingness to invest in your own growth.
The burnout cycle you didn't choose—but might still be living This episode connects the dots between grad school culture and long-term burnout. If you struggle to rest without guilt or feel like you should always be working, you'll recognize exactly where that came from—and why it's not actually serving you anymore.
A powerful reframe that could change how you approach time and money What if there was enough time? What if resources weren't as limited as you've been taught? This episode invites you into a bold (and slightly uncomfortable) experiment: trying on an abundance mindset and seeing what shifts in your behavior and decisions.
A practical exercise to rewrite your academic identity You won't just leave with insights—you'll leave with something to do. Cathy walks you through a concrete exercise to identify your inherited narratives and actively rewrite them into ones that support your writing, your career, and your well-being.
About the Self-Coaching for Academics Series
This special podcast series is a practical introduction to self-coaching—designed specifically for academics. Across these episodes, you'll learn how to examine your thinking, untangle emotional reactions, and make clearer, more aligned decisions about your writing and career. Instead of more productivity hacks, you'll gain tools to shift beliefs, reduce false urgency, and build real confidence from the inside out. If you're ready to think differently about your academic life, start with this series.
- Navigate Program Summer Intensive: https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate
- Email list ("In the Pipeline" newsletter): https://scholarsvoice.org
- Book mentioned: Making Time to Write by Cathy Mazak
The real reason you're "procrastinating" If you've ever told yourself you "just don't have time" to write, this episode will gently call you out—in the best way. You'll discover what's actually underneath procrastination and perfectionism (hint: it's emotional, not logistical), and why understanding that changes everything about how you approach your writing.
A simple question that can instantly unlock stuck projects What if the thing keeping you stuck isn't the task—but the feeling you're trying to avoid? This episode gives you a deceptively simple question that can cut through resistance fast. Once you see it, you won't be able to unsee it—and it might be the key to finally opening that draft you've been avoiding.
The mindset shift to move past fear If fear of rejection, failure, or judgment is slowing you down, this episode introduces a question that flips your perspective completely. You'll learn how to recognize when your "worst-case scenario" is already happening—and how that realization can free you to take action immediately.
The hardest (and most important) question This episode ends with a question that sounds simple—but can be deeply confronting: What do I want? If you've been prioritizing everyone else's expectations over your own goals, this moment in the episode will hit. It's an invitation to reconnect with your own agency, desires, and direction.
A practical tool you can use today—no coach required You don't need a coaching session to benefit from this episode. You'll walk away with three specific questions you can use immediately—whether you're stuck on a paper, avoiding a decision, or just feeling off track. These are tools you can return to again and again.
About the Self-Coaching for Academics Series
This special podcast series is a practical introduction to self-coaching—designed specifically for academics. Across these episodes, you'll learn how to examine your thinking, untangle emotional reactions, and make clearer, more aligned decisions about your writing and career. Instead of more productivity hacks, you'll gain tools to shift beliefs, reduce false urgency, and build real confidence from the inside out. If you're ready to think differently about your academic life, start with this series.
Links & Resources Mentioned * Navigate Program (and Intensive): https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate * Email list signup ("In the Pipeline" newsletter): https://scholarsvoice.org * Coach mentioned: Natalie Miller
About the Self-Coaching for Academics Series
This special podcast series is a practical introduction to self-coaching—designed specifically for academics. Across these episodes, you'll learn how to examine your thinking, untangle emotional reactions, and make clearer, more aligned decisions about your writing and career. Instead of more productivity hacks, you'll gain tools to shift beliefs, reduce false urgency, and build real confidence from the inside out. If you're ready to think differently about your academic life, start with this series.
In this first episode of my Self-Coaching for Academics series, I unpack what coaching really is—and why it's different from teaching, mentoring, or consulting.
If you've ever:
- Felt stuck in your writing but couldn't explain why
- Overcommitted and resented it later
- Second-guessed your own decisions
- Looked for the "right" answer outside yourself
This episode will help you understand a different path forward.
Coaching isn't about someone telling you what to do. It's about learning how to hear your own inner voice more clearly—and make decisions from alignment instead of fear or false urgency.
You'll walk away understanding:
- How coaching is different from other things we do, like teaching and mentoring
- What self-coaching is—and how it can change the way you approach your academic career
You can treat this series like a free course. If you've ever wanted more clarity, confidence, and peace in your academic life, start here.
Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode * Scholars' Voice website: https://scholarsvoice.org * In the Pipeline email newsletter: Sign up at the bottom of any page at https://scholarsvoice.org * Navigate Program (Publish Your Backlog of Papers): https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate * Kerry Ann Rockemore's Midlife Program (referenced as an example of structured reflective work)
Many early-career academics believe that once they secure tenure, the pressure eases, writing gets easier, and work magically fits into a reasonable workday. In this episode, I explain why that belief doesn't hold up and how to take control of your career before a major milestone or promotion.
Tenure is an impressive achievement. While it is a big step in your career, it doesn't automatically undo years of overwork, binge-and-bust work patterns, or unsustainable writing and publishing habits. That's why I invited Dr. Filomena Garcia to join me for a candid conversation about her experience as a mid-career academic and why she chose to join Navigate.
Filomena and I discuss her journey navigating institutional change while parenting three young children, and her realization that "being mid-career" wasn't enough to give her the academic life she wanted. You'll hear how she used Navigate to gain new skills, publish stalled work, and take back control of her time, without relying on nights and weekends.
If you're mid-career and realizing that "more experience" isn't the same as better systems, this episode will help you rethink what's possible.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
What happens when your research agenda is disrupted by forces completely outside your control?
In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Lauren Woodard, an assistant professor of anthropology in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, for a thoughtful conversation about career pivots, research transitions, and writing through uncertainty.
After a year marked by funding instability, forced pivots, and shifting academic priorities, this conversation feels especially timely. Lauren shares her experience overcoming major transitions in her career and inspired her to join Navigate.
We talk candidly about what it looks like to continue writing and publishing during periods of disruption, how to manage book and article projects simultaneously, and how Navigate supported Lauren as she clarified her publication pipeline and planned her next season of academic work. We also explore how parenting, caregiving, and seasonality shape writing practices, particularly during the early career years.
If 2026 feels like a year to intentionally reset your approach to writing, publishing, and career design, this episode is for you!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
Are you committed to making 2026 an academic writing year?
In this episode, I share information on the upcoming Navigate cohort, my 12-week writing and publishing program for academics who are ready to finally move their backlog of papers toward submission, without burnout.
If you've been telling yourself that you just need more time, more motivation, or fewer collaborators to publish consistently, this episode challenges those assumptions. I walk you through the single biggest mindset shift that unlocks publication progress, the most common mistakes academics make when trying to "fix" their writing problems, and what actually works instead.
Then, I share how the tools and skills you will learn in Navigate provide a clearer framework for designing a more intentional academic career and sustainable writing practice. Learn how publication pipelines, decision-making, and sustainable writing practices fit together, especially for scholars juggling leadership roles, caregiving, and increasing demands on their time.
Listen to discover how to stop reacting to your academic workload and start designing an academic career that supports your research, your mission, your writing, and your well-being.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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- YouTube
What if 2026 wasn't the year you tried to do everything, but the year you finally did the thing that most aligns with your academic mission statement?
In this episode, I'm officially inviting you to make 2026 your writing year. I've been planting this seed for a while now, especially as we collectively move through ongoing funding uncertainty and career volatility. Today, I want to slow down and really explain what I mean by a "writing year," why so many scholars are choosing this path right now, and how you can begin making this shift in a practical and sustainable way.
I walk you through what a writing year looks like, how it can become a powerful decision-making framework, and how I'll be supporting scholars throughout 2026 with free workshops, coaching series, and a newly redesigned podcast format. I also share details about my Navigate program.
If you're ready to lead your academic career with intention and make real progress on the academic papers that matter most, this episode is your starting point
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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- YouTube
Today we're celebrating a milestone: Episode 300. Instead of doing a big party episode, I wanted to share a more grounded, honest reflection as we wrap up 2025, a year that has been one of the most professionally disruptive years for academics.
This episode is all about wrapping up, embracing seasonality, and entering winter break with a mindset of restoration rather than burnout, guilt, or the urge to "catch up." If you've been feeling behind, overwhelmed, stretched thin, or like your writing has been pushed into the margins of your life, this is for you.
I walk you through the metaphors and practices I use to design an intentional pause rather than defaulting into the binge-and-bust cycle that academia encourages.
You'll also hear how I'm thinking about 2026, a sneak peek of my new approach to the podcast, and why restoration is an essential part of your writing system.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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- YouTube
2025 has been a year of funding uncertainty in academia, and I know many of you have been asking yourself how to keep your research moving forward when grant opportunities are unpredictable.
Today, I'm pulling back the curtain on a mini-lesson from my Round 2+ Navigate program: Scaling Research Through Writing. I make the case for why 2026 should be a writing year for you. I walk you through how writing and publishing help expand your research's reach, deepen collaborations, and even enhance your mentorship.
I also share practical strategies for working with grad students, post-docs, and early-career faculty to develop their writing skills, because when you teach writing, you multiply the impact of your research and your team. If you've been thinking about how to make your scholarly work matter more, this episode is full of ideas to help you scale your research program without waiting for grants to come through.
Tune in to learn how to shift your mindset about academic writing and how to leverage it as a strategic tool for growth and influence in your field.
And don't miss Episode 300 next week, it's our special wrap-up for 2025!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
Guilt, shame, and fear around academic writing show up far more often than we admit. And for many academics, those emotions become so intertwined with our identity that even seeing the phrase "making time to write" can trigger a full-body "Nope!"
I was reminded of this last week during the National Women's Studies Association conference in Puerto Rico. The conference was beautifully integrated with local scholars, activists, and artists, creating a powerful space for community and reflection.
What surprised me most, though, was the range of reactions people had when they walked by our booth and saw my book. Some people laughed; some avoided eye contact and literally walked (or ran!) away; others said, "You're making me feel so bad."
That emotional recoil is exactly why today's episode exists.
This week, I'm diving deep into what guilt, shame, and overwhelm around writing really reveal—not about you as an individual, but about the sociocultural and institutional contexts you're working within. If you've internalized the idea that your inconsistent writing practice is a personal flaw, this discussion will help you understand why that narrative is wrong, and how to reclaim the sense of agency you absolutely do have.
If you've ever thought, "I should be writing," and immediately felt terrible, this one's for you. Tune in, and let's talk about what's really holding back your academic writing and how to move through it.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
The holiday season is here, and what better way to celebrate than with some great books?
In this special 2025 holiday book review episode, I'm sharing some of my favorite reads from the past year, plus one highly anticipated pre-order for 2026.
Reading has always been a way for me to pause, reflect, and explore worlds beyond my own, whether through nonfiction that deepens understanding of our shared humanity, literary fiction that transports you across time and place, or romance and fantasy that just makes your heart smile.
I'll give you a quick overview of each book, why it stood out to me, and what makes it worth adding to your own bookshelf. You'll find titles that challenge your thinking, invite empathy, and offer unforgettable stories, including books that span genres from historical fantasy to creative nonfiction. And I'll highlight one pre-order that I'm particularly excited about, a timely, important, and deeply engaging book that I know will resonate with a wide audience.
So grab your cup of tea, settle in, and join me as I walk through my favorite 2025 reads. Whether you're giving books this holiday season or asking for a few for yourself, there's something here for everyone.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
When you reach mid-career in academia, it can feel like you should have everything figured out. But often, that's when the real questions begin.
In this episode, I sit down with Michelle, a mid-career scholar and second-round participant in our Navigate program, to talk about what happens after tenure and how she's redefining success on her path to full professorship.
Michelle shares how Navigate helped her regain her sense of freedom, recalibrate her time and energy, and reconnect to her purpose as a scholar and leader.
If you have considered applying to Navigate or if you feel frustrated on the path to tenure, this episode is for you. Listen in to hear how Michelle is creating a more human, grounded, and community-centered version of academic success.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
After tenure, it can feel like everyone is depending on you, from students to your junior colleagues, your co-authors, and even your family.
In this episode, I explore what it really means to lead for legacy at this stage in your academic career. Leadership isn't about taking on more work or moving into administration. It's about how you show up for others while also taking care of yourself. I'll share how to lead in a way that sustains both you and the people who look to you for guidance.
Then, I break down why it is okay to focus your energy on your academic mission and cementing your legacy, even if that means saying no to people who helped you reach tenure. From prioritizing your wellbeing to reshaping your career to be what you want, I challenge you to shift your mindset on leadership.
Listen in to learn how to lead for legacy without burning out, and how to model a new kind of success in academia.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
Have you been told to "step into leadership" on your campus, only to realize what they really meant was taking on more admin work?
In this episode, I'm breaking down one of academia's biggest myths: that leadership and administration are the same thing. They're not, and understanding the difference can transform how you approach your academic career.
As part of our Mid-Career Series, this episode explores what real leadership looks like beyond the tenure track. I share what I've learned about leading without losing yourself to bureaucracy and why leadership is less about hierarchy and more about vision, collaboration, and identity.
You'll also hear what I learned firsthand from stepping briefly into administration and how it reshaped my understanding of what academic leadership really is.
Tune in now to learn how to leverage your leadership to build influence, impact, and a meaningful legacy without getting lost in admin work.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
Are you feeling stuck, unmotivated, or wondering what happened to the joy you once felt in your academic work? You're not alone. Today, I'm tackling one of the most common and least discussed challenges in the scholarly journey: the mid-career slump.
This episode is part of our Mid-Career Series, where I am exploring what it really takes to thrive after tenure. If you've hit that milestone and expected relief, only to feel even more frustrated and overwhelmed, this conversation is for you.
I unpack how the academic system sets you up to sprint toward tenure, pushing yourself harder and harder in pursuit of safety and validation, and why, when you finally get there, that safety often feels like an illusion. You'll hear why the habits, mindsets, and patterns that got you to tenure can easily lead to burnout afterward, and how to shift them now, whether you're pre-tenure and want to avoid the slump, or mid-career and ready to reclaim joy, purpose, and balance in your work.
If you've ever thought, "Is this really what I worked so hard for?", this episode will help you find your way back to a sustainable and meaningful academic career.
Tune in to hear why mid-career burnout isn't inevitable, and how to realign your choices, priorities, and time so your academic life actually supports your wellbeing, not drains it.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
My Mid-Career Series is all about redefining success after tenure and building a career that feels as meaningful as it looks on paper. In this segment, I share one of the hardest truths about the academic journey — what got you here won't get you there.
I explore how the habits, priorities, and systems that helped you earn tenure may actually hold you back from becoming a full professor or advancing in new directions.
If you've been feeling like you're working just as hard but not making meaningful progress. Or, if you're wondering why your post-tenure years feel less clear than the path that got you here, this episode is for you. I share insights from my own experience and from coaching hundreds of scholars through this exact phase of their careers, helping you see where your energy might be better spent and what needs to evolve as you move forward.
It's time to rethink your mid-career strategy, make space for the next stage of your scholarly life, and get clear on how to achieve your academic mission without burning out.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
Many post-tenure professors find themselves more exhausted than ever, despite achieving what they thought would finally bring balance. In this segment of the Mid-Career Podcast Series, I unpack why you're still so dang tired and what you can do to reclaim your energy, focus, and purpose in your academic career.
I'll dive into what exhaustion really looks like for scholars who've spent years pushing toward tenure, only to find that the same habits and overbooked schedules have followed them into the next chapter of their careers. From managing others' fires to working without time for real thinking and writing, we'll talk about the deep structural and emotional reasons behind mid-career fatigue, and how to change them.
If you've been running on empty, constantly giving your time to everyone else's priorities, this conversation is your permission slip to slow down, reevaluate, and rebuild your career from a place of power and purpose.
Listen now to learn why exhaustion isn't a personal failing. It's a sign it's time to take control and create the career you really want.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
When you finally receive that long-awaited email announcing tenure, you expect it to change everything—less stress, more freedom, and the chance to finally pursue the big dreams you’ve been putting on hold. But what happens when the reality doesn’t live up to the hype?
In this episode of the Mid-Career Series, I share my own post-tenure story. From the anticlimactic certification letter to the realization that tenure didn’t automatically bring clarity, impact, or balance. Instead, I found myself stuck at the top of the promotion ladder in the middle of a financial crisis, still overworked and unsure of what was next.
If you’ve ever thought tenure would be the turning point that finally allowed you to regain control of your academic career, this conversation may feel uncomfortably familiar. But it also opens the door to imagining something bigger for your career, on your own terms.
Listen now to hear my story about securing tenure and discover how you can start building the academic career you truly want now, without letting a prospective promotion hold you back.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
Earning tenure is often treated as the finish line of an academic career—but what if it’s actually the start of a whole new set of challenges?
This episode is part of our Mid-Career Series, where I discuss what life really looks like post-tenure.
Too often, scholars expect tenure to mean lighter workloads, more freedom, and clearer direction. In reality, many find themselves juggling even more demands with fewer guideposts for what comes next.
I unpack five common myths about the post-tenure career stage and reveal what’s really waiting on the other side of promotion. You’ll hear why tenure can feel both more demanding and more liberating, and how to approach this stage of your career with clarity and purpose.
If you’re post-tenure or preparing for it, don’t miss this myth-busting conversation. Listen now for a fresh perspective on shaping your next chapter in academia.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
I am excited to kick off the brand-new Mid-Career Podcast Series, where I dive into the realities of academic life after tenure.
Mid-career is the longest stretch of the academic journey, often 15 to 20 years, and while it brings stability and experience, it can also feel like uncharted territory. Many academics discover that the freedoms they imagined post-promotion are replaced with heavier workloads, shifting priorities, and the lingering question of what’s next.
In this first episode, I lay the groundwork for what mid-career really looks like and why it matters. I’ll talk about the gap between expectation and reality, the identity shifts that happen when the tenure track drive fades, and the surprising ways burnout shows up even after achieving major milestones.
Most importantly, I’ll introduce how to think about mid-career not as a plateau, but as a phase filled with opportunities to realign, reset, and build skills that sustain your academic life for the long haul.
Tune in to start reframing mid-career on your own terms and hear sneak peeks of the insights and stories I will share throughout this series.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
What should take priority in your academic career right now: rewriting grant proposals or getting your papers published? In this episode, I offer a hot take that might make you pause—and rethink – how you’re spending your precious writing time.
Grants are, of course, essential for research. They fund our projects, sustain our labs, and provide the indirect costs universities depend on. But in today’s climate—especially with the instability of many federal grant programs—pouring endless hours into resubmitting proposals may not be the most strategic move. At the same time, your publications are what amplify your scholarly voice, shape your reputation in the field, and ultimately strengthen your future grant applications.
That tension between funding and publishing is one every scholar deals with. But what if, for this season, the smarter choice is to lean into writing papers rather than rewriting rejected grants?
Tune in to learn why that pivot matters, how to balance the relationship between grants and publications, and why prioritizing papers right now may be the best investment in your academic career.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
CONNECT WITH ME:
- YouTube
Have you ever sat down to write and felt completely stuck, frustrated, or drained—wondering why it feels so much harder than any other part of your academic work?
In this episode, I dive into the reality that writing is hard because it’s meant to be. The intellectual work of interpreting data, structuring arguments, and expressing your ideas clearly is inherently challenging. I explore why the very things that make writing feel difficult are exactly what make it meaningful, impactful, and essential to your scholarly growth.
Listen in to reframe your relationship with writing, honor the difficulty of the process, and embrace the hard work as a sign you’re doing it right.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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- YouTube
Have you ever found yourself buried under the weight of the very success you worked so hard to achieve?
Winning a giant grant or getting the opportunity to head your own research center are amazing accomplishments. With success comes new responsibilities that demand unique skillsets – good problems to have, but ones you need to manage to avoid burnout and overwhelm.
Today, I am offering a sneak peek from the Scholar’s Voice® Alumni Podcast, an exclusive feed available only to academics who have taken Navigate 12-week program, Elevate, Amplify, or Leading Now.
In this episode, I share a coaching story about a client whose incredible research accomplishments left her managing multiple large projects without the systems or support to handle them. Together, we’ll explore what happens when achievement outpaces infrastructure, and why the skills that get you to the next level aren’t always the ones that help you thrive there.
Listen in to learn how to stop suffering from your own success so you can lead with more clarity, confidence, and sustainability.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
We're receiving applications for our next cohort of Leading Now. 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. 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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- YouTube
What happens when the most challenging part of leadership isn’t the work, but the weight of emotions you’re expected to carry?
In this episode, I dive into the hidden emotional labor of leadership, sharing stories from my own life—both at home and in professional settings—to explore how leaders, especially women, navigate the delicate balance of awareness, empathy, and action.
I reflect on moments when stress and frustration threatened to derail me, and I show how cultivating self-coaching and grounding practices can help turn emotional turmoil into clarity and calm.
If you’ve ever felt the weight of others’ emotions in your work or questioned how to stay centered while guiding a team, this episode offers both validation and practical insight into leading with presence, perspective, and poise.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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- YouTube
In today's special episode, I share a conversation with my friend and fellow writing coach, Dr. Anna Clemens. Anna helps scientists write their articles, and she invited me to join a live stream on her YouTube channel to discuss the benefits of creating an intentional writing season.
Anna and I explore how to transform writing from a source of anxiety into a manageable, enjoyable part of your scholarly career. Learn practical strategies for building positive writing habits, navigating the challenges of work-life balance, and creating intentional writing seasons that fit the demands of your career and personal life.
Whether you’re an early-career researcher or a tenure-track professor, this conversation will give you fresh perspectives and actionable tools to boost your writing confidence and productivity.
Tune in to learn how to engineer your academic writing practice for success — and reclaim your passion for writing.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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- YouTube
If you’ve ever thought “it’s not just about time—I don’t have the energy” when it comes to your writing, you are not alone.
In this episode, Dr. Abigail Hogan joins me to talk about how she’s learned to align her writing practice with her energy patterns, and why doing so has been transformational for both her scholarship and her well-being.
Dr. Hogan shares what drew her to the Navigate program after participating in Amplify, and how she used the tools and coaching support to break through perfectionism, release the emotional weight of a long-stalled paper, and publish with confidence.
Whether you're mid-project, mid-semester, or just feeling a bit stuck, Abby’s story will leave you reflecting on how to approach your writing with more intention, clarity, and self-compassion.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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- YouTube
If you’ve ever said, “I’d love to join Navigate, but I just don’t have the time,” this episode is for you.
Today, I’m joined by Dr. Janet McCabe, who brings honesty and real-world insight into what it looks like to invest in your writing during a busy and emotionally challenging season. We talk about her initial hesitation to join Navigate, the fear of adding one more thing to her plate, and how she ultimately found structure, clarity, and unexpected ease in her academic writing process.
Whether you're mid-career, managing administrative responsibilities, or simply struggling to reconnect with your research, Janet’s reflections offer perspective and encouragement. Janet’s experience is a powerful reminder that your writing doesn’t need perfect conditions—it needs attention, structure, and a willingness to begin.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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- YouTube
Do you want to take on new projects or tackle more writing and publications but feel like the number one thing holding you back is time?
What if I told you capacity isn’t fixed, you can build it?
Today, I’m sharing what capacity building means and how intentionally growing your capacity can help you do more of the work that matters without burning out.
In this episode, I share my own experiences juggling personal and professional responsibilities. I share vivid, real-life examples of how my capacity expanded over time, from parenting multiple children to managing a large farm business alongside my academic coaching career.
I’ll also address common fears about timing big career moves, especially the myth that you have to wait until you have more capacity before committing to growth.
If you’ve been hesitating to push forward with your writing or career goals because you feel maxed out, this episode is for you. Listen in to shift your mindset around capacity, learn practical ways to grow it, and get inspired to take action now because waiting for the “perfect” time only holds you back.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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- YouTube
Is the next academic year a writing season for you? A mentoring season? An administrative season?
Too often, scholars fall into the trap of trying to do everything at once—writing, grant-getting, mentoring, teaching, program-building—on full blast. But sustainable success comes from focused seasons, not constant hustle.
In this episode, I introduce the concept of “academic seasonality” and walk you through how to select your next season with purpose. Whether you're heading into a writing-intensive fall, supporting graduate students, or bracing for a new admin role, this mindset shift will help you take control of your academic path without burning out.
If you’re ready to move into your next academic season with clarity and intention, this episode is for you. Tune in now to reframe how you approach your year and discover a more sustainable way to thrive in your academic career.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist 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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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- YouTube
Are you struggling to get back into academic writing after a break? Or maybe you’re afraid to change your writing schedule because you think you’ll lose momentum. In this episode, I’ll show you how to step away from your writing without derailing your progress and how to return to it without losing your rhythm.
In this episode, I explore the concept of writing off-ramps and on-ramps—a metaphor (and practical toolset) for how to put your writing down with intention and pick it back up with ease. Whether you’re heading into a planned vacation or returning from an unexpected pause, learning to manage transitions is a key part of building a sustainable academic writing practice. You’ll learn how to exit your writing flow gently, leave strategic breadcrumbs for your future self, and design a smooth, flexible re-entry that supports your long-term goals without burnout or self-judgment.
If you're craving a writing practice that feels stable, resilient, and empowering, this episode is a must-listen. Stop treating breaks like setbacks, and learn the tools and mindset you need to turn your writing pauses into powerful pivots.
And don’t forget: our next Navigate information session is happening on July 23, 2025. To get all the details, make sure you’re on my email list—sign up at scholarsvoice.org.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist 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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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- YouTube
Do you feel like you are behind on your summer writing goals? You’re not alone, and you’re not failing. It’s time to normalize readjusting your summer writing plans without shame.
In this episode, I guide you through a midsummer writing check-in. This flexible process will help you reassess your academic writing goals and realign them with your current capacity. Whether you mapped out a detailed summer writing plan back in May or are just now trying to make progress, I will walk you through how to revisit your calendar, evaluate your remaining time, and match it with what’s left on your writing to-do list. Re-planning isn’t a failure; it’s a core skill that every academic writer needs to learn.
Tune in to learn how to move from unrealistic expectations to a sustainable academic writing progress without burnout, shame, or overwhelm.
If you’re ready to improve your academic writing practice and finally clear your publication backlog, enrollment for the next round of my Navigate program opens soon! Get on the waitlist today.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist 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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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- YouTube
Are you constantly being asked to do more than your role requires because others around you aren’t stepping up? You might be getting pulled into a leadership vacuum.
In this final episode of the Leadership Series, I define what a leadership vacuum is and explain why so many mid-career academics—especially those in middle-management roles—get pulled into these gaps. Whether you’re a department chair, PI, or program director, it’s easy to start taking on responsibilities that aren’t technically yours, particularly when leadership above you is weak or absent. I share how to recognize the vacuum, why scholars are especially vulnerable to it, and, most importantly, how to set boundaries that preserve your energy, time, and mission-driven focus.
If you’ve ever felt overextended in your academic role, this episode is for you. Learn how to define your position and hold your boundaries with clarity and confidence.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist 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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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- YouTube
We’re in the middle of a series on academic leadership, and today, I focus on the foundation: leading yourself.
In this episode, I unpack what self-leadership really means: making decisions grounded in your mission and values that shape who you become, not just what you produce. I’ll explain why embracing seasonality—intentionally focusing on writing during specific periods while scaling back other commitments—is a powerful way to adapt to the challenges many academics face today, like frozen grant programs and shifting research priorities. Finally, I share practical tools and mindset shifts you need to lead yourself through a writing season with clear boundaries, effective time management, and focused energy.
If you’re ready to take control of your writing and academic career by mastering self-leadership, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn how leading yourself is the secret to writing more intentionally and productively.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist 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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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- YouTube
Writing and publishing might feel like individual, behind-the-scenes tasks. But what if your ability to lead in academia starts with how you show up for your own writing?
In this episode, I discuss why taking control of your writing and publishing is not merely about checking off boxes for tenure or seeking validation. It’s about developing the leadership skills necessary for success in academia—regardless of whether you have an official title.
I examine how consistently committing to your writing fosters self-trust, boosts confidence, clarifies decision-making, and enhances project management skills—all of which are crucial for effective leadership. Regardless of your administrative position, your capacity to lead yourself is what truly defines you as a leader in academia.
Tune in to discover why academic leadership extends beyond administrative roles. If you're looking to grow both as a scholar and a leader, this episode will provide you with a powerful new perspective on your writing practice.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist 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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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- YouTube
Do you cringe at the idea of being a manager in academia? You’re not alone, but it’s time for a mindset shift.
In this new podcast series on leadership in academia, I’m making the case that becoming a manager isn’t just likely -- it’s inevitable. In fact, it’s a sign that your academic career is growing, your influence is expanding, and your work is making an impact.
In this first episode, I’m laying the groundwork for the series by diving into why academic leadership must include management—and why that’s a good thing. Whether you’ve just landed your tenure-track role or you’re directing a major research center, you’re already managing people, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
If you are a professor seeking to grow as a scholar, leader, and mentor, this series is for you. Tune in to shift your perspective on leadership in academia.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist 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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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- YouTube
Ever feel like you should know how long a writing task will take, but somehow, it always takes longer (or shorter) than you expected? If so, this bonus episode is for you!
After coaching dozens of academics one-on-one in our Navigate program this past year, I’ve developed a brand-new concept that’s transforming how academic writers plan, prioritize, and stick to their writing timelines: the difference between writing problems and writing tasks.
I’m so excited to bring this concept into the curriculum of our Navigate program. We’ll not only teach you how to distinguish between problems and tasks but also how to manage each with clarity and confidence. Want your own lightbulb moment? Tune in and learn how to take your academic writing process to the next level.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist 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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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- YouTube
Have you ever looked at your calendar, blocked out a few hours to write, and then… nothing? The blank screen stares back, your cursor blinks mockingly, and you start wondering—how long should this take? Why is this so hard to estimate?
In this episode, I’m talking all about one of the biggest hidden obstacles to academic writing success: estimating how long writing tasks actually take. Whether it’s a book chapter, a literature review, or a single figure caption, understanding time-to-task is crucial if you want to make real progress on your publications without burning out.
If you're tired of missing due dates, underestimating tasks, and wondering why academic writing feels like pushing a boulder uphill, this episode is for you. Listen now, and let’s reframe how you think about your time and writing.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist 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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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- YouTube
You’ve developed the project management skills, but now the question is: how do you know when it’s time to introduce a project management tool into your workflow?
In this episode, I guide you through determining when you’re ready for a project management tool. I discuss what to look for, how to choose one that addresses your specific needs, and the essential steps to ensure your writing process will benefit from the tool. Building on the skills I covered last week in part one, I’ll help you understand how to select and integrate a system that will keep you organized and productive.
If you’ve been feeling the pressure of managing multiple projects and collaborations, and you’re wondering how to take that next step, this episode is for you. Tune in to discover how to find the perfect project management tool for your academic writing.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist 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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Are you stuck in a cycle of trying out new project management tools—Trello, Asana, Notion—only to abandon them weeks later? You're not alone. No tool will save your writing or publication pipeline if you haven't first developed core project management skills.
In this episode, I explain why building project management skills must come before adopting a project management tool. If you're feeling overwhelmed with your writing tasks, due dates, or collaborative projects, it’s not because you haven’t found the “right” app—it’s because foundational skills like discernment and time management aren’t fully developed yet. Before you invest energy (and money) in the latest software, you need clarity on how you work and how to support your writing with solid workflows.
Tune in to learn how to build the academic project management skills that will advance your writing and publication projects, allowing you to select a project management tool that works with you, not against you.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Welcome to a brand-new series on Academic Writing Amplified - project management for academic writing!
Over the next few episodes, I’ll guide you through how to treat your writing like the complex, ongoing project it truly is. I’ll show you how to build systems that help you manage multiple due dates, balance competing responsibilities, and stay in control of your writing pipeline—without burning out or constantly reinventing the wheel.
In this first segment, I’m laying the foundation. I walk you through the two most important building blocks of academic writing project management:
- Learning the core skills—like breaking big writing goals into manageable tasks and estimating how long those tasks take.
- Creating a system that works—including templates, scheduling practices, and simple routines to keep your projects moving, even when your calendar is packed.
If you’ve ever felt like your writing is always on the back burner or you're constantly busy but never finishing anything, this episode is for you. Start the series now and learn how to take control of your writing with less stress, more structure, and real progress
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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Dr. Lauren McCubbins shares her journey inside the Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® 12-week program. She discusses the importance of continuous learning and the value of a supportive community.
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. 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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If academia has ever made you feel isolated, overwhelmed, or like you are the only one struggling to "figure it all out," you're not alone.
In this episode, I dive into the deep-rooted loneliness that many academics experience, particularly around writing and publishing. With years of experience coaching academic women and non-binary scholars, I explore how vulnerability and community are essential for sustainable success in academia.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in writing due dates, unsure how to unclog your publication pipeline, or just tired of doing it all alone, this episode is your invitation to reimagine what’s possible when scholars come together. Community is closer than you think. Tune in to discover how building connections in academia is essential for creating the career you want.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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Katelyn joined Navigate under unusual circumstances: she was trying to figure out the transition into her assistant professor role, after having been a doctoral student and a full-time researcher at the same institution. She wanted support figuring out her academic mission (especially how it would be different from her advisor’s and P.I.’s), and how she could publish her backlog of papers while carving out her own research area. Within the supportive Navigate group, she found that. Though her circumstances were different, her core problems were the same as the other in her cohort: clarity of mission, holding boundaries, and solving writing problems versus tasks.
More about Katelyn: Katelyn Carr is an Assistant Professor at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo. She studies eating behaviors and motivation in parents and children.
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. 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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In a time when higher ed feels like it’s unraveling—when grant freezes, ideological pressures, and job insecurity are shaking the foundations of academia—it’s easy to feel helpless. But you are not powerless. You are equipped for this moment, even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.
In this episode, I offer a grounded, honest, and empowering message for academics navigating today’s tumultuous social and political climate. This isn’t about toxic positivity—it’s about recognizing the real threats facing our institutions and careers while reclaiming our agency, skills, and purpose. I unpack how your past experiences, values, and professional expertise prepare you to move forward—deliberately, powerfully, and with integrity.
If you’re feeling stuck, discouraged, or unsure how to move forward, this episode is for you. Listen in to reconnect with your academic mission, clarify your values, and remember just how much strength you already carry.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. 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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Universities have been around for over a thousand years. They’ve persisted through war, famine, plague, natural disasters, vast shifts in people’s beliefs about them and what they are for.
That’s because universities are self-preserving. They adapt.
Look right now at how your university is adapting. Are they partnering with you to solve problems? Are they saying “keep your heads down and pivot”? Are they saying “don’t worry we’ve got this” but aren’t actually in conversation with you about how? Are they placing the burden of adapting squarely on YOUR shoulders?
In 2025, you need to think carefully about your relationship to your institution and DECIDE what it is going to be.
Here are some questions to help you get started:
- What is my responsibility to my institution, and what is its responsibility to me?
- What are my values? What are my institution's values (the ones it is showing you right now, not the ones in the strategic plan)? How are these aligned or misaligned?
- If your institution is not bending over backwards to save you, how much energy should you be using to save it?
There is no one “right” way to relate to your university. YOU get to decide. The university and your position in it is just one container through which to do the work. YOU get to decide your relationship to the container.
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. 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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In this bonus episode, I share a featured interview with Navigate program alumni, Dr. Anne Vo. She reflects on her experience transitioning from an administrative role to faculty and how the Navigate program helped her rediscover her academic focus.
Anne’s story is a powerful reminder that career transitions—whether leaving or returning to academic life—can be challenging but incredibly rewarding when supported with structure, community, and tools for success. Anne shares her personal insights on overcoming fears, setting boundaries, and reclaiming time for scholarly work.
If you’re considering a career shift or simply want to boost your productivity and reclaim your academic time, this conversation is a must-listen! Tune in and hear more about Anne's journey and how the tools she learned in Navigate empowered her to thrive in her academic career.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast. 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. 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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In this episode, I dive deeper into the ongoing impact of the current U.S. administration on higher education, particularly focusing on the financial pressures universities face due to federal funding freezes. I discuss how these cuts are threatening the foundation of academic research and what academics can do to take charge of their careers amid this uncertainty.
Rather than fueling fear, I aim to provide practical strategies for overcoming these challenges. I encourage you to stay connected to your purpose and mission in academia, even if it means adapting to new ways of doing your work.
Are you ready to regain control of your academic career and navigate these tumultuous times with confidence? Tune in for valuable insights and actionable advice.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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In the concluding episode of the podcast series, Should I Quit Academia, I address how the current US president and administration are impacting higher education. From federal cuts affecting grants and research to reductions in funding to institutions and students, a lot of disruption is happening in academia.
During this time of uncertainty, it may seem like quitting academia is more appealing than ever. I give you a series of questions to ask yourself to see if a career pivot is the right choice. My goal is to help you make a decision based on a belief in your value, not fear. The stability of academia is an illusion, and recognizing it will help you protect yourself and move forward with clarity and intention.
Do I think higher ed is going anywhere? No. However, it is clear that significant changes are happening and will continue to happen during this presidential term. I encourage you to reflect on my questions in this episode and think about how you want to impact your field and get your voice out into the world.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Have you ever wondered about careers outside of academia? Or are you considering leaving the world of research and teaching behind?
Transitioning from academia to a writing-focused career or exploring new ways to get your voice into your industry can be exciting and overwhelming. In today's episode, I am joined by Jennie Nash. Jennie is the CEO of Author Accelerator, a book coaching certification program that works with coaches and writers all over the world.
We delve into the power of writing—whether for academic papers, books, or other forms of storytelling—and the importance of defining your purpose and audience. We also explore the role of a book coach, offering insights into how they help writers shape their ideas, navigate challenges, and find their voice.
If you’re looking to refine your writing and connect with your reader more effectively, this episode is for you. Listen in to discover how to turn your ideas into impactful publications.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Are you struggling with publications and wondering if changing universities will solve your writing problems? Think again! In this episode, I dive into the truth behind the misconception that a new university position will magically unclog your publication pipeline.
I’ve worked with professors from various institutions who have held every type of position. I’ve seen first-hand that the real key to unlocking your writing success is not in your external circumstances but in how you approach your writing practice and time management. Lessening your teaching load or switching to a more research-focused position isn't going to help you publish more. If you don't address your writing practice, your issues will follow you no matter what job you take.
If you’re tired of struggling with a clogged pipeline and are ready to regain control of your academic writing, this episode is for you. Learn how building a sustainable writing practice and focusing on professional development will make it easier to get your voice out into the world so you can influence your field.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Ready to discover alternative career paths in academia? My latest podcast series celebrates the inspiring journeys of diverse academic women who have created success on their terms. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jane Jones, and she shares her journey from academia to becoming a successful writing coach.
With a Ph.D. in sociology, Jane secured a tenure-track position, but after facing several challenges in academia, she decided to leave. Today, she runs a thriving writing coaching business specializing in helping scholars write books. Her story highlights the realities of academia, particularly for marginalized individuals, and the process of transitioning out of it to pursue a more fulfilling career path.
Throughout our conversation, we break down the importance of self-awareness, identifying harmful institutional policies, and support for academics at all stages of their career. Whether you are writing a book, navigating the pressures of academia, or simply wanting to manage your time more effectively, this episode delivers key insights into what can be possible when you pivot from professorship.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Higher education is in crisis! In today's episode, I explore how academia has been entangled in a fast-paced capitalist model, exploiting faculty and prioritizing output over meaningful academic work. I challenge professors to confront these unsustainable practices and take action to remake and reform their careers.
As a scholar, you can break free from the constraints and burnout cycle, redefine your academic mission, and focus on the creation of knowledge rather than institutional requirements. I encourage you to reflect on your values and focus on developing systems that align with the direction you want your academic career to take. If you feel like you are constantly being shouldered with more tasks and are tired of feeling overworked and overwhelmed, this episode is for you.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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In today's episode, I want to challenge how we think about our academic careers. For many of us, our professional lives are heavily defined by the rules of the institution or "container" through which we work—whether it's a graduate program, a tenure-track position, or unreasonable requirements from the university. I want you to flip that way of thinking altogether.
Instead of letting your institution or the promise of tenure dictate your path, you can apply your scholarly work to a container that better suits your academic mission statement and career goals. You are not the container, and your knowledge, skills, and research can be leveraged in multiple ways so that you can create a career that is fulfilling and truly aligns with who you are and what you value.
If you are frustrated with your current position or are curious about quitting academia, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn how to separate your work from the container and the benefits of pursuing a different career path.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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If you're feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or questioning your place in the academic world, you may have thought about quitting. But you worked so hard and invested so much time into becoming a professor. Are you really ready to move on to a new career?
In this episode, I discuss the challenges of deciding whether it's time to quit academia. I share how to assess your current situation, identify the root causes of your dissatisfaction, and explore if there’s a way to make your academic career more enjoyable. Whether you’re a professor on a tenure track or are already a permanent faculty member, this episode guides you through the self-reflection process to help you make an informed decision about the future of your academic career.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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In this episode, I explain how pipeline + practice = flow. Learn how having a clear, organized publication pipeline and a well-defined writing practice can help you consistently move your projects forward and get them out into the world. I’ll dive into why both of these elements are crucial for academic scholars to master and how having a clear plan for your projects alongside an intentional approach to your writing can unlock productivity and creativity. I’ll also talk about an exciting opportunity, my Spacious Writing Retreat. This intimate retreat is designed to help you refine your publication pipeline and writing practice in a supportive, immersive setting.
If you’re a professor struggling to balance multiple projects, feeling stuck in your writing routine, or looking to bring more flow and consistency to your work, this episode is for you. Whether you’re looking for actionable strategies or are curious about the writing retreat experience, I will give you the tools and inspiration to address the problems with your writing practice and publications head-on.
Click here to get all the retreat details and submit an interest form!
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Retreating and binge-writing may seem similar at first glance, but one supports your creative flow, while the other can derail it. So, what's the real difference between these two approaches, and why is one a tool while the other is a crutch?
In this episode, I break down the key distinctions between binge-writing and writing retreats. I'll explore the deeper implications of each, explaining why binge-writing often leads to burnout while retreats provide the spaciousness and support needed for sustainable progress. Whether you're struggling with the binge-and-bust cycle or just looking to create more balance in your writing practice, this episode offers valuable insights into why retreating might be the solution.
If you're ready to experience the transformative power of a writing retreat, I invite you to join our next Spacious Writing Retreat. Tune in and learn how retreating can revolutionize your writing practice and break you out of the binge-bust cycle.
Click here to get all the retreat details and submit an interest form!
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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In today's episode, I welcome Dr. Becky Dawson back to the podcast. Dr. Becky has chosen to direct her academic work to public scholarship. She's one of my most inspiring clients, and her journey shows how public-facing scholarship can be a career-defining move and a way to make real, tangible impacts on the community. From regular TV segments to hosting live Q&A sessions on social media, Dr. Becky has built a reputation as a trusted voice in epidemiology and public health.
Dr. Becky shares her transition from traditional academic work to public scholarship, exploring how she successfully pitches this work to her university by aligning her efforts with her academic mission. If you are considering stepping into public scholarship, this conversation offers practical advice on juggling impact, visibility, and university dynamics. Tune in to hear Becky's inspiring story and learn how you can get your academic work and academic vision to the people whose lives you will make better through your work.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/254.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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If you have been eyeing Navigate but thinking “I did NCFDD, I should have solved my writing and publishing problem by now!” you are not alone.
NCFDD offers an introduction to managing your academic career. Navigate is a deeper dive, based on a philosophy of self-compassion, self-trust, and sustainability.
To transform your writing and publishing, you are never “done” or “fixed.” Writing is a practice, and publication pipeline management changes as YOU change and mature in your career. In fact, even though Navigate is a 12-week program, we don’t expect you to magically have a clear pipeline in 12 weeks.
It is normal for career development around writing and publishing to be a journey!
So, if you have taken NCFDD you have a great start. Navigate is the right next-step for you. (If you haven’t taken NCFDD, no worries! You are also ready to start Navigate.)
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. 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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Academia is evolving, and the upcoming administrative and political shifts in 2025 can lead to feelings of fear and uncertainty. While we don't know the impact of these changes yet, it's important to acknowledge that your relationship with academia and your career may look different over the next four years. Whether you're a researcher, a professor, or in another academic role, how you relate to your work—and how you take care of yourself in the process—will be key to adapting to these changes.
In today's episode, I discuss the importance of understanding why you entered academia in the first place. As external pressures intensify and academia transforms, it's essential to center yourself and define your purpose. This clarity can help you craft a sustainable, fulfilling career and navigate the potential challenges ahead. Whether you are worried about budget cuts, defunding, or other vulnerabilities, I encourage you to embrace your purpose and take control by designing the academic career you want.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/253.
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. 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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Often, the career of academia can be dehumanizing. Listen to catch the tools that we use in Navigate to humanize your experience in academia.
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. 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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Do you struggle to keep to your writing or project due dates? In today’s episode, I discuss the common problems academics have with setting and meeting due dates. Then, I outline how to set due dates more effectively. By building confidence around these skills, you will get better at setting due dates based on facts and data, not just when you want to turn something in.
I encourage you to take the time to reflect on your writing practice. Think about the areas you can develop and get better at in the New Year. Tune in to learn the tools you need to set a due date and get the satisfaction of achieving it.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/252.
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. 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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Navigate is designed for tenure-track women and nonbinary professors with a disruptive perspective on their field. In the 12-week program, you will learn how to write and publish more using our mission-guided time and project management processes. Navigate is a twelve-week coaching program that combines recorded modules with high-touch coaching and community, which will help you get results in just 12 weeks.
During this info session I taught about:
- The three mistakes that most academics make when they try to publish their backlog of papers
- The biggest mindset shift that is holding you back from making progress in publication
- How to apply to our next cohort of Navigate, the 12-week program that teaches you how to clear your backlog of papers–for good.
I also talked about our upcoming enrollment for our 12-week Navigate program and answered all of your questions about how it works, how we support our participants, our clients’ success, and what you can expect when you join us.
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. 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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Happy New Year! In today’s episode, I share how to write your New Year’s story. I use my experiences from 2024 to guide you through creating your vision for 2025. From agency to decision-making, I break down the ups and downs of identity and mindset shifts that happen as our goals change and evolve.
Reflecting on the past year is an essential step in shaping what you want your future to look like. This discussion applies to both personal and professional ambitions. As you consider what you want to focus on in 2025, I want to remind you that you have the knowledge and skills to solve any problems or challenges that come your way. We are constantly in a state of change and creation, so embrace it! There is always another goal on the horizon, and I wish you the very best as we move into 2025.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/251.
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. 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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If you are a frequent podcast listener, you know I advocate for writing just two hours per week to make significant progress on your writing and publications. However, many scholars struggle with the idea that such small blocks of time will make a difference.
In today's episode, I discuss why two hours of writing per week is not only sufficient but often preferable to trying to carve out large blocks of time. I challenge common beliefs that more time is necessary to make progress on writing projects and offer insights on how to adjust your mindset and foster a more sustainable writing practice.
If you are struggling to find time to write or feel overwhelmed by your publication pipeline, this episode is for you. Tune in for practical tips to boost your academic writing and productivity within a two-hour weekly time block.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/250.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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If you want to unclog your publication pipeline and get more consistent with your writing and publishing, you must develop a resilient writing practice.
In this episode, I discuss how a resilient writing practice allows you to navigate life's inevitable derailments so you don't have to be resilient yourself. Rather than writing from guilt or pressure, a resilient practice lets you pause and return to your work. I explain how predictable challenges, like academic responsibilities, and unpredictable ones, like illness, can impact your writing.
Then, I share the essential components of a resilient practice and how to foster a more positive relationship with your writing. From embracing disruptions to accepting your humanity and setting realistic expectations, I guide you through the process of maintaining consistency and finding fulfillment in your writing.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/249.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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From the moment you first picked up a crayon, pencil, or pen, you started building your experience as an academic writer. Your writing practice has evolved and adapted as you've progressed through different stages of life and career.
In today’s episode, I dive into how long it really takes to transform your writing practice as an academic. I explore how your approach to writing shifts throughout your career and share my timeline for building a more sustainable writing routine that supports consistent writing and increases your publications. I also highlight the tools and skills you can develop in our Navigate program, showing the impact it will have on your writing practice and career forever.
If you are ready to put writing at the center of your career or need help clearing your publication pipeline and know that improving your writing practice is an essential step in that process, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn how long it takes to change your academic writing habits and how Navigate can help you build a writing practice that supports your long-term success.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/248.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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In today's episode, I discuss why writing and publishing are the catalyst for change in your career. An obvious benefit of changing your writing practice is that you publish more and get your unique perspective out into the world in an impactful way. But that's just the beginning. Shifting your focus to writing doesn't just improve your output—it can transform how you approach your entire career.
I'll explore the most powerful results of nurturing your writing practice, such as enhancing your self-trust, encouraging better decision-making, and establishing a work-life balance.
If you're an academic, this episode will shed light on why so many professors struggle with writing and publishing, and how changing your writing practice can lead to a more fulfilling and joyful career. Tune in for insights into the real, lasting impact that focusing on your writing has on building the academic career and life you want.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/247.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Welcome back to another segment of the podcast series about writing practices. Today, I discuss two extreme writing practices: writing every day and binge writing.
If you've been struggling with your publication pipeline, chances are you've tried one of these methods. While it might sound logical that writing daily or cramming during off-times will help you reach your publication goals, it won't. I break down why these approaches ultimately fail and how you can build a more sustainable, relationship-based writing practice that supports your academic career.
I hope this episode helps you rethink your approach to academic writing and inspires you to start building a more positive relationship with your writing so you can get your unique message out into the world.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/246.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Welcome back to another segment of the podcast series about academic writing practices. In today’s episode, I tackle a major challenge many academics face in their writing: breaking the binge and bust cycle.
Many professors look forward to summer, winter, or semester breaks as an opportunity to catch up on all the publications they have put off during regular working hours. You think, “I’ll get so much done!” But then, the workload catches up with you, you burn out, and the break ends up being a time of exhaustion, not productivity. This cycle creates guilt and frustration and reinforces the negative thoughts you have about your writing and writing practice.
I offer alternative strategies that help you foster a more positive relationship with your writing. Learn the benefits of making writing the center of your career and how setting realistic, achievable goals will shift your mindset and ultimately boost productivity.
If you are gearing up for a summer or winter break and plan on using that time to get through your backed-up pipeline, this episode is for you. I share strategies to help you break the binge and bust cycle and develop a more sustainable, consistent writing practice.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/245.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Today, I am continuing the podcast series about writing practices in academia. In this episode, I'm digging into five things that you learned about academic writing that are wrong and what you can do to fix them.
These misconceptions—like believing you need to "binge and bust" your writing or that you must write every day—are often a result of how we're socialized in academia. I'll explain why these methods are unsustainable for professors, especially once you're juggling teaching, research, and life responsibilities. Instead of focusing on speed or rigid daily writing routines, I'll share strategies that help you find a writing flow that works for you without burning out or feeling like you're falling behind.
If you're ready to challenge these outdated writing myths and create a more sustainable and effective writing practice, this episode is for you. I'll guide you through rethinking your approach to writing, showing you how small, strategic changes can boost your productivity and impact in the field. By creating a writing process that aligns with your unique needs and goals, you'll be able to make meaningful progress in your publications and feel more confident and in control of your academic work.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/244.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Are you blaming lack of time for your backlog of publications? In this segment of the podcast series on writing practices, I explain why your publishing problem isn’t time. It’s a lack of discernment.
I discuss how academia breeds a scarcity mindset and why the pressure to do as much as possible hinders our ability to move projects through to publication. Instead of trying to work on every idea that comes to mind, I suggest adopting a more strategic approach to project selection by leveraging your academic mission statement. By embracing the natural ebb and flow of your career, you can overcome the binge-and-bust cycle and develop a more sustainable relationship-based writing practice.
If you’re ready to clear your pipeline and get your work out into the world, remember: it’s about intentionality and strategic planning, not just finding more time. Tune in to learn how to reshape your approach to publishing so that it aligns with your career goals.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/243.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Today’s episode is part of the podcast series about writing practices and tips for establishing sustainable academic writing habits. In this segment, I explore a critical question: is your writing a core part of your career, or is it hanging out on the sidelines?
Listen to five key clues indicating your writing might not get the attention it deserves. For each one, I share why you might have gotten trapped in this practice or mindset and why moving your writing to the top of your priorities is so crucial.
If you find any of these clues that your writing is on the sidelines ring true, I encourage you to think about how you could rethink your approach to writing. Writing can do so many amazing things for your career, but only if you give it the important place it deserves: right at the center!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/242.
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. Get on the waitlist 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. 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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Welcome to another segment of the podcast series about writing practices and establishing sustainable writing habits in academia. Today, I am discussing how to make and keep a writing date.
As a scholar, you juggle many responsibilities, and it can be challenging to say no when things come up that interfere with your writing date. We allow these "urgent" requests to overshadow the importance of your writing. There will always be something or someone pulling at our time, and we need to learn how to say "no" and prioritize our writing practice.
I share strategies to help you build a consistent writing practice by scheduling writing dates in small time blocks during your most productive time of the week. I also emphasize the importance of self-accountability and strengthening your time and project management skills. Finally, I explain how professional development can help establish boundaries around your time and give your writing the importance it deserves.
If you struggle to make and keep writing dates, this episode is for you. Tune in for key insights about building a sustainable relationship-based writing practice.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/241.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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I am excited to introduce a new podcast series focused on writing practices. Throughout the series, I will share insights on redefining what writing means in academia, dispel myths about writing, and offer practical advice to help you cultivate a sustainable writing practice.
In today’s episode, I explore the true definition of writing. I share why I believe writing is more than just words on a page and how the steps we take to prepare to write are essential parts of our writing practices. I also discuss how mindset impacts writing and give you an exercise to help you start cultivating a more positive relationship with your writing.
If you want to transform your writing practice from a dreaded chore to a sustainable and joyful activity, this episode is for you. Tune in to explore how to make writing a more fulfilling and enjoyable part of your academic career.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/240.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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I have worked with many academic women and nonbinary, and a recurring challenge about their writing is that no matter what habits or methods they try, their writing practice is never sustainable. The problem is that sustainable practices are a moving target. Writing habits you relied on during grad school no longer work as you juggle the demands of faculty life, including teaching, committee work, and personal responsibilities.
Today's episode kicks off the new podcast series about writing practices. I discuss what makes any practice and life change sustainable. Through insights inspired by life coach Brooke Castillo, I emphasize how our thoughts influence our feelings, which in turn shape our actions and results. Then, I guide you through a reflective exercise to identify negative thoughts about your writing and work toward replacing those with positive affirmations.
By changing your mindset, you can create a healthier relationship with your writing and foster a more sustainable writing practice.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/239.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 5 of the podcast.
Do you feel excited, happy, and encouraged when you think about writing? Or do you feel guilty, sad, and overwhelmed? Creating a good relationship with your writing doesn’t happen by accident. The secret to writing and publishing more is turning your writing practice into a joyful and positive experience.
As part of the Emotions and Writing podcast series, I've chosen to rerelease an earlier segment that explores behaviors that can foster a positive relationship with writing. Throughout the Emotions and Writing series, I've highlighted the detrimental effects of negative emotions on writing, such as guilt, overwhelm, and grief. Today, I'm excited to share strategies that can reignite positive feelings about academic writing and your writing practice, offering you the potential for a transformative shift in your relationship with writing.
Tune in to learn three behaviors that lead to a positive relationship with writing. I'll guide you on how to adopt each of these behaviors into your writing and how to unlearn some negative habits. This will empower you to reprogram your mindset and establish a positive, sustainable relationship with writing.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/238.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 13 of the podcast.
Listen in as I discuss how our jobs as professors are designed to pull us in different directions, making it hard to focus on one thing. Simultaneously working on multiple projects is the default nature of working in academia. When we struggle to manage competing priorities, we experience a perpetual cycle of guilt and overwhelm.
In today’s episode of the ‘Emotions and Writing’ series, I dive into dealing with overwhelm and its impact on academic writing. I review the characteristic signs of overwhelm in academia and offer techniques to combat and overcome overwhelm so you can get your writing practice back on track.
Professors, especially female and non-binary scholars, hold themselves to incredibly high standards. This internal pressure, combined with institutional pressure to publish, creates unrealistic expectations. Combatting overwhelm means lowering the bar to realistic standards, planning in advance, and giving yourself grace.
If overwhelm is holding back your writing and publications, tune in for practical techniques and strategies to break free from the cycle of overwhelm and start building a positive, sustainable relationship with writing.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/237.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 12 of the podcast.
Listen in as I explore one of the most challenging emotional obstacles to academic writing: guilt.
Guilt is the biggest killer of writing productivity. When you feel guilty about something, all inspiration or motivation to complete that task evaporates. Who wants to spend time working on something that makes us feel bad?
Academics, particularly women, often grapple with the overwhelming burden of guilt when they fall short of their writing goals. In this episode, I not only shed light on the pervasiveness of this guilt but also provide practical strategies to transform your mindset and make writing a more positive and fulfilling part of your academic career.
I also review the importance of an Academic Mission Statement as a tool to help reframe your relationship with writing. By clearly articulating the change you want to make in the world through your work, you can start to see writing not as an obstacle but as a central and motivating part of your scholarship. I also share tips on integrating writing into your teaching and research and discuss the importance of investing in yourself and your professional development.
Don't let misplaced guilt hold back your writing and publications! Tune in for insights on managing and overcoming guilt in academic writing.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/236.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Today's episode is part of the Emotions and Writing podcast series. I delve into the topic of grief and its impact on academic work.
This episode explores three key areas where grief can manifest in research and academic roles:
- Loss of Research: I examine how losing access to a research site or experiencing other research disruptions can profoundly affect academic writing.
- Institutional Loss: This segment discusses the emotional challenges associated with changes in academic institutions, such as mergers or reorganizations.
- Loss of Colleagues: I cover the grief of losing colleagues and mentors, including the difficulties of continuing collaborative projects or publications after a co-author's passing.
Throughout the episode, I share real-life examples from coaching clients and offer insights on how to navigate these challenging situations. I underscore the importance of addressing grief and seeking support to navigate loss. Finally, I offer practical advice for managing grief and its impact on writing, including strategies for research pivots and the need for reflective thinking.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/235.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Join me as I continue the conversation about emotions and writing! Today's episode focuses on something we all struggle with: motivation.
There is a popular notion that creativity is sparked by a grand moment of inspiration. But that isn't really how academics or creative writers complete projects. I am refuting the idea that writing needs motivation and instead arguing that systems and processes are the key to a sustainable writing practice.
First, I'll clarify the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and offer a checklist to help you identify the root of your motivational issues. Then, I introduce a framework of systems and processes to combat waning motivation.
If you are waiting around for motivation, you will be waiting a long time! By setting up a consistent writing routine and creating an environment conducive to productivity, you can better manage your writing projects and stay on track. So don't wait around for motivation to strike. Tune in to learn practical systems and processes to help you tackle tasks and write consistently.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/234.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Welcome to the second episode of the ‘Emotions and Writing’ podcast series. Today, we are tackling procrastination.
Procrastination is usually associated with negative self-talk, like laziness or ineptitude. But the real reason behind it is emotional. I start the episode by discussing how academics think about procrastination and why that mindset backfires. Then, I share a framework to help you get out of the cycle of procrastination around a writing project.
There is a very close connection between procrastination and emotions. Procrastination isn’t about productivity; it’s about feelings. If you struggle with procrastination and want to get to the heart of the problem, this episode is for you. Tune in and learn how to break through procrastination and get your writing project back on track!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/233.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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I am launching a new podcast series,' Emotions and Writing.' In this series, we will cover the most common emotions people struggle with when writing in their academic careers. After the strong response to our episode, 'You Can't Write When You're Mad,' I was inspired to delve deeper into how emotions influence writing practice.
In today's episode, we discuss the significance of recognizing and addressing your emotions and their impact on your writing. Writing is inherently emotional, and it's difficult to write academic papers when feeling stressed, sad, or overwhelmed. Acknowledging these emotions and understanding their effects humanizes the academic experience.
After discussing the effects of emotions on writing, I outline the topics we'll tackle throughout this series and encourage you to think about how you want your writing practice to feel. Join me on the journey of intentionally creating positive feelings about your writing practice, so you can build the career you want, be more inspired, and maintain a flowing publication pipeline.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/232.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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On today's bonus episode I'm addressing a thought that might be keeping you from applying or enrolling in Navigate. Fear that you may fail at Navigate? Join me as I address this common fear.
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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The Navigate program takes about two hours per week over the course of 12 weeks: one hour to watch the recorded material and do the exercises, and one hour to attend the live call.
Instead of investing in the program, should you just write for two more hours a week? Catch today's bonus episode to hear more about this.
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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You deserve to have the best career possible. If you are struggling with writing and a clogged pipeline, don’t wait for it to get better.
In today’s episode, I discuss why academics don’t get professional development or writing help because they wait for circumstances to change. When you say, “I’ll wait until it gets better,” you are really saying, “I’ll wait until it gets worse.” The “it” is stress, overwork, and obligations.
It isn’t your circumstances that are the problem; it’s your approach to those circumstances. Getting tenure or lessening your teaching load will not change your decision-making process. You have the power now to shift from being reactive to being proactive in your career.
Saying, “I’ll wait until it gets better,” is a passive way to approach your career. You spend most of your time at work, so let’s make work 90% awesome. Tune in and get inspired to take action to improve your career experience right now.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/231.
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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Working closely with Navigate clients in both Round 1 and Round 2 of the program, breaking writing projects into tasks and estimating how long it will take to finish those tasks has been a consistent sticking point.
And finally, a few months ago, I had an “ah-ha” breakthrough to address this sticking point.
In today’s bonus episode I explain the latest update to Navigate-which officially joins the curriculum for the Fall Cohort.
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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In today’s bonus episode I answer the most frequently asked questions about our Navigate program. I explain the structure, content, and benefits of Navigate, including the coaching sessions, writing support, and the application process.
If you're considering joining, I'll guide you through what to expect and how to make the most of the program. Join me as I answer common questions and share insights to help you decide if Navigate is the right fit for you.
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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In this next segment of the co-authoring series, I address common thoughts and problems academics have when writing with students. Working with students is a learning process, a part of the professorship that no one teaches you how to do. The guidelines for co-authoring with students are the same as for co-authoring with colleagues. The main difference is the teaching and mentorship elements, which can complicate the project.
Co-authoring with mentees or students offers many opportunities but also comes with many challenges. In this episode, I review the top reasons academics say co-authoring with students slows their pipeline. I advise navigating these obstacles to create a positive experience for you and your students. I also outline the importance of teaching how to write an article.
If you are co-authoring with a student and frustrated with the project, this episode is for you!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/230.
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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If you’re a long-time listener, you might be considering the Navigate program, but also wondering, “What else could you possibly have to teach me, Cathy?”
In today’s bonus episode I explain why Navigate is right for you even if you have heard every podcast episode.
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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In today’s bonus podcast episode, hear Dr. Noor Sayed as she reflects on the connections she made during the Navigate program and how they helped her face some of the most difficult moments in her career so far.
If you are looking for other academics who share your desire to publish your backlog of papers and to live a fulfilling life and career, Navigate is the program for you.
More about Noor: Dr. Noor Syed (she/her) is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Applied Behavior Analysis, as well as the founding Director of the Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports (CAARES) with SUNY Empire State University. She has also been named the Turben Director of Autism Advocacy. CAARES' primary initiative is to help SUNY Empire become a fully inclusive and supportive college for those who identify as neurodiverse through a multi-tiered system of support framework; the university was recently designated an Autistic Supportive institution. In addition, Dr. Syed is director of Anderson Center International, an organization dedicated to providing training in evidenced-based strategies for scholars from under-resourced areas globally, an Adjunct Doctoral Advisor in ABA with Endicott College, and a certified general and special education teacher. She serves on the ABA Ethics Hotline, is President-elect of the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis, and serves on the Scientific Council with the Organization for Autism Research.
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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Today’s episode is another segment in the co-authoring series. Many academics attribute a clogged pipeline to working on a project with a co-author. This episode is dedicated to discussing the potential obstacles of co-authoring with a colleague and how to avoid delays in publishing team projects.
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.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/229.
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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Welcome to the new podcast series on co-authoring! Each week, I will tackle a new topic related to co-authoring so you can confidently navigate collaborations and avoid publication backlogs.
Today's episode is the cornerstone of our series, Co-Authoring 101. I provide a 'co-author checklist' and detail essential steps you should take before writing with a co-author. I explain the importance of getting to know your co-author, the framework of an effective pre-project meeting, and how to handle ending a co-author relationship.
Tune in to learn how to get your co-authoring project off to a good start, maintain momentum, and achieve due dates. Learning to collaborate with colleagues effectively is essential to your academic writing career. Maximize time and minimize stress with these preliminary setup and communication tips!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/228.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Are you overwhelmed by your backlog of papers? Today’s episode is a master class in clearing your pipeline. Most academics get trapped in a cycle of fear and blame that stalls their writing process and keeps them from creating the career they want.
My master class on publishing your backlog of papers addresses the critical mindset shift you need to make to free up your pipeline. I also discuss the top three mistakes academics make when publishing papers and offer corrective strategies. Finally, I introduce the Navigate Program and explain how this professional development program helps academics create sustainable writing practices and a flowing publication pipeline.
If you struggle with time or project management, this episode is for you! Learn how to get more papers published and foster a mindset of abundance.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/227.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Today, I am spotlighting a problem so many academics cite as the reason they are delayed in submitting articles or books for publication: perfectionism and self-editing. Specifically, I am addressing the writing stage, where the project is nearly done, but something beyond formatting or copyediting is holding you back from submitting it for review.
First, I explore the top three reasons academics find themselves caught in the cycle of perfectionism and self-editing. Then, I encourage you to lower your internal bar and recognize how the excessively high, self-imposed standards academics often set for themselves can hinder publication. Finally, I underline the necessity of feedback and why your aim should be repetition, not perfection.
If your struggle to release work is clogging your publication pipeline, this episode is for you! Tune in to learn how to let go and escape the trap of perfectionism and self-editing.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/226.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Today's topic—You Can't Write When You're Mad—came to me after a conversation with my friend. We have all experienced how emotions, especially anger, can seriously impact our writing ability. Whether it's dealing with unfair treatment at work, frustrating feedback from reviewers, or just the general stress of academic life, these emotional hurdles can stall our writing.
Writing is not just about meeting due dates or reporting facts. It's a creative process that requires the right mindset. Acknowledging and working through our emotions can make us more productive in the long run.
So, tune in for a discussion about how anger impacts writing. From examples of anger in academia to practical, actionable tips to navigate emotions in your writing practice, I explore the correlation between academic writing and emotional well-being.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/225.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Today, I welcome Jane Jones back to the podcast! Jane is a development editor and writing coach specializing in supporting women and non-binary scholars in academia. She focuses on developing sustainable book-writing practices to prevent burnout and overwhelm.
Join us for a conversation about replicating hierarchies when seeking or responding to feedback. We discuss the pitfalls of disguised permission-seeking and share guidance on building self-trust.
Tune in for spirited and insightful reflections on the complexities of seeking feedback and permission in academic writing.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/224.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Today's episode concludes the podcast series focused on outlining the real stages of the academic career. The final career stage in academia is 'Enjoying Your Legacy.' Now that you have established a foundation for others to continue your work, it is time to enjoy the relaxed institutional pressure and uplift other individuals in your field.
The Enjoying Your Legacy stage is all about freedom and furthering your legacy. Whether you decide to go for a full professorship or stay as an associate professor, it's time to create the life you want, living the career you want. From writing to funding to mentoring, this final career stage significantly shifts how you think, choose, and work on projects. Listen as I view all the facets of the Enjoying Your Legacy academic career stage and learn how to optimize your time, passion, and knowledge.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/223.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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We are progressing through the podcast series focused on the real stages of the academic career based on your development as a professional. In today's episode, I introduce the fourth career stage: Building Your Legacy.
Building Your Legacy comes post-tenure. It is the most challenging career stage in academics because it demands a radical shift and reorientation. Building your legacy means ensuring your unique perspective and work live on beyond you. It's about creating a lasting impact beyond your career and even your lifetime. It means mentoring more, collaborating with junior colleagues, and creating teams that support your academic mission.
Before this promotion, you wanted to prove your worth and indispensability to your institution. But now that you have achieved tenure status, it is time to become replicable and multiply impact. Learn what to expect during this career stage and get insightful tips on navigating the challenging transition from Planting Your Flag to Building Your Legacy.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/222.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Welcome to episode three of my podcast series, The Real Stages of the Academic Career. Today, I am discussing the 'Planting Your Flag' stage closely linked to tenure.
Planting Your Flag is a crucial stage because it revolves around declaring your academic mission and showing why you're indispensable to your institution. This stage can be high-stakes and nerve-wracking, but it's also empowering as you refine the articulation of your work and academic voice.
In this episode, I advise how to approach different aspects of academia, such as writing, research, and time management, in the Plant Your Flag career stage. I also discuss what relationships should look like and ways to shift partnership dynamics that no longer contribute to your growth.
Remember to tune in next week as I unveil the next academic career stage: 'Building Your Legacy.'
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/221.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Welcome back to the ongoing series on the real stages of the academic career! In the last episode, I introduced the apprenticeship stage. Today, I am focusing on "Stepping Into Your Own," a pivotal phase where scholars begin to carve out their unique identities separate from their advisors.
The 'Stepping Into Your Own' stage is complex, demanding, and most importantly, your chance to define who you are and what you want to represent as a scholar. I advise navigating the tension between completing old projects and pursuing new directions. I also discuss the necessity of redefining relationships with your advisor, students, and peers. For each facet of the 'Stepping Into Your Own' career stage, I share do's and don'ts and what to expect as you begin to make your mark in your field!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/220.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Welcome to the first episode of my new podcast series, Understanding the Real Stages of the Academic Career. I will discuss writing, relationships, research, and time management strategies for each stage and share best practices from my experience as an academic writing coach.
Today’s episode focuses on the first career stage, learning/apprenticeship. I explain the learning/apprenticeship stage and how you should think about critical aspects of an academic career in your early career. I review common mistakes and explain why building a solid foundation of writing practice, management systems, and research will set you up for success in academia.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/219.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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The "received" stages of an academic career are very linear and do not capture the true responsibilities, workload, or goals within an academic career. I have worked with hundreds of women and nonbinary professors, so I have a unique perspective on the academic career–one built through observation of many different scholars in many different types of institutions. In today’s episode, I explain the REAL stages of the academic career.
This episode is a re-release of episode 190 of the podcast and in this episode, tune in as I compare and contrast the received stages of an academic career to the real stages. My goal is to shift your perspective about how you think about your academic career. After this episode, I hope you can check in with yourself and see where you are in your academic career and where you want to go. From there, you can see what you can check off as already done and where you need to put more energy, focus, and development to have the academic career you desire.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist here.
Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 190 of the podcast. You can find episode 190 full show notes 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. Get on the waitlist 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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In today's episode, I introduce special guest Karen Grace-Martin, the owner of The Analysis Factor, a statistical support business. Karen's company is a resource every academic should lean on. Regardless of your field, The Analysis Factor will help with quantitative data analysis. Every researcher needs statistical support, and utilizing statistical support resources will improve and expedite your writing and publications.
As an academic, seeking statistical support is beneficial and crucial for a successful career. The field of statistics is ever-evolving, and so is research. Just like business development is essential for writing, statistical support is a vital component at every stage of your academic journey. So, stay tuned to discover how statistical support can significantly enhance your writing and boost your publications!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/217
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. Get on the waitlist 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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In this episode, I discuss publishing for promotion within academia. As you navigate and plan your academic career, it's essential to understand how publishing intersects with each stage of a professorship. From the early years leading up to the first promotion to the later stages of tenure and beyond, strategic publishing plays a crucial role in shaping our professional trajectory.
I emphasize the importance of cultivating a mindset that prioritizes quality over quantity in our publications. Rather than succumbing to a scarcity mindset, where the focus is solely on churning out papers, I advocate for a curated approach by publishing work that aligns closely with our academic mission and long-term goals.
Throughout the episode, I provide practical strategies to help you navigate publishing for promotion. From reverse engineering publishing timelines to crafting a compelling narrative around your publications, I offer actionable insights to support your academic growth.
By aligning your publishing efforts with your academic mission, you can make meaningful contributions to your field while advancing your professional goals on your own terms. So, take ownership of your academic career and leave a lasting legacy beyond promotion requirements!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/216.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Today's podcast episode is designed to help you figure out your summer writing plan while you listen.
If you have a backlog of papers and you want to maximize your summer writing, start with this podcast episode.
Then, if you like my style of teaching, apply for this summer’s cohort of Navigate, where you’ll experience the training, co-writing, and coaching that will help you clear your backlog of papers so that your voice is out there in the world, working for you.
Check out the Navigate 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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Kirstie McAllum is an alumna of our Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® 12-week program. On today's episode, Kirstie shares her experience in Navigate.
In Navigate, Kirstie worked to develop her decision-making skills through mission-driven time and project management (which–spoiler alert!–is the REAL way you will learn to say “no,” cut back on overwork, and reclaim your weekends).
If you are ready to refine your decision-making skills so that you can make time to write and publish–before OR after tenure–Navigate is the program for you.
Check out the Navigate 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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You have the deep-rooted knowledge and experience to create the career and life that you want! But first, you must filter through all the messages about what work looks like and the social and cultural nuances in academia so you can act on your self-trust.
In today's episode, I explore the importance of trusting oneself amidst the bombardment of societal and cultural expectations. I present five experiments aimed at nurturing self-trust. By engaging in these experiments, academics will cultivate a more profound sense of self-trust, recognizing its transformative power in shaping both personal and professional endeavors. So, join me on this journey of self-trust and discover the liberating potential of trusting yourself!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/215.
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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On today’s bonus podcast episode, I’m revisiting the Ideal Week and explaining an up-leveled way to use it to create the career (and life) you want.
If you want spaciousness in your calendar, time to think and read and write, then this bonus podcast episode is for you!
When you create your Ideal Week in our Navigate program, you do so after you have worked through our Activities Alignment process that clears the off-mission obligations from your plate. Ideal Week helps you make sure there is time for everything in your week–and SPACE to let new ideas percolate.
If you’re ready to create a week you LOVE, which adds up to semesters and years that you LOVE, I can't wait to receive your Navigate application!
Check out the Navigate 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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Michelle Espino is an alumna of our Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® 12-week program. On today's episode, Michelle shares her experience in the Navigate!
More about Michelle: Dr. Michelle M. Espino (she/ella) is a first-generation college student and an associate professor in the Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy program at the University of Maryland. She investigates factors influencing educational attainment for racially and ethnically minoritized communities, with a focus on Latine students, faculty, and administrators.
Using critical perspectives, Dr. Espino's work exposes the social inequities that undermine individual motivations to study and work in colleges and universities. She is also the creator of the Latinx Intelligentsia podcast, dedicated to empowering Latine communities in higher education.
X: @laprofesora08 and @latinxuplift
IG: @laprofesora08 and @latinxuplift
Check out the Navigate 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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In today's episode, I review Cal Newport's latest book, Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout. I loved his book Deep Think and recommend it often. I was excited to read his newest work and wanted to relay my thoughts and insights to you!
In Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout, Cal addresses the challenges knowledge workers face surrounding productivity. I compare his advice to the teachings in Navigate and share which of his principles relate to academics. I also explain why I disagree with some of Cal's recommendations and what I suggest knowledge workers do instead.
Do I recommend reading Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout? Tune in to hear my full critique!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/214.
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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In the age of “productivity hacks” and “there’s an app for that,” you might be pursuing tools for time and project management instead of the actual skills needed for better time and project management.
In Navigate, we teach mission-guided time and project management skills. You will refine your self-trust, self-knowing, and academic mission. These are the basis for the skills you will build in Navigate that will unclog your publication pipeline and help you publish to the level that reflects your expertise.
If you’re ready to stop attacking your time and project management problems with tools and start developing the career-changing skills that will lead to more publications, I’d love to receive your Navigate application!
Check out the Navigate 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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Cindy Cordoba Arroyo is an alumna of our Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® 12-week program. On today's episode, Cindy shares her experience in the Navigate August 2023 Cohort.
More about Cindy: Cindy Cordoba Arroyo, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Apparel Merchandising and Management (AMM) Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Holding a Ph.D. in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University, her expertise bridges the fields of material science and fashion design. In her teaching, Cordoba integrates virtual reality technology to implement diversity and equity pedagogies within fashion education, aiming for inclusivity in her classroom.
Her research focuses on sustainable fashion, particularly in circular design, entrepreneurship, and the recycling and upcycling of textile waste. Cordoba emphasizes the role of historically marginalized communities in these processes, aiming to highlight and support their contributions to sustainable practices in the fashion industry. Her work aligns with advancing environmental responsibility and promoting inclusivity in fashion education and industry practices.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cindycordoba
Cindy manages @moda.circular.co, which focuses on sustainable fashion in Spanish.
Check out the Navigate 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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Today's episode tackles a topic weighing on my mind: how the sale of attention impacts our writing and publishing endeavors. I delve into the intricate ways social media platforms and apps are designed to capture and retain our attention, often at the expense of our productivity and focus.
Smartphones and streaming services have made access to content constant, posing significant challenges when concentrating on writing tasks. The pervasive attention economy is an obstacle to high-level problem-solving and overwhelms our brains. This episode is 100% judgment-free. I am struggling with the urge to pick up my phone, too. So, I end the discussion with strategies I've employed to combat attention distractions, such as removing certain apps from my phone and prioritizing reading over mindless scrolling. Through candid insights, I underscore the importance of reclaiming control over our attention to foster better writing and publishing outcomes.
Join me on this journey to explore how we can navigate the digital landscape and reclaim our focus to enhance our scholarly writing and publications!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/213.
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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In today's episode, I discuss embracing seasonality in academia. As academics, we are so lucky that our careers have a natural seasonality, and it's time to leverage it! Whether it's the slow beginnings of a new term or the whirlwind of activity leading up to finals - instead of seeing these ebbs and flows as obstacles, I share why we should embrace them as opportunities for growth and success.
Let's explore practical strategies for managing the inevitable fluctuations in workload that come with each academic season. Semesters have a predictable flow, and it is so important to embrace that seasonality rather than resisting it. By acknowledging and working with the yearly, weekly, and daily seasons of academia, you can enhance your productivity, set boundaries around your time, and build a career you love!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/212.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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The waitlist for the next cohort of Navigate opens on March 25th! If you have been a frequent podcast listener or are a professor ready to change your relationship with writing and publications, now is the time to get on the Navigate waitlist so that you can be the first to apply to our next cohort!
Today’s episode is a Navigate information session. I cover everything from program eligibility to how to apply, what to expect during and after Navigate, and how to take the next step in growing your academic career! I answer frequently asked questions and share real client feedback so you can see how the lessons in Navigate have produced tangible, long-lasting results.
My mission is to help 1,000 scholars change their careers by 2030. The Navigate program outlines critical processes and skills to drastically improve academic writing. So, if you are a professor struggling with a clogged pipeline, want to get more papers published, or need help prioritizing writing to grow your career, this information session is for you!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/211.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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In this episode, I explore the universal struggle of managing writing time in academia. Learning how to accurately estimate how long it takes to complete a paper is one obstacle academics must overcome to publish more.
First, I highlight the two non-negotiables for effective writing project management. Then, I present two distinct methods to help you estimate the time required to complete a task. I share real-life examples to help you decide which task management method aligns with how you work. Whether you prefer data-driven observations or decisive time allocation, the ultimate goal is to enhance accuracy and predictability in estimating your time to a task. Adopting these strategies can effectively unclog your writing pipeline and increase your article publication rate.
If you're tired of mismanaging your writing time, tune in for valuable insights on task list preparation, scheduling writing sessions, and making informed decisions about the time allocated to each task. Don't let the writing process overwhelm you – tune in for actionable tips to boost your productivity and achieve your publishing goals.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/210.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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In a previous episode, I underscored the importance of cultivating project management skills before investing in a project management tool. Today, I shift focus to those who need to implement a tool into their workflow. I give tips on how to know if you are ready to use a tool and guidelines for selecting the right tool for your needs.
A project management tool can be instrumental if you oversee multiple projects with diverse collaborators. It provides a centralized platform for communication, resource organization, and progress tracking. As you navigate the world of project management tools, consider simplicity and alignment with your specific needs. Whether opting for established platforms like Trello or Asana or leveraging basic tools like spreadsheets, start with a solution that complements your requirements. Remember, the journey to effective project management involves a strategic blend of skills development and tool selection.
Are you ready to learn more about project management tools? Tune in to continue the conversation about project management tools vs. skills!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/209.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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Have you ever found yourself on autopilot, cruising through familiar roads without consciously realizing it? I recently had one of those moments, and it got me thinking about the power of default mode. Our brains love defaults – those ingrained habits and routines that save energy and reduce decision-making.
But here's the catch – default mode isn't just about driving; it extends to our writing practices. Many academics operate in default mode when it comes to their writing, and this can lead to a backlog of papers, projects, and missed opportunities.
So, how do you break free from default mode? Interrupting default practices is a transformative process, like adopting a new fitness routine or a healthier eating habit. It requires effort, but the rewards are well worth it. Are you ready to give your writing the attention and effort to break free from the defaults that may be holding you back? Listen to learn how to take the first step in breaking free of a default writing practice!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/208.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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I am back to working as the primary writing coach in our Navigate Program, and that shift has sparked some new thoughts about writing and academic writing practice.
In today's episode, I cover everything from defining the components of an enduring writing practice to the role of writing retreats in clearing out your backlog of papers. So tune in to hear new ideas on:
- Defining and developing a writing practice
- Why an enduring writing practice is critical for academic success
- Writing practice vs. writing process vs. writing pipeline
- Where coaching plays a role in developing a writing practice
- Tools to unclog a backed-up publication pipeline
- The importance of writing retreats
- What to expect from the Spacious Writing Retreat in July
Your writing practice fuels your pipeline. No amount of pipeline mapping or project management skills will move your writing projects forward. So tune in to learn how an enduring writing practice is the key to a flourishing publication pipeline!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/207.
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. Get on the waitlist 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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In today’s episode, I share the role of writing retreats within the context of the Soaring System—a method I've developed for cultivating a sustainable and relationship-based writing practice. I highlight the significance of writing retreats in the Soaring writing system, addressing common misconceptions and showcasing how they can be a powerful catalyst for deep, focused work. I emphasize the benefits of physically removing yourself from everyday surroundings, reducing decision-making fatigue, and providing an excuse to focus solely on writing.
Finally, I release the details of our upcoming Spacious Writing Retreat set in Ocean Park, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Spacious Writing Retreat is catering specifically to women and non-binary professors. We have especially curated a beautiful venue, supportive community, and professional coaches to facilitate a transformative and productive writing experience!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/206.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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I am officially launching my new mission statement for Scholar’s Voice™! After reflecting on my experiments and expertise over the past seven years, I decided it was time to redefine the purpose, goals, and future of Scholar’s Voice™ so I can make long-lasting and impactful changes to the culture of academia.
So, here it is - My mission is to change the culture of academia by radically altering the experience of 1000 women and non-binary professors by 2030.
In today's episode, I break down each element of this new mission statement. As I share my process, I draw parallels to help you refine your academic mission statement. You can create a successful and rewarding legacy as a professor without burnout, without feeling overwhelmed, and without struggling with toxic colleagues. Ready to learn how? Join me on my mission to radically change the culture of academia!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/205.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Peer-reviewed publications can propel your career. What you choose to publish directly affects your impact on your field. However, the number one problem early academics and tenure-track professors face is pressure to publish as much as possible. Lack of discernment causes overwork and burnout and dilutes your impact.
In today's episode, I'm unlocking the secrets to creating a powerful career impact through writing. Discover the key to securing grants, unlocking mobility, and creating real impact in your field. It's time to say goodbye to the fallacy of 'more is better' and embrace a curated approach that amplifies your message. Learn how aligning your publication pipeline with your academic mission statement leads to more impact and career fulfillment.
Are you ready to create the most impactful career possible? Tune in and see how writing and publications can make your ambitions a reality.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/204.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Whether it's funding for our Summer Retreat or the upcoming Navigate Program, asking your university to invest in your professional development isn't just about finances – it's about unlocking a world of possibilities for your growth and success as an academic. Too often, professors view asking for funding as a weakness, but I want you to consider how asking can be powerful.
In this episode, I reveal the power of asking for professional development funds. Discover why the process of asking is a journey of empowerment, showcases your commitment, and exemplifies your role in the strategic mission of your university. It's time to boost your confidence, elevate your professional identity, and embrace the ambitious leader within you.
Don't miss out – tune in now and unlock the secrets to transforming your career through the power of asking!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/203.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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In today's episode, I'm serving up some tough love. Too many academics are drenched in victimhood, and in 2024, victimhood isn't the place to be!
So, I am exposing those negative thoughts that keep academics trapped in a victim mentality and sharing ways to transform them into empowering agentive beliefs. We only get to have one working life, and what a privilege it is to do something we are well educated for and enjoy. So, instead of wallowing in negativity and victimology, let's become agentive and create the career we desire.
Are you ready to sit in the driver's seat of your career and knock down obstacles to writing and publishing? Listen in to learn how to go from victim to agent in academia!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/202.
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.
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Finding more time to write will not solve your publication pipeline problem! If you struggle to balance writing and publications, this episode is for you!
Today, I talk about the relationship between writing and your career. There is a strong correlation between publication count and career advancement in academia. If you are listening to this podcast, you were probably looking for a writing coach or a way to make more time to write. But clearing your publication pipeline isn’t about finding more time to write. Lack of publications is a symptom of a much larger career problem.
Tune into this episode to learn what career problem is hiding behind your clogged pipeline. I explain steps you can take to change your relationship with writing and ultimately advance your career. It’s time to focus on building the academic career of your dreams - listen to get started!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/201.
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.
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Happy New Year! As we enter 2024, it is the perfect time to revisit my philosophy about creating a 90% awesome career. I accept nothing less than a fantastic career, and this is a privilege available to all professors. Everyone deserves the best career possible, and I want you to be inspired to create a great academic career.
In today’s episode, I share the five things that need to be in place for you to craft a 90% awesome career. I explain how to work through these steps and give examples of my experiences that you can apply to your journey. It’s time to turn your job in academia into what you want it to be. Tune in to learn how to craft a 90% awesome career!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/200.
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.
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Welcome to the final podcast episode of 2023! Today, I wanted to connect the podcast’s focus on professional development, project management skills, and writing practice development to holiday gift giving. Whether you are searching for the perfect gift for a colleague, graduate student, friend, or family member, my shortlist of book reviews has you covered!
Tune in as I share my five favorite books I read this year. A mix of fiction and non-fiction, each book involves academia on some level and has value as pleasure reading and professional connection. Finally, I close the episode by previewing what to expect from Scholar’s Voice™ in 2024. Get a sneak peek of new events on the horizon and what I will be focusing on in the New Year.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/199.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Have you tried project management tools like Trello, Asana, or Monday but still struggle to get publications out on time? Project management tools will not solve your project management problems. First, you need to develop a robust set of project management skills.
In today’s episode, I break down the difference between project management skills and project management tools. I highlight five essential project management skills every academic needs. Then, I explain ways that workflow and task management influence time management and how mastering these systems will set you up for success. Once you sharpen your project management skills, you can match your writing process to a software tool. Tune in to learn how to make positive changes in the way that you write and publish!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/198.
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.
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Are you an academic who is struggling to get articles published? You only need to spend two hours per week writing to clear your publication pipeline. I know two hours doesn’t seem like enough time, but trust me - this method is more effective than your current writing strategy!
In this episode, I share why two hours of writing a week is enough. First, I demystify common beliefs about writing that hold academics back from moving the needle on their publication pipeline. Then, I explain the critical skills every professor must develop to build a sustainable relationship-based writing practice. With the proper tools, two hours of writing per week will allow you to power through your publication pipeline without sacrificing rest or career-advancing project opportunities.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/197.
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.
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Academics come to Scholar’s Voice™ and the Navigate program seeking a solution to escape a binge-and-bust writing cycle, redefine their academic mission statement, and clear out their publication pipeline. Writing every day or in long panicked stretches is not sustainable and makes consistent publications impossible.
But today, I want to share how binging can help your writing practice! Scholar’s Voice™ offers an exclusive bonus on the Navigate program each year. In 2023, we are introducing the Holiday Binge Bonus! Pre-enroll for Navigate and get access to all of the program content in advance. Use free time over the holiday break to learn how to map out a publication pipeline, prioritize your mission statement, and build a sustainable relationship-based writing practice. Are you ready to change how you write? Listen to learn how to take advantage of this one-time-only Navigate bonus!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/196.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Are you looking forward to the upcoming break to catch up on writing? Many overwhelmed professors imagine the break between semesters as a chance to push through their publication pipeline. But avoiding rest by committing to full days of writing is unrealistic and unsustainable.
This episode is a re-release of episode 164 of the podcast and in this episode, I talk about what you can do to eliminate the binge and bust writing cycle while also honoring the energy that many of us get in the summertime around our writing. Get inspired by these simple ways to adjust your writing schedule that keeps you productive while allowing for the mental rest you need to be your most creative self.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/195.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Dealing with relational drama and toxic relationships is a drain on your energy and inevitably slows your writing and publications. Unfortunately, managing toxicity is a common challenge for professors because the sociocultural structures within academia reward relational drama.
In today’s episode, I address the common causes of relational drama in academia. I explain how transitioning from apprenticeship to early career professorship can cause toxicity in relationships with mentors and colleagues. In addition, I share ways to manage relational drama and set boundaries so that toxic relationships do not affect your career growth, impact, and publication pipeline.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/194.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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The end of October/beginning of November is a stressful time for academics. You are grading, preparing for finals, applying for grants, and writing and publishing. It is expected to feel overwhelmed and exhausted.
In today’s episode, I share two coping mechanisms to help you navigate high-stress periods. Whether at work or home, it is inevitable to enter a season in life that feels transitional. This often comes with a hefty to-do list and pressure that negatively affects your sleep, energy, and productivity. So, if you feel overwhelmed by a never-ending list of tasks invading your brain, this episode is for you!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/193.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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It’s time to talk about what happens after mastering writing and publishing. In past episodes, we have discussed the importance of creating a sustainable relationship-based writing practice and how impactful intentional action can be in clearing your publication pipeline and boosting your academic career.
But what happens once you have mastered publications? In today’s episode, we talk about the world of opportunities that become available once you are a pro at writing and publishing. Not only does mastering these skills give you more freedom of time and brain space, but it also gives you more agency over your career and your impact in your field.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/192.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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No matter how much we prioritize writing and publications, writing gets derailed. Sometimes it's because of professional obligations like grading or committee events. Other times derailments are unpredictable like illness. It is impossible to avoid derailment, so don’t fight it. Instead, work on creating a resilient writing practice!
In today’s episode I cover a key topic in the Navigate program: the importance of a resilient writing practice. It is crucial that you have a positive relationship with writing and the skills to be able to stop and start writing without feeling overwhelmed or burned out. So tune in to learn how a resilient writing practice is beneficial for academics and how to foster a more productive writing mindset.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/191.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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The perceived stages of an academic career are very linear and do not capture the responsibilities, workload, or goals within a professorship. I have worked with hundreds of professors, so I have a unique perspective on the academic career. So, in today's episode, I explain the REAL stages of a professorship.
Tune in as I compare and contrast the perceived stages of an academic career to the real stages. My goal is to shift your perspective about how you think about your professorship. After this episode, I hope you can check in with yourself and see where you are in your academic career and where you want to go. From there, you can see what you can check off as already done and where you need to put more energy, focus, and development to have the academic career you desire.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/190.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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As an academic writer, the ultimate goal is to have a flowing publication pipeline to build influence and notoriety in your industry. However, you won’t consistently publish articles or write books without a sustainable, relationship-based writing practice.
In today’s episode, I share how long it takes to change your writing practice from binge writing and procrastination to consistency and productivity. You have been a writer your entire life, so creating long-lasting change won’t be fast or easy, but it will positively impact your career, work-life balance, and mental health. Tune in to hear how awareness and skill-building can lead to a change in your writing practice.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/189.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Are you an academic who feels too exhausted to tackle the work you are truly passionate about? Do you struggle with an overwhelming schedule of obligations and feel there must be a better way to have a successful academic career? This episode is for you!
In today’s episode, I explain how you can take your career from mediocre to magical. Get inspiration from Becky, an Elevate e graduate, who was able to find clarity on what she wanted her career to look like and how that focused approach has helped her bring that vision to life. In just three years, Becky was able to completely transform her career by taking intentional action, and you can too!
You are too precious for a mediocre career. But only you can do the work necessary to create the impact you want for your field. Are you ready to make a change so you can start living in alignment with your goals? Let’s get started!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/188.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Developing a strong publication pipeline is vital for academics looking to advance their careers, increase publications, and establish a healthy work-life balance. Previous podcast episodes have explained how publication pipelines can help you stay on mission, improve your relationship with writing, and get articles to submission faster.
Today, I share what a curated publication can unlock for you. Carefully and intentionally selecting which projects to dedicate your time and energy to has a significant effect on your influence and impact in your field. Tune in to learn what it means to curate your publication pipeline, the risks of over-committing to writing projects, and how curation can change your academic career.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/187.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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If you want to get grants, you need to have publications, but if you want to complete a publication, you need a grant. It is so frustrating when you feel stalled in a project. How do you get out of this vicious cycle?
Today’s episode explains how you can successfully move publications and grants forward without binge-writing, feeling overwhelmed, or overworking. Too often, academics look at the seasons of their career in terms of months or semesters. But professorship is decades long. When you start to look at cycles in 5-10-year chunks, you can regain control of the grant-pub cycle. Are you ready to learn how to orchestrate high-level projects? Let’s get started!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/186.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Meet my coach, Natalie Miller! Natalie is a professional coach who helps people with exceptionally high standards navigate life. Like myself, most of Natalie's clients are also coaches.
In today's episode, we discuss the consequences of hyper-responsibility. We explore how high standards can push us into overwork and why institutions support a "do it myself" work ethic. We talk about this issue from multiple angles and through the lens of academia and life at home. You can be a successful academic and set boundaries on your time, wants, and desires. It may require systemic change in the framework of your institution, but even more importantly, it requires personal and professional development.
Tune in to hear our thoughts on hyper-responsibility and how to leverage high standards in a way that does not result in burnout or overwork.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/185.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Writing and publishing is the catalyst for change in your academic career! So today, we are talking about the real and amazing results changing your writing practice can have.
When you work on creating a sustainable relationship-based writing practice, fantastic things start to happen! Not only will you get more publications out, but you will gain confidence in yourself, develop a better work-life balance, and write more impactful content. Are you ready to learn how writing can jumpstart change in your professorship? Tune in as I share key insights about why academics struggle with publishing and how a simple shift can change your relationship with writing and grow your career.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/184.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Extreme writing practices can sound appealing. But unfortunately, they don't work! The two most common extreme writing practices academics struggle with are:
- Writing everyday
- Binge writing
In today's episode, I discuss the flaws in following extreme writing practices and share an alternative method that will help you improve your relationship with writing, unclog your publication pipeline, and avoid burnout.
If you are an academic struggling to stick to a daily commitment to write or are overwhelmed with a list of unfinished publications, this episode is for you! There is a better way to write. Tune in to learn how!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/183.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Regardless of which academic system you work in, professors all strive for tenure or the promotional equivalent, that brings safety and stability to their position at their institution. But getting tenure will not solve feelings of overwork or a clogged publication pipeline. Anything you are struggling with pre-tenure will follow you through the course of your career if you don’t intervene now!
In today’s episode, I dig into how the mid-career slump happens and what to do about it depending on where you are in your career. The stress and pressure of reaching tenure is overwhelming. It leads to overwork and a constant push to publish. However, working all hours is unsustainable and leads to inevitable burnout and even questioning whether academia is the place for you.
So tune in and learn how to avoid (or fix) the mid-year slump!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/182.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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The Elevate program is retiring! Elevate was designed to help post-tenure academics, but these clients needed help with the same writing and publication issues as pre-tenure professors.
Despite the success of this program since its inception in 2019, it has become clear that the skills addressed in Navigate are essential to every career stage. So, to tighten up the mission of our business and better align our coaching programs with my goals, it is necessary to consolidate our offerings.
There will be one final Elevate cohort starting October 24, 2023. This last series will also launch a new private podcast and video series to better support writing and publication initiatives. I want to thank everyone who has participated in Elevate in the past, and this is not the end of our legacy or leadership coaching.
I look forward to you all joining me in our new programs!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/181.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Today’s episode highlights the relationship between rest and writing. This concept is something I have learned from my coach, and she learned from her coach, and I am thrilled to pass it on to you!
Many academics operate on a binge-and-bust writing cycle. They save up their writing tasks to get done over the summer, leading to overwork, stress, and a negative relationship with writing and publications. Binge-writing cycles are unsustainable and eventually lead to resentment. The only way to break this pattern is to balance creation with restoration.
So if you are a professor desperately trying to get through a backlog of writing, this episode is for you! Tune in as I discuss ways to foster a better relationship with writing by prioritizing rest.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/180.
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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Some might say there are no failures, only learning experiences. However, accepting something as a failure is important to growth, development, and establishing a path forward.
Today’s episode is about the consequences of delaying the right decision. I will talk very personally, specifically about what has happened in my business over the past year and how the consequences of delaying the right decisions cost me emotionally and financially. So today’s podcast will get very real because I want to be as transparent as possible on this topic. Then I will share questions you can ask yourself to help you decide if you are delaying making the right decision right now. Finally, I will connect these lessons to the academic journey so they can be helpful to you while navigating a career in academia.
Tune in as I raise the curtain on my business, career, and how fear of failure kept me from making necessary decisions.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/179.
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.
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Today is an episode dedicated to appreciating the upside of things you may be harboring stress or disappointment over. Many academics have lots of partially done publications, and their record of published writing doesn’t accurately reflect their impact on academia. As a result, obstacles in writing and publishing can lead to negative self-talk around productivity and an unbearable pressure to work harder.
Instead of allowing negative thoughts to hold back your career, I encourage you to focus on what you are good at. Tune in to this episode and learn ways to highlight positive things about yourself as a professor and how to retain those positive feelings to help break through feelings of overwhelm and ultimately unclog your publication pipeline. Let’s dive into why your lack of publications is a good thing!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/178.
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.
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Today’s episode highlights frequently asked questions or problems that we find our clients have while they are trying to write their academic mission statement.
Academic mission statements are tools to help focus your career. There are ways to integrate multifaceted interests and talents while maintaining a cohesive vision for your work. The academic mission statement is an essential part of our work in the Navigate program. This work is the key to overcoming cycles of burnout and frustration.
So, if you are someone who is multi-talented and has a broad range of interests and ideas, and is unsure how to create a cohesive academic brand message, this episode is for you! Listen in as I share my skills, strategies, and goals method to develop a clear academic mission statement that aligns with what you want to accomplish in academia.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/177.
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.
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Today's topic is how do you know if it's time to quit academia. More and more people are joining our coaching programs because they are trying to determine if academia is still right for them. So if you are a professor with a tenure track or full-time position and thinking about quitting, this episode is for you!
Listen in as I share ways to analyze what makes you want to quit and what you can do to improve your quality of life as an academic. It might be time to quit…or it might not. Let's figure it out together!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/176.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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! 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.
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Our twelve-week Navigate program has concluded! To celebrate, I have invited Megan Evans as a guest speaker for this week’s podcast episode. Megan just graduated from the twelve-week Navigate program! Join me as I pick her brain about life before and after Navigate.
Megan is just starting her academic career and shares what made her decide to apply for Navigate. In addition, she candidly shares what her experience was like in the program and how the strategies she learned will benefit her future career goals.
If you are considering applying for the next cohort of Navigate, this episode is for you!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/174.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Academic mission statements are powerful tools that guide your career. It helps you set boundaries around your time, clarify your pipeline map, and qualify opportunities. But careers in academia last decades. How do you know when it is time to change your academic mission statement?
You will change and evolve throughout your career. It is common for professors to make pivots or shift focus. When this happens, aspects of your mission will also change. Embrace that change! Change is good. It means you are growing and developing as an academic. However, it is crucial to leverage that change and use it to revise your mission statement so that you can stay focused and keep your work impactful.
Today I discuss key moments in your academic career that call for a revision of your mission statement. I also discuss ways to identify if your current work aligns with your intentions as a professor. Is it time to adjust your mission statement? Listen in to find out!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/174.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Do you blame “bad” habits for your clogged publication pipeline? Whether you struggle with avoidance, multi-tasking, or poor project management, our Navigate program is designed to help you make lasting changes to your writing process. The first step is to outline your current “bad” habits and what purpose those actions serve.
Today, I discuss “bad” habits. Most productivity advice says procrastination is a writer’s kryptonite. However, I look at procrastination differently. Every person has a different process and different writing needs. The way you work might serve you. And that’s okay! So let’s dive into how to distinguish a bad habit from a good one and make sustainable upgrades to our writing habits.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/173.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist to be notified when the next cohort opens 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.
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The waitlist for Navigate is open! Dedicate part of your summer towards professional development, clearing your publication pipeline, and aligning with your academic mission. Did you know many Navigate members get the program paid for by their university? There is a way to get career-changing coaching at no cost to you!
Today, I share the secret to getting internal funding for professional development. Investing in your writing process, project pipeline, and time management skills will help you achieve your academic mission statement. Our Navigate program is designed to do just that! Listen in to learn how to get your university to help pay for the upcoming Navigate cohort in August.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/172.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist to be notified when the next cohort opens 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.
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Are you ready to transition your publication pipeline from a theoretical list of articles you might write to a steady flow of published pieces?
If you use productivity apps and calendar tools but are still struggling to unclog your publication pipeline, this episode is for you!
Today, I talk about the four levels of publication planning. First, most academics engage with calendar-level productivity tools. While that is a great start, to truly be productive and have a flowing pipeline, you need to master all four of these core publication planning stages.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/171
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist to be notified when the next cohort opens 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.
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Coaching is a relatively new form of professional development for academics. If you have considered investing in a coach but are unsure if you are in the right career stage, this episode is for you.
Today, I sit down with one of our coaches, Gina. We discuss how coaching benefits different stages of an academic career. Whether you are only a couple of years in or mid-tenure, professional development is a powerful tool that can completely change the direction of your career. If you have ever considered coaching or are feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to make a change.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/170.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist to be notified when the next cohort opens 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.
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Make Gina’s birthday wish come true! Join us in San Juan, Puerto Rico for our Spacious Academic Writing Retreat this August 4-9, 2023.
Get all the info, schedule a call, and hold your spot here.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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This summer, I am so excited to bring back something I promised I would never offer again… in-person writing retreats! After struggling through Hurricane María and COVID, it is finally time to get a group together face to face and create a magical writing moment.
In this episode, I share what makes writing retreats so unique. I also outline the details for the upcoming Spacious Writing Retreat in San Juan. Can’t make it this summer? No problem! Throughout this episode, I offer tips and tricks to create the perfect writing retreat wherever you spend your summer.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/169.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Look back on a previous podcast episode with Michelle Boyd. Michelle and Cathy discuss why writing retreats are so impactful to your writing practice. Listen here. 2. 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. 3. 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! 4. 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.
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Think back to how you felt last September. Did you enter the fall semester feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and disappointed with your summer writing? More importantly, what if I told you this September could be different?
If you are ready to break the pattern of a binge-and-bust writing cycle, I have a solution.
In this final episode of the summer writing series, I remind you what September 2023 could look like if you take control of your writing practice, shift your mindset, and learn how to sustainably manage your time.
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.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/168.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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! 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.
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If you’ve been listening to the podcast or watching my YouTube videos and are really curious about the Navigate program, this episode is for you!
In this episode, I go into all the nitty-gritty details of Navigate. I cover everything from the application process, to how the 12 weeks are structured, to what you will leave the program with. So tune in for detailed explanations of all the features of Navigate. I also answer frequently asked questions that might be holding you back from applying to join the summer cohort.
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.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/167.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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! 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.
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The summer is almost here! I know we are all looking forward to a break after the close of the semester. But so many of us in academia go into the summer with dreams of clearing our publication pipelines. We imagine full days of uninterrupted writing. But unfortunately, these lofty goals are usually unrealistic.
In this episode, I go over 5 steps to creating a successful summer writing plan. First, I encourage you to lower your expectations. You are already overloaded dealing with final grades. Don’t push that energy into the summer. Every time you miss the impossibly high bar you set for yourself, it generates negative self-talk that damages your relationship with writing. Instead, my 5 step process builds a manageable writing schedule focused on attainable goals. Let’s get started.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/166.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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! 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.
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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!
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.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. 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! 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.
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Are you looking forward to the upcoming summer break to catch up on writing? Many overwhelmed professors imagine the break between semesters as a chance to push through their publication pipeline. But avoiding rest by committing to full days of summer writing is unrealistic and unsustainable.
In this episode, I talk about what you can do to eliminate the binge and bust writing cycle while also honoring the energy that many of us get in the summertime around our writing. Get inspired by these simple ways to adjust your writing schedule that keeps you productive while allowing for the mental rest you need to be your most creative self.
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.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/164.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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! 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.
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"If I change universities I will be able to publish more." This belief is a common misconception amongst academics who need help to clear their publication pipeline. But the problem isn't with the institution; the problem is with you and your mindset on writing.
In this episode, I share four core principles for building a sustainable writing practice. If you are struggling to publish articles and have considered changing universities as a potential solution, it's time to reconsider your mindset. Changing universities is not going to solve your writing and publication problems. Clogs in your pipeline are not caused by course load, service work, or research obligations. Without the proper coaching and arsenal of management tools, your writing problems will follow you to every institution you work for.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/163.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. To get notified when the next cohort starts, get on the waitlist 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.
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“$4,500 is too much to spend on professional development.” This is the sentiment we sometimes hear from our community members.
In this episode, I share with you a mindset shift that can help you see an investment in your professional development in a new light. If you want to do academia differently, if you want to disrupt the status quo, then receiving support and coaching is necessary. The pressure from institutions to do more and work harder is not sustainable for ongoing career growth, so how do you grow and develop as a scholar while maintaining your sanity and health? By investing in your professional development. Think of this investment not in relation to your salary, but in relation to your university’s budget. Compared to those budgets, $4,500 is a small investment that will drastically increase your total value and impact on the world.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/162.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Get on the waitlist 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.
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Are you exhausted? Do you ever feel like you simply cannot do, write, or create one more thing? You aren’t alone! As professors, we operate at 100% nearly all the time in all aspects of life. But here’s the catch: You can’t write from a place of exhaustion.
In episode 161, you’ll hear Cathy talk all about how operating under the very high standards that you have for yourself is exhausting, and how exhausted people have a hard time writing. She is going to talk about those high standards, how they lead to exhaustion, and therefore how exhaustion undermines writing. When you’re exhausted, your publication pipeline is going to suffer, so we’ll unpack how to operate at a healthy level and maintain that publication pipeline without giving up the rest you desperately need.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details here and sign up for the waitlist to be notified when applications open: https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate/
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/161.
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Get on the waitlist 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.
You didn’t become a professor by being lazy! Then why does it feel so hard to publish the amount of your work in line with your expertise? Maybe you just need to work harder? NO! You need to work differently.
In episode 160 of the podcast, I’m talking about the classic “what got you here won’t get you there” problem of successful academics who are trying to clear their publication pipelines.
We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details here and sign up for the waitlist to be notified when applications open: https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate/
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/160.
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Get on the waitlist 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.
Do you feel like you’ve tried everything to write and publish to the level that you know you are capable of? It’s frustrating to be a high achiever and still not be able to figure this out!
The reason that your publication pipeline is still clogged is that you are stuck with the “I’ve tried everything” mindset, where there is no room for growth. In this video, I coach you on how to break out of that mindset and trust yourself to be able to change. There is one key difference between shifting from that defeated mindset to one of change and growth, and I’ll walk you through how to implement that key change in this conversation.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/159.
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Get on the waitlist 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.
We decided to do some episodes featuring clients who have worked with us in our programs who we really think embody the Scholar’s Voice spirit.
When we at Scholar’s Voice were thinking about clients of ours that speak to the Scholars' Voice values, vision, and the experience of our programs, our guest on today’s episode, Stacey Anderson immediately came to mind.
Dr. Stacey Anderson is an Associate Professor of English at California State University Channel Islands, where she also serves as Interim Chair of the English Department and Director of the Composition Program. Stacey has been one of our clients for a while, and we are honored she would join us on the podcast to share her career journey and experience within Scholar’s Voice.
For full show notes, visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/158.
Continue the conversation: 3. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Start your Navigate application process here! 4. 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! 5. 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.
Have you listened to a few episodes of the podcast, or perhaps read Cathy’s book, Making Time to Write, and really liked the content, but either can’t or aren’t ready to commit to investing in one of our full programs?
In this episode of the podcast, Cathay discusses the ins and outs of our Scholar’s Voice Faculty Development Retreat. She shares the history of how retreats have looked in the company, how we landed on this new version of a retreat, and exactly what our newest retreat entails. She even shares some practical tips for how to get your university on board with the newest Scholar’s Voice retreat and how to approach your university point person on hiring our team to come to you either in-person or virtually.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/157.
Download Our University Retreats Brochure: We've created our faculty development retreats so you and the rest of your colleagues can work together to come up with ways to make the faculty experience better for everyone at your institution. These can be either in person or virtual and would be a great option if you aren’t able to participate in one of our traditional programs. Check out our Scholar’s Voice Faculty Development Retreats Here
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Start your Navigate application process 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.
In this episode, Coach Gina talks about what Scholar’s Voice™ means to her. She talks about some of the changes that the company has gone through in the past few years, some of the ways we’ve shifted and adapted to our diverse and growing clientele, and what we stand for today.
She shares a bit of her personal experience, both as a professor going through the same gauntlet as many of our listeners, and as a coach working to shift mindsets, and talks about how much her personal story has influenced her coaching work. She describes the Scholars Voice™ community as a place where clients can be real, honest, and vulnerable, and where real growth and change happens on a daily basis.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/156.
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Start your Navigate application process 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.
Do you struggle with prioritizing time to write in the midst of your busy days and career? Have you ever considered the things you’re leaving on the table when you’re not publishing? Not the traditional things we might think of missing out on, but some of the more personal things you’re leaving on the table by not prioritizing your publications.
In Episode 155 of the podcast, I talk all about what you're leaving on the table when you're not publishing. I’ll share 5 things you’re leaving on the table when you’re not publishing. These aren’t the things we normally think about like not getting a promotion, or losing out on a grant, but they’re things you might not have considered when it comes to the things you’re missing out on when you’re not getting your publications out.
So today, I've got five things that you're leaving on the table when you're not publishing.
For full show notes, visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/155.
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate.
Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap
Apply for Navigate program here
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Start your Navigate application process 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.
Do you ever feel like you have too many projects or publications in play at once? Too many things in the works, and then ultimately nothing actually gets published?
Most academics believe that to publish more things, they have to publish everything. In this Bonus Episode, I talk all about a huge misconception in academic publishing: that more equals more. I’m here to show you a new way of being when it comes to publishing, and how less is actually more in the long run.
When we take a ‘just publish anything and everything’ mentality, we really lose cohesion. When you have your academic mission statement, and everything is in line with that, then your publication pipeline flows much more freely. Publishing off-mission articles, and things that aren't in line with your academic mission are actually going to stop your on-mission articles from coming out. Knowing what is worth your time and focusing on those things really does equal more in your academic career.
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate. Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap
Apply for Navigate program here
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap 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.
If you’ve been following along with us, you know that we are currently enrolling for a 12 week pilot version of our core program, which is called Navigate Your Writing Roadmap.
We are looking for women and non binary professors at any career stage who have published at least one article in a peer reviewed journal, and you have too much data for the amount of time that you have to write it up. Or you're sitting on three or more article drafts in various stages of done, one of which is almost (around 50%-80%) done. We also are looking for professors who are looking for an accelerated way to clear their publication pipeline.
We have been looking to update our original Navigate program, so we decided to take that core Navigate content and make it fit into 12 weeks by using the criteria that we want from the original course. Our goal for the Pilot program is for it to be both simple and impactful, the 2 words we are using to guide all of our decisions for our company this year. That means that those participating in this pilot are going to get more attention from more people in the company as we really try to tweak and perfect this program.
We’d love to have you join our team and experience this unique attention and guidance, so check out the links below to submit your application!
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate.
Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap
Apply for Navigate program here
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap 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.
What is that next level thing that's down the road that you're not getting to by staying in old habits that are leading to burnout or old habits that aren't serving you?
Episode 154 is a presentation I made at our annual New Year’s Writing Retreat in early January 2023. In this discussion, you're going to hear me very explicitly talk about our company mission, our company values, and how we made program changes aligned with those values. I think you'll find a lot of value in listening to this presentation as a leader and creator inside of academia as you think about your values and how you want to align them with the decisions that you make and the things that you create.
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate. There will be more details to come on this in the coming weeks, so make sure you’re on our email list to get all the details first! Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap
Apply for Navigate program here
For full show notes, visit scholarsvoice.org/podcast/154.
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Start your Navigate application process 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.
We have been raised inside of our academic institutions with models that only include success through overwork or success through burnout. Inside of this culture that glorifies busyness, it's easy to understand why we don't really believe that we can have a sustainable academic career. Personally, I am not willing to do the amount of glorification of busyness that it takes to be an academic, and decided I just wouldn't do it that way.
We talk about the best way to design a sustainable career that suits your needs inside of our Navigate Program, and we’re hosting a pilot version of it starting in February! Check out all the details below.
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate. Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap
Apply for Navigate program here
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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.Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap 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.
Have you ever said to yourself, there are just not enough hours in the day? How can you make this feeling NOT true for you?
In this episode, we’ll discuss using the best hours of the day for the most important projects and tasks, what the activities are that are going to help you meet your career goals, how to curate your schedule to be able to create enough time in the week to do the most important things to you specifically, and how to say no strategically.
We walk you through how to do all of these things and more in our Navigate Program. We’re running a pilot version of the program starting in February, so learn more about it below!
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate. Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap
Apply for Navigate program here
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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.Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap 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.
Do you still have questions on exactly what the turning point was and what the transition from Cathy Mazak LLC to Scholar’s Voice was like? We’ll walk you through all the details of when the tides started to turn, and why now finally felt like the right time to make it all official!
In episode 153, Cathy and Gina discuss the starting point of their working relationship and how everything since that point has been working toward where Scholar’s Voice is currently at. They share everything from how the company grew, and how they knew they needed a bigger team, to how they knew they needed to evolve as a company and what that process of growth has looked like as a team. In this conversation, they explain their new desire for a simplified and more impactful version of their programs and how the Navigate Pilot was born!
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org. (New website coming soon!)
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate. Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap
Apply for Navigate program here
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Start your Navigate application process 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.
Have you tried several things in order to get the spaciousness you desire in your career? You might be trying to make sure you have the publication results that you know you need in order to keep hitting your goals and to keep making your impact on your field and in the world. People try a lot of things in order to hit these goals, but in order to design a career that you love and serves you best, you need to get clear on what exactly that career looks like for you.
In this bonus episode, I share a technique that you can use to start to shift away from the cultural norms inside of academia and do something counterintuitive. The technique asks you to think of three adjectives you would use to describe your career if you could have it your way. Choosing 3 adjectives to describe your career is a great first step in designing a career you love and that has longevity. Using those 3 adjectives, ask yourself what that kind of professor would do.
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate. Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap
Apply for Navigate program here
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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.Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap 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.
Have you set a goal for yourself concerning your publications this year? Maybe you want to publish more, clear out some old papers, or produce new ideas this year. Some of you might be using a tactic for figuring out what publications you want to work on this year that actually causes you to publish fewer things. So in this bonus episode, I talk about how to clear your pipeline in 2023. The tactic that you really need to use is actually the opposite of what you might have been doing.
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate. Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap
Apply for Navigate program here
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap 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.
In this bonus episode, we’ll dive into something that might seem the opposite of what you've been believing all of this time: your publishing problem is not time. If you're a professor and you have a disruptive perspective on your field, and you have a big backlog of papers, and you just haven't been able to sit down and sort through it all to knock them out, your gut reaction might be to think you just don’t have enough time. We think that if we just had enough time, we might be publishing at the level we really desire in order to be able to move forward in our careers in a plethora of ways.
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate. Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap
Apply for Navigate program here
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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.Info sheet for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap 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.
Have you ever felt like you missed out on some key piece of the writing process? Like everyone around you somehow learned something that you just totally missed?
Everything you learned is wrong… And it’s not your fault.
It's the fault of how we are socialized inside of academia, how we learn from example, in situations that aren't the most ideal for learning how to write.
In Episode 152 I'm digging into 5 things that you learned about academic writing that are wrong, and what you can do to fix them. You’ll hear about how you can adjust your methodology, insecurities, schedule, alignment, and more. Cathy shares examples from her own career along with insight she shares with her students in Scholar’s Voice to offer wisdom to academics in all stages on how to best approach their writing as they juggle professorial duties as well.
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate. There will be more details to come on this in the coming weeks, so make sure you’re on our email list to get all the details first! For full show notes, visit scholarsvoice.org. (New website coming soon!)
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Stay tuned for more details! 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.
Did you catch last week’s episode on the company rebrand? Were you left with questions like, who, what, where, when, and why? If you’re like me, you LOVE a good behind-the-scenes peek at things, and that’s exactly what you’ll get here!
In episode 151, Cathy talks all about the trajectory of what is now our company called Scholar’s Voice, how she founded it in 2017, what happened along the way, and why in 2023, we are doing this big brand revision.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org (website coming soon!)
Join our Pilot Navigate Program: We are going to offer Navigate as a 12-week program to test out some changes we are considering making. It will run from February 2023- Mid-May 2023. In addition to our core Navigate curriculum, which we are reorganizing, reordering, and revising for this pilot version, what we're looking for is 10 to 20 academics who want to do this new pilot version of Navigate. There will be more details to come on this in the coming weeks, so make sure you’re on our email list to get all the details first! Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Stay tuned for more details! 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.
Have you heard us hint at some changes coming in the Academic Womxn Amplified world? Have you noticed all the new voices and people you’ve heard in episodes in the last year or so?
In today’s episode we’re finally letting you in on our secret: We have a new company name and brand! We share all about the ‘why’ behind the name change, everything you can expect to stay the same, and what new things you’ll see as we move forward with Scholar’s Voice.
For full show notes visit scholarsvoice.org. (New website coming soon!)
Join the New Year's Writing & Planning Workshop: On January 12, 2023, at 11:00 AM EST, we are having a New Year's writing and planning workshop that is open to EVERYONE! This is a workshop we do 3 times a year. Usually, we do it just for clients, but we wanted to open it up to our entire community this time around. Head to scholarsvoice.org to get on our email list to receive the link to join this workshop. Additionally, we are going to be enrolling a NEW, pilot session of a 12-week format of our signature program, Navigate Your Writing Roadmap. We’ll give out a bunch of information on this at the New Year’s writing and planning workshop!
Continue the conversation: 1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn 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. Start your Navigate application process here! Stay tuned for more details! 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.
If you are mid-career, you are holding up a lot of people, from students to research partners to co-authors to family members. How can you build legacy from that leadership?
This episode is a re-release of episode 105 of the podcast and is a sneak peek into my private, seven-episode mini-feed called “7 Steps to a Legacy Building Career”. This episode is Step 6: Leading for Legacy. Head here if you want access to the rest of the feed.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-149.
Have you ever wondered what you might be able to get out of investing in one of our programs such as Elevate? Wondering if it might be a good use of your time and money? Want to hear firsthand from someone who’s been on the inside?
Elevate graduate Lauren Braun-Strumfels is sharing her amazing story on this episode of the podcast. Her journey has been full of ups and downs, twists and turns. It’s taken her from Fulbright scholar in Rome at the very beginning of the pandemic, to lockdowns and virtual classrooms, and from no publications to journal articles, book contracts, and a vibrant pipeline.
Lauren shares how she navigated loss and grief through community, came back to her writing and herself little by little and created sustainable systems for huge publishing success. We also talk about how a harsh peer reviewer paused her book process, and how coaching through Elevate helped her galvanize her message and navigate through that situation.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-148.
Do you ever find yourself frustrated and tired in your career? Do you find yourself wondering why you’re STILL feeling this way even though you’ve been in your career for a while? Many people in academia feel the same fatigue you are, which is why we designed the Elevate Program to help you make the change that works for you.
In this episode, we're sharing an information session for our elevate mid-career program where we discussed how to thrive post-tenure and reach that next level in your career while looking at our Elevate program components. We introduce you to a few of our Elevate members and share their success stories with you!
We’re still enrolling in Elevate, but you have to hurry because enrollment ends on December 22nd! Apply for the Elevate program here!
For full show notes visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-147.
Are you curious as to what the Navigate Program really entails? Are you wondering if it could be the thing that begins to propel your career forward and helps you find freedom and stability in your work?
In this episode, we have a sneak peek inside of our Navigate Information Session. I created this information session called ‘Control your Career with Publications: a Look Inside our Navigate Program’ so that anyone interested in the program could really understand all of the parts in the system that work together to help you double your publication output in the next year.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-146.
Do you LOVE the planning part of your job? Maybe you love planning your course syllabus or the planning process that comes before the actual writing of a publication. Are you passionate about getting the flow right for these things and making sure everything makes sense? If so, you’re in good company and this episode and webinar inside of it were created just for you!
Today, I'm bringing you an audio version of a webinar that I created last year called ‘From Plan to Published: The Three Secrets to an Academic Writing Plan that Leads to Publications’. I crafted this webinar about creating for yourself a publishing plan, so what you’ll hear in this episode is how to make those plans so that you can get those publications out.
If you are on the Navigate Waitlist, TODAY IS THE DAY you can enroll! Today, November 22, 2022, we open our Navigate enrollment to our waitlist! The first 15 people who enroll in the program will get a free ticket to our two-and-a-half-day New Year's virtual writing retreat in January.
For full show notes visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-145.
Do you find yourself daydreaming about what your job COULD look like if you could just design it on your terms? Do you have a brilliant idea for what you really desire your working life to look like?
In today’s podcast episode, I discuss the ins and outs of career design, or job crafting as it is more commonly called in the academic world. I lay out what job crafting is, how it relates to the academic space, and how we help you craft your ideal job inside of our Navigate program through our 10 systems for getting your publications out the door.
If this conversation inspired you in any way, the waitlist is OPEN for our Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® Program. Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® is our year-long writing and publishing program that is going to help you move that backlog of publications out the door! Our goal for you in this program is that you would double your publication output in the year that you're in our program.
Enrollment for Navigate runs from November 25th-29th 2022, but you can get in early with a special bonus if you are on our waitlist.
For full show notes visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-144.
Are you someone in the workforce who is entering into this new trend of ‘acting your salary’ that is coming out of quiet quitting? Do you struggle with overwork and dissatisfaction in your job because of it? How do we engage in a conversation that goes beyond “I am quiet quitting” and “I am just doing my job” to “What do you actually want to do in this world?”
In this episode, you’ll hear from 2 of our Academic coaches Thea L. Racelis and Rocío P. Caballero-Gill as they co-host and guide us through a conversation on the concept of “Acting Your Salary” in academia. They’ll discuss all about what acting your salary really means in the academic context, what some of the conversations we may want to have about this are, and also some of the tools we can use around figuring it all out.
For full show notes visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-143.
During this month, we are going to reflect on some of the trends in 2022, and how they apply to us in academia. Today's topic is “quiet quitting”.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-142.
Enrollment for Navigate runs from November 25th-29th 2022, but you can get in early with a special bonus if you are on our waitlist.
We will open the doors for our waitlist folks on November 22nd. The first 15 people who enroll in Navigate get to come to our 3-day New Years' Writing Retreat in January! This is an incredible 3-day virtual event normally only for our Amplify and Elevate participants, but the first 15 people to enroll in Navigate will be specially invited to attend this year’s retreat for free!
So, don’t wait to enroll and go ahead and get on the waitlist for Navigate! Can’t wait to see you all there!
What determines how much you can publish, and where are our expectations coming from? Is it possible to increase your level of joy in your work as you increase output?
My wonderful coach Gina Robinson joins me on this episode to discuss publication goals and how to increase your capacity for writing and publishing in the coming year. We talk through these concepts as well as share how we determined the parts of our yearlong program, Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®, and what you need to create sustainable success.
If this conversation inspired you in any way, the waitlist is open for our Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® Program. Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® is our year-long writing and publishing program that is going to help you move that backlog of publications out the door! Our goal for you in this program is that you would double your publication output in the year that you're in our program.
Enrollment for Navigate runs from November 25th-29th 2022, but you can get in early with a special bonus if you are on our waitlist.
We will open the doors for our waitlist folks on November 22nd. The first 15 people who enroll in Navigate get to come to our 3-day New Years' Writing Retreat in January! This is an incredible 3-day virtual event normally only for our Amplify and Elevate participants, but the first 15 people to enroll in Navigate will be specially invited to attend this year’s retreat for free!
So, don’t wait to enroll and go ahead and get on the waitlist for Navigate! Can’t wait to see you all there!
Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 100 of the podcast. You can find episode 100 full show notes here.
Are you still exhausted after getting tenure and don’t know why things haven’t changed? Feeling like you’ll never not be tired? I’ve got 3 steps to take to help you take control.
If you are exhausted, you are doing too much. You might have thought that gaining tenure would help, but if you’re like so many of the academics I work with, you have probably discovered just the opposite! After pushing so hard, for so long, a lot of people crash after receiving tenure.
You might be grateful for the stability of tenure (and hopefully a raise!) but in order to make a positive change in how your career feels, you’ll need to make some changes in how you approach it. Tenure doesn’t automatically solve your exhaustion problem, but with intention, you can.
If this conversation inspired you in any way, go back and watch the replay from the live info session for the next cohort of Elevate! Click here to learn more.
This progression of episodes is a series of re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 96 of the podcast. You can find episode 96 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
Go back and check out the replay of the live info session where we answered so many questions about what the program looks like, how to enroll, what to expect, and more!
Watch the Live Replay of the Elevate info session here!
For show notes visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-140.
Connect with me: Website
Facebook Page
Follow me on Clubhouse: @cathymazak
Are you still exhausted after getting tenure and don’t know why things haven’t changed? Feeling like you’ll never not be tired? I’ve got 3 steps to take to help you take control.
If you are exhausted, you are doing too much. You might have thought that gaining tenure would help, but if you’re like so many of the academics I work with, you have probably discovered just the opposite! After pushing so hard, for so long, a lot of people crash after receiving tenure.
You might be grateful for the stability of tenure (and hopefully a raise!) but in order to make a positive change in how your career feels, you’ll need to make some changes in how you approach it. Tenure doesn’t automatically solve your exhaustion problem, but with intention, you can.
If this conversation inspired you in any way, go back and watch the replay from the live info session for the next cohort of Elevate! Click here to learn more.
This progression of episodes is a series of re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 96 of the podcast. You can find episode 96 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
Go back and check out the replay of the live info session where we answered so many questions about what the program looks like, how to enroll, what to expect, and more!
Watch the Live Replay of the Elevate info session here!
For show notes visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-140.
Connect with me: Website
Facebook Page
Follow me on Clubhouse: @cathymazak
Do you LOVE your work? Do you enjoy the day-to-day that your job entails? While there’s no one perfect job, it is possible to have a job you genuinely love, with a crafted future that you get excited dreaming about.
In this episode, we have one of our amazingly gifted coaches, Gina Robinson, talking with you all about creating your own future. You’ll hear Gina’s story of how she gained tenure and then gave it all up to create a future she was excited about and aligned with.
If you missed the Live Info Session for Elevate last week, watch the full replay HERE!
For full show notes visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-139.
Do you LOVE your work? Do you enjoy the day-to-day that your job entails? While there’s no one perfect job, it is possible to have a job you genuinely love, with a crafted future that you get excited dreaming about.
In this episode, we have one of our amazingly gifted coaches, Gina Robinson, talking with you all about creating your own future. You’ll hear Gina’s story of how she gained tenure and then gave it all up to create a future she was excited about and aligned with.
If you missed the Live Info Session for Elevate last week, watch the full replay HERE!
For full show notes visit cathymazak.com/podcast/episode-139.
What if being a leader in academia doesn’t have to mean taking on an administrative role? What if it means so much more than that?
When we hear people talking about leadership in academia, what they often mean is admin. Leadership to your institution probably means a department chair or associate director, or other role that helps the university to function. But if admin just isn’t a fit for you, does that mean you’re not a leader? No way.
If this conversation inspired you in any way, don’t miss out on the info session for the next cohort of Elevate! Click here to learn more and sign up.
This progression of episodes is a series of re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 94 of the podcast. You can find episode 94 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
TOMORROW, October 5, 2022 we will be doing an information session LIVE where you can have any questions you have about the program answered. As long as you register, you can come live OR we will send you the recording! During this info-session, you will get all of the information about our Elevate Program and how to apply.
Register for the Elevate info session here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
What if being a leader in academia doesn’t have to mean taking on an administrative role? What if it means so much more than that?
When we hear people talking about leadership in academia, what they often mean is admin. Leadership to your institution probably means a department chair or associate director, or other role that helps the university to function. But if admin just isn’t a fit for you, does that mean you’re not a leader? No way.
If this conversation inspired you in any way, don’t miss out on the info session for the next cohort of Elevate! Click here to learn more and sign up.
This progression of episodes is a series of re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 94 of the podcast. You can find episode 94 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
TOMORROW, October 5, 2022 we will be doing an information session LIVE where you can have any questions you have about the program answered. As long as you register, you can come live OR we will send you the recording! During this info-session, you will get all of the information about our Elevate Program and how to apply.
Register for the Elevate info session here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
Have you heard us talk all about our Elevate program but find that you still have questions? Maybe you’re almost ready to take the plunge, but you still have a few practical things you’re curious about in regard to the program.
I’m joined on this episode by wonderful Elevate graduates Debra Gombert and Sonia Cabell. We talk about the most impactful parts of the program, tangible versus intangible benefits, and where they’re going from here. They each share great insights and inspirational takeaways to remind us all that we are worth investing in, and that growth and change never stop.
If this Elevate Panel Discussion inspired you or made you wonder what your career could look like, don’t miss out on the info session for the next cohort of Elevate! Click here to learn more and sign up.
This progression of episodes is a series of re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 95 of the podcast. You can find episode 95 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
On October 5, 2022 we will be doing an information session LIVE where you can have any questions you have about the program answered. As long as you register, you can come live OR we will send you the recording! During this info-session, you wil get all of the information about our Elevate Program and how to apply.
Register for the Elevate info session here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
Have you heard us talk all about our Elevate program but find that you still have questions? Maybe you’re almost ready to take the plunge, but you still have a few practical things you’re curious about in regard to the program.
I’m joined on this episode by wonderful Elevate graduates Debra Gombert and Sonia Cabell. We talk about the most impactful parts of the program, tangible versus intangible benefits, and where they’re going from here. They each share great insights and inspirational takeaways to remind us all that we are worth investing in, and that growth and change never stop.
If this Elevate Panel Discussion inspired you or made you wonder what your career could look like, don’t miss out on the info session for the next cohort of Elevate! Click here to learn more and sign up.
This progression of episodes is a series of re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 95 of the podcast. You can find episode 95 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
On October 5, 2022 we will be doing an information session LIVE where you can have any questions you have about the program answered. As long as you register, you can come live OR we will send you the recording! During this info-session, you wil get all of the information about our Elevate Program and how to apply.
Register for the Elevate info session here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
Does spending time and money on your own development feel selfish? What if investing in ourselves actually improved not only our lives, but spilled over to improve the lives around us too?
Elevate graduate Despina Stavrinos joins me to share how investing in herself helped her to create time in her schedule, energized her career, and improved her relationships.
If Despina’s interview piques your curiosity at all, don’t miss out on the info session for the next cohort of Elevate! Click here to learn more and sign up.
This progression of episodes is a series of re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 92 of the podcast. You can find episode 92 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
On October 5, 2022 we will be doing an information session LIVE where you can have any questions you have about the program answered. As long as you register, you can come live OR we will send you the recording! During this info-session, you wil get all of the information about our Elevate Program and how to apply.
Register for the Elevate info session here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
Does spending time and money on your own development feel selfish? What if investing in ourselves actually improved not only our lives, but spilled over to improve the lives around us too?
Elevate graduate Despina Stavrinos joins me to share how investing in herself helped her to create time in her schedule, energized her career, and improved her relationships.
If Despina’s interview piques your curiosity at all, don’t miss out on the info session for the next cohort of Elevate! Click here to learn more and sign up.
This progression of episodes is a series of re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 92 of the podcast. You can find episode 92 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
On October 5, 2022 we will be doing an information session LIVE where you can have any questions you have about the program answered. As long as you register, you can come live OR we will send you the recording! During this info-session, you wil get all of the information about our Elevate Program and how to apply.
Register for the Elevate info session here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
Do you ever find yourself struggling in your career even if you’re not new to the job anymore? Maybe you’ve gotten tenure, and you still feel yourself floundering a bit. Don’t worry- you are absolutely not alone in this feeling, and we’ve created an amazing conversation and resource just for you.
In this episode we have an amazing conversation between our 3 rockstar academic coaches Rocío Caballero-Gill, Gina Robinson, and Thea Racelis. They’re sharing what challenges, struggles, and growth they see from our mid-career/post-tenure Elevate participants, and what they love most about the program.
If their conversation piques your curiosity at all, don’t miss out on the info session for the next cohort of Elevate! Click here to learn more and sign up.
The next few episodes are going to be re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 91 of the podcast. You can find episode 91 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
On October 5, 2022 we will be doing an information session LIVE where you can have any questions you have about the program answered. As long as you register, you can come live OR we will send you the recording! During this info-session, you wil get all of the information about our Elevate Program and how to apply.
Register for the Elevate info session here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
Do you ever find yourself struggling in your career even if you’re not new to the job anymore? Maybe you’ve gotten tenure, and you still feel yourself floundering a bit. Don’t worry- you are absolutely not alone in this feeling, and we’ve created an amazing conversation and resource just for you.
In this episode we have an amazing conversation between our 3 rockstar academic coaches Rocío Caballero-Gill, Gina Robinson, and Thea Racelis. They’re sharing what challenges, struggles, and growth they see from our mid-career/post-tenure Elevate participants, and what they love most about the program.
If their conversation piques your curiosity at all, don’t miss out on the info session for the next cohort of Elevate! Click here to learn more and sign up.
The next few episodes are going to be re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 91 of the podcast. You can find episode 91 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
On October 5, 2022 we will be doing an information session LIVE where you can have any questions you have about the program answered. As long as you register, you can come live OR we will send you the recording! During this info-session, you wil get all of the information about our Elevate Program and how to apply.
Register for the Elevate info session here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
We get our hopes up for what it might feel like after we finally get tenure, but what is the reality? I’m sharing some of my own story about getting tenure, and what came next.
Are you a mid to late career academic who got tenure (or promotion, depending on your system) and felt a serious let down? You are not alone. I’m sharing a little of my own story on this episode to illustrate what changes, what doesn’t, and what to do about it.
The next few episodes are going to be re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 90 of the podcast. You can find episode 90 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
On October 5, 2022 we will be doing an information session LIVE where you can have any questions you have about the program answered. As long as you register, you can come live OR we will send you the recording! During this info-session, you wil get all of the information about our Elevate Program and how to apply.
Register for the Elevate info session here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
We get our hopes up for what it might feel like after we finally get tenure, but what is the reality? I’m sharing some of my own story about getting tenure, and what came next.
Are you a mid to late career academic who got tenure (or promotion, depending on your system) and felt a serious let down? You are not alone. I’m sharing a little of my own story on this episode to illustrate what changes, what doesn’t, and what to do about it.
The next few episodes are going to be re-releases of our most popular episodes about the Post-Tenure Experience. Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 90 of the podcast. You can find episode 90 full show notes here.
We thought this re-release would be perfect, because we are getting ready to enroll our post-tenure into mid/late career program, Elevate.
Elevate is a 6-month program that runs from February - July, 2023. We want to give you time to find out information about the program and decide if it is right for you, so we are opening enrollment SOON.
Elevate is an application-only program that centers on the 1:1 coaching experience. You’ll experience 1:1 calls, group calls, and workshops in our Elevate program.
On October 5, 2022 we will be doing an information session LIVE where you can have any questions you have about the program answered. As long as you register, you can come live OR we will send you the recording! During this info-session, you wil get all of the information about our Elevate Program and how to apply.
Register for the Elevate info session here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
Have you been cautious and fearful of how the recession everyone seems to be talking about these days is going to affect you? Both personally and in your career, it can be overwhelming to think about and prepare for your life in the midst of an economic recession. How can you build a cocoon around yourself, so that even when the economy's bad, you feel confident that you're not going to lose your job (unless you want to?)
In this episode, we will be discussing how to recession-proof your career both from your perspective and from your university’s perspective. The need for this conversation is so timely, and it is our hope to give you practical tips and encouragement on how to navigate your academic career in the months to come.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode133.
Have you been cautious and fearful of how the recession everyone seems to be talking about these days is going to affect you? Both personally and in your career, it can be overwhelming to think about and prepare for your life in the midst of an economic recession. How can you build a cocoon around yourself, so that even when the economy's bad, you feel confident that you're not going to lose your job (unless you want to?)
In this episode, we will be discussing how to recession-proof your career both from your perspective and from your university’s perspective. The need for this conversation is so timely, and it is our hope to give you practical tips and encouragement on how to navigate your academic career in the months to come.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode133.
Why is investing in ourselves as academic womxn a radical act? And what should you do if your institution doesn’t want to invest in you? Making your career what you want it to be is up to you.
There’s a lot of talk these days about self-care, but what does this mean for us as academics? How do we make sure we are getting where we want to go in our careers, and valuing our own contributions to the world? In order to grow and develop as scholars, we must invest in ourselves. As womxn, this is a radical act, and one I hope you’ll make for yourself.
In this summer season, we will be re-releasing a few older podcasts to start us off. With that said, this episode is a re-release of episode 89 of the podcast. You can find episode 89 full show notes here.
But, we do want to make you aware of some fun things happening currently in the summer of 2022! We created both a live and a recorded info session for the latest, revised version of our Amplify Faculty Writing Accelerator Program for pre-tenure faculty.
If you are in an early faculty career position in the US or Canada and are interested in a program for creating an early career experience to get tenure on your terms, this is absolutely for you. It was held live on June 16, 2022. But if you’re hearing this after June 16, don’t worry, because you can still sign up to receive the recorded version of the program!
Sign up for the Pre-tenure Academic Writing Program, Amplify here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
Connect with me: Website
Facebook Page
Follow me on Clubhouse: @cathymazak
If you want to publish more, you should take on more projects, right? Wrong! You need a publication pipeline, not a funnel.
I’m getting up on my soapbox to tell you why your publications need to be in a pipeline, not a funnel! Building a publication plan from a place of fear leads you to take on every possible project, say yes to all opportunities, and focus on numbers rather than your academic mission. Friends, this approach will backfire. Let’s dig into the metaphors of pipeline and funnel, and how to approach your publishing plan to reach your goals.
In this summer season, we will be re-releasing a few older podcasts to start us off. With that said, this episode is a re-release of episode 88 of the podcast. You can find episode 88 full show notes here.
But, we do want to make you aware of some fun things happening currently in the summer of 2022! We created both a live and a recorded info session for the latest, revised version of our Amplify Faculty Writing Accelerator Program for pre-tenure faculty.
If you are in an early faculty career position in the US or Canada and are interested in a program for creating an early career experience to get tenure on your terms, this is absolutely for you. It was held live on June 16, 2022. But if you’re hearing this after June 16, don’t worry, because you can still sign up to receive the recorded version of the program!
Sign up for the Pre-tenure Academic Writing Program, Amplify here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
Connect with me: Website
Facebook Page
Follow me on Clubhouse: @cathymazak
Have you ever felt out of place in your work place? Do you want to know how to support and be an ally for enby coworkers and students in your workplace? Do you identify as nonbinary in the academic sphere?s
In today’s episode Amplify coach, Thea, chats with Dr. Christy Randazzo, a nonbinary professor of Religion. Listen is as they unpack what it means to be nonbinary in academia, how to navigate the tension of working as a nonbinary person, and how others in the workplace can support and be an ally for the enby community.
For full show notes visit www.cathymazak.com/episode130.
Right now we are enrolling for the Amplify Faculty Writing Accelerator Program. This program is for you if you're ready to go up for tenure with more confidence, or if you really want your pre-tenure experience to happen on your terms and not lead to burnout. It’s also for you if you're looking for a new and different way to do academia in a supportive community so that you can be your best self as you put your writing as well as your teaching and service and everything out in the world.
The Amplify Program runs from September 2022 through February 2023 and we are enrolling through the end of July 2022. You can go to cathymazak.com/amplify to watch an on-demand information session and find out all the information you need to enroll in our program.
Have you ever wondered what brings someone to the Amplify program? Or how your career and life could change if you were to join?
On this episode I’m talking with Melva Treviño Peña and Silvie Huijben, two Amplify graduates, about what brought them to the program, how their careers and lives have changed, their successes, and who they believe can benefit from Amplify. While they came to the program from very different fields and in different phases of their pre-tenure journey, the transformations experienced, tools gained and relationships formed were the same.
In this summer season, we will be re-releasing a few older podcasts to start us off. With that said, this episode is a re-release of episode 87 of the podcast. You can find episode 87 full show notes here.
But, we do want to make you aware of some fun things happening currently in the summer of 2022! We created both a live and a recorded info session for the latest, revised version of our Amplify Faculty Writing Accelerator Program for pre-tenure faculty.
If you are in an early faculty career position in the US or Canada and are interested in a program for creating an early career experience to get tenure on your terms, this is absolutely for you. It was held live on June 16, 2022. But if you’re hearing this after June 16, don’t worry, because you can still sign up to receive the recorded version of the program!
Sign up for the Pre-tenure Academic Writing Program, Amplify here!
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
Connect with me: Website
Facebook Page
Follow me on Clubhouse: @cathymazak
This episode is the audio replay of the Amplify info session. Even if you’re not pre-tenure or thinking about a program right now, this episode will help you understand the reality of the tenure track, showcase some accomplishments of Amplify grads, and lay out the framework the program is based on.
This session will show you all about going up for tenure with confidence, but even if you’re not in a role where tenure is part of your system, this session will help you gain confidence as you progress in academia. This is what we as academic writers and coaches think is the most important part of your pre-tenure track.
For full show notes visit cathymazak.com/episode128.
On this episode I’m talking with Angel Kaur, a member of the founding cohort of my Amplify program, about what brought her to Amplify, what she learned, and how she has gained the tools and confidence to make the best decisions for her career.
In this summer season, we will be re-releasing a few older podcasts to start us off. With that said, this episode is a re-release of episode 86 of the podcast.
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
But, we do want to make you aware of some fun things happening currently in the summer of 2022! We are creating both a live and a recorded info session for the latest, revised version of our Amplify Faculty Writing Accelerator Program for pre-tenure faculty.
If you are in an early faculty career position in the US or Canada and are interested in a program for creating an early career experience to get tenure on your terms, this is absolutely for you. It will be held live on June 16, 2022 at 11:00 am EST. But if you’re hearing this after June 16, don’t worry, because you can still sign up to receive the recorded version of the program!
Sign up for the Pre-tenure Academic Writing Program, Amplify here!
For full show notes visit www.cathymazak.com/episode86.
Does it ever feel like you’re sludging across the finish line to get tenure in your current role? Have you ever felt like you’re jumping through hoops or pushing past red tape to figure out exactly how to achieve the huge end goal of making tenure?
My super-star writing coaches, Rocío Caballero-Gill and Gina Robinson, are taking over the podcast to talk about the pre-tenure period and many of the issues, fears, hopes, accomplishments, and successes they see with our Amplify clients. If you’re pre-tenure, I’m betting you will recognize yourself in this episode, and get a feel for whether this program and these fantastic coaches are a fit for you.
In this summer season, we will be re-releasing a few older podcasts to start us off. With that said, this episode is a re-release of episode 85 of the podcast.
For the full show notes for this episode, head here!
But, we do want to make you aware of some fun things happening currently in the summer of 2022! We are creating both a live and a recorded info session for the latest, revised version of our Amplify Faculty Writing Accelerator Program for pre-tenure faculty.
If you are in an early faculty career position in the US or Canada and are interested in a program for creating an early career experience to get tenure on your terms, this is absolutely for you. It will be held live on June 16, 2022 at 11:00 am EST. But if you’re hearing this after June 16, don’t worry, because you can still sign up to receive the recorded version of the program!
Sign up for the Pre-tenure Academic Writing Program, Amplify here!
Connect with me: Website
Facebook Page
Follow me on Clubhouse: @cathymazak
What does the early career, pre-tenure period usually feel like for academic womxn? What should it feel like? With intention, we can steer ourselves toward a better experience.
The early career period of proving yourself to gain that stamp of approval, whether you call it permanence or tenure, is a pivotal time in our careers. What does this pre-tenure period often feel like? What should it feel like? And perhaps most importantly, what do you believe it can be like for you?
In this new summer season, we will be re-releasing a few older podcasts to start us off. With that said, this episode is a re-release of episode 84 of the podcast.
For the show notes visit cathymazak.com/episode125.
But, we do want to make you aware of some fun things happening currently in the summer of 2022! We are creating both a live and a recorded info session for the latest, revised version of our Amplify Faculty Writing Accelerator Program for pre-tenure faculty.
If you are in an early faculty career position in the US or Canada and are interested in a program for creating an early career experience to get tenure on your terms, this is absolutely for you. It will be held live on June 16, 2022 at 11:00 am EST. But if you’re hearing this after June 16, don’t worry, because you can still sign up to receive the recorded version of the program! Sign up for the Pre-tenure Academic Writing Program, Amplify here!
Do you ever feel like your teaching and/or students are taking the back burner to your own research and publishing? Do you feel the tension between being a great teacher or a great writer?
Today’s guest is Barbi Honeycutt. Barbi is passionate about training professors to become better teachers. In doing so she founded a company called Lecture Breakers. Through her work with Lecture Breakers, she travels around and does speaking engagements with universities and works with centers for teaching and learning. She also does many online engagements as well.
Sign up for Barbi's Lecture Breakers conference here!
For full show notes visit cathymazak.com/episode124.
Are you closer to the middle of your academic career than the beginning? Do you ever feel stuck in some ruts as it relates to your writing, publishing, and academic work? It can be so hard to find new ways of approaching your writing and publishing once you hit mid-career, but you are not without any hope! There can be big shifts and changes made even when you’re not new in the world of academia.
In today’s episode, you’ll hear one of our coaches, Gina Robinson, talk with a client of ours, Ronnie Olesker. She’ll talk about how she was able to make a big change mid-career.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode123.
Do you feel stuck in your publication pipeline? Do you feel like you’re grinding out the same work every day and seeing little to no results? Enrollment for my program Navigate is opened back up TODAY! Come join us as we merge my new book, Making Time to Write, with the Navigate program for a fun hybrid program we know will help you to double your publication output and find more time to write.
In this episode I unpack why I decided to write a book called Making Time to Write and why the other things that I do in our Navigate program are more focused on publications now.
For full show notes, visit www.cathymazak.com/episode122.
Do you ever question your self-worth or needs? Do you ever downplay your gifts, your abilities, or your successes? It can be so hard to own your talents and live fully and freely in them. Simultaneously, it can be a challenge to voice our needs to those around us. Today I’m deep-diving into a conversation that originated from a question my own coach asked me. My coach, Natalie K. Miller, host of the Mind Witchery podcast, asked me recently, “When did you stop believing that you needed things?” This led me into some deep self-exploration and realization that I’m going to share with you today.
For full show notes visit www.cathymazak.com/episode121.
Are you curious as to what the Navigate Program really entails? Are you wondering if it could be the thing that begins to propel your career forward and helps you find freedom and stability in your work?
Today we have a sneak peek inside of our Navigate Information Session. I created this information session called ‘Control your Career with Publications: a Look Inside our Navigate Program’ so that anyone interested in the program could really understand all of the parts in the system that work together to help you double your publication output in the next year.
If you want to find out what that missing piece was that made us completely revise the delivery of our navigate program, then click here to learn and watch the whole info session!
For full show notes visit www.cathymazak.com/episode120.
Have you ever struggled to reconcile the realities of needing both time and money, and never feeling like you have enough of it? The Twin Scarcities refer to the scarcities of time and money. As academics, the idea of these things being scarce has been ingrained in us from the start of our careers and continues to stay with us as we navigate both our working and personal worlds. In episode 119 of the podcast, listen as I read an excerpt from chapter 2 of my new book coming out, Making Time to Write. The chapter’s title is “The Danger of the Twin Scarcities” and I dive into the nuances of the aspects of time and money and how they play a large role in how and why we work and write the way we do. I hope you’ll gain some insight into your own writing life and will take the time to dissect your own relationship with these twin scarcities as it relates to how you make time to write.
For full show notes visit www.cathymazak.com/episode119.
REGISTER FOR THE INFO-SESSION NOW!
Today’s episode is one final episode about the creation, writing, and publication of my book, Making Time to Write. I want to be vulnerable and real with you about how the creation of the book came about. I hope that it's helpful to hear what my writing process is like, and what my book publishing process is like whether you are in a book field or not.
We are offering a book integrated version of Navigate. The goodies will be available for people currently in the Navigate program and for people in the Navigate Alumni Program as well.
REGISTER FOR THE INFO-SESSION NOW!
For full show notes visit www.cathymazak.com/episode118.
Have you ever struggled with collaboration in the academic world? It can be such a hit or miss depending on what type of rapport you build and how the working relationship is.
Today my guests are Kimberly Hale and Dee Kinney, and we are discussing their inspiring collaboration on how Covid-19 impacted and affected college students of all abilities. We discuss how this research project became a publication and explore the path they took from meeting to co-authoring this publication.
For full show notes visit www.cathymazak.com/episode117.
Today's episode is all about fear… specifically my fear. I wanted to be vulnerable and super honest with you all about some fears I have had around publishing my book (coming out in stores in late August). The amount of fear involved in the process of writing this book has been so much more than writing anything else. I really wanted to talk about the fear we have around writing that is related to the fear of being more visible in the world.
For full show notes visit www.cathymazak.com/episode116.
Today my guest is epidemiologist Dr. Becky Dawson, and we are exploring “getting public”: public scholarship, putting yourself out there, communicating your scholarship to a wider audience. She has really leaned into the “public” of her field, public health.
We talk about how Covid19 shoved Becky into a very public spotlight, and how she has continued to develop that public voice through doing facebook lives, blogging, continuing TV appearances, and working with community members on public health.
We will also get into the painful side of taking your scholarship public, where you are open to criticism and critique.
For full show notes, visit www.cathymazak.com/episode115.
Today is International Women's Day and we wanted to host a conversation about the day because… it's complicated! I’m chatting with coach Rocío Caballero-Gill, and we wanted to have a candid thoughtful chat about international Women's Day, what it means to focus on women specifically in academia, and how this company has changed over the last 5 years with respect to developing our programs through a lens of gender equity and inclusion.
Rocío shares her work developing a professional organization called GeoLatinas and we talk about the difference between including and welcoming.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode114.
How hard are you on yourself? Do you find yourself constantly judging yourself for the ways that you think you fall short? If you've never experienced a virtual writing retreat I think you might be surprised how effective it is. There are so many upsides to a virtual writing retreat, and we really had a great time. The theme of the event was compassionate accountability, emphasizing compassion, self appreciation, dealing with rejection, and pouring into yourself. We decided that this workshop that coach Thea presented was too good not to share with the world! So today we present, “Working with Self Compassion,” delivered by Thea, one of our coaches. Enjoy!
For full show notes visit www.cathymazak.com/episode113.
Have you experienced the pain of desk rejection? What are some of the ways you can avoid this? And how does storytelling play a role in science writing?
Today I get into the nitty gritty of desk rejection with science writing expert and academic writing coach, Anna Clemens.
You will enjoy hearing the way that Anna describes the things you should be paying attention to, especially in your science based articles, so that you don’t get a desk rejection. We also talk about the writing process and what you need to do to get over procrastinating because you don't know how to start.
For full show notes, visit www.cathymazak.com/episode112.
Join us for the workshop to learn Anna’s step by step system that will make your writing process efficient, clear, concise, and compelling. Plus learn the three common mistakes that researchers make that keep them in the desk rejection mode.
I was inspired by our recent client retreat to bring you a podcast about self love in your career. I wanted to pull out a thread from our retreat and share it with you.
This retreat was called “compassionate accountability,” and our coaches designed workshops around this theme to deliver at our annual client-only retreat. At the end we had a group coaching session in which we asked about takeaways and how this retreat had changed the way clients thought about their work. There was some very vulnerable sharing and I wanted to bring some of those themes out.
For full show notes, visit www.cathymazak.com/episode111.
Have you ever wondered if a writing retreat is worth the investment? And how do writing retreats impact your overall writing practice?
Today, we are talking about the power of writing retreats. We have a heartfelt interview with Dr. Michelle Boyd, an award winning researcher and writer. Dr. Boyd received tenure at University of Chicago, and later found a true love in offering writing retreats for academics. She concentrates on helping writers overcome their fear of writing and to become the writer that they already are.
For full show notes visit cathymazak.com/episode110.
Inkwell Retreats Website
Connect with Cathy and Team: Website
Facebook Page
When you need to “find time to write” how do you go about it? What are some things you need to reflect on in this process? Coach Rocío Caballero-Gill helps us break down the phrase “I need to find time to write.” She’s got some perspective on this universal issue, as well as some strategies for where to start. When we’re looking at trying to “find time” for something as academics, there are 3 things we need to start by reflecting on. For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode109.
How do you create bigger dreams? And why is dreaming big important for academics?
Today, Head Coach Gina Robinson is talking to you about dreaming bigger.
If you are mid mid-career faculty, our Elevate program is transformational. It is a really meaningful space for anyone who has gotten to tenure and is looking for these big dreams. If you're in the middle of all of “the stuff,” then the Elevate program might be a good way to pull yourself out and think about your bigger dreams and the kinds of things that you're going to leave after you retire.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode108.
The best way to make sure you’re publishing is by using a strategic, actionable and well-developed plan. Do you have one? I’m sharing the 3 (planning) secrets to publishing success.
We all know the end results of a robust publishing portfolio: the jobs you want, the promotions you want, the grants you want… and your voice out in the world and influencing your field. But, to make sure you achieve the publishing success that you are capable of, you need to have a plan.
In this episode I’m sharing a sneak peek of my webinar “From Planned to Published” that gives you the 3 secrets to publishing success through planning.
For full show notes visit cathymazak.com/episode107.
Have you reflected on what you learned last year, and chosen a direction for 2022? I’m sharing all the changes that have been set in motion for me and my business and where we’re going from here.
Do you think of the new year as a fresh start? Maybe you’re just ready to close the chapter on 2021 and move on. I get that! It might be cliche to talk about fresh starts in the new year, but I’m going to do it anyway. I hope you’ll join me in reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and where we’re going from here.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode106.
To pre-order my book: https://www.cathymazak.com/ebook-pre-sale/.
If you are mid-career, you are holding up a lot of people, from students to research partners to co-authors to family members. How can you build legacy from that leadership?
This episode is a sneak peek into my private, seven episode mini-feed called “7 Steps to a Legacy Building Career”. This episode is Step 6: Leading for Legacy. Head here if you want to get access to the rest of the feed.
{If you’re listening to this in real time, there are just a few days left to apply for the 2022 cohort of Elevate! We will only be running this program once in 2022, so don’t miss your chance! Head here to get all your questions answered and apply: https://www.cathymazak.com/elevate}
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode105.
Elevate graduate Lauren Braun-Strumfels is sharing her amazing story on this episode of the podcast. Her journey has been full of ups and downs, twists and turns. It’s taken her from Fulbright scholar in Rome at the very beginning of the pandemic, to lockdowns and virtual classrooms, and from no publications to journal articles, book contracts, and a vibrant pipeline.
Lauren shares how she navigated loss and grief through community, came back to her writing and herself little by little and created sustainable systems for huge publishing success. We also talk about how a harsh peer reviewer paused her book process, and how coaching through Elevate helped her galvanize her message and navigate through that situation.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode104.
If you’re ready for 1:1 coaching, next level mentoring, connections within an amazing community, and space held for you for making big decisions about where you want to go with your career, check out our Elevate info session. If it feels like a fit for you, be sure to apply for Elevate. The next cohort starts with a virtual writing retreat on 1/27/21. Head here for the info session: https://www.cathymazak.com/elevate.
What’s next for you in your career? Have you gone through a big career shift and aren’t sure what to focus on now? In this sneak peek episode I’m sharing our framework for how to level up your career your way.
In this episode I’m sharing part of an info session about our Elevate program for mid to late career academics who want more from their careers but aren’t sure how to get there.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode103.
If you’re here in real time, sign up to get the full info session in podcast form and all the information on how to apply for the 2022 cohort of Elevate. We kick off with our virtual writing retreat January 27, 2022!
Have you ever struggled with pushing ‘send’ on a piece for publication? In this episode I’m giving you an update on my book process, including timeline, cover reveals, and how hard it is to let go of that final draft.
It’s time for installment three on my book writing process!
In episode 60 I shared part 1, a dive into the publishing world, deciding on academic vs. traditional publishing houses, figuring out what I wanted to say, and the fear that I wouldn’t have enough words to put on the page (spoiler: I did).
In episode 79 I shared part 2, all about figuring out my own writing process, getting mindset and development help from book coach Jane Jones, and how I got the writing done.
In this episode, I want to continue to be open about what scares me, give you an overview of all the professionals I’ve worked with to help bring this book to life, and share an update on the book timeline. I’ve learned so much along the way, and I hope you have picked up some tips and tidbits from these book update episodes.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode102.
Is creating systems really worth the time it takes? What systems do you need in place to ensure you can write and publish to your full potential? I’m giving you 3 systems you need in place to write and publish more.
Systems are the key to a calm, joyful and highly productive academic career. When you have the right systems in place, you don’t waste time and energy on repeated decision-making. With systems, your boundaries are preset, you know what’s coming next, how to choose projects, how to pick back up when you’ve had to step back from your writing, and so much more.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode101.
Doors to Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap open on Black Friday. Click here to enroll: https://www.cathymazak.com/navigate/
My wonderful coach Gina Robinson joins me on this episode to discuss publication goals and how to increase your capacity for writing and publishing in the coming year. What determines how much you can publish, and where are our expectations coming from? Is it possible to increase your level of joy in your work as you increase output?
We talk through these concepts as well as share how we determined the parts of our new yearlong Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap program and what you need to create sustainable success.
Get the free module of Navigate here: https://www.cathymazak.com/sneakpeek
For full show notes visit cathymazak.com/episode100.
Have you ever been scared to admit all that you want for yourself and your career? I’m here to give you permission to go after that influential, fulfilling and impactful career. Here’s how to start.
It’s time we in academia have a talk about ambition and wanting more. Because friends, there is more for you in your career! As womxn, we have often been socialized not to be seen as “ambitious”. We’re not going to give that idea more time that it is worth. What I want to emphasize to you is: you are allowed to want it all! You are allowed to want a great career, to be influential and impactful in your field, and to do it without feeling burdened and burned out.
For full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode99.
How do you get writing and publishing done to enhance your career, get that promotion, impact your field - without breaking down or burning out? I’ve got the roadmap that shows the way.
I’m covering a lot today, as I share all about my Navigate: The Writing Roadmap program, how it can help you write and publish more, and set yourself up for success in your career without burnout and overwhelm.
For the full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode98.
What will get you from the start of the tenure process all the way to full professor? What worries do you have and what should you focus on instead to achieve your career goals?
I’m often inspired by concepts from the entrepreneurial space. I see a lot of parallels between entrepreneurship and academia. A recent inspiration came from a business coach of mine, Rachel Rodgers. Her entrepreneurial growth scale shows the steps for business growth, what entrepreneurs are worried about at each step and what they should be worried about to achieve the growth they”re looking for. I love this model, and am working on adapting it to the process of growth during an academic career.
In this podcast episode, I’m using this model to break down the tenure (permanence) process into career stages. In each stage I look at what might be happening for you in terms of research, teaching and service, what some common worries are, and what you should be focusing on instead. What you’ll gain is a better understanding of what it takes to make it to full professor, and what you might need to change to get there.
For the full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode97.
Are you still exhausted after getting tenure and don’t know why things haven’t changed? Feeling like you’ll never not be tired? I’ve got 3 steps to take to help you take control.
Are you tired? Like, really tired? Maybe you're moving toward total exhaustion, or are already there. In this episode I’m digging into why you are still tired after receiving tenure, and what you can do about it. Yes, you can do something about it!
For full notes, visit www.cathymazak.com/episode96.
I’m joined on this episode by wonderful Elevate graduates Debra Gombert and Sonia Cabell. We talk about the most impactful parts of the program, tangible versus intangible benefits, and where they’re going from here. They each share great insights and inspirational takeaways to remind us all that we are worth investing in, and that growth and change never stop.
Key points discussed:
- What each of their careers looked like and what wasn’t working before Elevate
- What the most impactful part of the program was for each of them
- Shifting to bigger picture thinking rather than single answer solutions
- Zones of genius and leaning into strengths in all areas of life and career
- 1:1 coaching and the difference it made for each of them
- Discovering patterns of scarcity
- What made each of them hesitate before signing up, and why they signed up anyway
- Tangible versus intangible benefits and the impact of each
- Going back to the toolkit of skills Elevate equipped them with
- Continued growth, and individual benefits of the coaches and community
For the full show notes for this episode, visit cathymazak.com/episode95.
What if being a leader in academia doesn’t have to mean taking on an administrative role? Listen in for my take on what it means to be a leader in your mid to late career.
When we hear people talking about leadership in academia, what they often mean is admin. Leadership to your institution probably means a department chair or associate director, or other role that helps the university to function. But if admin just isn’t a fit for you, does that mean you’re not a leader? No way.
For the full show notes, visit cathymazak.com/episode94
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It is our second podcast-iversary! Thank you SO much for listening. To show my appreciation, I’m sharing part of my Career Design Workshop with you-free-on this episode!
It is our second anniversary on the podcast, and I want to say thank you so much for listening and for helping us reach 207,832 episode downloads! That is amazing, and I am truly grateful.
As a thank you, I want to share part of my Career Design Workshop with you. Normally, you need to attend one of the retreats included with our Elevate or Amplify coaching programs, which are a significant investment. But since we are celebrating, I want you to have this sneak peek! I hope you enjoy and find it helpful.
For the full show notes, visit https://cathymazak.com/episode93
How a Designed Career Feels I’m going to illustrate how a designed career feels vs. an undesigned career using bookshelves.
This first picture is of my living room bookshelves at home.
These shelves started out organized, clean and set up how I want them. But as you can see, over time they have been stuffed full of many things that don’t really belong there, or aren’t even mine at all. My husband and children have put their things on there, a bunch of random things no one knew what to do with have been shoved in, and the more stuffed it gets, the more overwhelming it feels to deal with all of it. So it just keeps coming! If these bookshelves were a career, it is definitely undesigned.
This next picture is of my dream bookshelf.
It’s curated, calm, everything has a place and feels like it belongs. If this bookshelf were a career, it would be an intentionally designed one!
I hope you can see where I’m going with this illustration. Career design gives you room to breathe, and helps you curate the career that feels right to you, full of the activities that you have chosen.
What Gets in the Way Just like with my personal bookshelves, we might start from an organized place, but life in academia throws so much at us, that if we’re not extremely careful and intentional, we end up with something chaotic that feels overwhelming. Here are some things that get in the way:
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The snowball effect. The more things that come at us, the more fires we have to put out, the less time we have to reflect on what we’re doing, the fuller the “bookshelf” gets.
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Our default setting is react. If there’s not a solid plan in place, when new things get thrown at us, they often just get shoved in wherever they fit. Instead of responding with intention, we react, and therefore never feel like we have enough time, space, or control.
- We believe we have no control. There is a long list of things in academia that we can’t control, so we give in to the feeling that our whole career is out of our hands.
What is Career Design?
Career design is all about intentional planning and intentional action. The key is that your career choices and plans are driven by you, not others. You decide what you want your career to look like and what direction you need to go, and you make choices about how to get there.
The goal is to create a career that is joyful, and then to set boundaries to protect that joy.
“You should get joy out of your career.” -Cathy Mazak
Is my career designed well enough? To get an idea of where you are in terms of a well-designed career, take a minute to complete this assessment.
After each question, give yourself a grade of:
RED: Not designed at all; things just come at me and I react
YELLOW: Somewhat designed; I’m able to make some intentional choices, some of the time
GREEN: Well Designed; this area is driven by me, intentional and well-defined
- Is your calendar designed?
Is your schedule intentionally created and controlled by you?
- Is your email management designed?
Do you have a system for dealing with email or are you just reacting? Are there boundaries in place around your email?
- Is your writing system designed?
Do you have a regular process, systems, and a way to engage with your projects in an intentional way? Do you know how to get back into it when you fall away?
- Is your pipeline designed?
Do you have a curated pipeline full of strategically chosen projects for specifically targeted journals?
- Is your path to promotion designed?
Whatever point you’re at in your career, are your next steps defined? While the process and requirements may feel arbitrary or out of your hands, have you decided how you will approach the goal, and what steps you’ll choose to take?
What color came up most for you on this assessment? How did you feel about it? Checking in on what’s working and what isn’t is a vital first step toward designing a career that feels good to you. Once you get a handle on what’s tripping you up, you’ll have a better idea of what needs to change and where to start.
The Career Design Process Set Intentions--Take Action--Reflect & Revise Having a well designed career is not something you can do and have it stay done forever. As with my bookshelf example above, you have to revisit it if you want it to stay the way you want it. You have to set clear intentions, take action on them, reflect on what’s working, and revise as necessary. You also need to be relentless with your boundaries.
Ready for More? Did you enjoy this sneak peek into our Career Design process? If you’re ready to find space to think and plan your next career moves, our Elevate program could be right for you. Happy academics make more knowledge and create more change. You deserve to be one of them!
Click here to sign up for a free, live info session to get all your questions answered about Elevate, a program for post-tenure academics who are ready to create careers they love, make an impact, and leave a legacy.
Connect with me: Website
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode93.
Does spending time and money on your own development feel selfish? What if investing in ourselves actually improved not only our lives, but spilled over to improve the lives around us too? Elevate graduate Despina Stavrinos joins me to share how investing in herself helped her to create time in her schedule, energized her career, and improved her relationships.
Key points discussed:
- Despina’s background, career as a founding lab director and family situation
- The role of technology as a tool for career and personal development
- What made Despina apply for the Elevate program
- How the program changed her definition of “winning”
- Impacts on her time management and calendar including her first unplugged vacation
- Creating space in her day and how pulling back contributes to a better view of the big picture
- Returns on investment and the importance of investing in ourselves
- The value of a community that is engaged, understanding and willing to share knowledge while cheering her on
Key Quotes:
- “I decided to do something ‘selfish’.” -Despina Stavrinos
- “I think it’s one of the best professional financial decisions I’ve ever made.” -Despina Stavrinos
- “I strategically planned for taking that time off and it was amazing.” -Despina Stavrinos
- “The sum is greater than its parts.” -Despina Stavrinos
- “Technology can help us set those boundaries and keep those boundaries.” -Cathy Mazak
- “You need to have networks of people that get [it].” -Cathy Mazak
- “When you pour into you, then you have that overflow effect.” -Cathy Mazak
- “You’ve gotta take care of you.” -Despina Stavrinos
- “Once you get supported...it really changes the way you think about those moments when you feel overwhelmed…” -Cathy Mazak
Connect with me: Website
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode92.
Today I have for you an amazing conversation between my 3 rockstar academic coaches Rocío Caballero-Gill, Gina Robinson, and Thea Racelis. They’re sharing what challenges, struggles, and growth they see from our mid-career/post-tenure Elevate participants, and what they love most about the program.
If their conversation piques your curiosity at all, don’t miss out on the info session for the next cohort of Elevate! Click here to learn more and sign up.
Key points discussed:
- Who Elevate clients are: mid to late career academics from a variety of fields who have tenure, some who have full, some who have admin or leadership positions, some who are not in traditional academic institutions.
- Common challenges our clients face.
- Helping clients find clarity and certainty in the direction they are going.
- Learning to pause, own, and celebrate accomplishments.
- The feeling of plateau that can come with tenure, and how to move past it.
- Managing scarcity mindset, the need for rest, and the pressure to perform at a certain level.
- Clients as whole people, and the rich community that results from showing up in their fullness.
- Community without competition.
- The coaches’ favorite parts about being involved in Elevate.
Key Quotes:
- “...is there anything after tenure? And the answer is: ‘yes, there is.’” -Thea Racelis
- “We spend a lot of time looking for external validation.” -Gina Robinson
- “We don’t assume everybody is at a specific place.” -Rocío Caballero-Gill
- “Everything that you’re doing is going to end up contributing to whether or not that work gets done...sustainably.” -Gina Robinson
- “If you’re breaking your back to get to tenure, is that how you want to go on?” -Gina Robinson
- “Seeing people say no is part of the richness…” -Thea Racelis
- “How you work is going to influence academica as a whole.” -Gina Robinson
Be sure to sign up for the info session for our next session of Elevate! The coaches and I are all excited to meet you and help you uplevel your career your way. Head here to learn more and sign up: https://www.cathymazak.com/elevate-info-session/.
Do you have an almost done article languishing in a virtual drawer? A new writing project you haven’t been able to make time for? Or a piece of writing in the messy middle that needs to be revived? Grab my Writing Sprint Blueprint, a powerful productivity tool to help stalled out publications get out of your pipeline and into the world. As a bonus, you’ll also gain access to my private podcast feed “Stick to the Plan”, a 10 episode series of short, inspirational messages to keep you going. Click here to get the Writing Sprint Blueprint and “Stick to the Plan” podcast series for just $27!
Connect with me: Website
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode91.
We get our hopes up for what it might feel like after we finally get tenure, but what is the reality? I’m sharing some of my own story about getting tenure, and what came next.
Are you a mid to late career academic who got tenure (or promotion, depending on your system) and felt a serious let down? You are not alone. I’m sharing a little of my own story on this episode to illustrate what changes, what doesn’t, and what to do about it.
My Story I started out with the University of Puerto Rico just before a recession hit, around 2007. Very quickly, things went from sort of cushy and spacious, to very tight and uncertain. When I went up for associate professor, I was put on a waitlist with other colleagues and basically told, ‘when we have the money, we’ll promote you’. I sat on that list for at least 2 years. I was going up for full tenure by the time I received the final approval notice for associate professor! All the little perks like cost of living increases, materials allowances, accumulated vacation time payouts and sabbaticals for tenured professors were all gone at this point. There was no support for adding new programs, no encouragement to take risks.
I felt a pretty big sense of letdown after getting my full tenure. Yes, I had stability, but I felt like I was stuck, with no opportunity for continued growth and no support for the dreams I had for my career. No lightbulb moment, shifting of priorities or workload, or sense of freedom accompanied the tenure award. I feel very fortunate that I was able to find my zone of genius outside the ‘container’ of my institution. After a 2 year self-funded sabbatical I resigned and am now living out my post-tenure career aspirations in a new way.
Is This You? Do you have a similar experience of dissatisfaction post-tenure? Tenure does have its benefits, of course! Stability, stature, and often a pay raise give tenure it’s coveted status. However, these benefits do not necessarily affect how our careers feel after tenure. Many of the academics I’ve spoken to have shared these kinds of experiences:
- They feel tired, overwhelmed, overscheduled and overcommitted. Their own projects and priorities often fall to the wayside as they continue to put out fires and address the needs of others.
- They have so many teaching and advising deadlines and responsibilities that there is no time for other things, like writing.
- They have big dreams, but it seems like no one else on campus thinks the way they do, or has the same kinds of aspirations.
- They feel restless, uninspired, and question their validity on the path they are on.
We tend to blame ourselves when we can’t get to a place that feels good post-tenure. But let me tell you from experience, that not much changes in the day-to-day unless we make those changes for ourselves.
“If you felt like you were running on a treadmill set too fast pre-tenure, that’s how you will feel post-tenure.” -Cathy Mazak
What Now? If you identify with some of the feelings and experiences above, but what you want is a bigger, more satisfying, impactful and legacy building career, then consider learning more about my Elevate program for mid and late career academics.
My team and I have listened to the needs and desires of post-tenure academics just like you, and created Elevate to help you gain clarity on what you want to come next for you and to help you take the actions to make it happen.
Elevate is a 6-month, high level coaching program that utilizes 1:1 coaching, group coaching, and curriculum based learning to set you up for clarity and action. This legacy building program is full of people who see something bigger for their futures, and want a different experience post-tenure.
Elevate starts in February, but we want to give you plenty of time to learn more, secure your funding and decide if it’s the right step for you. Click here to sign up for an in-depth info session during the first week of October 2021 to get a behind the scenes look at the program and each step of the framework.
If you are mid to late career and feel frustrated but are ready to step into something bigger, sign up to join us at the info session. See you there!
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode90.
How can you break projects into tasks to make them easier to manage? As academics we are constantly juggling multiple projects, and being able to approach them with the skills of a project manager can be the difference between smooth sailing and burn out.
We’re on a short break from publishing new episodes, so today’s episode is a replay of one of our most popular past episodes. It’s all about learning tools and systems for approaching your writing like a project manager.
I hope you enjoy this replay episode, and we’ll be back with brand new episodes in September.
For the full show notes of this episode, originally published as episode 3, you can go to https://www.cathymazak.com/episode3.
Is your writing project languishing, mired in the messy middle, or stuck on revise and resubmit? Grab my Writing Sprint Blueprint, a powerful productivity tool to help stalled out publications get out of your pipeline and into the world. As a bonus, you’ll also gain access to my private podcast feed “Stick to the Plan”, a 10 episode series of short, inspirational messages to keep you going. Click here to get the Writing Sprint Blueprint and “Stick to the Plan” podcast series for just $27!
Connect with me: Website
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Are you a pre-tenure or early career academic? What should you do to maximize this time in your career without fear? I’m walking you through my Amplify framework for going up for tenure with confidence.
If you are listening in real time and applied for our Amplify program but haven’t secured your spot, time is almost up! Tomorrow is the last day to secure your spot, so don’t miss out on the only time we will be running Amplify in 2021.
For those who haven't yet applied, there are still a couple spaces left, so you can still apply and get in by the deadline.
Whether you’ve applied or not, I want to share the framework we use in Amplify, to help you think about what you need to have in place to have the career you want moving forward in your tenure process.
For those who have already applied, you can secure your spot here.
Before we jump in, why did I decide to name this program “Amplify”? As a member of a bilingual family and a language academic, the significance is twofold. In English, Amplify means to make louder, or bigger. In Spanish, the cognate ‘Amplio’ evokes a sense of comfort and spaciousness. We want to help you expand your impact, and create your career path from a place of comfort and ease. That’s what we do in Amplify!
Here is our diagram for the structure of Amplify
Clarify Getting clear on who you are as an academic, where you want your career to go and how you want to make an impact has to come first. (We’ll be presenting on this part of the program at our virtual kick-off retreat on 9/10/21, and we can’t wait!)
- Design Your Career
“There’s a big difference between surviving in your career and thriving in it, and that difference is design.” -Cathy Mazak
How do you want your career and life to feel? We’ll help you create a milestone map of what is important to you as you design your career.
- Power Up Your Pipeline
We’ll help you create a pipeline strategy that helps you tell your unique story as a scholar. You’ll learn how to take control of your pipeline and use it to maintain boundaries and stick to your priorities. You’ll always know what to work on next and where each project is in the process through strategic pipeline management.
- Set Your Career’s Foundation
You need a plan for your pre-tenure experience. It’s not just about what you want to accomplish, but also about how you want your career to feel. The time to set foundational expectations for your career is now. We’ll help you create a pre-tenure action plan and write your career narrative.
Demystify Part of the problem in academia is that there is this mysterious, secretive feeling about how things work and how things get done. It’s perpetuated by the (false) lone wolf academic ideal. It does not have to be that way!
- Resilient Writing
We share the processes for dealing with the ebb and flow of a writing practice, how to deal with expected and unexpected disruptions to your writing, the role of rest and how to get back to writing after a break. Create your own resilient writing plan that fits your life.
- Manage Yourself
Uplevel your time management and planning skills to get the most out of your time without overwork or burnout. The critical piece of this part of the curriculum is this: know yourself. We’ll help you get to know what works for you, trust your inner voice, and leverage the rest/restore cycle.
- Manage Others
Professional relationships that are positive and empowering are an important part of an impactful career. We’ll teach you how to relate to others, from people ‘above’ you to colleagues to students, while maintaining boundaries and moving your own career forward.
Multiply Multiply your effectiveness and impact on the world through your career. We’ll give you the tools and help you create the practices you need to accomplish it.
- Develop Self-Trust
This just might be the most important principal in the program. Once you get to know yourself as a scholar, you must practice trusting yourself. As womxn, we’ve been socialized not to trust ourselves, but the good news is: this skill is learnable. We’ll help you practice listening to your inner mentor, and give you a safe space to take risks.
- Lead For Change
It’s time to let your values lead your career. We help you weigh when to take risks and when to conserve your energy, and navigate the different spaces you might occupy as you balance a drive for change with your personal boundaries. You’ll develop your individual values statement to help guide your career.
- Create Practices
Lastly, we’ll help you create personalized practices that will maintain your progress and set you up for continued success on your terms. We want to see you launch into the career you’ve designed, equipped with everything you need to continue to develop and adapt to your changing world.
If you haven’t applied for Amplify, there’s still time if you act fast. Spots for the 2021 cycle must be secured with a deposit by midnight on 8/25/21. A waiting list for the 2022 program will likely open in October.
Click here to learn secure your spot (if you have already applied)
Click here to apply today
Is your writing project languishing, mired in the messy middle, or stuck on revise and resubmit? Grab my Writing Sprint Blueprint, a powerful productivity tool to help stalled out publications get out of your pipeline and into the world. As a bonus, you’ll also gain access to my private podcast feed “Stick to the Plan”, a 10 episode series of short, inspirational messages to keep you going. Click here to get the Writing Sprint Blueprint and “Stick to the Plan” podcast series for just $27!
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Follow me on Clubhouse: @cathymazak
Is it possible to have a weekly schedule that prevents overwork and burnout in academia? How can you create a weekly schedule that works for you? This episode will walk you through a practical exercise to create your ideal week.
We’re on a short break from publishing new episodes, so today’s episode is a replay of one of our most popular past episodes. It’s all about creating a weekly schedule that steers clear of overwork and puts everything in its place.
I hope you enjoy this replay episode, and we’ll be back with brand new episodes in September.
For the full show notes of this episode, originally published as episode 4, you can go to https://www.cathymazak.com/episode4.
Is your writing project languishing, mired in the messy middle, or stuck on revise and resubmit? Grab my Writing Sprint Blueprint, a powerful productivity tool to help stalled out publications get out of your pipeline and into the world. As a bonus, you’ll also gain access to my private podcast feed “Stick to the Plan”, a 10 episode series of short, inspirational messages to keep you going. Click here to get the Writing Sprint Blueprint and “Stick to the Plan” podcast series for just $27!
Connect with me: Website
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Facebook Page
Follow me on Clubhouse: @cathymazak
How can you successfully ask for and get what you want in academia, particularly when it comes to professional development funding? This episode will provide practical tips and ideas for securing the funding you need.
We’re on a short break from publishing new episodes, so today’s episode is a replay of one of our most popular past episodes. It’s all about asking for and getting what you want, particularly around professional development funding.
I hope you enjoy this replay episode, and we’ll be back with brand new episodes in September.
For the full show notes of this episode, originally published as episode 7, you can go to https://www.cathymazak.com/episode7.
Is your writing project languishing, mired in the messy middle, or stuck on revise and resubmit? Grab my Writing Sprint Blueprint, a powerful productivity tool to help stalled out publications get out of your pipeline and into the world. As a bonus, you’ll also gain access to my private podcast feed “Stick to the Plan”, a 10 episode series of short, inspirational messages to keep you going. Click here to get the Writing Sprint Blueprint and “Stick to the Plan” podcast series for just $27!
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Why is investing in ourselves as academic womxn a radical act? And what should you do if your institution doesn’t want to invest in you? Making your career what you want it to be is up to you.
There’s a lot of talk these days about self-care, but what does this mean for us as academics? How do we make sure we are getting where we want to go in our careers, and valuing our own contributions to the world? In order to grow and develop as scholars, we must invest in ourselves. As womxn, this is a radical act, and one I hope you’ll make for yourself.
Self-Care = Self-Preservation The term ‘self-care’ has been co-opted a little bit...people often think of things like bubble baths when they think of self-care. But what I’m talking about here is really self-preservation. What do you need to do to be able to live the life you want? As a writer, I know I need to exercise and keep my back strong or I won’t be able to physically sit in the chair and get writing done. As a scholar, I know I need to keep growing and developing best practices for getting my message into the world. That means investing in myself.
“What are the actions you have to take...to make sure that you can keep doing what you want to be doing in your life?” -Cathy Mazak
Why is it Radical? We’ve talked about radical acts in previous episodes, because many things we do as academic womxn operating in a patriarchal system that was not built for us are radical! The patriarchy tells us that womxn should defer to the needs and comfort of others, that our only real contribution to the world is through caring for others. Not true! Investing in yourself, doing what you need to do to preserve yourself and the academic life you want, and growing and developing as a scholar is a radical and much needed act.
You Can’t Can Take It With You Your institution (the “container” through which you do your scholarly work) helps you get your work out into the world, but your career is about your work and your contribution. When your institution refuses to pay for professional development, it can be infuriating, frustrating, deflating...especially if you’re over-working and give them all of those precious extra hours of your life.
You may have (understandably) developed an attitude of “I just won’t do anything they don’t pay for”. But don’t forget! Your career belongs to you. Your personal and professional development belong to you. And just like with publications, learning, growth and connections you make enrich your career and come with you wherever you go. Professional development programs like my Amplify program can even teach you how to cut down overwork and create a regular workweek, which means you are essentially giving yourself a raise. You and your career are worth it!
Taking the Next Steps 1. Advocate for yourself! Ask your institution to cover expenses for your professional development and tell them why making you a better and happier scholar benefits them.
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If they refuse, remember that you can take it with you! Consider the pay off of investing in yourself, in terms of happiness, in terms of contribution to your field, in terms of pay. You are worth it!
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Consider applying for Amplify: Faculty Writing Accelerator, my 6-month long program designed for you, whether you want to build a sustainable, scalable writing system, go up for tenure with confidence and ease, take control of your career direction, or find a supportive community that understands your struggles. Click here to apply, but don’t wait, applications close soon and we get started on September 1st, 2021.
Is your writing project languishing, mired in the messy middle, or stuck on revise and resubmit? Grab my Writing Sprint Blueprint, a powerful productivity tool to help stalled out publications get out of your pipeline and into the world. As a bonus, you’ll also gain access to my private podcast feed “Stick to the Plan”, a 10 episode series of short, inspirational messages to keep you going. Click here to get the Writing Sprint Blueprint and “Stick to the Plan” podcast series for just $27!
Connect with me: Website
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode89.
If you want to publish more, you should take on more projects, right? Wrong! You need a publication pipeline, not a funnel.
I’m getting up on my soapbox to tell you why your publications need to be in a pipeline, not a funnel! Building a publication plan from a place of fear leads you to take on every possible project, say yes to all opportunities, and focus on numbers rather than your academic mission. Friends, this approach will backfire. Let’s dig into the metaphors of pipeline and funnel, and how to approach your publishing plan to reach your goals.
Funnel vs. Pipeline: What’s the Difference? Picture a pipeline: the contents flow smoothly, and what goes in comes out the other side at the same volume it entered.
Now picture a funnel: a whole bunch of something put in the top trickles slowly out the bottom. You might dump more and more into the top, but it still trickles out the bottom at that slow rate.
Using this metaphor, you can see that taking on more and more projects for publication does not, in fact, result in more published work! If you are (understandably) acting from a place of fear, and taking on all the possible projects that enter your sphere, you will create a funnel, not a pipeline.
“If you take on more projects you will have fewer publications.” -Cathy Mazak
What’s the Solution? “You must curate your pipeline.” -Cathy Mazak
The answer is careful curation of the projects you choose to put into your pipeline. Your publications are telling the story of who you are as a scholar, to the world and to your tenure committee. What story do you want to tell? You need to be selective, choosing projects that support your academic mission. If you take this approach, you can intentionally oversee your pipeline, and what stage each project is in. The projects you put in will flow smoothly out the other side. Please believe me when I tell you that this approach will not only solidify your academic brand, but result in more publications.
“Create your publication pipeline from a place of confidence.” -Cathy Mazak
Want to learn more? We teach you all about pipeline management in our Amplify: Faculty Accelerator program for pre-tenure/early career academics. We want to set you up with a solid foundation to help you grow as a scholar and launch into your future. In our 6 month Amplify program, we use a combination of coaching, training and community to give you the tools you need to go up for tenure with confidence.
Enrollment is open now, so head to cathymazak.com/amplify and complete our short application. 2021 cohorts will be running September through February, but once you’re approved, you’ll get access to our first event, an invite-only training in August to give you a taste of what the program is like. Don’t wait, spots are filling fast! Click here to apply.
Is your writing project languishing, mired in the messy middle, or stuck on revise and resubmit? Grab my Writing Sprint Blueprint, a powerful productivity tool to help stalled out publications get out of your pipeline and into the world. As a bonus, you’ll also gain access to my private podcast feed “Stick to the Plan”, a 10 episode series of short, inspirational messages to keep you going. Click here to get the Writing Sprint Blueprint and “Stick to the Plan” podcast series for just $27!
Connect with me: Website
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode88.
On this episode I’m talking with Melva Treviño Peña and Silvie Huijben, two Amplify graduates, about what brought them to the program, how their careers and lives have changed, their successes, and who they believe can benefit from Amplify.
While they came to the program from very different fields and in different phases of their pre-tenure journey, the transformations experienced, tools gained and relationships formed were the same.
Key points discussed:
- How they each found the Amplify program and why they joined
- What’s changed for them in the past year as a result of the program
- Mentality shifts and how they have developed intentionality and clarity
- Developing a writing system for the long term
- Experiencing burnout and learning to develop healthy decision-making practices
- Tools they continue to go back to
- Learning to reflect and re-center when things get hectic
- Writing, publishing and project successes, and a more streamlined timeline to achieve them
- Gaining self-awareness and spotting problems as they arise
- Planning for the future with intention
- Their favorite parts of the Amplify program
- Who they believe can benefit from being a part of Amplify
Key Quotes:
- “What comes first is feeling comfortable, less stressed, understanding who you are as an academic and who you want to be.” -Melva Treviño Peña
- “I thought I was the only person that had graduated without the publication skills and I started to learn that that is not true.” -Melva Treviño Peña
- “It helped me transform how I see myself and how I see the writing system.” -Melva Treviño Peña
- “I was worried that after the program is done..the benefit is done; but that’s not the case at all...I changed the way that I work and I’m definitely not going back to the way I was.” -Silvie Huijben
- “It’s a continuous work in progress, all the time.” -Silvie Huijben
- “In this program, I have the tools that, if I start to feel more frazzled, now I know what to do.” -Silvie Huijben
- “Not all hours are created equal.” -Silvie Huijben
- “With coaching and with programs, what you get is...facilitated speed.” -Cathy Mazak
- “Getting a guilt project out of the way was such a sense of relief.” -Silvie Huijben
- “It’s such a beautiful part of the program: to find out that you’re not alone.” -Melva Treviño Peña
- “I learned a lot from Cathy and the coaches, but I learned a lot from the other people in the program.” -Melva Treviño Peña
Is your writing project languishing, mired in the messy middle, or stuck on revise and resubmit? Grab my Writing Sprint Blueprint, a powerful productivity tool to help stalled out publications get out of your pipeline and into the world. As a bonus, you’ll also gain access to my private podcast feed “Stick to the Plan”, a 10 episode series of short, inspirational messages to keep you going. Click here to get the Writing Sprint Blueprint and “Stick to the Plan” podcast series for just $27!
Connect with me: Website
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode87.
On this episode I’m talking with Angel Kaur, a member of the founding co-hort of my Amplify program, about what brought her to Amplify, what she learned, and how she has gained the tools and confidence to make the best decisions for her career.
Key points discussed:
- What brought her to the Amplify program
- Trying to figure out her path, and deciding between two areas that she loved
- After she joined Amplify, realizing how overwhelmed she had truly been
- Learning to purposefully give less in certain areas in order to be able to give more to an area she was focusing on
- Ah-ha moments during the program
- The importance of community in helping to solidify decisions and speak truth back to you
- Creating the career identity she wanted for herself, and what she was able to accomplish in her field
- Learning systems and processes that worked for her, and learning to accept how she works
- Addressing the inner critic
- How productivity jumps when we accept our own personal preferences
Key Quotes:
- “You talk about that overwhelm, and how it doesn’t have to be how academia works.” -Angel Kaur
- “I really wanted some support that came from outside my institution.” -Angel Kaur
- “You can’t be 100% of yourself for all the things that you’re responsible for.” -Angel Kaur
- “Academia doesn’t have to be toxic...it can be a calling without being all of that.” -Angel Kaur
- “Mindset work has been my secret weapon.” -Angel Kaur
- “We put the bar so high, in our heads, for everything.” -Cathy Mazak
- “There was an opportunity to connect with people in a way I hadn’t seen before until Amplify.” -Angel Kaur
- “Writing is bigger than words on a page.” -Angel Kaur
- “You have to know you and how you work.” -Cathy Mazak
- “Everyone is a three-dimensional human being.” -Angel Kaur
- “You’ve become an expert on yourself and that is really powerful!” -Cathy Mazak
Connect with Angel Kaur: Twitter
Etsy shop
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode86.
My super-star writing coaches, Rocío Caballero-Gill and Gina Robinson, are taking over the podcast to talk about the pre-tenure period and many of the issues, fears, hopes, accomplishments, and successes they see with our Amplify clients. If you’re pre-tenure, I’m betting you will recognize yourself in this episode, and get a feel for whether this program and these fantastic coaches are a fit for you.
Key points discussed:
- The challenges that our Amplify clients face when they are coming into the program:
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- Negative, unsure mindsets
- Isolation, amplified in competitive departments and institutions
- Self-doubt and fear
- Lack of community and resources, fear of asking questions
- Lack of time, systems, and sustainable practices
- Impacts Amplify has had for our clients
- Immediate like-minded community
- Vision creation and implementation with structured steps, tools and systems
- Gaining confidence and implementing change
- Creating a mission allowing clients to trust themselves, recognize what matters and find time for it
- Recognizing their own wisdom and power
- Specific client results
- Publications completed using peer review, co-writing and support, including stubborn revise-and-resubmits, and languishing or difficult projects
- Completed books and deciding to write books
- Funding secured
- Getting tenure, promotion, and new jobs
- Skills gained to continue with a sustainable writing practice and strong mindset
- Main hesitations about applying for Amplify
- Money: the importance of investing in yourself, and a good return on investment
- Time: how a time commitment is also investing in yourself, and balancing time needs with the value of the program
- What our coaches enjoy most about the program
- The people. Watching clients come into the program unsure, frustrated, unclear and leave with vision, a mission, and a way to get there
- Seeing the achievements clients make while part of the program, and hearing back from them later on continued success
Key Quotes:
- “As soon as you come into the Amplify program, you’ve got this automatic community.” -Gina Robinson
- “Once you have a mission, that helps to deal with a lot of the time issues.” -Gina Robinson
- “You do the job because you’re trying to make some kind of impact.” -Gina Robinson
- “Going through the program allows you the space to refine that writing process in a way that you can sustain it for later.” -Rocío Caballero-Gill
- “We’re not competing against each other, we’re doing things together for the better science, better academia, better everything.” -Rocío Caballero-Gill
- “That’s our goal, is for it to not be such a rare feeling that you are actually in charge of your career.” -Gina Robinson
- “You can’t think about your career trajectory or your career success without thinking about everything else around it.” -Gina Robinson
- “We help each other create time.” -Rocío Caballero-Gill
- “Sometimes, as an adult, building connections and friendships can be difficult.” -Gina Robinson
There are just a few slots in the only 2021 enrollment group for Amplify! Applications close August 25, so don’t wait. Go to cathymazak.com/amplify to apply.
Is your writing project languishing, mired in the messy middle, or stuck on revise and resubmit? Grab my Writing Sprint Blueprint, a powerful productivity tool to help stalled out publications get out of your pipeline and into the world. As a bonus, you’ll also gain access to my private podcast feed “Stick to the Plan”, a 10 episode series of short, inspirational messages to keep you going. Click here to get the Writing Sprint Blueprint and “Stick to the Plan” podcast series for just $27!
Connect with me: Website
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Follow me on Clubhouse: @cathymazak
This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode85.
What does the early career, pre-tenure period usually feel like for academic womxn? What should it feel like? With intention, we can steer ourselves toward a better experience.
The early career period of proving yourself to gain that stamp of approval, whether you call it permanence or tenure, is a pivotal time in our careers. What does this pre-tenure period often feel like? What should it feel like? And perhaps most importantly, what do you believe it can be like for you?
What the Pre-Tenure Process Feels Like 1. Scary
It can feel like your whole career is on the line, and the pressure is enormous. You might worry that if you don’t do enough, or if you aren’t fast enough, you’ll fail.
- Insecure
It might feel like you're walking on eggshells, afraid to say no, or to say the wrong thing and upset someone on your tenure review team.
- Exhausting
There’s so much to learn when you start a tenure-track position! Course preps, service, admin duties, department politics, and unspoken expectations can all be piled on top of your actual tenure requirements. Maybe you’ve moved to a new town, or had to change family schedules as well.
“A lot of our actions pre-tenure are, understandably, motivated by fear.” -Cathy Mazak
What the Pre-Tenure Process Should Feel Like 1. Fulfilling
You are in the developmental process of becoming who you want to be as a scholar. This should be a time of figuring out your next steps for your best career and finding out what lights you up as you contribute to your field.
- Exciting
It’s a time of huge growth! You are meeting new people in your field, and creating knowledge. You are creating something new and stepping into your potential. That should be exciting!
“I would love for everyone to feel excited pre-tenure...excited about what they are going to create.” -Cathy Mazak
- Strategic
During this period you are working to align your teaching, research and service to your academic mission. It’s a time to make connections, meet people in your field, and get strategic about what you are creating and what path you are taking to success.
- Spacious and Easeful
Let me be clear: pre-tenure is not easy. You are solving scholarly problems that do not have easy solutions. However, I truly believe it can be easeful. You can and should have spaciousness and ease in the process. You should not be obligated to work 60 hour work weeks or nights and weekends to stay afloat. You should have room to think. Your whole job is about thinking, so it’s important!
This is the hardest idea for many to wrap their brains around, and I admit, it’s revolutionary...the best kind of rebellious. And I believe it can change knowledge-making in the best possible way. It’s time for academia to change, and it can start with us!
“I really believe that pre-tenure should and can feel spacious and easeful.”
Getting Intentional With Amplify Giving you the tools to plan your career with intentionality is what we do! It’s my jam, and I am always thinking about ways to help you shift your mindset, get strategic, and have the career you want. In our 6 month Amplify program, we use a combination of coaching, training and community to help you make your pre-tenure experience feel more like it should.
Enrollment is open now, so head to cathymazak.com/amplify for more information and to apply. Our 3 cohorts will be running September through February, but once you’re approved, you’ll get access to our first event, an invite-only training in August to give you a taste of what the program is like. Don’t wait, spots are filling fast! Click here to apply.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode84.
I’m joined on this episode by Dr. Anatu Mahama, founder and editor-in-chief of The Academic Woman magazine. She shares her journey through academia as an ambitious and determined woman, always looking for ways to increase her knowledge and increase her reach. She launched The Academic Woman magazine about a year ago to share stories of women who are contributing to the world and not always being seen. Her vision is to create a community of like-minded women who inspire one another, share knowledge, and bring their varied knowledge and experiences to bear on the issues they all face.
Key points discussed:
- Growing up in Ghana as a chatty, ambitious little girl who loved to read, and going on to study publishing, information and knowledge management
- Working at an NGO in the water and sanitation sector, and utilizing her knowledge management skills on each project.
- Getting pregnant, moving to a more forgiving schedule, lecturing, and going for a PhD with 2 small children
- Realizing there were many women doing great things that no one had heard of, and being inspired to share their stories in a magazine
- Creating The Academic Woman magazine to celebrate women’s contributions to knowledge, what they go through, and how they handle challenges they face.
- Who writes for the magazine, how they balance the busy lives of academics with running features and finding content
- Organizing and growing an editorial team
- Who the magazine is for and a future vision of community, in-person events, and larger and more frequent circulation
Key Quotes:
- “I always wanted to know more, and always wanted to see myself excel at whatever I do.” -Anatu Mahama
- “I think that word, ambition, is one we need to claim.” -Cathy Mazak
- “There’s always that need for progression.” -Anatu Mahama
- “We’ve got all these women at the forefront, who are doing great jobs, but nobody hears of them.” -Anatu Mahama
- “If we tell our stories, then we are able to inspire one another.” -Anatu Mahama
- “I’m so grateful for all the women who have told their stories...incredible stories, incredible journeys.” -Anatu Mahama
- “Getting people to write is a challenge because academics are busy.” -Anatu Mahama
- “I don’t believe in spending too much time in planning; I believe in getting on with it.” -Anatu Mahama
To contribute or subscribe to The Academic Woman magazine, visit: https://theacademicwoman.co.uk/
Is your writing project languishing, mired in the messy middle, or stuck on revise and resubmit? For just $27, grab my Writing Sprint Blueprint, a powerful productivity tool to help stalled out publications get through the pipeline and into the world. As a bonus, you’ll also gain access to my private podcast feed “Stick to the Plan”, a 10 episode series of short, inspirational messages to keep you going. Click here to get the Writing Sprint Blueprint and “Stick to the Plan” podcast series for just $27!
Connect with me: Website
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This episode was first published at https://www.cathymazak.com/episode83.
The bros and dudes--you know, the archetype that academia was built for? Here are 5 things about academia they don’t want you to know.
When I talk about bros and dudes, I’m hoping you got a little giggle, but I also hope you understand who I mean. This is the stereotypical model professor that the academic system was built for and based on. This is the reason that academia needs to change. So I’m sharing 5 things they don’t want you to know, so you can shift your mindset, choose your own path, and design a career you love.
- There is more than one way to be successful. You don’t have to accept the ‘traditional’ path to success that the patriarchal, racist, ableist system has laid out. You get to define what success means to you, and then design your career to take your own path in getting there. The way we go about this in my programs is through putting your writing at the center.
“There are multiple paths to success, and you get to choose the one that you take.”
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You have more power to change your career than you think. We are conditioned to believe that we should just shut up and be grateful for the job we have. But, you have power! Consider sharing your needs, your wants and your intentions. You might be surprised at how much you are able to influence your career just by stepping into your power and speaking up.
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They rely on community too. The stereotypical image of the lone wolf professor is a fallacy, friends. Those bros and dudes have community...whether it’s someone at home feeding them, or child care supports, or like-minded colleagues and students, they rely on community too. Leaning into supports and learning from others isn’t weakness, it’s the best way to move forward in your career!
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People will respect you when you make boss moves in your career. When you are designing your career, aligning things to your own priorities, setting and keeping boundaries, people will respect you. You’ll be teaching people how to treat you and what your expectations are. And you will be influencing the next generation of academics by giving your students a model of what academia can and should look like.
There will be some people who won’t respect you for your boss moves...who might feel threatened or think you are “too ambitious” or not selfless enough. Those people are not a part of what you’re building and they’ll get left behind!
- You don’t have to figure out everything on your own...there are programs and knowledge out there to help you. You can learn and grow. You don’t have to have it all figured out, and you aren’t alone! Asking for help, sharing our knowledge, and looking for ways to develop as scholars are the things that will build a better career, and a better academic culture. There are programs (like my Amplify program!) and books that can help you with building a career you love.
Amplify is coming soon! This is a 6 month training and coaching program for early career, tenure track people identifying as women who want to do academia differently and learn to design a career they love. Join me on June 23, 2021 at noon EST for an info session to learn all about the program, and the 3 main things to focus on to improve your tenure experience. Sign up for the info session here.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode82.
Did you know writing can serve as a tool to help you organize your whole career? If you need a way to organize your thoughts, your time, and your career, it all starts with writing!
Writing is so much more than “currency” in academia. Writing and publishing does help you get, keep and develop your career, but it has lots of other benefits too. One of the ways writing helps you as an academic is by acting as an “organizer” in three main areas.
Writing Is An Organizer For Your Thoughts I’ve created a lot of content over the years as an academic writing coach. Before that I wrote and published academic articles as a tenured, full professor. And yet, the long form writing I’m doing for my book has taught me so much about my own best practices, and helped me clarify my thoughts and ideas around this topic I’ve been working on for years!
A poem by Antonio Machado puts it beautifully: “...wanderer, there is no road. The road is made by walking.” And through the process of writing we discover and develop our thoughts. Writing acts as an organizer for ideas, thoughts, and processes in your scholarly work.
“You write your way to revelations about your work.” -Cathy Mazak
Writing Is An Organizer For Your Time When you prioritize your writing on your calendar, it helps you organize your time. As much as you possibly can, put your writing sessions on your calendar first, then fill everything else in around them. To find the best times to write, remember, here are my 3 recommendations:
- Use your Soar States. Those are the times of day where you naturally have the most motivation, energy and drive.
- Use co-writing times. Join us in our Momentum program, grab a friend and head to the coffee shop, or hop on Zoom with a small group. Set your separate goals at the beginning, write quietly, then check in at the end... you’ll multiply each other’s energy and focus.
- Write first thing. If the other options don’t work, put your writing times at the very beginning of your workday. When you get to the office, don’t check email, shut the door and write for an hour.
Don’t worry about trying to write every day, just make sure you are consistent, and writing gets your priority spots. This isn’t always easy to do, I get that! But if you have this idea in mind, you can advocate when it comes time for class assignments, or talk to your department chair about your schedule. It’s all part of the process of making your writing (and thus your career) the priority.
“The key to you having the kind of career and the life that you want is thinking of writing as the driver of your time...as the organizer of your time.”
Writing Is An Organizer For Your Career When you put your writing at the center, all your other career “activities” are pulled toward it. Creating an academic mission statement that outlines what your career goals are, what you want your career to do, is key.
Once you’ve prioritized your writing and created your mission statement, you’ll gain the clarity and focus to ask yourself, “does this fit? Is this helping me reach my goals?” Writing as a driving force in your career makes you a more effective scholar!
If you’re an early career faculty member (pre-tenure here in the U.S.), I’m inviting you to join me for a behind the scenes look at my Amplify Faculty Accelerator program! I’m hosting an info session called Writing and Publishing Strategically: How to Go Up for Tenure With Confidence on June 23 at 12pm Eastern. Click here to get signed up for the free info session and see if this 6 month coaching program is right for you!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode81.
Do you feel anxious and overwhelmed in your life as an academic? Are you on the tenure track but feel stuck or like something is wrong but you can’t put your finger on it? My guest on this episode is Dr. Danielle De La Mare, academic life coach and podcaster, and she has been there and back. She is sharing about her journey from cancer diagnosis and the clarity that gave her, her life pre and post tenure, and how she got to where she is now.
Key points discussed:
- Danielle’s cancer diagnosis and the clarity it gave her in realizing what she truly needed in life. [2:30]
- Anxiety, overwork, and never feeling good enough. [6:00]
- Being a HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) on the tenure track [9:30]
- Realizing she wanted to coach and feeling like a “coach posing as a professor”. [15:30]
- What coaching means, and how Danielle got there. [22:00]
- Danielle’s coaching focus and bringing out your inner wisdom [24:00]
- Danielle’s podcast and having more self-compassion [35:00]
Key Quotes:
- “I was not living the life I wanted to be living.” -Danielle De La Mare
- “I was very much in need of human connection.” -Danielle De La Mare
- “I need a job that works for me.” -Danielle De La Mare
- “I was a coach posing as a professor.” -Danielle De La Mare
- “One of the things I want people to understand...is the difference between teaching and consulting and coaching...and therapy.” -Cathy Mazak
- “You don’t have to listen to your inner critic.” -Danielle De La Mare
- “My job as a coach is to say, ‘wait a minute, is that really what you want?’” -Danielle De La Mare
- “For me, I knew that getting out was the right decision.” -Cathy Mazak
- “We need to be more self-compassionate.” -Danielle De La Mare
Connect with Danielle De La Mare: https://danielledelamare.com/
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode80.
Are you clear on what your own unique writing process is? Have you ever gathered data on your own practices? I’ve learned a lot during the process of drafting my book.
I shared a little bit about my journey of writing a book on a previous episode. I’m bringing you up to date on my progress, and continuing to share the insights and takeaways I’ve gained through the process, including pivoting my strategy, and a couple of ah-ha moments.
Changing Strategy & Finding a Press When I last checked in on my process, I was still navigating rejections and trying to decide if continuing to pursue academic presses for publication was the best course. Based on some of the very nice rejection feedback I got and some advice from the group I participate in, I decided to pursue independent presses. That slight change in direction produced results, and I’m happy to announce my book will be published by Morgan James Press!
Pinning Down Structure & Tackling Fear My big fear about writing a book, as I’ve mentioned in the past, is whether I will really be able to carry the load of writing solo. I want my book to have 30-40,000 words, and have always been apprehensive about being able to pull it off.
Enter Dr. Jane Jones, academic book writing coach and a colleague of mine. When I showed her some of my proposal, she gleaned the structure right away. Pinning down this problem-solution-stories structure for my book has made all the difference in being able to write with confidence, and the word count issue immediately became less daunting.
I decided that enrolling in Jane’s Elevate program (yup, we both have writing coaching plans called Elevate!) was the best next step for me. The program includes coaching, training on book writing techniques, and developmental editing. Not to mention a community that is made up of my ideal audience! Knowing I will get feedback directly from my audience has also helped ease my fears around getting the words down on paper. (If you think an academic book writing coach would be helpful for you, I highly recommend Jane’s program! Learn more here: https://www.upinconsulting.com.)
“I knew that being part of a book coaching program was going to be good for me.”
Collecting Data & Creating a Plan “In the process of writing this book I discovered my book-writing process.”
Now that the book has a publisher, it also has a deadline. To be able to create a reliable writing project plan, I needed to know how to plan my time. Jane’s coaching helped me come up with an outline to work from, but I decided to collect some data to figure out what my writing pace actually is so I could get really clear on how to fit the writing into my schedule. I love a good spreadsheet! So I started to track my writing sessions and how many words I wrote each time. Once I had an idea of my general speed, I could accurately add writing sessions (during soaring sessions of course!) to my calendar that will get me where I need to go when I need to get there.
Takeaway to Apply to Your Writing Projects Confidence comes from knowing your practice! Get in there and get some data on yourself. Do some self reflection and analyze how you work best. Don’t get lost in the weeds of “shoulds” or comparisons to other people. There are so many things that affect how people work.. figure out how you work best, and lean into it!
“There’s a myriad of factors that affect how a person can get their work done.”
If you need a little help capturing that data, or coming up with your writing plan, or sticking to your writing sessions, join us in our Momentum co-writing community! We keep a monthly goals spreadsheet to give you structure for starting to observe your practice, as well as 6 daily scheduled writing sessions and an always-open link for you to gather with others anytime. Momentum is $27/month, cancel anytime. Click here to learn more: https://www.cathymazak.com/momentum.
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode79.
What is a writing sprint, and how can it help you move an article from almost done to out the door and submitted?
In this episode, I’m chatting with my two coaches, Gina Robinson and Rocío Caballero-Gill, all about writing sprints. We also share about my Writing Sprint Blueprint tool, which will help you move your article out the door in the next 2 weeks.
As you near the end of the semester, each coach has some advice for you as you manage this moment and look forward to the summer!
Key Points Discussed: * What is a writing sprint is, how to do it, and the value of a community moving towards the same goal [4:15] * The logistics of a sprint, the commitment, and the community aspect [5:35] * The reason writing sprints work and what not to do [9:35] * Stories of client wins, and how they used the sprint to achieve their goals [13:15] * The Momentum program, and what happens in a co-writing session [19:15] * Mindset for academics and why it's important for implementing changes [22:00] * Advice about this particular moment in the semester and expectations about the summer [28:45]
Key Quotes: * “I like thinking of sprints as a little bit of pain medication.” - Gina Robinson * “I call [a sprint] a bag of tricks… you want to have a bunch of ways and techniques that you are going to use strategically at different times.” - Cathy Mazak * “The process of sprinting teaches you about creating a plan, setting goals, and how fast you do things.” - Cathy Mazak * “It’s not just for the writing… people can use it to learn about their own writing process.” - Rocío Caballero-Gill * “I love the fact that there are actual tangible wins, but a lot of it is about the change of mindset that people have towards writing.” - Gina Robinson * “Sprints give you hope for the next time you sit down to write.” - Rocío Caballero-Gill * “You don't have to write amazing stuff the first time… and you can feel okay with that imperfection.” - Gina Robinson * “Recognize that you are not going to be able to do everything in the same day, and then choose what to do, and what not to do.” - Gina Robinson * Part of the process is learning how to be flexible… without letting it get you down.” - Rocío Caballero-Gill
Writing Sprint Blueprint is the perfect program to enroll in to kick off your summer. It is an accessible little bite of a program that will deliver BIG in terms of your writing process.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode78.
If you’ve been on the fence about joining this cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap, you’ll want to listen closely to these experiences from two real-life Navigate alums.
Enrollment is open for just a few more days for the Radical Change Cohort of my Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap program. To help you decide if the program is right for you, I’m interviewing two past participants to find out how Navigate impacted their careers and made a difference in their academic lives.
Participant #1: Nicole Why did she join? Nicole was in her first year of a tenure track position when she joined Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap. She found balancing all the demands of a heavy teaching load while keeping her research and writing robust was a big challenge, and she wanted some support.
What part of the program was most impactful for her? Going through the exercise of breaking down her time and collecting the data of where the time went each day empowered her to advocate for herself with her department, say no when she needed to and create protected writing times in her schedule.
“I’ve become much more comfortable with saying, ‘no, this doesn’t match up with...my vision for going forward.’”
What is something she learned in the program that she uses on a regular basis? The Ideal Week exercise has helped her find a structure that supports her needs and stick to a schedule. Also, learning how to put boundaries around email and other tasks so her time is protected and others know what to expect.
“50-70% of my battle with ‘finding time to write’ is actually taming all of the other lions.”
How did the program change her writing and publishing process? It helped her feel empowered in the process, helping her realize that just because things are coming at you doesn’t mean you need to catch them all!
Who does she think should join? Everyone! Anyone who feels overwhelmed by writing and finds it keeps sinking to the bottom of the pile. She felt like she was losing her edge on research, writing, and thinking, and Navigate helped her get back onto the patch she wanted to follow.
Participant #2: Kimberly Why did she join? Kimberly is a tenured faculty member who realized she was in a rut and felt like she has lost the purpose in her career. She felt like she wasn’t doing anything important. After some reflection, she decided she did want to remain a faculty member, but needed to jumpstart her career.
What part of the program was most impactful for her? Crafting an academic mission statement and aligning all of her activities to it was impactful. It helped her refine her vision, and feel better about some of the work she was already doing. Even though that task was taking time, it aligned with her mission which made it valuable and helped her feel at peace with it.
What is something she learned in the program that she uses on a regular basis? She has incorporated templates into her work, in emails, feedback and anywhere it’s helpful. This has saved her time, and ensured feedback given when she has less time and energy is as valuable as any other feedback.
How did the program change her writing and publishing process? The program helped her manage her pipeline better, and use her time wisely. She now has a pipeline with a variety of projects she can move between to maintain her motivation, and she feels empowered to cull projects that are no longer useful.
Who does she think should join? Anyone who needs to be reinvigorated after tenure or if they feel stuck, as well as those who are in the beginning stages and need help figuring out how to get things done.
“You don’t know what you don’t know that first year.”
If you’re ready to radically change your career, your outlook, and academia as a whole, join us in Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap. You’ll be glad you did! Enrollment is only open for a few more days, so don’t wait, enroll here.
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/bonus-navigate
What do I mean by radical change, and how does it happen? I am sharing 10 systems for enacting radical change for your writing, your career, and academic culture as a whole.
Womxn prioritizing their chosen career activities, their own needs and their own writing practices over the demands of others is radical. I’ve talked about the radical change and what it can mean for us as individuals and as a community on the last few episodes of the podcast. On this episode I’m sharing the 10 systems you need in place to help you accomplish those changes.
#1: Mission Method To enact change, you need to be able to set intentions, and use tools and strategies to follow through on them. The first system you need helps you get clear on your mission in order to set those intentions.
Think purposefully about what you want out of your writing and your career. Draft an academic mission statement that will guide you in keeping the things that are most important at the center of your career. This statement will change over time as you grow as a scholar, but it’s the first building block to making any needed change in your career.
“The academic mission statement is something that you write and then you continually revise and touch back on… it’s not a static thing.”
#2: Activities Alignment Once you have your mission statement in place, you need to have a system for analyzing your activities to make sure they are aligned. This is a system that helps you filter new opportunities and set up boundaries to make sure you are staying on mission.
#3: Freeing Time This is how I refer to time management systems. I look at them in terms of freeing time to use on the most important aspects of your career. In our Navigate program, we use tools like the Ideal Week exercise to help you envision where you can save time and what needs more of your attention. We also make sure you are using systems and repeatable processes to streamline tasks that are taking up more than their fair share of your time.
As scholars and thinkers, we need spaciousness in our days and our minds in order to create. Time systems are incredibly important to creating change in your career and preventing burnout.
#4: Soaring Systems Soaring systems are my framework for writing systems. When you’re soaring during your writing, you are gliding along, supported, upheld, propelled. It feels energized and positive. When you’re slogging during your writing, you are dragging, struggling and feel stuck in the mud.
I use a combination of soaring sessions, achieved through natural times of energy and focus or co-writing, along with writing springs and retreats to create a comprehensive and vital writing system.
Whichever way you set your writing systems up, be sure you are using techniques that are:
- Consistent: they happen at some kind of regular interval.
- Sustainable: they are able to be dialed up and dialed down to support the changing demands of your year.
- Relational: foster a positive relationship between you and your writing rather than dread.
#5: The Right Goals Method This is what I call my goal setting system. In order to set meaningful, achievable goals, I urge you to practice regular self reflection so you know what works well for you. We are all different, and the way we set and accomplish goals should reflect that!
The things I teach about goal setting involve recognizing the need for different types of goals, setting goals of the correct size and timeline for you, and tracking.
#6: Mindset Mastery This might be #6 on this list, but systems for mindset management are incredibly important. Everything else flows from this point. When we talk about mindset in Navigate, we take on the opinions of others that are stuck in your head, Imposter Syndrome, negative feelings about writing, and how thoughts influence behavior. However you choose to handle this system, be sure you don’t skip it!
#7: Project Prediction Plan This is my system for project management. As an academic, you are a de facto project manager, there is no getting around it. We balance multitudes of projects of all different types, from writing to teaching to service to research to admin. Being able to predict what needed tasks are on the horizon and how fast projects move to completion is a vital tool you need in your tool belt. Make sure you have systems in place to manage all of your projects.
#8: Pipeline Propel I also recommend a specific pipeline management system to help you manage your writing projects. This system helps you decide what projects to work on when, diagnose clogs in the pipeline, get rid of projects that are no longer serving you, and publish your best work.
#9: One Year Goal-Setting We can only realistically map out about 3 months ahead with a deep level of detail and accuracy. But having a system for mapping your writing projects and goals for the year is a good idea to keep you on track and aligned to your mission statement.
#10: Five Year Goal-Setting Using a 5 year goal-setting system helps you create a strategic plan. Choosing a place you want to be in 5 years and then working backwards to see what you’ll need to have in place to get there helps you make steady progress. You’ll want to come back to these plans with your yearly goal-setting system and adjust accordingly.
“We are embracing the idea that we are taking care of ourselves first and our careers first, and that by doing that we will have a better and a greater impact on the world.”
These are the 10 systems you need in order to enact and maintain the kind of radical change I’ve been talking about on the podcast! They also happen to be the 10 modules we teach in my Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap course that is open for enrollment TODAY (if you are listening in real time)!
You can take these systems and run with them! Learn about them, set them up in a way that works for you. If that sounds completely overwhelming, or you’re looking for a leg up in getting them implemented, we’d love to have you join us in Navigate!
Learn more about Navigate here.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode77.
Is your career 90% awesome? Do you spend most of your time doing things that are important for your scholarly work? I can show you how to get there.
In my last episode I talked about what radical change in academia looks like. The outcome of that radical change is that we build careers that are 90% awesome. Careers in which we do things we love 90% of the time.
When you first wanted to become an academic, you got into it for the act of creation, the making of knowledge that had the potential to change the world. But what happened to this aspiration when it came in contact with reality?
Our ruthless academic culture--the one that exploits contingent faculty and graduate students, squeezes tenure-track faculty into more and more teaching and service, and more and more unpaid admin, and more and more minutiae--has led you to believe something I’m not ok with.
It led you to believe that you have to suffer to do the scholarly work. I’m here today to tell you the most important message you need to experience radical change in 2021: You don’t have to suffer. You’re allowed to strive for a career that’s 90% awesome. Your career is made up from the activities you do every day. And if you hate most of the things you do every day, your career is going to be 90% awful.
Choosing Yourself It is ingrained in us at every turn that time, energy, and money are scarce in academia. These beliefs are enforced by us being underpaid as graduate students, expected to work nights and weekends out of “passion” or because “that’s what I had to do when I was a graduate student.” Awful.
This works out perfectly for institutions because by the time we get tenure-track jobs, we are “just lucky to have a steady job.” So, we pretty much tolerate the culture of overwork and the glorification of busy, the toxic colleagues and the “we don’t have money for that” messaging because we are so ingrained in scarcity that we feel like we have no choice but to suck it up, buttercup. And still, we spend sleepless nights wondering if our publications and grants are enough to get us tenure or full.
“We cannot collectively change academia if we keep believing in awful, in suffering, and in settling.” -Cathy Mazak
If we’ve learned anything as academics over the last year, it should be that we need to deeply and profoundly make choices that go in the service of ourselves, because our institutions will not have our back.
Academics who choose themselves, and who have put the systems and processes in place to support this deep belief in their own work and worth, are not scared by all the uncertainty around us and the ever-impending crisis in their institutions. That’s because they know that what they are building is not dependent on their institutions. What they are building is bigger than that.
“The message for all academics, loud and clear, is: choose yourself.” -Cathy Mazak
Achieving 90% Awesome Achieving this kind of career is not some dreamy, esoteric thing. It is achieved through two things I’ve talked about in past episodes:
- Values
- Systems
The values part is easy. You just have to believe that academia should be changed, radically, and that you are worthy of the career you want. Done.
The systems part is harder because the systems behind a mission-driven academic career, a career where your scholarly work, not the minutiae of emails and committee meetings, drives your day-to-day routine, are hidden. Most of us know that our advisors got work done, but how they got work done is absolutely still a mystery when we graduate. Or maybe we did see how they got work done, and it was by driving themselves into the ground.
But these systems do exist! I’ve been teaching them (and refining them) for myself for almost 20 years, and for hundreds of other academics for almost five years. You really only need three sets of systems:
- Time management systems
- Writing systems
- Pipeline & planning systems
So for all you skeptics out there, if you are onboard with the idea that the values we espouse inside of academia need to change, then all you need to start living out those values is a set of systems that are 100% learnable.
I teach these systems inside of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap, and if you want to be sure to get all the info when I open the doors for enrollment from Tuesday, April 27 to Monday, May 3, join the waitlist here. If you’re ready for a radical change in academia, you need to be in this cohort!
Get on the Waitlist! Be one of the first 10 to sign up and you’ll get a free spot at our retreat! And, if you’re thinking about joining the #radicalcohort of Navigate, we want you to know that we’re offering a reduced payment plan so that you can get started in the program for $247 (with 8 additional payments of $247 monthly after that). If you’d rather pay in full, Navigate will be at the special lump-payment price of $1997.
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode76.
Why do we struggle to find time to write while the academic establishment requires publications in order to maintain or advance our careers? It’s time for radical change.
Designing your career with intention is a radical idea. Securing your writing at the center of your career is a radical idea. And friends, radical change is what we need in academia! It’s time to move away from the scarcity mindset we’ve been socialized into, and start making decisions from a place of intention instead of a place of fear. To do that, we need to see what needs to change (radically) and then step into our power to make that change. Let’s go!
Scarcity vs. Intention We are led to believe that there is never enough in academia. And that we are ‘on’ 24/7. Right off the bat in grad school, there is no time that is off limits. We are urged to find our own funding and told there is no money for anything. This scarcity mindset continues as we move through our careers. The way it manifests:
- Never saying no. Any project that might lead to publication needs to be pursued, because there are never enough publications.
- Leaving projects languishing in your pipeline that should be cut, just in case.
- Overextending yourself in teaching and committee work.
“When we live our careers from this place of scarcity, we make fear-based decisions.”
Designing your career with intention is anti-fear and anti-scarcity by definition. Your decisions are based on the intentions you set, not on fear. In our Navigate program, we start by helping you craft your academic mission statement. Then we move through time management, writing and pipeline management and strategy systems to give you the skills you need to design your intentions around that mission statement.
Why It’s Radical & How Writing Fits In Your writing is the tool you use to make an impact in your field and to move your career forward. While the publications that come from your writing are an expected part of advancing your career, no one else is checking in with you to make sure you get your writing done. Centering your writing, giving it the spot it needs to have in order to propel your career, is a radical act because you are putting yourself and your needs first.
“The fight to center your writing and scholarship is a microcosm of the fight for change, impact, and justice.”
The radical part is a womxn getting what she wants and needs. Anchoring your writing at the center of your career is focusing on you rather than what everyone else at your institution needs or wants. And friends, that is radical! And it is just what academia needs to drive change on a larger scale. It’s time to put writing where it belongs!
“Making sure writing gets this prioritized place it deserves in your career is equivalent to making sure you get this prioritized place that you deserve in your career.”
Are You Ready?? If these ideas resonate with you, and you’re ready for some radical change in your own life and career, it might be time for you to join us in Navigate! Enrollment opens on April 27 and we start up in May.
We’re calling this cohort “The Radical Cohort” because we’re seeking to make radical inner change that leads to radical outer change. This means: designing a career with intention, not suffering, feeling calm and collected, and exercising powerful agency over our lives and careers. We’ll teach you 10 systems to help you accomplish these radical changes.
Be sure to get on the waitlist to be the first to get more information and the chance to sign up! Sign ups will open first to our Momentum members, then to the waitlist, and then to the public, and the first 10 to enroll with get a free spot in our next 2 and a half day virtual retreat!
Be sure to get on the waitlist here: https://www.cathymazak.com/navigate-waitlist/
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode75.
Do you set intentions for your career and have the skills to follow through with them? I’m sharing a little bit about my own story to shed some light on the difference between control and intention.
I have a pretty long history with trying to control things. I did my undergrad, with 2 minors, in 3 years. I white-knuckled my way to graduation and I did it through carefully strategizing my next steps, leveraging one course into the next, meticulously placing summer sessions in the mix.
What my undergrad experience taught me was that I could do that. I could strategize and control my way to making an outcome occur. And I would do that over and over again throughout my career. This was an invaluable lesson. The choices I make and strategies I employ for my career trajectory don’t involve white-knuckled control anymore, but they do involve intention.
When I created Navigate, I had been strategically steering my career for almost 20 years.
Creating Navigate In Spring of 2017 I launched the first cohort of Navigate. I developed the program as an organized way to create the kind of writing-for-career transformation that I had been helping clients with in one-on-one coaching.
I built the original marketing messages of Navigate with those client’s phrases in my mind. They talked about being pulled in a thousands directions by their responsibilities, feeling overwhelmed by all the things they have to do and guilty that they were not writing more, that they had let writing “fall to the bottom of the list” but couldn’t easily see an alternative. The original promise of the Navigate program was to “help academic womxn write and publish more”.
But as I kept trying to articulate what the promise of Navigate was, and as I developed the course over the years, the theme I kept returning to was control. When I think about what I want to teach academic womxn to do, what continues to come up for me is “I want to teach womxn to control their careers.”
So, Navigate is about helping your write and publish more, but at its core, Navigate is about controlling your career. Not the white-knuckle kind of control that led me originally down this strategic path back in that dorm at IU in 1993, but a deliberate, intentional kind of control.
Making choices from a place of confidence instead of fear. Setting intentions to guide you on the career path you are building for yourself, and following through. That’s why we start with an academic mission statement and build everything from there.
“Navigate matches intention-setting with the actual skills and strategies it takes to realize those intentions.” -Cathy Mazak
Coming Soon The waitlist for my next Navigate class is coming soon! Be sure to get on the waitlist, and when you sign up you’ll get some great bonuses (I don’t want to give it all away, but there’s keep your ears open for the word “retreat”!).
Stay tuned for more information.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode74.
Does writing keep falling to the bottom of your list? Do you think you need accountability to hold you to your goals? I want to show you why you need community instead.
Accountability, or the idea that you need an external person to “hold you” to your goals, is rooted in patriarchy. Entrenched social structures in the culture of academia have given rise to womxn who are not trusted to hold themselves to their own standards and who perhaps do not trust themselves.
A lot of womxn who come to my writing programs are looking for accountability at first, and I get it. But I challenge you to explore new ways to get writing done that aren’t sending a message to yourself that you are weak, can’t hold time for yourself and are not to be trusted with your own work. So what else can we do? We can feminize the concept of accountability in 3 ways.
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Practice Self-Trust Self-trust is a muscle you strengthen by using it. Practice listening to and relying on your inner voice to know what is right for you alone. Give your own voice more weight than the voices of those outside of you. Relying on an outside entity to force change is unsustainable. Instead, cultivate the ability to trust yourself to know the best way forward. As Alexandra Frazen says in this wonderful article, go with your “hut” (heart + gut).
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Build Boundaries I’ve talked about boundaries in many different contexts, and I’m bringing them up again here because they are that important. You must create boundaries around your time in order to have the impact you desire. Remember: the things you spend your time doing in your career are your career. Don’t you want writing to be at the top of that list?
“How are we holding firm to what is important?” -Cathy Mazak
- Community The fantastic news is that learning and growth and development don’t have to come on your own. When we are in community, we are surrounded by others who have shared experiences and shared values, and that is powerful! A community lifts us up to our goals, rather than holding us accountable.
“When you think you need accountability, what you really need is community.”
-Cathy Mazak
If you’re ready to get radical and open yourself up to creating growth in your life and the lives of your community, join us in Momentum!
Coming soon: pre-enrollment for my Navigate course, helping you to navigate a career of your own design, using 10 systems and powered by writing. All of our Momentum members will get priority sign up and special bonuses, so if you’ve been thinking about trying Momentum, now is the time! Learn more and sign up here: cathymazak.com/momentum
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode73.
The solitary nature of writing can perpetuate the image of the “typical” professor, a lone (male) figure, doing it all alone. But writing together, as womxn, is a radical act!
The image of a typical professor is usually as a lone (male) intellectual, head down, wrestling the big ideas of academia all on his own. And academia perpetuates this vision. We are socialized to be toxically self-reliant. Not a lot of value is placed on asking for help, sharing your wisdom with a community, or making sure the voices of others are heard. There’s an unspoken implication that if you aren’t “smart enough” to figure it out on your own, maybe you shouldn’t be here.
Writing itself can encourage the ‘lone wolf’ academic ideal. After all, it’s your brain, your ideas, and the blank page. Even if you’re co-writing a piece, it’s usually a back and forth kind of collaboration, not an in-person activity. And sometimes all this solitariness can make it difficult to keep dates you set with your writing. So my team and I decided to try an experiment last Spring, and not only has it been a huge success, but it’s clarified to me that writing together in community as womxn academics is a radical act.
Writing Together is a Radical Act Writing together is a radical idea. Womxn writing together is an even more radical idea, because that act of solidarity, of lifting each other up, of standing together and getting your voice heard in an academic culture that has traditionally devalued you, is powerful. And sharing space with others who are working toward their writing goals multiplies the energy, focus, and investment of everyone involved.
Our experiment progressed from one scheduled Zoom co-writing time per day to 6 scheduled time slots per day and an always-open room where participants can meet at any time that works for them. Members wanted more connection with their fellow co-writers, so we added Mindset Monday calls, where we give prompts for small groups to discuss to help propel them into their weeks. We call the program Momentum, and we want you to experience it for yourself!
Join Us in Momentum! Jump into Momentum , pick your 1 or 2 co-writing sessions, and start experiencing the solidarity and community of many womxn writing together at the same time. It’s $27/month to join, and you can cancel anytime. Click here to learn more and come join us!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode72.
Have you ever struggled with where to publish your interdisciplinary qualitative work? Have you received feedback questioning the rigor of your research or your ability to express it? My guest on this episode is Maira Quintanilha, creator of Qualitative Research Blueprint. Whatever your struggles, questions, or curiosities about qualitative research, Maira has got you covered. She shares her own qualitative research journey, what prompted her to create Qualitative Research Blueprint, and why she thinks this kind of research is especially important.
Key points discussed:
- Maira’s journey with qualitative research: from having it assigned to her as a grad student, to flourishing with an excellent mentor in her PhD program [3:00]
- Learning by doing [5:00]
- First attempts at publication, and how feedback shaped her work [9:30]
- Submitting work that might not be perfect in order to be open to new perspectives [11:30]
- Embracing discomfort in the review process in order to learn and move forward [14:00]
- The important role of qualitative research in health sciences [18:30]
- How qualitative research helps us understand the ‘why’ of people’s choices and behaviors [19:00]
- Using the COREQ checklist and how she came to see it as a helpful tool for developing whole researchers [22:00]
- Using rigor to gain confidence, and Maira’s vision for qualitative researchers [24:00]
- Embracing methodologies, finding the right audience, and understanding what you can control [29:00]
- Who is right for Qualitative Research Blueprint and how it can help researchers at all stages of their careers [30:00]
Key Quotes:
- “There was a lot of learning by doing.” -Maira Quintanilha
- “Rarely, if ever, things are perfect. But you need to know how to write what you did well.” -Maira Quintanilha
- “Your qualitative research might not be perfect, but don’t hold it back from trying to publish.” -Maira Quintanilha
- “It was the process of submitting for review, and getting feedback, that helped me design the next study better.” -Cathy Mazak
- “At the end of the day, qualitative research is really about understanding how people make [it] through the day.” -Maira Quintanilha
- “The more I do [qualitative research], the more comfortable I get with the people that don’t believe [in] what I’m doing because I know how powerful what I’m doing is.” -Maira Quintanilha
- “You can take that opportunity, no matter where you are, to make your research stronger.” -Maira Quintanilha
Be sure to sign up for Qualitative Research Blueprint, open for enrollment now! In this course, you will gain the confidence and skill to achieve your desired outcomes by learning how to design and implement research methodologies, and write rigorous, impactful research.
You’ll learn everything from data collection and analysis techniques to methods for writing up findings and research theory and strategy. QRB is NOT a one-size-fits-all online course. There is an emphasis on each individual attendee and project, as well as community building and support.
Sign up using my link, and you’ll get these great bonuses from me:
- My brand new Writing Sprint Blueprint course, which walks you through how to set up a 2 week writing sprint to make major progress on your writing project.
- My Funding Formula training, which is usually reserved for Navigate clients only. Learn how to ask your institution for whatever you need, including a letter template and tips.
Be sure to use this link to get these great bonuses in addition to Maira’s comprehensive qualitative research teaching!
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
Connect with me: Website
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Facebook Page
Follow me on Clubhouse: @cathymazak
This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode71.
Has your qualitative research article been rejected or given a painful revise-and-resubmit? Here are the 5 things you should do next.
What should you do when your article gets rejected, or you’re given a painful revise-and-resubmit? I’m talking specifically about qualitative research here, but the basic principles can be applied for all kinds of research and writing. In episode 9 I lay out the step by step plan I use to process and respond to feedback and writing criticism, so check that out if you haven’t yet.
5 Things to Do After Receiving a Rejection or Revise and Resubmit for Your Qualitative Article #1: Think About Fit Some journals might seem like a good fit by topic, but you’ll want to delve a little deeper. Who is on the board and what kind of work have they published? What kinds of things has the journal been publishing in the last 2-5 years? Can you tell if the journal has an aversion to qualitative research in general?
#2: Analyze Feedback What is the feedback really saying? Is it trying to help you improve your article, or is it expressing a core difference in belief about how knowledge is made (i.e., they don’t put stock in qualitative research)? If it’s a core difference, you’re not going to convince them to accept your work. Better to move on.
#3: Dig Into Your Disciplines Qualitative research is highly interdisciplinary in nature. Dig in to the different disciplines your article touches on. Make a list of each one, then look for journals that might be a closer match to one or another of those disciplines. You might need to make some revisions, but consider submitting under one of those other areas.
#4: Double Check the Rigor If you listened to episode 69 you know that this was a stumbling block for me with the first article I tried publishing. As qualitative researchers, it is especially important for us to clearly establish the rigor of the research. On my journey, rejection with feedback and 7 years of development as a scholar got me where I needed to go.
If you’d like a slightly quicker route, I’ve got a shortcut for you: My friend Maira Quintanilha's course, Qualitative Research Blueprint is enrolling now. This course is for qualitative researchers who want to hone their research skills as well as anyone looking to add qualitative research to their repertoire. (More info on this fantastic opportunity below.)
#5: Try Again If you get a rejection with feedback, be sure to analyze that feedback before you decide what move to make next. Try not to read into a desk rejection with no feedback. Go through the steps outlined above and submit to another publication that might value qualitative research more highly, or be a better disciplinary fit. Pivot, and send it someplace else!
“If you feel confident in the qualitative rigor of your work...then it really is best not to spend a lot of time overthinking...when you get rejected.”
Bonus Step: Hone Your Qualitative Research Skills Confidence in the rigor of your research is so important! If you’ve received feedback about clearly expressing rigor (like I did), or if you’ve struggled in any way with your qualitative research, you are going to want to sign up for the Qualitative Research Blueprint course by my friend Maira Quintanilha which is now open for enrollment!
In this course, you will gain the confidence and skill to achieve desired impacts with your qualitative research project by learning how to design, implement and write rigorous, impactful research. You’ll learn everything from data collection and analysis techniques to methods for writing up findings and research theory and strategy.
QRB is NOT a one-size-fits-all online course. There is an emphasis on each individual attendee and project, as well as community building and support.
If you sign up using my link, you’ll get these great bonuses from me!
- Fast Action Bonus (must sign up by Friday 3/12/21): my recorded workshop 5 Strategies for More Qualitative Publications
- First access to my brand new Writing Sprint Blueprint course, which walks you through how to set up a 2 week writing sprint to make major progress on your writing project
- Access to my Funding Formula training, which is usually reserved for Navigate clients only. Learn how to ask your institution for whatever you need, including letter template and tips.
Be sure to use this link to get these great bonuses in addition to Maira’s comprehensive qualitative research teaching.
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
Connect with me: Website
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Facebook Page
Follow me on Clubhouse: @cathymazak
This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode70.
Are you comparing where you are in your scholarly journey to where others are? Do you feel like your career isn’t progressing the way you thought it would? I’m sharing part of my story that I hope will inspire you.
If you’ve ever felt like you just can’t get the hang of this writing and publishing thing, this episode is for you. I’m sharing a little bit about my (very long) qualitative research publishing journey to show you that developing as a scholar and as a writer is an ongoing process. I encourage you to see your own journey as a process of growth, and to think twice before you compare where you are on that journey to someone else.
My Journey Begins I was a very lucky PhD candidate. I had a wonderful experience. I worked with talented and supportive advisors, I loved my research, and I was even awarded a grant to complete my dissertation.
So as I got ready to submit for my first published work after receiving my Phd, I was feeling pretty confident. I pulled a chapter from my dissertation and got to work shaping it into an article.
Submission and Rejection I assumed the article would be perfect for Anthropology and Education Quarterly (a top tier journal). As you can probably deduce at this point, the article was rejected. But, I consider myself incredibly lucky in this rejection, because the reviewers gave me some incredibly valuable feedback. They pointed out a lack of rigor in my qualitative research set up and my ability to articulate it.
I hadn’t realized how different the aims and expression of scholarly articles are to those of a dissertation. I had excellent training in qualitative research methods, but the way I was implementing and articulating those methods needed development.
Choices and Growth I worked on revisions to the article for a year, then resubmitted. I got another rejection, with pretty much the same feedback! I still hadn’t solved the problem of clearly expressing the rigor of the study design. At this point, I was 8 months pregnant, and I made a choice to set the article aside and move on to other things. First on the list: maternity leave! After I returned from maternity leave, I suffered a near breakdown from burnout and overwhelm, as I’ve shared about before.
As the years passed, I followed new lines of research, secured large grants, and completed new studies; all informed by that feedback I had received from my first article submission. I published other articles, and grew as a scholar.
When I did finally go back to that original article, I had a changed perspective. I revised it for a final time and decided that a mid-tier journal called Language Identity and Education was a better fit. It was accepted with very minor revisions, and finally published after it’s long and winding journey!
To round out the “happy ending”, a colleague and I submitted a different article to Anthropology & Education Quarterly several years later which was accepted with minor revisions on the first go. That initial rejection and the invaluable feedback that came with it helped to shape me as a scholar. To give you a visual of my career narrative in terms of that first article, I’ll share a timeline below. Don’t give up, and try to view your rejections as places to learn and grow.
“You’re never done developing as a scholar.” -Cathy Mazak
Timeline: * 2005: Awarded Spencer Foundation Grant and completed my dissertation * 2006: Landed a tenure track job * 2007: Submitted to Anthropology and Education Quarterly for the first time; received rejection and feedback * 2008: Worked on revisions * 2009: Resubmittal rejected; I chose to put the article in a drawer * 2010: Maternity leave for 6 months; after return to work I suffered a near breakdown * 2011: Revised again and submitted to a lower tier journal * 2012: Article accepted with minor revisions
In 2107, I submitted a co-authored article to Anthropology and Education Quarterly and it was accepted with minimal revisions.
Friends, that was a very long journey for my dissertation article! But I was growing as a scholar, researcher, and writer the whole time. And the feedback I received from my first rejection was instrumental in my growth. It was all part of the process that brought me to where I am today.
If you’re feeling discouraged about some aspect of your career, I encourage you to step back, reflect on your journey without judgement, and look for places where setback could be contributing to your growth and development.
“The process is the process.” -Cathy Mazak
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode69.
The calendar changing from 2020 to 2021 isn’t what will make this year different. What will make this year different is YOU.
2020 is over! But sadly, there has not been much change in the world in 2021.
Circumstances and world events are actually not that different...mutating strains of the virus, insurrection at the US capital...things are definitely still feeling rather "2020-ish" in 2021. So what is going to make a difference in 2021? You are.
We just finished a virtual “mini-treat” that we put on for our Navigate program enrollees, and I felt so inspired by the energy and transformations that were happening there. The experience really drove home the idea that you will be the driving force for a different 2021...how you show up, how you view your own career, how you move forward.
Here are some of the ways our Phoenix Cohort in the Navigate program illustrated this idea:
Making Choices for Their Writing Practice Many of our participants shared their pride and surprise at being able to clear the decks to make this mini-treat happen. As we all know, clearing a whole day to invest in your writing isn’t an easy thing. Making choices like this to support your writing practice and your career is a huge step, and it makes a difference!
Incorporating Reflective Practices In the mini-treat I use guided co-writing and other reflective practices to help participants approach their careers differently, and see things that might be holding them back. Reflective practice is vital to understanding yourself, and what you really want from your life as an academic.
“What are choices that you’re making that are keeping things the same?” -Cathy Mazak
Controlling the Narrative If 2020 taught us anything, it is that there are many (many) things that are out of our control. But when it comes to our careers, there are a lot of things that are in our control. How do you tell the story of your career? How do you think about it? You control your career narrative. You control what you make of the situations you’re in. You control the development of your pipeline, reflective practices, prioritizing your writing. You determine what to focus on next, what steps to take, and how to incorporate everything you’ve learned up to now into your career trajectory.
“You control your narrative.”
Thank you to all of our Phoenix Cohort attendees and our wonderful coaches for making this mini-treat such an inspiring experience!
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode68.
When writing is at the center of our careers, it’s powerful. Here are 5 clues that you might not be putting the priority on writing that you think you are.
We’ve talked many times about the importance of centering your writing to help build your best career. And you might want to do that… but are you really? Here are 5 clues that point to writing being on the sidelines in your life and career.
Clue #1: You are doing your writing early in the morning, late at night, or on the weekends. There are a couple of caveats to this. If your soar state happens to be early in the morning, and you happen to be one of those lucky people whose children don’t wake up at 4:30am, then by all means, write early! Whenever your most focused and energetic times are, you should be using them for writing.
But, if you’re pushing your writing outside of your working hours because you don’t have time during the day, you’re telling yourself: writing isn’t the work, it’s something extra. But it is the most important work! So it should be inside your work day.
Clue #2: Your work schedule is designed around your teaching schedule. Ideally, your work schedule should be designed around your writing. When are your soar states? Your class schedule should be working around that and not the other way around. What would it take for this to happen? Can you talk with your department chair? Request a new schedule? It might not be possible to pull this off all the time, but think about what could change.
“If teaching is the thing that is anchoring your day, I want you to consider making writing the thing that anchors your day.” -Cathy Mazak
Clue #3: Your course content centers the generic department syllabus and not your own work. I’m not suggesting that you have your students do your writing for you, or that you throw out the syllabus and only talk about your research. But how can you infuse your curriculum with your own work and interests? What readings that you want to do for yourself would make great conversation with your students? How can pull your classes into line with your academic mission statement?
Clue #4: You can’t keep a date with your writing. You’ve got writing times on your calendar, but when it’s time to sit down and make it happen, something else always comes up. Maybe you aren’t putting proper boundaries up around that time, or maybe you haven’t formed a good habit yet. To pull it off the sidelines, you’ve got to keep those dates with your writing.
{For help getting started on a solid writing habit, join us in Momentum, my co-writing program. Lots of times to co-write, and only $27/month. Sign up today and write with us tomorrow!}
Clue #5: You don’t have your pipeline somewhere visible in your office. This is something we do in my Navigate program. Once your pipeline is put together and ready to run smoothly, be sure it is somewhere visible, so you can quickly access it, you know what you’re working on next, and your writing is always top of mind.
If you’ve recognized yourself in any of these 5 clues, don’t panic! Consider this a wake up call, and an opportunity to reflect, and make changes!
“Think about how you can pull your writing off the sidelines and put it in the center.” -Cathy Mazak
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode67.
I’m diving into the idea of “publications as currency” to both debunk the idea and show you how you can make it work for you and your academic mission.
If you’re in academia, you’ve probably heard the idea that publications are currency. And that’s true...but what does it really mean for us as womxn academics operating in systems that are not built for us? Publications add value to the world, represent our work, and give us something tangible to take forward with us. But it’s time to reframe the “currency” idea.
I want to show you how you can use your writing as the currency to get you where you want to go in your career, rather than as a proscribed idea of what you have to publish where to “pay” your way forward. Some of the ideas I’m going to put forward might seem scary, but I think they are vital to our individual satisfaction in our careers, and to the collective work we’re doing to change norms in academia.
Publications Are Part of Your Creation What is currency? Something that has value no matter where you take it, that gets picked up and passed around and used by others. This is just what our publications do. They add value, and they are mobile. You might not be able to transfer curriculum creation or coursework from one institution to another, but your publications always come with you, and always add value.
“If publications are currency, that means writing needs to take a more central role in our careers.” -Cathy Mazak
Currently in academia, the “currency” idea is often used to mean certain kinds of publications, in certain kinds of journals, that pay your way to certain opportunities. I want to challenge that.
Our careers as academics are a continuous process of creation. Publications are a kind of “receipt” for that creation; they are a tangible thing to point to. But what else could be a “receipt” of the creation you do? Always bring it back to your academic mission statement. What has helped you move toward that mission? Maybe it’s engaging with your audience through newspaper articles, social media, or community involvement. These can all be used as currency to build the career you want. But you have to be strategic.
Getting Strategic With Your Writing Maybe being published in a prestigious journal doesn’t move your career forward like smaller journals that are more targeted to your audience would. Don’t let the norms of a patriarchal, racist, ableist system distract you; always bring things back to your mission statement.
Use your writing strategically to help you get the working conditions you want, the things you need to support your mission and the career you are building. Here’s how:
- Craft your career narrative to tell the story of your career in a way that highlights all of your writing and work.
- Always measure goals and opportunities against your mission statement.
- Reflect on what you want your career and working conditions to look like going forward.
- Think about what you want your publications to do for you. What doors do you want to open? What audience do you want to reach? Where will you make the most impact?
It might seem scary at first, but reflecting on what you actually want and then going for it is important, and powerful. It isn’t selfish; it’s making your important, creative contribution to the world the best it can be.
“The more you are happy and joyful in your career, the better your contribution to the world is going to be.” -Cathy Mazak
So, are publications currency in academia? You bet they are. But they don’t have to be in the journals that are most prestigious, or in the order someone else thinks they should be in.. or only in journals at all. They are the currency for getting what you want in your career.
“You are more in charge of your career than you think.” -Cathy Mazak
Get Support and Get Writing! My Momentum co-writing group is only $27/month and is a great way to get motivated, and get support to create the space and time you need to write. Get in the right headspace on our Monday Mindset calls, then get writing. Sign up today, and write with us tomorrow!
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode66.
You know you need to schedule time to write, but keeping those dates is the key to creating a successful writing habit. I’ll show you how.
We’ve probably all heard the writing advice to “make a date with your writing”, get it scheduled and on your calendar. This is great advice...as long as you keep those dates and actually get the writing done! If you consistently blow off your writing times, or find yourself filling them with other tasks, this episode is for you.
I’m helping you find ways to keep those writing dates, strengthen and flex your boundary-setting muscles, and build a writing habit that works.
Be Consistent In order to help yourself stay committed, be consistent. Be sure to put your writing times on your calendar for the same times every week. As always, I don’t recommend trying to write every day, but pick your once or twice a week and make it consistent.
“Go for consistency and start super small.”
Start Small To help yourself hold that time and use it for writing, make sure your consistently scheduled writing times are small (like one or two hours). It’s tempting to schedule big writing blocks, because we think we’ll get more done. I assure you, it’s so much easier to hold those times if they are small. Some other things to consider:
- Put your consistently scheduled, small writing times towards the beginning of the week. It’s much harder to keep writing time sacred on a Friday when the week has gotten away from you.
- Try to put your times in the mornings so you can write before your day gets too busy.
- If it works, it’s best to schedule writing times during your soaring state times (those times of day when you’re most naturally focused and energized).
The Accountability Issue We hear a LOT about accountability these days. Many people I work with talk about needing accountability to keep their writing dates. But I ask you: do you need accountability to brush your teeth? To get dressed? No one holds you accountable for the basics, yet you get them done because you know their importance and you’ve made it a habit. Some other things to think about in terms of accountability:
- The idea of requiring an outside influence to get your writing done devalues your writing, and your perception of your abilities.
- Building boundaries around your time is important for lots of reasons, so you must build and strengthen those boundary-setting muscles.
- It’s basically someone telling you what to do, and we don’t need that in our lives my friends!
I do, however, support the idea of writing in community. Co-writing for shared focus and energy is a great idea! Just be sure you use that time to help you build your own habits, and not as an accountability crutch.
The big idea: making and keeping dates with your writing helps you put the proper amount of importance on your writing. The more you show up for yourself, the easier it becomes!
Some Practical Help My Momentum program is a great tool for helping you train yourself to make and keep dates with your writing. We provide co-writing 6 times a week, Monday to Friday with coaches, and a continuously open Zoom link if you want to hop on with others at your own scheduled time.
We share goals and progress, and get to share the energy of other academic writers. We hold a Monday Mindset call to help get in the best frame of mind for the week.
Momentum is just $27/month, and you can cancel any time. If you need that little nudge to establish your writing habits, join in and try it out! Click here to get started.
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode65.
I’m in the hot seat on this episode of The Academic Womxn Amplified! I’m sharing an interview of yours truly by Anna Clemens of Scientists Who Write. We cover everything from how (and why) to get writing done inside your work week to changing the patriarchal culture of academia to my coaching philosophy and program offerings.
Key points discussed:
- Writing as career currency and why academics should put it at the center of their careers
- Why I work with womxn and non-binary folx and systemic challenges in academia
- How I started my coaching business and my coaching philosophy
- What structural changes we should work toward in academia
- How to move away from fear-based decision making
- Driving change in a wider arena by focusing on individual career goals
- How to keep writing time inside your work week and the message you send yourself when you push it to the periphery
- Why waiting for big blocks of time to write doesn’t work
- Soaring states, co-writing and how to be more productive in less time
- The glorification of overwork and drilling down to what’s important
- My writing coaching and career direction programs for academics at every level
Key Quotes:
- “In the end, what has currency inside of academia is our published work.”
- “Change has to happen top down and bottom up simultaneously.”
- “If you’re waking up early, staying up late, or writing on the weekends, what you’re doing is you’re pushing writing to the periphery of your career.”
- “Is writing less important than the things you do from let’s say 9 to 5?”
- “I want people to start organizing their schedules around their writing blocks instead of trying to fit writing in.”
- “If you want to create, you have to rest.”
- “You can’t sustain the level of overwork that is currently being glorified inside of your institution.”
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
Connect with Anna Clemens:
https://www.annaclemens.com/
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode64.
What is “mid-career” for academics? How long does it last and where can you go from here? The answer to that last one may surprise you.
In North America, we have a 3-tiered promotion system. Your early career starts at Assistant Professor, you move to Associate Professor after you pass tenure review, and the final stage is Full Professor. (The UK system uses different terminology but is similar.) So what’s considered “mid-career” and why does it matter? How can you move forward after tenure and what does it take to make a push for the final step in the system? Let’s dig in.
Early Career: On a Mission The early career stage for academics lasts about 5-6 years. It’s the period where you’re starting to define your identity, and answering the question: who am I as an academic? It’s also the period when you are pursuing tenure. You may not have a crystal clear criteria for reaching tenure, but you have requirements, a pathway to follow and milestones to meet.
Mid-Career: What Now? Once you get tenure (or pass your permanency requirements in other systems), you are considered mid-career. This stage has a less defined time period and can last for as long as 20 years.There are some common experiences among academics as they reach this milestone:
- Exhaustion and burnout from the tenure process.
- Reality is different from expectations. Pre-tenure academics often expect to have greater freedom to speak their minds, concentrate on their own projects and have a freer schedule; the truth of the post-tenure experience is that the difference is really not that stark.
- Motivation to go for full is deflated by the experience of getting tenure.
So, now what? How do you find the motivation to move on to full professor? And should you?
“Most women don’t make it to full. And so what we want is more women at full.”
Moving Forward: Your Ideal Career Moving up to full professor does come with some benefits, including prestige and higher salaries. There’s nothing wrong with staying at the mid-career, associate professor level. But what is a problem, is doing the same amount of work you would be doing at full, but getting paid at the associate level. To figure out the next best steps for you, here’s what to do:
- Take time to reflect. Envision what you want your career to look like moving forward. What do you want your academic legacy to be? What does the next step to move toward that look like? It doesn’t have to be a promotion.
- Build your skills. What worked for you pre-tenure or at some other time in your career may not work for you now. If you want to make a move for promotion more enjoyable, you need to build up some skills like:
- Time management. Learn to delegate, outsource and lean on a support team, and get good at saying no.
- Project management. Have a plan to get projects you do accept done with precision.
- Writing management. Hone your systems and processes, and make sure your pipeline is running smoothly.
- Shift your mindset. Remember that you are not the container! What you want to put into the world through your work can be realized in many different contexts and places. Think broadly about what is best for your ideal career.
The big takeaway of the mid-career discussion is this: It can be better. You don’t have to put up with stress and overwhelm. You can create your ideal career through self-reflection and a little skill-building.
“The world is your oyster in the mid-career.”
If you need some help and support to understand what you want from your career and how to get to that next level, apply for my Elevate program! We focus on one-to-one work complemented by group work and trainings to help you shape your ideal career.
If you’re curious, apply here, even if you’re not sure yet. If you’re a good fit for the program, you’ll get an invite to a live, free training focused on issues that affect mid-career academics. At that point, you can choose whether you’ll join us when we start our 6 month journey in February. I hope you’ll join us...investing in yourself pays off!
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode63.
Don’t let the wide open schedules of a sabbatical or leave go to waste. Find out how to approach this time to get the most out of it!
It’s something we all dream about—a sabbatical or research leave when you can spend all your time writing. Then you’ll really be productive!
But ask anyone who has actually taken a sabbatical and you’ll soon discover that the big blocks of time that you’ve been craving can actually make you feel more guilty and less productive than you feel in a regular semester.
The solution is to get very clear on your priorities, plan and prepare well. Here are 3 things to do to get set up well and stay the course.
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Clear the Decks You may be tempted to keep outside projects and responsibilities because you will have “so much time”, but this is a mistake! A sabbatical is meant to be a time to step back from regular duties to allow deep thinking on your chosen project. That is very hard to accomplish if one foot is still in the world of your day-to-day duties. Here’s what I recommend:
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Get very clear on what your focus will be (what is in your proposal?)
- Remove yourself from every committee, project and commitment not related to your sabbatical project.
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Set up boundaries to protect your time, like out-of-office notifications on your email and phone. This won’t make all of those communications go away, but it will help change others’ expectations for your response time and availability.
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Create Structure If you are thinking you can work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week on your project, let me assure you that is a complete misconception. If you try to do too much at once, it will backfire, and you’ll be sure to lose focus, energy, and productivity. But you do want to have a plan! Here is what I suggest for structure:
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Plan to take one extra day off: 4 days of work, 3 days off. Choose whichever day of the week you want, but commit to it. It can be some extra time to rest and connect with family, and it can also be a place to schedule all that “life” stuff like Dr. visits so that it doesn’t derail your work days.
- It just doesn’t work to create well for 8 hours at a time. So, plan to work during soar sessions that are no more than 4 hours long. (Remember: soar sessions are times that you are in your own highly focused and energized soar state, or are writing in community to get that boost.)
- Rest. Plan it in and don’t neglect it! You are doing deep, critical thinking during this time to bring something new into the world. The create-restore cycle gets lopsided if you try to create for many more hours than you restore. Find something you find relaxing and restorative, and plan on doing it.
“You need to ramp up restoration if you’re expecting yourself to ramp up creation.”
-Cathy Mazak
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Stay on Course Remember, this sabbatical is for you. It’s a time to work on something important, that matters for you. So, enjoy it! Don’t feel bad about reveling in this time. Don’t let yourself be drawn off course. If something comes up that you have to deal with (a revise and resubmit that gets you to publication, for example), don’t let it derail you.
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Consider using a sprint. A writing spring is a two week period where you go all in on a project, using your soar sessions everyday for only that project. Use that sprint to get that other item off your plate as soon as possible.
- Whenever you can, approximate working on one thing at a time. This is good advice for any time, but especially during a sabbatical or leave. Most of that time it’s going to be your sabbatical project, but if something unavoidable comes up, turn to that for a short time if possible, then come back with focus.
For those new to the podcast, I’m giving an overview of our suite of programs for academics at every point in their careers.
Elevate: This program is for post tenure womxn who are looking for what’s next in shaping their careers. We are only running this program once this year, and enrollment is open now. Apply now, and if you’re accepted to the program, you’ll be ready to go for our February-July cohort. This program includes 1:1 mentoring, group coaching, trainings, and like-minded community and support. Apply here. (There is a special rate for participants in our Navigate program.)
Amplify: For pre-tenure who want to go up for tenure with confidence, this program offers 1:1 and group coaching, trainings, like-minded community and support. Amplify is full and closed for enrollment at this time, but our next cohort will open in Sept 2021, and you can get on the waiting list now. Apply here. (There is a special rate for participants in our Navigate program.)
Navigate: A writing roadmap for academics who want to use writing to create the careers they want. This program is for academics at any stage of their career who want to push back against overwhelm and make writing a priority. Navigate will open for enrollment in the first week of May 2021.
Momentum: Momentum is always open for enrollment for academics at any stage, from graduate student to post-tenure professor. We’ve expanded the program to include more scheduled co-writing sessions to support you in the new year. We also have a weekly 30 minute “momentum mindset” meeting to start your week off right.
Click here to learn more about our programs.
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode62.
It’s a fresh, new year and it’s time to leave all the “shoulds” in 2020 and plan to be more you in 2021.
Goodbye 2020! My hopes are high for 2021. I encourage you to make this the year that you stop focusing on what you think you “should” be doing to get your writing done and advance your career and start leaning in to what works for you. I assure you that you will get more done with deeper creativity if you accept the ways that work best for you and structure everything else accordingly.
Your voice, and your influence on your field will have greater impact if you lean in to what makes you and your perspective unique, and then stand by it. Let’s stop struggling to fit into someone else’s mold, and be ourselves in our writing and scholarship this year!
Making Your Writing Systems More YOU I encourage you to reflect on what works well for you in terms of writing, and to run with it!
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Find and utilize your soar states. What times of the day are you most energized, focused and creative? Use them for your writing! Structure other parts of your day around those times as much as you possibly can. Don’t worry about what times of day “should” be used for writing, find what works for you.
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Break projects into tasks that are the right size. I advise my clients to break projects down into smaller tasks to make them more manageable, but when they ask how small to make each task, I don’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. If crossing things off a list is your jam, break those tasks down into lots of steps; if you get overwhelmed by a long list of items, make the tasks a little bigger so there are fewer of them. Try things and reflect on what feels good for you.
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Set up rewards. Build rewards for yourself into your system. Decide when in the process is the best time to reward yourself, and be sure to pick rewards that bring you joy. Who cares what feels rewarding for someone else? Create rewards that work for you.
“How can I best manage myself?” -Cathy Mazak
Making Your Scholarly Work More YOU Take time to reflect on what makes you, your work, and your perspective on your field unique. Articulate your opinion, make your voice known. Let the world know what you’re about! This makes you more citable, and helps you stay on mission. Full disclosure here...this will make some people mad. Putting your own spin on a topic or diverging from the “traditional” way of looking at things might make the old guard upset. Don’t let that deter you! Shrinking in confrontational situations doesn’t move your mission forward.
“Actually leaning in and making my view of things known [is] going to get me farther than trying to please everyone.” -Cathy Mazak
Friends, I’m so excited for this new year together, and for our new season on the podcast! I’ve got some great guests lined up and can’t wait to share more content with you. Remember to take time to reflect on what makes you unique, and what works best for you. This is your year! Let’s go.
“Figure out who you are, then go be that.” -Cathy Mazak
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode61.
Have you ever considered writing a book? I’m sharing the inside scoop on the process for my own book project, from idea to submission.
I know many of you out there have entertained the idea of writing a book at one time or another. So I’m sharing my own experiences with the book process, from idea to proposal writing to submission. As of this writing, I am still in the process of submitting to different academic presses, so part 2 will come after I get a contract and start the next phase! For now, I’m sharing how I got to this point, including my fears, my process, and a few recommendations.
The Beginnings My project process started about 3 years ago with my idea for a writing guide for academics. I felt that through my business I had honed my message about writing and knew I wanted to put it into a book, but I had a lot of fear. I’ve written plenty of articles, and contributed to many edited volumes, but this would be my first monograph. Was I up to it?
“Can I really write a book? Do I have that many words in me?” -Cathy Mazak
I started to really develop and flesh out an idea during one of our own writing retreats, in 2019. I used the book “Thinking Like Your Editor” by Alfred Fortunato and Susan Rabiner to help me organize my thoughts. I highly recommend this book for helping to nail down your idea. In it, the authors pose these 5 questions:
- What is this book about?
- What is this book’s thesis (or argument) and what’s new about it?
- Why are you the person to write this book?
- Why is now the time to publish this book?
- Who makes up the core audience for this book and why will they find it appealing?
Next, I had my assistant LaToya copy and paste all of my blog posts into Scrivener, and I dragged them into the categories for the table of contents I had come up with during the retreat. While I didn’t end up using the content this way, Scrivener did give me a word count, and some confidence: I had plenty of words to say.
Then, I did nothing on the project for a year.
Starting Again - With a Coach LaToya got me back into the project by finding me a book coach. If you can do it, I highly recommend getting a coach! My coach, Paula Diaco of Write Stories Now was an invaluable resource for helping me sort through what needed to be done.
Paula researched presses to submit to and helped me make the decision between academic, trade and independent publishers (we’re going with academic), sent me individual google docs to work on for each part of the book proposal, and kept me motivated with a weekly standing meeting. I can’t overstate how helpful she has been.
After getting the proposal going, I started writing out some sample chapters. Not only did I have plenty of words for a book, I realized I actually have content for 3 books!
Time to Write Next, I really wanted to familiarize myself with all the chapters of this book; to start getting them written out, or at least outlined, and make some progress on the book itself. I decided to make my own writing retreat. Here’s how I did it:
- I rented an AirBnB for 5 days.
- I called on my support systems to help (my husband stayed with my kids and kept things running).
- I bought enough groceries so I wouldn’t have to leave the condo at all.
- I used my soar states to write like crazy and get 6000 words down during my first few days!
- When I started to lose steam and writing started to feel like a slog, I stopped.
Yes, it cost some money and time to make this retreat happen. My book coach was also an investment. But it’s worth it! I know this book will sell. And it might be worth it for you too, maybe as a stepping stone to a new position, or a raise, or for the connections it will forge for you.
Don’t dismiss opportunities out of hand just because they cost money or take time; investing in yourself and your career is worth it.
“It’s worth it to invest in something like a book coach or a writing retreat… because of that currency the book has inside of academia.” -Cathy Mazak
Submission The next step in the process was to start submitting! I narrowed down the top university presses I wanted to submit to, and Paula looked up the proposal requirements for each.
I’ve heard back from Princeton and the University of Chicago with the nicest rejection letters, saying they already had things in their catalogs that were too similar to accept my project.
I haven’t heard back from Harvard yet, and I’m still working on submitting to a couple of others.
At this point, I’ve paused my writing until I get a contract, so I can get feedback from the specific press I end up going with. I would say I am between 30% and 50% done with the writing.
I want to be transparent in this process, so let me say that I definitely had a freak-out moment, wondering if I should be submitting to academic presses at all. But I am back in my confidence, working through the process and ready to fill you in on Part 2 once the book sells!
If you are ready to start writing a book, I highly recommend Jane Jones at Up In Consulting for academic book coaching, and the book Thinking Like Your Editor to help you get traction with your idea. If you're looking for career development and writing support while you work on a book or other academic writing project, be sure to check out our Elevate and Amplify programs.
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode60.
There are times, like at the end of a semester, when you might put your writing aside. How do you pick it back up again with the least amount of stress and the most creative potential?
Your workload ebbs and flows, and there are times (like the end of a semester) when you may put your writing aside; in fact, I recommend it. So how do you pick it back up again? If you’re thinking you’ll get all your grades in, finish your semester tasks, then jump right into it again, I’m asking you to reconsider! In order to build your creative potential back up and get back into writing in a way that will feel like soaring rather than slogging, you need to do a few things.
First Things First: Rest and Restore Don’t shake this one off. It’s vitally important, not just to your health, but to the quality of your writing. We all want to create more, write more, get more done and it might seem like the best way to do that is to spend more time, more energy, do more. Not so! A life coach of mine introduced me to the “create-restore cycle”. Put simply, if you want to create more, you have to rest more. These two factors need to be in balance in order for you to produce the best creations.
So, in order to be ready to pick that writing practice back up and produce your best work, you need to rest and restore. What you do will look different for each person. Sleep, go for walks, read a book, take a long bath; whatever fills your cup and gives you energy, do it! And not just a little bit, do as much of it as you can. Employ whatever support structures you have at your disposal to set up true rest for yourself.
“The secret key to create more is to spend more time restoring.” -Cathy Mazak
Ease In Slowly After your restful break, when you’re ready to start writing again, don’t jump in to lengthy writing sessions. Ease yourself back in slowly. On the first day, simply open your document. Look it over, get reacquainted with your project, start getting your thoughts moving again on where you’ll go next. The second day, plan to write for maybe an hour, on the third day, a bit more and so on.
Make a Semester Plan Finally, make sure you put some time on your calendar to do some planning. Take a look at the semester coming up and see where things might be likely to get busy. Try to map out your writing times, include some writing sprints or a retreat if you can. Be prepared with a plan, and getting back into a writing practice (and keeping it going) will be so much easier.
“Embrace the ebb and flow of the semester.” -Cathy Mazak
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode59.
What actually “counts” as writing? When you give yourself credit for accomplishing your writing, do you only look at the number of words on a page? I say it’s more than that.
We spend a lot of time thinking “I should be writing,” as academia pulls us in a thousand directions. But we often forget all that writing really is. It is important to re-think what “counts” as writing. Acknowledging progress on a project helps us cultivate positive feelings about our writing, which propels us forward and keeps us coming back. But, the positive feelings don’t necessarily happen naturally. We need to deliberately create them.
It Starts with the Pipeline Try this exercise: Get out a piece of paper and start at the true beginning of your pipeline. Write down all the things that must happen between that moment when you first get your idea for the project and starting to write the first draft. Maybe you’ll need to have grant funding, maybe you’ll need to conduct specific research; whatever those pieces are, articulate them for you specific project list.
Now take a look at your list. All of this is writing. All of this counts.
Creating Purposeful Positivity If you can work to create feelings of excitement and flow about your writing, you will want to do it, and your writing practice will sustain itself. But this only happens by careful design.
“Writing does not respond well to self-doubt. It does not thrive in negativity. It dies under guilt and overwhelm.”
And you want to avoid writing sessions that drag, where you struggle to get words on the page and feel like you’re slogging through mud. Instead, you want to soar during your writing sessions, the words flowing, feeling focused and energetic. I call that your “soar state”. Here are some ways to set yourself up to soar:
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Think of the times when you have the most focus, when you don’t have to take breaks and can keep going. Take a few days and note these times in your calendar. Once you’ve identified them, your mission is to guard them as your writing times.
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If you never feel focused and energetic (hello parents!), then just write first thing in the (working) morning. Don’t check email, jump on social media or even check your to-do list. Just write for one hour. Three times a week like this will go a long way in creating positive feelings about your writing.
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Another way to create that soaring feeling is to write with someone. You can do this in person or virtually. Be sure to set ground rules: talk for ten minutes about what you’re working on, then be quiet and get writing. You will get energy by being with other people who are focused and writing.
In order to use our academic work to create the changes we want to see in our fields and in the world, we need to cultivate this positive relationship with writing. It is essential that writing feels good, and that we acknowledge forward movement towards our goals. People need to hear what you have to say, and creating a positive relationship with writing will help you to say it.
If you’re ready to launch into 2021 with more soaring and less slogging, join Momentum , our $27/month membership program. Momentum is a co-writing community where we have coach-led writing times, community, and do mindset and goal-setting calls. All momentum members have access to client-only trainings and events throughout the year. There is no minimum timeframe, join for as many months as you like. Try it out today and start creating more time to soar with your writing!
To find out more about all of our programs, click here.
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode58.
I am joined on this episode by my fabulous writing coaches, Rocío Caballero-Gill and Gina Robinson. We are talking all about the issues and stressors that are coming up the most in working with clients in our programs right now.
What are you struggling with in your career? One thing we can guarantee is that you are not alone. From motivation to time management to boundaries to finding support, we are addressing all the top-of-mind issues from the fabulous womxn in our programs.
Issues discussed: * Logistical questions like how do I find and manage time to be able to write? * How to sustain writing through proper mindset, priority setting, and boundaries. * Worrying about what isn’t being done, and how to find focus. * Using structure and systems to create confidence and focus. * Scarcity mindset and the fear of not using time ‘well enough’. * Digging deeper into lack of motivation to find and deal with the underlying issues. * The importance of community for support, energy, and momentum. * Rest, and how to structure and set up breaks to reap maximum benefit. * Asking for help from all different sources and the power this holds for womxn. * Clarifying priorities to stay on mission. * Decision fatigue and how to avoid it. * How coaching, masterminds, community groups and programs are helping our clients.
Key Quotes: * “People think they don’t have enough time, but really what it is, is that they don’t know what they’re supposed to be doing.” -Gina Robinson * “There is this fear...I’m not using the time well enough.” -Cathy Mazak * “If you need a brain dump every single day, that is fine.” -Rocío Caballero-Gill * “You just have to trust the system…” -Rocío Caballero-Gill * “Women talking about what they need is very powerful.” -Cathy Mazak * “Every time you have to make a decision, it costs you.” -Cathy Mazak * “Resting makes you a better academic and a better human.” -Cathy Mazak
Pulled in a thousand directions and can’t seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode57.
This is a special bonus episode to tell you all about my re-imagined Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap course, the modules, the freebies, and the sign-up bonuses!
I’m giving you the lowdown on the awesome bonuses you’ll receive as one of the first 10 people to enroll when doors open on Black Friday. We’re talking about a bonus valued at $2000! And even if you don’t end being one of the first 10, the sooner you sign up, the bigger the bonuses. To get the jump on enrolling, get on the waitlist here so you’ll be first to know when the doors open.
Listen in to the episode to hear all about the course, it’s modules, the extra freebies that come with your enrollment, and the juicy details on all the bonuses!
Don’t miss out on your chance to get into the Phoenix Cohort and get all the best bonuses. Get on the waitlist now!
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The pandemic didn’t change the course of academia; it has amplified the issues that were already there. As higher ed systems crumble, it’s time for you to decide your own course of action.
As one of my favorite books, “The Slow Professor”, explains: the University system is deeply ingrained in the history of capitalism. The path the University is on wasn’t created by the pandemic, it simply sped up the journey down that path. More demands have been made on professors' time, more unpaid admin work expected, the exploitation of adjunct and grad student labor has become prevalent, support roles have been eliminated; we have been seeing the capitalist system at work, squeezing us for every drop of labor it can.
When the pandemic hit, the process sped up. Now we’re seeing furloughs, lay offs, universities questioning the idea of tenure, institutions closing altogether. Higher Ed is in crisis. But what does it mean for you? I want to suggest that you get to decide.
Creation and the Upsides of This Moment While it’s true that we are at a crossroads right now in academia, I want to encourage you to remember what your career is truly about: creation. The purpose of your career is to bring something new, something unique, into the world, documented through your writing. So here are 3 things to remember in this moment:
1. You are not your institution. The place where you do your work is merely the container, the vehicle through which you bring your contribution to the world. Containers can take many different forms; you don’t have to stay stuck inside one that doesn’t fit.
2. When creation drives your career, milestones are met as a by-product. The details of institutional requirements for tenure and promotion don’t matter; you’ll meet and exceed them by focusing on the creation and working for your own milestones and goals. If that doesn’t happen, it’s a sign that your institution is not the right fit for you.
3. Day-to-day life must be focused around the creation. The creation of your unique body of work is the point. Teaching, service, advising, committee work; it all needs to be arranged in service of the creation.
“What you are doing as an academic is, in essence, an act of creation.”
Saving Yourself You have an opportunity right now, in this moment, while institutions are faltering and systems are crumbling, to remake yourself. It’s up to you. We’ve been conditioned to a scarcity mindset in academia. We’ve been taught to believe that we should just be grateful for the positions we have, and not to question or push back. But we do have a choice. To save yourself in this moment, you have to believe in yourself. I’m giving you permission. Here’s what it looks like:
- You build a career based on a clear academic mission, refined over time and built by you for the people impacted by your work, regardless of your institution. This will become your legacy.
- You have time, energy, and financial freedom.
- You have space in your day for the deep work that contributes to your personal mission.
- You set your own goals and milestones that support your vision (and blow by institutional milestones along the way).
“You’re allowed to believe in yourself and your writing.”
If 2020 revealed your institution’s true colors, if you’re questioning your role in academia, if you are ready to remake your career and organize your life around your unique contribution, don’t miss the chance to sign up for Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap. We’ll help you navigate these questions and give you tools to create the career and life you want in 2021.
Values and Systems Achieving this transformation for yourself might sound dreamy or intangible, but I promise you it is not. It’s about 2 things: values and systems.
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Values. If you want to remake yourself in 2021 you have to be willing to learn a new way: your way. Take a moment to mourn the losses of 2020, then sit down and articulate what your actual values are. What is important to you? What do you want your career to look like? How do you want your life to feel? What is vital to bringing your creation into the world? What do you want to cut away?
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Systems. Once you figure out your values, you need systems to bring them to fruition. We teach all 3 of the vital systems you need in place and how to implement them in our Navigate course. Here’s an overview of what they are and how to use them:
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Time Management Systems: Are you automating as much as possible? Are you using technology to create and support boundaries around your time? Are you using templates and workflows as much as possible? Is your mindset in the right place concerning your time and boundaries?
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Writing Systems: Do you have a multi-layered ecosystem of writing practices? Do you have the tools in place to help you move your writing forward, and to recover from a writing break? Do you have a healthy mindset around your writing?
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Pipeline and Planning Systems: Do your projects flow smoothly through your pipeline? Do you have a strategy in place to manage the flow of your pipeline? Are you using publications strategically to bring your creation into the world in the way you want to see it?
“We cannot collectively remake academia if we keep believing in scarcity, in suffering, and in settling.”
Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap If you’re ready to remake yourself in 2021 but you don’t know where to start, get on the waiting list now for Navigate. We will support you as you make decisions, and give you tools to create the career you want. Believe in yourself, and take action!
Don’t miss your chance to get into the Phoenix Cohort, our first group to go through this reimagined program in 2021. And if you are one of the first 10 to sign up, you will receive special early bird bonuses!
Get on the waitlist here: https://www.cathymazak.com/navigate-waitlist.
If you’re looking for some quick ideas to boost your writing time, grab my free cheat sheet: 10 Way to Make Time to Write.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode56.
We have an opportunity, at any time, but especially at this moment in time, to rise from the ashes of what has come before to remake our careers and our lives as academics.
On the next few episodes of The Academic Womxn Amplified I’m talking about how to rise from the ashes of 2020 to make 2021 the year you take control and redefine your career.
Why does writing often fall to the bottom of the list? How can you rethink your vision, mission and goals to help you get your work into the world in a way that feels right to you? We have the opportunity at this moment in time to rebuild, reimagine and reinvent our academic lives.
During Tough Times, Writing Suffers I know what it is to have writing fall to the bottom of the list, or completely off a cliff, during trying and traumatic times.
While I was going up for tenure, my 10-month old son became seriously ill. For a solid week I was in the hospital with him, and completely out of contact with my students. For months afterward, I suffered from total exhaustion which very nearly put me in the hospital.
During the 2017-18 academic year, Hurricane Maria hit and devastated Puerto Rico. Personal and national trauma resulted in a way that is hard to convey to anyone who has not lived through natural disaster.
From these times of intense stress, I learned two things that have informed my continued career and that can be drawn on during the current times:
- I have to rest.
Rest has to be a priority, it can’t be an afterthought. My whole career does not work without rest.
- Priorities get very clear when tragedy strikes.
Tragedy snaps our vision back onto what is truly important to us. When that happens, remember what those priorities are, don’t lose sight of them when things go back to “normal”.
In both of these cases, I moved into what I have dubbed “minimum viable semester”. The bare minimum of what had to get done was all that got done. Writing, understandably, moved to the bottom of the list. It wasn’t feasible to keep up on a robust practice.
Moving Past Minimum Viable Semester I’ve been there, in minimum viable semester mode. And we have all been there in these last months as Covid has completely changed the landscape of academia. In March, we were paddling as hard as we could just to keep above water. Here we are in November and not a whole lot has changed. So I propose that it’s time to take stock of where we are, change the vision of where we’re going, and move past minimum viable semester.
“It’s time to soar into 2021 like a phoenix.”
The Phoenix Rising This is the right time to remake your career vision, because the world needs your contribution! To rise like a phoenix in 2021, consider these actions:
Complete a Values Inventory. Have you been glorifying busy? Accepting that overwork and exhaustion are part of the package? Working toward someone else’s idea of milestones?
- Define your mission. What is your personal, specific desire for your work in the world?
- Align your work to that mission.
- Shift your milestones to reflect your values (tenure doesn’t have to be your milestone!).
Create Systems. Creating individualized systems supports your vision and helps your writing withstand future hard times.
- They are adaptable.
- They save you time and energy and help you maintain boundaries
- They support your mission and values.
- They help you keep your writing at the center of your career.
Become Part of the Phoenix Cohort. We are nick-naming the upcoming cohort for my Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap program The Phoenix Cohort, because we are ready to help you rise from the ashes of 2020 in 2021!
If you’re ready to repair your relationship with writing, get strategic with it and turn it into a driver for your career rather than something you think of with dread, get your spot on the waitlist now! Doors will open for sign-ups for Black Friday to Cyber Monday only, so be sure you don’t miss it by signing up here to get on our waitlist.
“To be successful, to bring that work that is your academic mission into the world, you need to organize your career around writing.”
Make 2021 Your Year This is the perfect time to make changes to our systems, our missions, and ourselves. It’s time to take a fresh look at how we are approaching our careers, and how we are showing up at our institutions. Let’s make a commitment to reimagine, remake, and rebuild our academic lives.
“Academia, the way we’ve been socialized to do it, is unsustainable.”
Need some help finding time to write right NOW? Grab my free 10 Way to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for actionable ideas to get started with. Connect with me: Website
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode55.
Keeping your relationship with writing peaceful and productive means prioritizing it during your most energetic and focused times of day. I’m coining a new term for those times to get us into the right mindset for the work.
Getting writing done is a key component to the academic life, but it doesn’t have to be a slog. Creating a positive relationship with your writing while also doing your best work is so much easier when you tune in to those times of your day when your energy and focus soar, and you’re ready to take on the world.
Encouraging you to use those times and helping you find out when they are for you (everyone is different!) has always been a main tenet of my coaching. Up until now, I’ve been borrowing a term for these times during the day, but it wasn’t quite fitting my vision anymore, so I coined a new one! Here’s the backstory on what “tiger time” is, how I discovered it, and why I wanted to change it to better fit our needs as academic writers.
Tiger Time When I was first building my business, I listened to a lot of entrepreneurial podcasts. One of them was “Online Marketing Made Easy” with Amy Porterfield. She had a lot of great information, but something that really resonated with me was her idea of “tiger time”. She talked about using her best times of day, those when she was most focused, energized and driven, to tackle content creation.
This spoke to me, and as I have often done, I took this idea from the entrepreneurial world and molded it to help academics through my coaching business. Using the times during our week when we are freshest, most focused, have the most energy and drive really moves the needle for writing.
“I can move mountains between 7am and 11am.” -Cathy Mazak
Time to Make a Change As we’ve moved through 2020, it’s become apparent that it’s time for me to move away from using someone else’s term, and specifically this term, for these focused times. Here’s why:
- Tiger King. People started asking me if tiger time had something to do with a show that has had a big moment in the pop culture spotlight in 2020. The answer to that question was a big NO.
- Tiger Mom. People also began asking me if tiger time had something to do with a book called Tiger Mom. Again, no.
- Academic Branding. I’ve been coaching you all on how to build your academic brands, and this presented an opportunity to do that myself. I want my coaching business to project a certain set of values, a certain image of how we go about writing. And it doesn’t emphasize fierceness, or struggle in any way. Time to create something new!
“We created different ways...for people to create that feeling of drive and energy that we want them to have during their writing times.” -Cathy Mazak
Soar States and Soar Sessions In keeping with our vision, we wanted to give you aspirational words for the experience of finding, creating, and utilizing those feelings of energy, drive and creativity.
If you’re not careful, your writing times can feel like slogging.
- You write 10 words and delete 5.
- You feel like you’re walking through mud. Uphill.
- All you want to do is stop.
But we want your writing time to feel like soaring.
- You're not desperately flapping your wings to keep going, you’re moving along peacefully, supported.
- You aren’t struggling, you’re in flow.
- Your forward motion is fast, and smooth.
So here it is! Our new term for those times when you are in a zone of creativity, energy and drive is: Soar States.
When you are utilizing your own personal Soar State you are experiencing a Soar Session. You’re in the zone! Writing is flowing, and the work you produce is high quality.
Soar Sessions come about in two ways:
- Tapping into your personal Soar States to take advantage of your most creative, energetic and focused times.
- Co-writing. Writing in community with others helps create that sense of energy and drive at any time.
I can’t wait to dive into these ideas with you as we continue to learn more about how to advance our careers through writing without burning out or breaking down!
“Think about the time of day that is your ‘soar state’.” -Cathy Mazak
Big News for Black Friday! Our Navigate program will have a special enrollment period, from Black Friday to Cyber Monday! Special bonuses and extras for the first sign ups on Black Friday!
My podcast listeners are the first to get the chance to get on the waitlist to be notified when the doors open for sign ups, so don’t wait!
Are you ready to put 2020 behind you, step into your power and create the career that you want? Take your writing strategy to the next level with Navigate.
Be the Phoenix rising from the ashes of 2020 and take control of your career in 2021!
Get on the waitlist here.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode54.
Dr. Kemi Doll joins me on this episode of The Academic Womxn Amplified, sharing her expertise and advice on everything from how she balances her multidisciplinary career with joy, to power dynamics and privilege to why coaching is so helpful for academics. She shares her own journey to doctor and health academic, and why she decided to add coach to her list of titles.
Key points discussed:
- Struggling academically through undergrad, going for med school anyway [3:30]
- How Kemi spends her time, with many different aspects of her career weaving together to form the whole [8:30]
- The multidisciplinary life [13:00]
- How she got started coaching [15:00]
- Coaching vs. the paternalistic mentor/apprentice model [19:00]
- Power dynamics, privilege, and imbalance in academia, and what to remember about being free [22:30]
- The glorification of suffering in academia [25:30]
- Racism and patriarchal systems in academia [28:30]
- Creating the career you want from the very beginning [33:30]
- The impacts of isolation and the benefits of community [41:00]
- Kemi’s programs for women of color in academic medicine [44:00]
Key Quotes:
“It was hard the whole time.” -Kemi Doll
“I’m going to go for this anyway.” -Kemi Doll
“I want to do research as a big component of my life.” -Kemi Doll
“I’m not being pulled in either direction...everything is weaving together into the bigger picture.” -Kemi Doll
“So what doesn’t fit here?” -Kemi Doll
“I was always that person that people came to when they were like ‘I’m trying to make a decision, I can’t figure out what to do.’” -Kemi Doll
“Academia is: conform, and coaching is: no.” -Kemi Doll
“You don’t see the behind the scenes.” -Cathy Mazak
“You’re basically an independent entity, creating something new.” -Kemi Doll
Connect with Kemi Doll:
Website
Connect with Cathy: Website
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode53.
Making a change in your academic career can be scary, but is it dangerous? On this episode I’m helping you recognize when deciding not to make a change might be the danger.
I’m an avid podcast listener. I recently heard a story on the How I Built This podcast about an investment banker whose doctor told her that if something didn’t change, she was going to have a stroke, or a heart attack. Staying in that job, for her, was exceedingly dangerous. This got me thinking about our careers in academia, and dangerous versus scary career moves.
Making a change, speaking up, or creating new boundaries in your career can feel scary. At times, these things might even feel like they are dangerous. Will I lose my job? What if my income changes? What about my identity as ‘an academic’? But I am here to tell you, that staying in a toxic, frustrating or overwhelming situation just because it is scary to leave or create change is where the true danger lies.
“So although it’s scary to leave, it’s not actually dangerous to leave; it’s dangerous to stay.”
If you’re feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or anxious in your career, here are 3 questions to ask yourself to begin to assess what your next steps should be, even if it feels scary to take them.
-
What specifically is making me feel this way? You might feel general malaise or anxiety, but the first step is to get very specific about what is making you feel that way. Write it down, make a list. See if you can zero in on the thing (or things) that is making you feel the way you do.
-
Can I change this thing? Take stock of what you’re in control of, and what increased influence you might have if you are willing to step up or speak out. It might feel scary to do these things, but it could be dangerous to your health to stay quiet.
“You deserve [for] your career to be great, not just good enough.”
- What Have I Created and What Am I Creating Now? I’ve talked about this idea before, and I’ll continue to: you and your work are separate from your institution. You are making contributions to your field that are uniquely yours. Take stock of those things, spell them out. Is your current situation helping you to bring that to fruition, or is it stifling?
Once you have the answers to these questions down in black and white, take some time to reflect. Remember that staying in a situation where you feel undue pressure, stress or expectations that don’t align with your personal mission can become an actual danger. Make a plan, even if that involves taking steps that seem scary at first.
Looking to find more time in your busy schedule to write? I’ve got you covered. Grab my free resource 10 Ways to Make Time to Write. Still Time to Apply for Elevate! Our 6-month intensive program for post-tenure women who are ready to up-level their careers on their own terms is only running once in 2021.
You’ll get:
- 6 key workshops to help you create and enact your personal plan
- 6 one-on-one calls, plus group coaching
- A fantastic, supportive community of like-minded womxn
But, don't miss your chance to get our 2020 bonuses!
If you sign up NOW, you also get:
- 2 extra one-on-one calls to be used right away in 2020
- Early entrance into our Amplify and Elevate community for support, workshops and planning sessions, and people who ‘get it’
- An invitation to our virtual retreat happening in January 2021
Don’t wait, start the application process now to get the most out of your membership!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode52.
Career coach Dr. Carol Parker Walsh joins us to share her path into and through academia, and to dig into something we are both passionate about: career development for women. Carol helps women figure out their next career steps, in order to make their lives and careers more individual and joyful. She shares about big moments in her own life that helped her realize she was on the wrong path, and gives us three great questions to ask ourselves to reflect on our careers.
Key points discussed: * Dr. Carol’s career trajectory, including changing her mind from pre-med, practicing law for 10 years, and returning to academia [3:30] * Hitting mile markers in life and career that make you pause and think about things [6:30] * Being funneled along a career path further and further up the administrative track [8:00] * How a life-altering car crash and the death of her father made her pull up and realize she was on the wrong path [10:30] * Walking away [12:00] * Pivot moments, fear around leaving academia, the idea of the Ivory Tower, and sunk costs [13:30] * Calls from others telling her she was ruining her life, and how they ended up emboldening her [14:30] * Dr. Carol’s 3 questions to ask yourself when working through change [20:30] * Women in the patriarchal culture of academia; using your power to change institutions and situations [26:00] * Cultivating a hopeful outlook that builds on your past experiences, rather than a depressed or fearful one that discounts them [34:00] * Dr. Carol’s masterclass program to help women work through big questions in career development and next steps [39:30]
Key Quotes: “I fell back in love with school.” -Carol Parker Walsh
“It wasn’t a direct path.” -Carol Parker Walsh
“The ultimate struggle we face in our society is having the permission and courage to be who we’re meant to be.” -Carol Parker Walsh
“Is this the trajectory I want to be on?” -Carol Parker Walsh
“I’ve accomplished so much, now what do I want to do with it?” -Carol Parker Walsh
“You have permission to have a joyful and fulfilling career; that’s what you deserve, that’s what the world deserves from you.” -Cathy Mazak
Connect with Dr. Carol Parker Walsh Website
Masterclass: Unplug from the Career Matrix
Elevate: Up-level Your Post-Tenure Career Applications are open now! Our 6-month intensive program for post tenure women who are ready to up-level their careers on their own terms is only running one time in 2021: February-July.
Here’s what you get through this program:
- 6 key workshops to help you create and enact your personal plan
- 6 one-on-one calls, plus group coaching
- A fantastic, supportive community of like-minded womxn
If you sign up NOW, you also get:
- 2 extra one-on-one calls to be used right away in 2020
- Early entrance into our Amplify and Elevate community for support, workshops and planning sessions, and people who ‘get it’
- An invitation to our virtual retreat happening in January 2021
Don’t wait, start the application process now to get the most out of your membership!
Connect with me: Website
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Facebook Page
This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode51.
Your career, your body of scholarly work, is independent of any ‘container’ through which you do that work, like a university or institution. Have you ever thought about this idea? It’s important!
We often look at our career paths in terms of a certain ‘container’. We make choices based on things like which grad school has a reputation that will position us well in our fields, which institutions provide pre-tenure opportunities, etc. Much of the conversation about career paths gets steered toward what the ‘container’ wants: how do I get tenure here? Or full? If you pause to reflect, you might realize you are contorting yourself and your work to fit the needs of your current container.
I want to flip the script and encourage you to look at your career differently. I’m going to give you some examples to help you see that you are not the container. You do not have to accept the container you’re in, and doing so is not the only way in which to advance your work. There are several ways to make change for yourself and your work:
- Work to effect change for yourself inside the container you’re in
- Change containers
- Create your own container
Sarah Dobson’s Story On the podcast this past summer we ran a series of interviews highlighting the unique paths that womxn take to and through academia. One guest, Sarah Dobson, is a perfect example of how the work can be done through all kinds of different containers. (If you haven’t heard her episode, I encourage you to go back and take a listen, it’s fantastic!)
Sarah has continued to put her work into the world through a variety of containers: academic institutions, public health nonprofits, and now her own business, doing grant consulting to help others in the field get funding. She continues to influence and add to the body of work in her field of public health through all these different kinds of containers.
An Amplify Client’s Story A client in our Amplify pre-tenure program is another great example. She was running an entire graduate program by herself: doing all the admitting, advising and managing for all the students in the program. Her university made no allowances in pay or time to balance this, and she was nearing burn out.
After coaching and support inside the group, she decided to go on the market. She got a better job, with higher pay and fewer responsibilities. She felt more appreciated and avoided total burnout. She stayed in academia, but changed her container to one that fit better.
“You don’t have to settle.”
My Stories Early in my career, I discovered that part of the job I had been hired to do was not working out at all like I had intended. (High level integration of technology into the educational English learning setting ended up being more like low level IT support.) This was not ok with me, and I couldn’t imagine living out my career this way. I negotiated with my department, and was able to change that part of my job. I always looked for ways to mold my job to the ways I wanted to experience it, by finding research and grant releases for example.
“Can I change this? Can I make this better?”
Later in my career, big changes in my institution itself turned it into a place that was not fun to work at anymore. I did some self reflection, working through a process we now use in our Elevate program, to find my zone of genius. I asked myself what I really loved in my work, and how I wanted to put my work into the world. The final result was this business I am running now to coach other academic womxn. I created my own container, and continue to joyfully put my work into the world!
For more examples of how academic womxn use different containers to do their work, check out the interviews from the summer session of the podcast, episodes 34 through 43.
Elevate Applications are open now! Our 6-month intensive program for post tenure women who are ready to up-level their careers on their own terms is only running one time in 2021: February-July.
Here’s what you get through this program:
- 6 key workshops to help you create and enact your personal plan
- 6 one-on-one calls, plus group coaching
- A fantastic, supportive community of like-minded womxn
If you sign up NOW, you also get:
- 2 extra one-on-one calls to be used right away in 2020
- Early entrance into our Amplify and Elevate community for support, workshops and planning sessions, and people who ‘get it’
- An invitation to our virtual retreat happening in January 2021
Don’t wait, start the application process now to get the most out of your membership!
Connect with me: Website
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Facebook Page
This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode50.
Are you wondering what your career will be like once you reach that ultimate milestone of tenure? I’m busting 5 myths about the post tenure experience to give you a realistic picture.
Getting tenure is a goal that most academics have had throughout their entire careers. If you are in the pre-tenure process right now, you may be believing one or more of these 5 myths about what it will be like if and when you are granted tenure. I’m busting these myths to give you a clearer picture of the post tenure life, so you can make the best decisions going forward.
Myth #1: Your Workload Will Decrease If you were not able to say no, speak up, and avoid creep during your pre-tenure process, it’s not going to be any different once you are tenured. You might find that you’re expected to take on new responsibilities, your admin duties increase, you have more meetings, etc. You can help alleviate this issue by starting to practice saying no, setting up boundaries, and speaking up right now.
“If you haven’t been flexing your ‘say no’ muscle pre-tenure, you are going to have to radically change and develop that muscle post-tenure.”
Myth #2: You Can Finally Focus on Your Own Work You might think that once you get tenure, all the other things that have been pushed onto your plate will magically fall away. Alas, no. It’s a process; you will have to get focused and make sure that you put time and energy into self-directed projects that are important for your career. It won’t happen on it’s own, and if you spent your pre-tenure time keeping quiet and taking whatever extra work was given to you, it may take a little longer to pare down.
“You have to...be proactive about focusing on your own work.”
Myth #3: You’ll Actually Get Paid What You Deserve This one hurts. Sadly, most tenure awards come with only a small pay bump. Many women I talk to tell me that they have been working so hard for so long, and even after tenure they still struggle. If your pay increase at tenure was underwhelming, do a little reflection to see if you want to move in a new direction. Here are some things to consider:
- Do you want to move into a more administrative position that typically comes with higher pay?
- Can you look for external funding?
- Do you want to move from faculty to researcher, or make another move?
- Is it time to switch institutions?
Myth #4: What Got You to Tenure Will Get You to Full Every stage you go through in your academic career needs to see you grow. Your systems, processes and practices need to change and develop to support each new stage of your life and career. The things you did to succeed as a grad student probably don’t work now. The way you approached your work before you had a family likely doesn’t serve you once you do. We need to grow and adapt at each new stage to find what works.
Myth #5: Your Next Steps Will Be Clear This giant (overly-hyped) milestone of tenure has likely been a goal you have been striving toward your entire academic life. Once you finally achieve it, it can feel a little disorienting. What now? The bad news, and the good news, is that you have to figure it out. You may move on to getting full, you may decide to do something completely different. The steps will not be clear, but the world is your oyster at this point. Envision your ideal circumstances, and work toward them.
“Your next steps aren’t clear. It’s your job to dream them.”
Elevate is Open for Enrollment for a Limited Time! Our Elevate program is for post-tenure people who are ready to up-level their careers. Over a six month period we will help you create and implement a personalized plan to reach your career goals, using workshops, one-on-one and group coaching, and supportive community.
We start in February, but join now and receive:
- 2 extra coaching calls to use now, in 2020
- Early entrance into our supportive and beneficial community
- Access to our January virtual writing retreat
Click here to learn more and start the vetting process so you can get started right away!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode49.
We get a lot of questions about academic publishing in our 14,000 member Facebook group. On this podcast I’m sharing answers to the top 5 questions we see.
Writing and publishing in academia is paramount. In our Facebook group we get lots of questions about academic publishing, so I’m breaking down answers to the 5 questions we see the most. Let’s jump right in.
Question #1: How do I respond to reviewer comments if I don't agree with them? First off, I want to say that peer review is important! It teaches you to be a better article writer and helps you hone your craft. That said, many of us have been in the position of receiving feedback that we do not agree with. Maybe the suggestions made are simply impossible to bring about (changes to vital research, for example), or maybe you just disagree on an epistemological level. What then?
- First make sure you’ve taken a good look at the feedback. Is it possible there is a kernel of helpfulness there?
- Realize that this may indicate the journal in question is not a good fit for you.
- Remember that YOU are the owner and decision maker for this piece. You do not have to make the changes!
- Consider making a table with each feedback note on the left, and how you will address (or not address) the item on the right. If you’re not making a change, explain why but keep it short. You may find the editor is fine with it. If not, then you get to choose your next steps.
Question #2: How do I find a journal to publish my article in? When choosing a publication to send work out to, it helps to consider where you look for your own references, and who you want your audience to be.
- Look at the reference lists of some of the articles you love and rely on in your own work. If you find some of the same publications appearing in these lists, they might be a good fit for you too.
- Go online and read descriptions and scope for journals you’re considering. Who is on the review boards? Are they people you already read or cite frequently? That’s a good sign.
- Think about your audience. Who do you want reading your work?
Question #3: Should I go for a top tier or mid tier journal? Top tier journals tend to be prestigious and well known, while mid tier journals are less known by a wider audience and tend to be more niched. There is some truth to the general wisdom suggesting you ‘submit higher and resubmit lower’, but you definitely don’t want to end up not publishing at all because you are holding out for higher tier. I encourage you to consider these 3 questions before you submit:
- What is the article doing for you and your career? Where you choose to submit should fall in line with your larger publishing strategy, and what work you have coming later in your pipeline.
- How does this article fit into the larger scheme of your research trajectory?
- Who is the audience for this piece? If you have a piece that is in a niche or sub-field, a mid tier journal might be a sound choice.
“You’re going to get more eyes on an article...if you publish it in the journals that your niche loves and reads.”
Question #4: How do I know if the publisher reaching out to me is predatory? Sometimes the answers to this question can be a little murky, depending on field and media type, but let’s get a few easy indicators down first. If you get a generic email that looks like you were cut and pasted into it, or there are a lot of typos, or the wording is strange and clunky, go ahead and delete those.
Depending on your field, a publisher who asks you to pay to publish in their journal could be predatory. However, do your research on this one and look to people in your field because this could just be how things are done in your particular area of study.
If someone is looking for books to publish, it’s possible they might cold email or call you, but look for known and respected publishing houses and expect to still have to go through a normal submission process. Otherwise, exercise caution.
Question #5: How do I make myself work on a writing project when I've lost motivation? I get this question a lot. Here are some things to reflect on and consider:
- If you’re having a hard time motivating for a project, my first question to you is always: when was the last time you took a real break? As I always say, if you’re going to create, you’ve got to restore.
- If you’re in the very last phase of a project and can’t motivate to do those last nitty-gritty details, consider hiring a copy editor. It’s not cheating; I promise. The investment you put in to hire someone and get that project out the door has big returns in terms of the consequences of publishing (promotion, advancement, contribution to your academic brand, etc.)
- Be sure to ask yourself: is this project really serving me? Is it in line with my academic mission and contributing to my brand? If a careful analysis says no, it’s time to cut your losses and move on.
“When is the last time you took a real break?”
If these answers were helpful to you, be sure to check out our Facebook Group, where questions like these are asked and discussed regularly.
And consider applying for our Amplify program, a year-long program to help you shape your career and become the scholar you want to be. Click here to learn more and apply.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode48.
Do you constantly feel like there is not enough time, not enough resources, not enough publications, just not enough? This isn’t a coincidence (and it isn’t the truth). In academia we’ve been conditioned into a scarcity mindset.
An abundance mindset means you feel like there is enough of something: enough time, enough resources, plenty to go around for everyone. Scarcity mindset assumes there is never enough, and you better scramble and scratch for everything you can get. We’ve been conditioned to see our careers through a scarcity lens, but it does not have to be that way!
What is a Scarcity Mindset? Scarcity mindset, the feeling that there is never enough, is rampant in academia. When we never know how much is enough, it breeds feelings of never enough.
- If it is unclear exactly how many publications you need for tenure, it ends up feeling like there are never enough.
- When your department chair sends out the vibe that there is no money for anything and don’t even bother asking, it can seem like there is never enough money.
- When we don’t have a clear academic mission statement and clear boundaries around our time, it feels like there is never enough time in the day.
- If you work hard and still don’t get promoted, it may feel like you are not enough.
“What if we stopped saying ‘there’s not enough time’ and what if we started saying ‘there is enough time; my priorities need shifting.’”
Consequences of Scarcity Mindset for Your Writing The scarcity mindset affects your writing, your output, even the quality of your publications.
- When you believe there is ‘never enough’ time to write, you will feel overwhelmed and guilty about your writing.
- When you feel that there are ‘never enough’ publications, you may say yes to publication opportunities that don’t line up with your mission, or take on too many projects.
- If you can’t say no to projects, your pipeline turns into a funnel and gets clogged up and unproductive.
“One of the reasons that you can’t say no is because you are conditioned toward scarcity.”
What Can We Do About It? Scarcity is a mindset, not a reality. The key to changing how we feel about abundance vs. scarcity is to stop and take a critical look at the reality of each situation. Here are some steps to take to help you change your mindset, and by consequence, your experience of your career.
- Recognize that scarcity mindset is based on a fear that more won’t come. If you don’t do this thing now, you might not get another chance. This is true sometimes! But in the vast majority of cases, you will have another chance. Be honest with yourself and look the fear in the eye.
- Realize that you will get more work done, better quality work done, if you focus in instead of taking on everything. Stay in your zone of genius, even if it means saying no to some things, and you will see much better results.
- Create systems and processes that help you keep moving forward in your own direction. Establish boundaries for yourself and others to protect your time, energy, and resources.
- Take a close look at the cultural and institutional conditioning that you may not have even noticed before. Which areas are always well funded? Is there an underlying belief that you can only do the work within time constraints if you have lots of support at home? Always question and push back against these cultural issues that need to change in our institutions.
“I will write more, produce more, publish more by saying no to things.”
Apply for Amplify The real work of pre-tenure is becoming the scholar YOU want to be! Join a cohort of like-minded womxn who are putting their writing at the center, and learning how to map their own paths to success, plus get support, resources and training from our professional team. Apply for our Amplify program today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode47.
How do you keep your writing going during times of upheaval and uncertainty? It’s possible to keep making progress, but you do need to have some tools to draw on.
Uncertainty is a norm in our lives. Some times are rife with upheaval on a large scale, like our current moment in 2020: unknowns and extra stressors due to Covid-19, unrest and striving for change due to a long overdue racial reckoning...it’s an uncertain moment in history. But even in our “normal” lives, uncertainty is a factor. Someone might get sick, you might have a loss in the family or a change in circumstances.
When life takes unpredictable turns, how do you make progress on your writing projects? In a word: systems. You need to have a variety of tools to pull from, that you can apply in different ways at different times, in order to roll with the punches life throws. Here are some of the tools and skills we teach in our programs to help you maintain a practice no matter what is happening in your circumstances.
Parts of a Writing System * Regular Writing Sessions and/or Co-Writing Times
First let me say that a word count goal every day is not what I’m talking about here; that won’t help you when your calendar gets crazy. But planning writing times during your most focused, high energy times and taking time to find accountability through co-writing will.
- Writing Sprints
I define writing springs as concentrated, dedicated time devoted to a single project; usually around two weeks. During that time, you buckle down and put all your planned out writing sessions toward one thing. This is a great way to jump back into writing if you’ve had to take a break.
- Writing Retreats
If you’re feeling behind, looking ahead and putting a block of time on the calendar can be very helpful. If you can’t go to a professional retreat for whatever reason (hello Covid-19), you can consider renting an AirBnB for a few days, or even doing a retreat at your home. Wherever you are, make sure you create boundaries around your time and space, and put all your effort into writing.
- Rewards, Goal-Setting, and Creating Positive Feedback Loops
There are lots of little things you can add to your systems bag of tricks to help you keep your writing on track. In our programs we teach you how to create and implement appropriate rewards, set goals that work for you, and most importantly, how to create a good relationship with your writing through positive feedback loops.
“You don’t have to keep your writing going regardless of what’s going on around you... you don’t have to.”
The Importance of Support Getting support is essential during times of uncertainty and upheaval. One of the best ways to do this is by finding communities of like-minded academics who share your goals and values.
I am extremely proud of our online Facebook Group community, where we share the common values of changing academic culture to be equitable, ethical, and open to all kinds of people. Wherever you find your people, make sure you have adequate support in place during challenging times.
“What we really want to do is change the culture of academia to be more equitable, and ethical, and open to all kinds of people.”
Our Programs If you are looking for deep support, guidance and peer community, consider applying for our year long Amplify program. In this program you’ll be part of a cohort of academic womxn who are learning to center their writing while building the careers they want. Apply for Amplify here.
If you just need a little more accountability and some peer connection, consider our monthly Momentum program: coach-led co-writing and dedicated online community. Learn more here.
With all of our programs you will have access to clients-only trainings and content, and community support. Join us in Amplify or Momentum today!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode46.
Have you ever looked at your writing projects through the lens of economics? I’m showing you how, and why you should on this episode of The Academic Womxn Amplified.
I love listening to podcasts; they’re one of my favorite ways to give my brain a little break and think about something other than academics for awhile. This summer I stumbled on a great one that I not only found fascinating, but realized could be applied to our writing project management, so I had to share it with you all! The podcast is called Planet Money, and in their summer session they aired an episode about decision-making that might just help you decide where to put your writing resources.
On this episode of The Academic Womxn Amplified, I’m explaining how to apply these economic principles to your project decision-making process. If you’re interested, you can check out the Planet Money podcast here.
Opportunity Costs Any time you decide to do something there is something else you're not doing. The true cost of doing anything is the next best alternative you've got to give up to do it. What could you do in place of this thing you're choosing? That's the opportunity cost.
When choosing to work on one project from the (most likely many) options you have in your pipeline, you're giving up the other projects--making them all take longer, or not get done at all.
AND when you work on email during your tiger time, you're giving up the writing project that you could be moving forward. What's the opportunity cost of working on writing projects that are low-pay off or not aligned with your mission? You're giving up the opportunity to work on the on-mission, high-impact projects.
“Any time you decide to do something, there is something else that you’re not doing.
The Cost-Benefit Principle Which of your writing projects has benefits that outweigh the costs? That is the project you should focus on. When doing your cost-benefit analysis, be sure you consider ALL the things that might be beneficial for you:
- Getting a job
- Career advancement
- Building your academic brand
- Improving your skill or knowledge
- Boosting career satisfaction
- Giving you joy in your work
The point is, consider all the things that are benefits for you, and weigh them against the costs (including those opportunity costs we talked about).
Sunk Costs Sunk costs are costs that cannot be reversed. When you work on a project, you can't get your time and energy back. Economists tell us not to consider sunk costs when making decisions. Sticking with something that is not working, won’t get your time back, but it will suck up even more of your precious time and resources. So, let those projects that don’t meet your cost-benefit analysis go--even if you've spent hours and hours on the project. You can never get those hours back, but you can save all the time needed to complete it.
This is why we talk about aligning projects with your mission statement and letting go of out-of-alignment projects in our programs. Be aware of those sunk costs!
Applications for our Amplify program are now open. You’ll get help implementing these economics principles for your own writing decision-making process, along with a whole host of other benefits, including one-on-one coaching, support from a cohort of like-minded womxn, education and resources.
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to join a cohort; apply for Amplify here.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode45.
It’s our one year anniversary at the Academic Womxn Amplified podcast! This calls for a giveaway.
This month the Academic Womxn Amplified podcast is having it’s one year anniversary! Our fans rave about our podcast, which is chock-full of juicy writing advice for academic womxn. We currently have 80,000 lifetime downloads… but that’s not good enough!
To reach more academic womxn who need our message we want to get to 100,000 downloads by September 30th. Sounds like the perfect opportunity for a giveaway!
Enter Cathy’s Podcast to 100K Giveaway, and you could win $500 in prizes.
Our winner will receive:
-
A one-year membership in Momentum ~$297 (Including but not limited to: daily co-writing opportunities, a private and active on-line community, invites to all of our client-only events)
-
My five favorite books for academic writers ~$100
- A mystery gift box full of goodies for putting on your own writing retreat at home ~$100
I want to continue to spread my message about changing academic culture and giving academic womxn the tools they need to find success on their terms; you can help.
To enter the giveaway, click here, then get more chances to win by sharing on social and subscribing to the podcast. The giveaway starts on Monday, Sept 7 and entries close Friday, September 11 at midnight.
Thank you for taking this journey with me, and for being the awesome academic womxn that you are!
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Are you believing any of these 5 myths about the tenure prep process? You could be setting yourself up for unneeded stress and worry, so let’s bust those myths.
Now that you’ve landed that tenure track job, it’s essential to cut through the clutter of what you think you have to do, kick guilt and overwhelm to the curb, and create a process that works without the burnout. Consider this my permission to stop believing these 5 myths, and stop acting as if they’re true.
Myth #1: You have to be quiet. Don’t believe the myth that you can’t speak your mind during your tenure process and need to keep your ideas to yourself to avoid retribution or not being thought of as a team player. At a healthy institution, your committee wants to know more about you: your views, your ideas, your style. So speak up!
“There’s this myth that you have to lay low or fly under the radar until you have tenure…”
Myth # 2: You have to work a 60+ hour work week. This myth isn’t relegated to the tenure-track process; many academics believe this one about their careers. It’s not true! To bust this myth, you need to learn project management, put systems in place, get clear on your academic mission, and put writing at the center. In my programs, we teach you all these skills to enable you to fit your work into a 40 hour workweek.
“You can get more done than you think.”
Myth #3: You should say yes to all publication opportunities. This myth stems from the fear based scarcity mentality that is all too common in academia. Many institutions are vague at best about how many publications you need to secure tenure, so it’s tempting to jump at every possible opportunity. But not all publications are created equal!
Clogging up your pipeline slows down all your projects, including the ones that really matter. Ignore this myth, and choose wisely.
Myth #4: Everyone has it figured out except for you. Everybody loses when you play the comparison game. Our experiences are all different, and we can’t know what someone else’s experiences and circumstances are really like. Trust me when I say, no one starts out the pre-tenure process with everything figured out.
“The work of pre-tenure is the process of figuring it out.”
Myth #5: It has to suck. We’re programmed to believe that the pre-tenure process has to be a grueling slog, and that we should just put our heads down, accept the overwork mentality, and struggle through. That mindset leads to burnout and collapse, so don’t accept it!
In my Navigate and Amplify programs we teach the skills and systems to make pre-tenure manageable, and surround you with like-minded women who aren’t willing to let the process grind them down.
Don’t miss out on Amplify! Don’t let these 5 myths get you down; there’s a different way to approach the pre-tenure process, and we’d love to show you how inside our Amplify program!
Find out how to navigate it on your terms, click here to learn more.
Included with the Amplify program:
- Our whole Navigate: the Writing Roadmap program
- Mastermind calls with a cohort of 8-10 womxn who complete the year-long program together
- One-on-one coaching on whatever you need
- Peer review, using a system created by one of our wonderful coaches
- Live trainings and a library of resources
- Writing retreats (virtual, for now)
- A community of like-minded womxn to support and encourage you!
As of this writing, we have 12 spaces available in 3 cohorts, but we want them filled by 9/30/20, so don’t wait! Click here to apply for Amplify: Faculty Writing Accelerator.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode44.
My guest on this episode is Adrianna Santos, passionate advocate for equity for women, immigrants, and marginalized communities. She shares about many mentors and inspirational figures in her life who led her to Latinx and Chicanx studies, processing trauma through performance and embodiment exercises, having babies during dissertation, and coming full circle to teach in her hometown. Yet another example of womxn walking “non-traditional” paths, she is training to become a doula, and is following her desires to learn more about her ancestral history.
Key points discussed:
- Adrianna’s childhood as a shy, bookworm only child in a large extended family [4:30]
- Discovering trauma processing through performance and spoken word [8:30]
- Inspirational figures and the importance of mentors in coming to Chicanx and Latinx studies [14:00]
- Attending an institution with the first PhD program in her area of study and getting to help shape that department [18:00]
- Dissertation writing while doing healing work and having her first baby [23:00]
- Getting back to creativity in writing when it is often about producing a ‘product’ in academia [26:00]
- Navigating the job market with a toddler and infant twins [30:00]
- Study surrounding inequities around birth and becoming a certified doula [40:00]
- Grief, loss and transition in our society [42:00]
- “Spiritual activism” and what that means to Adrianna [45:00]
Key Quotes:
- “I had an amazing team of…’femtors’, feminist mentors.” -Adrianna Santos
- “You’re proving that you have all this knowledge, then it doesn’t necessarily translate once you leave the academy.” -Adrianna Santos
- “It was a lot more difficult than I thought it was going to be, but it was a lot more fulfilling than I thought it would be too.” -Adrianna Santos
- “I feel really lucky, really grateful, to be at a place where I can kind of shape the institution.” -Adrianna Santos
- “There isn’t a space in society for us to talk about loss…” -Adrianna Santos
- “I’m really feeling inspired toward transformation and healing.” -Adrianna Santos
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode43.
When my guest on this episode was young, she was a curious and confident learner. She started higher education in her native Peru, but had to start over in high school when she and her family moved to the United States. Dr. Rocío Caballero Gill shares her story of learning English, following her love of the sciences, and most importantly, keeping her family at the center. We talk about her setbacks and successes, and what she’s doing now with GeoLatinas, a member-driven organization whose mission is to embrace, empower, and inspire Latinas to pursue and thrive in careers in Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Key points discussed:
- Rocío’s childhood in Peru as a curious leader and learner [3:30]
- Beginning higher education in Peru; choosing from limited options [6:00]
- Moving to the U.S. after one semester, having to go back to high school and learn English [9:30]
- Going to community college to stay close to family [14:00]
- Following each step and connection along her path; getting connected with the USGS [17:00]
- Feeling like a first generation college student because of language and culture barriers [18:00]
- Making decisions based on core values, and what she wants most from life and career [24:00]
- Being diagnosed with a chronic disorder and navigating what that meant for her career [28:00]
- Doing her dissertation and post-doc work in another state, and while pregnant [34:00]
- Finding GeoLatinas, and growing it as an organization to give other Latinas female mentors in their fields that she was never able to really find [41:00]
Key Quotes:
- “I’m going to be a learner for life.” -Rocío Caballero Gill
- “Why do we have to wait? Why don’t we just do it at the same time?” -Rocío Caballero Gill
- “I had to be intentional.” -Rocío Caballero Gill
- “What things do I really want? What things can I let go?” -Rocío Caballero Gill
- “The support system I had was really important.” -Rocío Caballero Gill
- “Where do I want my energy to go?” -Rocío Caballero Gill
- “I know what I want in the future, and the question is, how do I make it happen without the fear of not knowing all there is to know…” -Rocío Caballero Gill
Connect with Dr. Rocío Caballero Gill:
Website
Connect with GeoLatinas:
Website
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode42.
Dr. Sandra Soto Santiago has come full circle in her career, finding passion and purpose in helping others with similar backgrounds to access higher education. She talks about being a first generation college student and the first in her family to earn graduate degrees.
She also shares her personal story, being raised by a single mother who worked hard and emphasized education for a better life for her family; moving from Puerto Rico to the US then back to Puerto Rico; the challenges she faced and people who helped her along the way.
We discuss how vital mentors are to youth who come from impoverished and underprivileged backgrounds, and the ways Sandra is now actively engaged in this valuable work.
Key points discussed:
- Growing up as the child of a single mom who struggled to provide for her family and emphasized the need for her kids to get an education [5:00]
- Moving to the US and the shift from being top of the class to struggling with English and getting poor grades [8:00]
- The importance of mentors encouraging her to take AP classes, SATs, and apply for college [10:00]
- Moving back to Puerto Rico, scraping together money for entrance exams, and going to college a year late [14:00]
- Realizing she was different; not a lot of other first generation college students who had come from her kind of experiences [21:00]
- Seeing herself and her story in her research participants [28:00]
- Mentoring and its importance to first generation college students [32:00]
- Getting a tenure track teaching job at her alma mater [42:00]
- Increasing poverty in Puerto Rico and disparities in college access [46:00]
- The CUA (University Center for Access) program [50:00]
Key Quotes:
- “Being a college professor would give me power, in a good way, to do other things in the classroom.” -Sandra Soto Santiago
- “When I was...doing the interviews with the return migrants, I kept listening to my story.” -Sandra Soto Santiago
- “You have to know what you’re worth.” -Sandra Soto Santiago
- “You should be able to make choices that work for you.” -Sandra Soto Santiago
- “There are parts of my career that I've decided not to focus on as much.” -Sandra Soto Santiago
- “The reality is that when you really have to choose between eating and paying for books or paying for tuition, it’s not accessible, it’s not fair.” -Sandra Soto Santiago
- “I think if there’s one thing you should do, it’s surround yourself with the right people.” -Sandra Soto Santiago
Connect with Sandra Soto Santiago:
The CUA (University Center for Access)
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode41.
Dr. Jane Jones has had the “golden ticket” job, and she will be the first to tell you: it’s not for everyone. She may have landed a tenure track job her first year on the market, but after 3 years she knew it was not for her. Racial inequity, lack of creative freedom and the constraints of academia led her away from the professor life she had always wanted, and toward her own entrepreneurial venture.
As an editor and academic writing coach she is still in the world of academia, but is navigating it solely on her own terms. She exemplifies the truth that academic womxn don’t have to follow a “traditional” path, and is helping to break down barriers around what academics ‘should’ and ‘shouldn’t’ do.
Key points discussed:
- Jane’s “nerdy” childhood full of books and learning interests led to college and grad school to debate and talk about ideas [4:00]
- Getting a tenure track job immediately, and discovering it was not for her [10:00]
- Culture shock of leaving big city culture to teach at a small college that did not adequately address failings in racial equity [13:00]
- Taking a fellowship with a non-profit organization as a way to ease out of her situation and avoid some of the shock at leaving the academic community [19:30
- Deciding to leave academia altogether and starting her own business [21:00]
- Growing an editing business through hustle and networking [22:30]
- How academia on the inside differs from what it looks like on the outside [27:00]
- The lack of creative freedom that can come with the academic life [35:00]
- The differences in perception between changing careers inside and outside of academia [37:30]
- Differences between editing and coaching for academic writers [44:00]
- Realistic timelines for writing an academic book [53:00]
Key Quotes:
- “I didn’t have a lot of mentorship around [things] like what’s the best program… who do you want to work with.” -Jane Jones
- “...as a sociologist who studies race, I’m even more concerned about this.” -Jane Jones
- “That was one of the points where I was like, ‘This is not it. This is not what I signed up for…’” -Jane Jones
- “If I could go somewhere, where would it be?” -Jane Jones
- “I knew that if I wanted to be an academic I had to go on the job market immediately, because ‘that’s what you do’”. -Jane Jones
- This idea that… if I do ‘x’ then ‘y’ will never happen is so ingrained in academic culture.” -Cathy Mazak
- “I don’t want to keep giving my power to other people… If I’m gonna mess things up, I’m going to mess them up.” -Jane Jones
- “You think you have a lot of freedom, and you don’t.” -Jane Jones
- “There is a narrative that if you leave academia you must be a failure or a punk in some way.” -Jane Jones
- “No one teaches you how to do any of this.” -Jane Jones
Connect with Jane Jones: Website
Elevate
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode40.
Cara Gormally joins me on this interview episode of the Academic Womxn Amplified podcast to share her journey from someone who hated math and science, to an academic with a passion for science and science education. She talks about the importance of finding joy in our academic pursuits, her interests in how identity impacts learning and her drive for changing the way we do science education.
Cara shares about teaching at the country’s only deaf and hard of hearing college, and how she came through the tenure process while learning the language she teaches in. We also discuss how a change in the basic science knowledge in our society could impact how we approach things like pandemics, and making science concepts more accessible and widely useful by viewing them through a social justice lens.
Key point discussed:
- Cara’s childhood as a bookworm, middle class kid; learning flexibility from moving around a lot [5:30]
- Discovering a love for science after being required to take philosophy of science courses at her small college [7:00]
- Finding a perfect match, getting into a great lab, and a positive grad school experience [12:00]
- Funding as a TA leading her to another area of research: biology education [14:15]
- Passions for teaching others how to teach and a drive to do research [16:15]
- Coming to teach at a deaf and hard of hearing college; learning ASL along the way [18:00]
- Navigating the pre-tenure process in a second language [22:00]
- The “now what?” period of reflection after receiving tenure [24:00]
- Scaling back and focusing in when her son was born and beyond [25:00]
- Collaborations and the importance of who you work with [28:30]
- The exhaustion of applying for things, and whether it’s worth it [29:30]
- Transitioning to “Covid learning” [33:00]
- What she is doing in our current moment to make science and science education more impactful [37:30]
- Creating a brand new curriculum: science through the lens of social justice [40:00]
- Finding the parts of academia that work for an individual; choosing service work that is meaningful and useful, finding the sweet spots in an academic career [41:00]
Key Quotes:
- “It should be about joy.” -Cara Gormally
- “When you’re not tenure track, you get trampled.” -Cara Gormally
- “I got really intentional about my research projects.” -Cara Gormally
- “Applying to things is not always that fruitful.” -Cara Gormally
- “All of a sudden, we had half the time to do our jobs.” -Cara Gormally
- “We could be collectively trying to re-imagine and make something much better.” -Cara Gormally
- “How can we also showcase diverse scientists?” -Cara Gormally
- “I can’t teach what I’m teaching anymore...we have to do something different.” -Cara Gormally
- “Academia should be joyful.” -Cathy Mazak
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode39.
Sarah Dobson’s journey has exemplified the idea that it is not our “container” (the university or institution we work for) that matters in impacting the world, but rather our interests, passions, and drive.
In this interview episode of The Academic Womxn Amplified, Sarah shares about her academic path, and how serious illness during her graduate studies pushed her away from pursuing a PhD, and into a variety of arenas where she has been able to have a huge impact in her field of public health. She talks about co-founding and running a non-profit, doing research as a ‘non-academic’, academic adjacent career paths, and entrepreneurship. We also talk about our current moment and the definitive links between systemic racism and poor health outcomes.
Key point discussed:
- Sarah’s beginnings, searching for the right program and finding her community [4:30]
- Taking a detour to law school [7:30]
- Relief and lessons learned from quitting law school [8:30]
- Differentiating between excelling for the sake of it and excelling at something personally important [10:30]
- Taking graduate classes in her second language [14:45]
- Getting extremely sick and taking extended time off during graduate study [15:00]
- Over-achieving, insecurity, and the need to prove herself [18:30]
- Her need for stability and a steady job outweighing a desire for her PhD [20:00]
- Working at a center for educating health professionals and doing research outside of academia [21:00]
- Ground-breaking contributions and impact in health education throughout Canada and the world [22:00]
- Co-founding and directing a non-profit [25:30]
- Building her own company in an ‘academic adjacent’ field [29:30]
- Consulting on grant-writing and how she helps early career scholars make their grant ideas meaningful to others [32:00]
- Systemic racism, racist patriarchy in academia, and how to make an impact individually and systemically [34:00]
- Sarah’s advice for self-reflection and finding your own way to make an impact [41:30]
Key Quotes:
- “In the end it was such a relief...to recognize that this was not the path for me.” -Sarah Dobson
- “Not going straight through is a valid path for academia.” -Cathy Mazak
- “I just needed to take a breath.” -Sarah Dobson
- “Writing is an act of empathy.” -Sarah Dobson
- “There are lots of different opportunities to do what you love and to make a difference.” -Sarah Dobson
Links & Resources:
- Sarah Dobson's website
- Free grant-writing workbook to help you work out and pace your next grant application
- Sarah on Twitter
- Sarah on Facebook
- Cite Black Women
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode38.
Dr. Becky Dawson is a public health epidemiologist who has strategically navigated her journey through academia with determination and purpose. Prompting from an early mentor led her to discover her passion at the intersection of environment and health.
Becky shares her path through graduate study, PhD defense (on her due date!), leaving a tenure track job at an R-1 institution to return to her alma mater, winning tenure, and co-founding a brand new health agency on her campus. We talk about how education can encompass many different avenues, and how relationships and community building can enhance academia just as much as publishing and traditional teaching.
Becky shares her sudden propulsion into the spotlight as an expert on infectious disease in the time of Covid-19, and how this has amplified her work and message. She also gives us her top thinking points and recommendations for our own health during the pandemic.
Key points discussed:
- Picking a college based on athletics, confidence as a college athlete [5:45]
- Finding her senior project topic and future field of graduate study through the valuable advice of a mentor [10:30]
- Returning for her PhD with newfound clarity after working in a post-grad position in D.C. [11:45]
- Finding a model job and pursuing the person who occupied that job for information and advice [13:30]
- Starting a Phd at 30 (her nickname was “gramma”) and pregnancy during the dissertation process [16:45]
- Receiving a gift of time from an advisor and paying forward kindness and grace [18:00]
- Landing and leaving a tenure track job at a top research institution [23:00]
- Having a “yes/no” friend to help talk through important decisions [25:30]
- Restarting the tenure track clock and proving herself at her current institution [30:00]
- The emergence of Covid-19 and how it thrust her into the spotlight as an epidemiologist [36:30]
- Fame as an academic [40:00]
- Using time blocking and boundaries to structure her time and accomplish her goals [41:30]
- Teaching epidemiology during a pandemic [45:30]
- Co-directing a brand new agency and stepping away from teaching for a time [48:30]
- Dr. Becky’s top items we all need to think about going forward in the time of Covid-19 [1:00:30]
Key Quotes:
- “One person can make all the difference.” -Becky Dawson
- “I’m looking forward to the day that I actually have the opportunity to pay it forward…” -Becky Dawson
- “Everyone needs to go get yourself a yes/no friend.” -Cathy Mazak
- “I’m in it because I want communities to be healthy, and I want to train the next generation of students that also want to make communities healthy.” -Becky Dawson
- “I was very careful with my time.” -Becky Dawson
- “Who am I at my core?” -Becky Dawson
- “Who is your team?” -Becky Dawson
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode37.
For this interview episode of The Academic Womxn Amplified, I’m talking with a member of my own team, whose journey has brought her to the highest levels of achievement in academia… and out the other side.
Gina has always been a passionate learner, at home in classrooms and schools. Her path included travel abroad, where she discovered a passion for languages and cultures. She shares about taking a job outside of academia, testing her theory of wanting to become a professor and gaining invaluable skills that helped her when she returned to the academic world.
She also shares about having babies during her dissertation process, finding a tenure-track position, and what it was like to finally get tenure. We talk about writing and publishing, the nitty-gritty details of faculty jobs, and getting clarity about what you really want and operating in your ‘zone of genius’.
Key points discussed:
- Growing up in an atmosphere of learning [3:00]
- Participating in Upward Bound and the opportunities this opened [6:30]
- Finding herself in college, with other people who love to learn [8:30]
- The life-changing experience of travel abroad [9:45]
- Taking a job after graduation and the experience gained [15:45]
- Having a baby the day after she turned in her dissertation draft [20:30]
- Starting a tenure-track job and feeling completely lost [23:30]
- Picking a dissertation topic through the lens of her passions [27:15]
- Using project management skills gained in the corporate world to help her in her dissertation process [28:00]
- Approaching writing and publishing and dealing with rejection [30:00]
- Learning lessons and building on confidence in publishing [31:45]
- Parenting while teaching, bringing kids to class, and being an example for others who are trying to have babies and navigate academia [37:00]
- The feeling of anti-climax upon getting tenure, and what that meant for her [44:00]
- Reflecting on what we really want; realizing that academia does not have to be the end goal, and that leaving a tenured position is ok. [51:30]
- Having the confidence to embrace failing and making mistakes and to keep learning in that way. [55:00]
Key Quotes:
- “This combines all of the things that I have discovered I love: reading and writing and traveling, and talking to people.” -Gina Robinson
- “I kind of felt like I wanted to make some of my own mistakes…” -Gina Robinson
- “Don’t feel bad about asking those things, because everybody was there at a certain point.” -Gina Robinson
- “Why is every person making these big mistakes, all alone, in their offices…” -Cathy Mazak
- “Yes, you can have a baby and you will still get a PhD.” -Gina Robinson
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode36.
On this episode of The Academic Womxn Amplified I’m speaking with Dr. Maira Quintanilha. She shares about growing up in Brazil in a culture where higher education was a given, and the struggle to balance family expectations and her own desires in choosing a field of study. After studying in Canada for a time, she knew she wanted to return; she credits other women academics with helping her find a way back to Canada for her graduate and PhD studies, and giving her a passion for mentorship.
She talks about her decision to have children during her graduate research, how securing external grant funding made this possible, and how conducting qualitative research on the postpartum experiences of immigrants while pregnant affected her. We talk a little bit about race issues and the inequity inherent in our healthcare systems. Maira’s academic journey has taken her from Brazil to Canada, through having children at an unconventional point in her career, receiving her PhD and now to her passion of sharing knowledge and insight with other academics through qualitative research methods training.
Key points discussed:
- Growing up in Brazil with a love for learning and a family that valued education [3:30]
- Expectations of family, dealing with crisis, and coming to a field of study [6:30]
- Studying in a new country and feeling freedom as a young woman [10:30]
- Reaching out to contacts and finding support from other academic women to return to Canada for graduate study [12:30]
- The power of community and mentorship in helping each other achieve dreams and know which steps to take next [15:00]
- Starting a job after graduation, finding it wasn’t the right fit, and returning to academia for graduate studies [16:45]
- Dealing with residency status and joining a study led by an admired researcher [18:00]
- Messiness of community-based study, application for grant awards, and dealing with other academics who don’t know what they don’t know [21:00]
- Having babies during the PhD process, the financial privilege of personal grant money, and navigating the opinions and microaggressions of colleagues [24:00]
- Learning from study participants, studying birth complications while pregnant, seeing participants struggles through the lens of her own experience [35:00]
- Qualitative research as investigating the human experience, with all its joy and sadness [38:30]
- Public health and racism [43:00]
- Seeing new angles on her research as a result of current events [47:00]
- Launching a new course to help people be more reflective in their qualitative research [49:00]
- Course aims: discouraging (perceived) neutrality in students, helping them become more attuned to their own experiences and what it means for research, being more compassionate with subjects and with themselves. [51:00]
- The vital role of community in supporting qualitative researchers [56:00]
Key Quotes:
- “All paths are legitimate paths.” -Cathy Mazak
- “I always did my homework when I came looking for answers.” -Maira Quintanilha
- “We can learn so much from each other and I think we can uplift each other more than we sometimes recognize.” -Maira Quintanilha
- “You often feel as if you’re doing what no one else is doing by having kids during your graduate program…” -Maira Quintanilha
- “Having my babies really changed how I look at the data.” -Maira Quintanilha
- “That connection between public health and racism is really deep and old and we’re seeing it so clearly right now.” -Cathy Mazak
- “We cannot go back to ‘normal’.” -Maira Quintanilha
- “It’s never too late. It’s later than yesterday, but sooner than tomorrow, right?” -Maira Quintanilha
- “It’s easier to catch a breath when you have people alongside you to support you.” -Maira Quintanilha
More information and resources from Dr. Maira Quintanilha:
- Facebook Group: Quali Q for Qualitative Minds
- 7 Reflections for Better Responses
- Quali Q Guide to Qualitative Content Analysis
Connect with me: * Website * Facebook Group * Facebook Page
This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode35.
On this interview episode of The Academic Womxn Amplified we are starting our series sharing the life stories of academic womxn to explore how they have created success for themselves on their own terms. Let’s bust the myth of a “traditional” path to academia, one story at a time.
Dr. Felicia Thomas grew up in the 1970’s in Detroit as a talkative, insatiable learner in a close-knit extended family. She moved from the inner city to a small New England town to attend college, and became the first college graduate in her family. She moved on to become an ordained minister and the first woman pastor at the church she led.
Through marriage, children, pastoring, travel, moving to new cities, and the death of her father, Dr. Felicia Thomas followed her dream to write on her own circuitous path to become a tenure-track professor at Morgan State University.
Key point discussed with Dr. Felicia Thomas:
- Felicia’s backstory, growing up in 1970’s Detroit, becoming first generation college graduate [5:00]
- College as a means to an end, not as a road to academia [9:00]
- Taking a low pay job out of college [9:45]
- Feeling a calling to preach, attending seminary, becoming ordained [10:25]
- Getting married, having children, and parenting alone while husband traveled [12:00]
- Feeling like life was sucking her dry [13:15]
- The urge to write and feeling like it could replace what was being depleted in life [13:40]
- Some things take longer than planned; completing the artist's way in 1 yr, rather than 12 weeks [14:20]
- Coming to the idea of academia in a roundabout way [16:40]
- Discovering her love for graduate study; reading, writing, immersiveness of campus [19:40]
- 4-year program with 5-year funding allocation ended up taking 9 years [20:50]
- Piecing together research in non-traditional ways to fit it around life and family demands [22:00]
- Struggling to find self-validation and realize that what she had to say matters. [24:00]
- A PhD advisor who didn’t pour into her; forcing her to find the support she needed [25:40]
- Finding “sister colleagues”; academic women who supported each other through the challenges of PhD life and beyond [26:00]
- Burn out by the time she reached dissertation defense [27:20]
- Dealing with her father’s illness and death during “PhD hell” [29:30]
- Struggling through moving to a new city [30:45]
- Trying to find work in a glutted job market [33:30]
- Beginnings as a substitute for adjunct faculty then online instructor [34:00]
- Precariousness of position while waiting for decisions on tenure track job [38:00]
- Getting ready to go up for tenure, publication, and uncertainties caused by Covid-19 [40:00]
- Embracing the hard and accepting that the ‘traditional’ path was not made for us as women [42:30]
Key Quotes:
- “Everything in my life was sucking me dry.” -Felicia Thomas
- “The thing that I felt might sort of replace some of what I was putting out was writing, was more creative pursuits, and I just couldn’t find time to write.” -Felicia Thomas
- “I just had to find another way” -Felicia Thomas
- “Be nice to the assistants in the office! They know everything, and they will help you if you are nice to them.” -Felicia Thomas
- “The path is the path. It is what it is.” -Cathy Mazak
- “The 20 years would have passed anyway.” -Felicia Thomas
- “I’ll do what I have to do, PhD or no PhD.” -Felicia Thomas
Connect with me: Website
Facebook Group
Facebook Page
This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode34.
Are you worried about what your summer might look like as an academic this year? I’m sharing advice and actionable tips for how to get writing done, even this summer.
Summer has a beautiful appeal to us as academics. The spring semester is over and summer stretches ahead of us with the appeal of more control, more time, less demands. But, even when we’re not dealing with a global pandemic, we often arrive at the end of summer with a lot less accomplished than we had hoped.
In this episode of The Academic Woman Amplified I’m giving you my advice for how to approach summer writing no matter what your circumstances are like right now. I’m sharing goal setting basics, skills you need to develop, and the secret to having a summer full of ease.
We are living through unprecedented times right now, and this summer promises to be different than any other we’ve experienced. As I’ve been talking with many of you, I’m noticing some trends about how many of you are feeling, that seem to fall into three areas (some of which overlap).
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You may have increased care demands this summer. Your kids are probably going to be home with you, you may have an elderly family member you are caring for, or other household members working from home. Your day may include much more time spent caring for others than your typical summer day in past summers.
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You may have increased levels of anxiety. You might be worrying about the pandemic and its effects on your life. Much of your brain space is taken up with worry, on news channels, or trying to maintain connections with others through social media. You might feel like you don’t have much left over for writing.
Both of these things are valid, they make sense, and I’ve got strategies for you to deal with them.
- You might feel like you actually have more time and the opportunity to get more done than you usually do. Maybe a lot of time that you spent commuting or on in-person activities is now available to you. You might be balancing feelings of guilt over seeing positives in this negative situation with the desire to take advantage of this time. Well, I’m giving you permission to see something positive amidst the negative.
No matter which of these camps you see yourself in, we can make this summer work for you and your writing.
Goal Setting Basics When you get ready to set goals for the summer, here are three things I want you to do to make sure those goals serve you well.
“There’s no way that you’re going to get anywhere unless you have some goals in mind.”
- Plan Less to Accomplish More It’s so tempting to try and push through with a giant list of goals, but I am here to tell you that if you try to do that, you will end up with less to show for your efforts at the end of the summer than if you pared it back. Keep in mind the visual of a pipeline vs. a funnel:
Pipeline= a steady flow; when you start one project at the beginning of your pipeline, it comes smoothly out the other end.
Funnel= a stopped up trickle; you dump lots of things in at the beginning, but hardly any of them come out the bottom, and if they do, it takes forever.
You want to keep your projects flowing through your pipeline, so the key is to only work on a few at a time, otherwise you risk the funnel effect.
- Use the Power of the Big Three Scale your big list of projects and tasks back to three. Three is a reasonable number to hold in our minds, and to get done in three months. Focusing on a smaller number relieves overwhelm and frees your mind. If you accomplish those 3 goals early, then (and only then) you can choose another. This means you will have to get strategic and make some hard decisions about what to keep and what to push back or cut.
“Not every project is worth your time.”
- Create Positive Feedback Loops by Choosing Goals You Can Crush I always recommend Jon Acuff’s book “Finish” when talking about goal setting. In it, he talks about the importance of accomplishing goals to boost confidence in order to be able to continue on to finish what you start. The way to do this is to cut your goals in half, or double the amount of time you give yourself to finish them. When you are able to accomplish your goals, the wave of momentum and confidence keeps you going.
3 Skills to Develop to Support Your Writing This Summer Giving yourself strong, accomplishable goals is the first step. Once you have those set, you need to develop these 3 vital skills to support your writing and check off those goals.
- Writing Project Management We’re always managing multiple projects as academics, and summer is no different in that respect. You need to hone your project management skills to be able to break down your projects into tasks, manage deadlines, direct team members or work with co-authors.
In my Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap course we teach project management skills and how to apply them for your specific goals.
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Writing Systems Development Writing systems are any recurring practices you use to get your writing done. (Panic writing when a deadline is bearing down on you is not a writing system!) What do you have in your toolbox full of strategies to help you manage the challenges this summer might present? For example:
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How is your system going to help you balance your brain space with anxieties you may be dealing with?
- How will your system work in tandem with extra care constraints?
In my programs, we teach how to develop systems, with an emphasis on the Tiger Time method, which I cover in detail on Episode 2.
Keep in mind that if writing just isn’t going to fit into your life this summer, you should take the summer off from writing. But be sure to look at your calendar and plan a re-entry date.
- Pipeline Planning To keep that pipeline flowing smoothly, you’ll need to practice pipeline strategy and pipeline management. Strategy involves planning out what you will work on to benefit your overall goals and career plan. Management involves working through your pipeline, tending it to be sure it doesn’t turn into a funnel.
We cover both of these components in our Writing Roadmap course, teaching you how to strategize, manage and adapt your pipeline to fit your needs.
The Secret to a Summer Full of Ease Notice I didn’t say “the secret to an easy summer”. I’m not promising that following this advice will make things “easy”, but that it will help you release some of the tension and overwhelm, and make you feel more at ease this summer. Are you ready? Here it is:
The very first thing you need to plan this summer is a break.
If you can, take a full week completely free from all academic demands. Planning rest proactively prevents you from collapsing later.
You are living through traumatic times, with a lot of extra emotional and mental work supporting students, switching classes online, dealing with work-from-home situations that may not be conducive to work. You need to rest! Plan a block of as many consecutive days as you can.
Additional Resource to Take Control of Your Writing Enrollment for my Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap course is now open! It only opens for one week, so don’t delay if you want to join us to develop the core skills we’ve talked about in this episode.
Included with the course are 10 modules; each module is 1-2 hours long and we recommend working through one per week, but you can take them at whatever pace works for you! You have lifetime access as soon as you register.
Also included are a strong community in our private Facebook group and 3 group coaching calls with our coaches and a cohort of other women just like you. We draw on our years of coaching experience as well as the collective wisdom and experience of the community during these calls, connecting you not only to valuable information, but to others in the same situations that you are in. Click here to learn more and register.
When you register, you are granted lifetime access to the course materials. To give you an idea of the kind of teaching you’ll get, here is a quick overview of each of our 10 modules:
- Map Your Mission
Learn how to craft your academic mission statement, how to apply it in your career and make decisions against it.
- Align Your Activities
Complete an activities audit to see everything you’re doing, which things should stay and which should go. We’ll help you craft a plan to remove the things that need to go, and align what’s left with your mission.
- Time Management
Learn how to corral time intense activities like email, prioritize student interactions and realistically choose your projects.
- Develop Your Writing System
Learn our signature system using the tiger time method, and build up a toolbox of customized strategies.
- Goal Setting
Learn 3 types of goals, and how to set achievable goals to boost your confidence.
- Breaking Projects into Tasks
Learn what this means and how to do it. You’ll make a confident plan for breaking down big projects into small, actionable tasks.
- Managing Mindset
Learn the importance of what you believe about your writing practice and what you believe about yourself as a writer. Learn strategies to combat guilt, overwhelm, imposter syndrome and more.
- Setting Up a Publication Pipeline
Learn how to customize a pipeline that is specific to you, how to assess its function and remove blockages.
- How to Make a Year Plan
Get guidance for yearly planning to accomplish your goals and keep your pipeline flowing.
- How to Plan Long Term
Learn how to make a long term plan, balancing long term goal setting with inevitable uncertainty.
I’d love for you to join us! Click here to register.
This marks the end of my Spring podcasting semester. I’ll be back in June to start up the summer semester. In the meantime, be sure to check out my Facebook page to take advantage of free trainings and Facebook live videos.
I can’t wait to get back to you in June with more episodes! If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to share it with a friend, subscribe, rate and review it. Thank you!
Connect with me: Website
Facebook Group
Facebook Page
This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode33.
How do you feel about your writing right now? Guilty over outstanding projects? Overwhelmed by this unprecedented semester? Confused about how others are getting things done? Maybe one of these 3 mistakes is holding you back.
Academic women are a diverse and electrifying group. I truly get so much energy from working and interacting with such an incredible group of people.
But the more academic women I get to know, the more I realize that we have some things in common that need to stop. If guilt, overwhelm, and confusion are weighing you down, consider whether you are making one of these mistakes.
Mistake #1: Thinking You’re Supposed to Know What to Do It may feel like you should know what to do when you become an academic, but why do we assume that? You may have had wonderful PhD mentors who helped guide you in writing for graduation, but that’s not the same thing as writing for publication. Now that you’ve graduated, who do you ask?
“Academia doesn’t come with a handbook.”
It’s ok not to know! It’s important that we get together in community, support each other, share what we know and ask for help.
Mistake #2: Thinking You’re the Only One Struggling Please believe me when I say, you are not alone! In my I Should Be Writing Facebook group there are 12,000+ members; posting in this group quickly shows you that there are so many others sharing your worries, concerns and struggles.
In my webinar chats and other programming, there is always a chorus of “yes, yes, me too!” and “I thought I was the only one!”. We are all in this together; through the frustrations of juggling commitments, co-author guilt, rejections, and stress of not knowing how to navigate it all, you are not alone.
Mistake #3: Thinking That YOU Are the Problem This one really gets me. Ladies, as I say at the beginning of all my podcasts, women are revolutionizing academia within institutions that were not built for us. The impenetrable “ivory tower” is the problem, not you!
As a woman, you have likely had to fight your way into where you are. The patriarchal culture of academia wants you to think that when you feel pulled in a thousand directions, or you don’t know what to do, it’s because you are deficient. I even hear women say that it’s ‘personal weakness’ that keeps them from being able to write that 1000 words a day. It’s just not true. The problem is trying to operate within a system that doesn’t work for you, in a culture that is not built for you.
“You are not the problem.”
The good news is that all these things are learnable! Ways of doing things that respect women as whole beings, and don’t ask us to sacrifice ourselves to a patriarchal model do exist. Struggling through motherhood and being a professor, I learned a lot of these things through trial and error, but I don’t want you to have to endure that struggle!
If you want to join me to learn ways to live academic life on your terms, get ready to register for The Academic Woman’s Writing Roadmap course. Enrollment opens this Friday (May 1, 2020)!
This course is based on my experiences as a tenured professor and mom of 3, as well as the experiences of over 150 women I’ve mentored and worked with. The course is self-paced, but includes opportunities for connection and group work in a private facebook group and group coaching calls. You keep your access to the course information forever.
How can you be sure to get the info on joining us for this course, and to get information on all my other offerings?
- Join us for the Summer Writing Challenge! It’s a free, 5-day challenge with 5 different topics to help you make this a great writing summer. You might need a new approach for this complex summer; we can help.
- Download my PDF cheat sheet, 10 Ways to Make Time to Write and you’ll be added to my email list.
- Check me out on Facebook. I often go live on my page to address issues that people bring up in the group… check those out any time! Request to join our group, I Should Be Writing, and you can add your email to my mailing list when prompted.
I hope you’ll join us in one of our community opportunities to keep learning, sharing, and changing academia from the inside. Remember, you’re not alone, it’s all learnable, and you can do this!
Connect with me: Website
Facebook Group
Facebook Page
This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode32.
Is writing constantly dropping to the bottom of your to-list? Do you have a growing pile of half done projects? You may be holding on to myths about writing that are holding you back.
If you’re like many women I work with, you have a list of almost-done projects: revise-and-resubmits, drafts that need to be hacked out, reviews you’ve promised. You’re trying to figure out how to get through this semester, you’re trying to plan next semester, your list of to-do’s is a mile long.
“So much of our writing practice is about our beliefs about writing.”
The reality is that chaos always seems to take over, and writing projects keep dropping to the bottom of the list. Part of the reason that writing projects keep getting pushed out may be because you are holding on to one or more of these 5 writing myths. So let’s break them down, and bust them with some reality checks.
Myth #1: You Need Inspiration to Write I used to wait for inspiration, or to feel ‘in the mood’ to write. That went right out the window when I had my first baby. There was never a time I felt inspired, or in the mood to write. There was hardly any time to feel anything!
Reality: You Need a System to Write You need a system, complete with a set of established practices, that you can rely on and go back to. A system gives your writing a rhythm, and it gives you a way to get back on the wagon if you fall off.
In my Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap course we teach participants to develop and establish a writing system that works, instead of waiting around for inspiration to strike.
Myth #2: You Need to Work Nights and Weekends Becoming a mom blew this idea out of the water too. Getting up before the kids to get writing done sounds good, but when your kid gets up at 4am it doesn’t really pan out. And you shouldn’t have to do this to get your work done anyway! The idea of the ‘dedicated scholar’ burning the midnight oil is a decidedly male idea (who’s feeding this guy? Where are his kids?). We need to let go of the myth that we need to work at all hours to get things done.
Reality: You Need a Concrete Plan You need to plan well to corral your activities, including writing, into a reasonable work schedule. Stacking your schedule is a great way to do this. Stacking means you put like activities together on the same day, stacked on top of each other to prevent bleeding over. I made sure to put lesson planning time on the same day as office hours and meeting with grad students, all those teaching kinds of activities stack on top of each other.
Myth #3: You Need Big Block of Time for Writing If you’ve ever been granted a sabbatical, or had some other event that loosened up your schedule, then you already know: having big blocks of time does not necessarily mean you get more writing done. Having the time doesn’t automatically mean you know what to do with it. And you don’t need it to be able to get the writing done.
Reality: You Need to Find and Use Your Tiger Time “Tiger time” is a term coined by entrepreneur Amy Porterfield. It refers to those times when you are most focused, energetic and creative. These times will vary based on your personality, and your current life circumstances. To learn more about tiger time and how to find yours, check out Episode 2 of the podcast. You’ll get much more quality writing done during your tiger time then during (potentially non-existent) big blocks outside your tiger time.
Myth #4: You’re Too Busy to Write This is not a total myth...in all likelihood, you are too busy, and should probably drop a few things off your plate. But, you are not too busy to get writing done.
Reality: Your Activities Are Not Aligned Sometimes we feel even busier than we are because our activities are not in alignment. The answer is to find a focus for our careers and to align all of our activities behind that focus.
In the Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap course, we walk participants through a step-by-step plan for how to align everything in their careers behind a personal academic mission statement. We teach a structure for decision-making, and how to implement a timeline for finishing or quitting projects. These steps are the key to stop feeling like you are pulled in a thousand directions, and finding the time to write.
“To feel less frazzled, you need to make your activities more cohesive.”
Myth #5: You Don’t Have Enough Time to Write I get it! I spent a lot of time spinning my wheels and feeling like I never had enough time. Academic women have full plates, and lots of competing demands on our time.
Reality: There Are More Important Factors Than Time I’ve learned that intentional focus, pre-planning, and aligning activities are more important than the quantity of time you have. I’ve learned how to manage these things through trial-and-error, but you don’t have to! You can go from freaked out to 5-year plan with me. We teach time management, focus, planning, and mindset in The Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap program. Registration opens May 1st! Make sure you get all the info on how to register, plus never miss a podcast episode or free live video training. Here’s how to get on the mailing list to make sure you’re in the know:
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Join our I Should Be Writing Facebook group. Provide your email address when prompted in the questions and you’re on the list!
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Download my free PDF cheat sheet 10 Ways to Make Time to Write and you’re on the list!
Coming soon: The Summer Writing Challenge! Starting April 27th, we’ll take 5 days to get ready to make this summer (yes, even this one!) a great writing summer. Join us!
Connect with me: Website
Facebook Group
Facebook Page
This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode31.
What exactly is a writing system and why do you need one? I’m taking you through 3 parts of an effective system, and showing you why you need one.
You might think you already have a writing system if you try to write a certain number of words everyday, or you employ the Pomodoro technique in your writing sessions. But these are goals, not systems. So what is a writing system? And why do you need one?
Here is my definition of a writing system:
“A set of practices, rooted in a value system about writing, that is employed strategically to help you meet your goals.”
Let’s break that down and look at each of the 3 parts that comprise it.
A Set of Practices These are certain things that you do regularly, combinations of activities relating to your writing. This does not mean a number of words that you try to write each day. These are things like:
- How and when you schedule your writing time, and how you honor that time.
- How you keep track of your writing progress.
- What rewards you give yourself for reaching writing milestones.
- How you choose what projects to focus on next.
- How you keep track of the time writing takes, and how you refine your time allocations.
In my Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap course and all my other programs, we teach a set of practices, to pull back the curtain on how academic women actually get their writing done, so you're not re-inventing the wheel. These practices are flexible, you tailor them to your own life.
Rooted in a Value System About Writing Our practices grow from the foundation of our values concerning writing and what it means for us as women and academics. Some values that root and ground a writing system are:
- Putting writing at the center of our careers. We recognize that by putting writing in the central place and building our careers around it we become better scholars, teachers, researchers and members of our academic communities.
- Using the feminization of academic culture as an underpinning for our writing systems. This helps us keep in mind the ways in which patriarchy is infused into academia and reminds us to honor and support the experiences of academic women as whole beings.
- Reducing guilt and overwhelm and building systems that repel them. Any writing practices we employ must help us make our writing feel good instead of allowing us to become overwhelmed or overworked.
- Building positive momentum. Our writing systems help us to feel positive, inspired, and excited to write.
Employed Strategically to Meet Goals All of your practices are like your bag of tricks; they are a toolbox full of actions you can choose from as needed. Things will always ebb and flow, your life and career circumstances change. As you move through these changes, you can strategically choose the practices that help you reach the goals you have in that moment.
Why You Need a True Writing System This type of system might sound a little complicated at first. Why do I believe you need to have a system for your writing instead of individual goals?
- When you have a system, you have a way back into your writing if you get off track.
If your whole system is “write 500 words a day” and then a crisis hits and you can’t stick to that, what happens to your writing? Does guilt over not completing that goal make it hard to get back to it? Not having a system means you don’t have other options to choose from.
- You have a set of practices to strategically employ. So if writing every day doesn’t make sense right now, you have other things you can do.
- Without a system, you don’t have a toolkit to help you move projects out the door. A writing system can expand and contract in response to your situation, helping you jumpstart projects and push them out the door.
“You need a writing toolkit to move projects out the door.”
A writing system is a set of practices, rooted in a value system about writing, that is employed strategically to help you meet your goals. And you need one to keep you moving in your practice, no matter the situation.
The Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap course opens for enrollment very soon! The teaching is rooted in the values that writing should feel good and you should feel good. If you want to be first to know when enrollment is open, be sure to sign up for my email list by downloading my free PDF cheat sheet: 10 Ways to Make Time to Write.
Never miss a podcast episode or live video (like my recent series on how to work from home), and get access to free trainings, webinars and workshops… click here to download the PDF and get on the list!
Connect with me: Website
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode30.
Is it time to hit the reset button? When we are in unusual circumstances we are forced out of the ‘norm’. And while that can definitely have its downsides, it can also give us an opportunity to reevaluate how we’re doing things.
This moment in time might be the perfect opportunity to evaluate your academic life and hit the reset button on a few things. I am a relentless optimist, and it’s my nature to look for the opportunity in any crisis or negative situation. While our current pandemic crisis has certainly piled on extra work and extra stress, I think it could also give an opportunity to explore how we might step back and change some things for the better.
This month in my Amplify program we’re focusing on mindset and digging into a lot of things that can be reset in this historical moment. But I want to give you, my podcast listeners, a peek into the types of things that can be reset for a fresh start in our academic lives.
Reset Expectations for Email Response Time Email is the worst. Now more than ever, it’s how extra work arrives. It can feel overwhelming. And you may have been allowing people to use it as a tool to convey time sensitive information, or as a way to get in touch with you at all hours. Now is the time to reset those expectations. Here are some ideas:
- You decide what your turnaround time for email responses will be, but I suggest a 24 hour turnaround time policy.
- Email should not be a medium to convey emergencies or urgent needs.
- Draw boundaries around your work time and family time, and do not allow email to filter in to this time.
- Set aside a scheduled time in your day that you deal with email and don’t do it at any other time! Consider using an email scheduling tool if you want emails to send at specific times.
Reset Your Approach to Your Own Availability How can you reset boundaries around your daily availability? You may have started out this time at home wanting to support your students and colleagues in any way possible, which is admirable. But! You simply cannot be available to everyone 24/7.
- Choose specific, limited times during your week that you are available to others for meetings, etc. There are calendar scheduling tools you can use that list your available times for people to choose from.
- Make sure you are choosing times that work well for your current schedule, and stick to them! If someone asks you to attend a meeting or take on an issue outside of those times, it’s ok to tell them you are unavailable.
- Think about how your current schedule might be different from how things were a short time ago, and plan accordingly. For a method to map out your “ideal week” listen to Episode 4: Create Your Ideal Week.
- Think about other ways you might draw boundaries around your own availability.
“You cannot let work ooze into every moment of your day.”
Reset Your “Productivity” Bar If you’ve been following me for long you know that I hate the word “productivity” because it makes me feel like we are robots in a factory. But what I am trying to convey here holds. Especially right now at this unprecedented time, you simply must reset your expectations for your own work output. Right now, we are dealing with worries about the worldwide pandemic, extra work with kids doing school at home, or other family members home that usually aren’t, or maybe we’re stuck at home alone and are dealing with loneliness. In situations like this, creativity might desert us completely. Remember:
- Now is not the time to try and hit goals that you made 2 months ago.
- Set the bar for what you will accomplish in the next few months LOW.
- You may be able to get more done in less time than you did on campus, and you may not. Either way, don’t try to work long hours.
- Be gentle with yourself and those around you.
Reset Your Writing Practice It’s time to get back to basics with your writing practice. Now is not the time to go all out, or to try and stick to goals you had before everything went nuts. Your energy and focus will be drastically different right now. But you don't want to completely let go of your writing either, since as we all know, it is connected to so much in the academic life. Here’s what to do:
- Reset your practice by figuring out your Tiger Time in your current situation. Tiger Times are the times in your day when you feel most focused, energized, and creative. For a refresher on how to find your Tiger Time, take a listen to Episode 2.
- Set your expectations low. Shoot for 1-2 hours during your Tiger Time, 1-2 times per week, and that’s IT.
- Remember that a small amount of focused, energized time will yield much better results than lots of time when you’re tired and out of energy.
I hope you are able to use this time to reset some aspects of your academic life. To be part of the discussion on these ideas and many more with like-minded academic women, join us in my Facebook group, I Should Be Writing.
My Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap course is opening for enrollment soon!
We cover all kinds of tools and tips to help you create a sustainable writing system, even in these uncertain times. We’ll help you get your pipeline up and running, and help you find that time to write.
To be sure you’re on the mailing list so you know when enrollment is open, be sure to grab my free PDF cheat sheet, 10 Ways to Make Time to Write. You’ll automatically be put on the email list to receive the latest information about upcoming workshops, trainings and opportunities. There’s a lot coming up, so stay tuned!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode29.
How do you sustain a writing practice in times of crisis? Whether the crisis is a global one like a pandemic, or a personal one like an illness, taking these 5 steps will help you sustain a writing practice.
We are in an unprecedented time right now, dealing with a global pandemic. You may be on lockdown, teaching from home, trying to supervise or teach your kids, caring for relatives, or practicing social distancing.
We Puerto Rican professors are no strangers to crisis situations. From Hurricane Maria in 2017, to student strikes, to the recent earthquakes, we have been through situations that have paralyzed our nation and left us stuck trying to work at home with children while dealing with shortages and uncertainty.
These 5 steps for sustaining a writing practice during a crisis come from personal experience living through these mass disruptions of normal life. Let me say that the first week or two are the hardest. You will find a rhythm for your days, and once you do, things will get a little easier. Here are 5 steps to take to sustain your writing practice and keep your sanity in trying times.
Step 1: Get Back to Tiger Time Basics Start your tiger time from scratch.
- Find out which hours during your day are your most focused and energetic.
- Pick one to two hours during this time one or two times per week to focus on your writing.
- Remember that if it is not your scheduled tiger time, you should not be writing, so it is ok to let go of the guilt! One hour of focused time produces much better results than lots of unfocused time.
(Not sure what tiger time is or how to find yours? Be sure to go back and listen to Episode 2, where I lay out how to find and implement your tiger time.)
Step 2: Shift Your Mindset When you are in a crisis situation, it is not business as usual, so don’t expect your academic life to operate as usual! There is no way you can expect the level of productivity that you may have originally planned for. You may be in survival mode for a few months, so you need to adjust your goals and expectations accordingly. Set the bar low, for your writing practice and all your other responsibilities.
“You cannot expect yourself to use the same techniques for getting your writing done now that you did before your work situation has changed because of the global pandemic.”
Shift what you see as reasonable, and be willing to look at your responsibilities on a different scale.
Step 3: Work Four Hours Per Day When you work 8 hours a day on campus, you are not actually producing work for all of those hours, right? Some of the time is spent getting around on campus, having lunch, etc. So it is totally unnecessary (and unwise) to try to set your day up the same way at home. Use the 4 power hours method instead.
- Structure your time to fit your current schedule needs. You likely won’t get 4 hours in a row, especially if you have kids at home.
- Set the kids up with something to occupy them for a couple of chunks at a time (Frozen 2, anyone?)
- Make a list of the main areas you need to work in, and block chunks of time for each. For example: maybe you spend an hour on writing, 2 hours on student support and teaching, 1 on meetings and email, etc.
- Consider stacking content prep time for asynchronous classes at the beginning of the week so you have more time for writing as the week goes on.
- Power through: concentrate hard on what you’re doing for hour-long chunks, then take a break.
We have been conditioned in academia to think that overwork is the ‘norm’, but it is not normal or necessary, especially during times like these. Don’t put pressure on yourself to work more hours just because you “should”.
Step 4: Corral Online Activities This may be the perfect time to re-draw some boundaries, for yourself and others.
- Reset expectations for email turnaround time, and corral email checking into a set block of time.
- Put boundaries around synchronous meeting times. In our current situation, people may be asking for live, online meeting times. Be sure to limit the times you are available, and let people know what those times are.
- Just because a lot is happening online right now, do not be pressured to be available 24/7. You decide your available times.
“If you’re going to get through a time of crisis, you must have boundaries around what you’re doing.”
Step 5: Ramp Up Self-Care Having endured several major crises during my academic life, I have learned the vital importance of rest. Rest that rejuvenates and restores you will prevent a major breakdown, and keep you going in uncertain times. It will also enable you to continue to create. In order to increase your capacity for creation (writing, creating course materials, etc.) you must increase your capacity to restore yourself. This is not a luxury in times like these, it is a necessity. Here are some suggestions:
- Take care of your physical health. Get some kind of exercise every day. A walk outside, playing with your kids, even chores or yard work. Do something to move your body.
- Limit social media and screen time. Especially now that you may be spending more time online for classes, be purposeful about time away from screens. Read a book (on paper!). Listen to an audiobook or podcast. Be intentional about getting away from screens.
- Take the time to shower, get dressed, and take care of yourself everyday. It makes a big difference in how you feel!
- Be diligent about taking time for yourself and doing whatever it is that makes you feel restored.
“Be gentle on yourself, and realistic about what you can do in this crisis.”
For more advice on how to keep your writing practice going, join us in our free Facebook group I Should Be Writing!
We’ve got lots of exciting, free workshops and content coming your way very soon. My Summer Writing Planning Webinar is coming back by popular demand, and the 5 Day Summer Writing Challenge starts on April 27!
Grab my free 10 Ways to Make Time to Write guide, and you’ll have the chance to join my email list to stay up to date on all upcoming trainings, workshops, and challenges.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode28.
If you struggle to find time to write, this is the podcast episode for you. I’m sharing 10 practical ways to find more time to write as an academic woman.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from academic women is that they don’t have time to write. In this episode, I’m laying out ten different actions you can take to create time in your schedule for writing.
Don’t fall for the idea that your time is out of your control. You can do this! Click here to get my downloadable PDF version of 10 Ways to Make Time to Write. Hang it in your office, or save it on your computer to remind you of all the ways you have at your disposal to free up time.
I challenge you to go through this list of 10 things, and choose 3 you will do this week! This list will help you enhance your practice, and is a reminder to you that you are in control. Be sure to get my free PDF Ten Ways to Make Time to Write so you don’t forget a single one.
“Making time to write is within your control.”
“You can’t write all the time, and you shouldn’t try to.”
We have some exciting opportunities coming up to enhance your writing and career as an academic woman. In the next 5 weeks or so, stay tuned for lots of fantastic content! Make sure you are in our I Should Be Writing Facebook Group, following my Cathy Mazak Writing FB Page, and are on the email list.
- The Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap course will be opening for enrollment soon. When you download the Ten Ways to Make Time to Write PDF you’ll be added to my email list so you won’t miss it!
- In April, I’ll be offering How to Write More Without Big Blocks of Time webinar.
- Back by popular demand, I’ll be offering my Summer Planning Webinar.
- May brings our Summer Writing Challenge, and enrollment for The Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap will open at the conclusion of the challenge.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode27.
Ever wish there was another you to get more done, make things easier, reach more people? On this episode I’m sharing three ways to multiply your effectiveness; no clone needed.
I’ve been sharing the ideas that we use for our Amplify program framework for going up for tenure with confidence as part of a 3 part series of The Academic Woman Amplified.
In episode 24 we looked at the Clarify aspect of the program and talked about how clarity is the foundation for a fulfilling and impactful academic career.
In episode 25 we dove into the Demystify part of the framework, talking about how to uncover the systems, processes and mindset for a successful work life, inside a 40 hour work week. And on this episode, I’m sharing the last part of the Amplify framework: Multiply. If you’ve ever wished for a way to make a greater impact with the time you have, this episode is for you.
It is possible to boost your impact, get more done and create lasting change in your field without adding hours to your work time. Here’s how:
Implement Systems Everywhere And I mean everywhere. Leverage the time you have and the work you’ve already put in, don’t let it go to waste! Create workflows and templates for everything. Some examples for things you can create templates for:
- Article completion. You know the steps you take each time to write a journal article, for example. Create a template for those steps.
- Emails. If you have similar emails you send frequently, make a template.
- Working with thesis students. Create a process you move your students through as you work with them.
- Anything else in your life that you do more than once or twice. Put the time in to make the template, workflow or process, and your time savings will be exponential.
(In our Amplify and Elevate programs, we include an Organize Your Academic Life course, as well as lots of pre-made Trello templates and workflows so you can get systematized.)
Create Community Surrounding yourself with other people pursuing similar goals and facing similar issues uplevels your effectiveness while giving you support and camaraderie. Benefits of a strong community in academia:
- Getting support and ideas from your community gives you a boost of momentum toward reaching goals.
- Shared learning that happens in community spreads ideas and helps you reach a wider audience.
- You have someone to vent to that gets it.
(In our programs we create community through group coaching and peer mentoring. And our free I Should Be Writing Facebook group is a great place to connect with other academic women like you.)
Mentor for Change One of the more meaningful parts of a career as an academic is mentoring students. Mentoring is a key way to effect change in academic culture, which is so important, especially for us as women. When we do it right, we’re impacting the next generation of academics, and imparting our message. But, mentoring can also be emotionally draining and exhausting. Make a plan (or a template!) for how you approach your mentoring duties, and be sure to pull back the curtain on all the systems and processes you are using in your day-to-day academic life.
Ready to Multiply Your Effectiveness? Apply for Amplify today. Join us in our Amplify program for a ready-made community of academic women who are working toward similar goals and dealing with similar issues. Here’s how our application process works:
- Click here to fill out a very simple application.
- Hop on a 10 minute call with an enrollment specialist to see if Amplify is a good fit for you. If so:
- Have a strategy call with me, to talk about your personal writing and publishing goals, going up for tenure, and what might be holding you back in your career.
If you join by March 31, 2020 you will lock in the 2019 rates. We’re adding two in-person retreats to our package, and after 3/31/20, our prices will be going up to reflect the addition. So don’t wait! Apply now.
Note: Due to travel restrictions related to the Corona Virus pandemic, the April 9th Write More Workshop in Philadelphia has been cancelled.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode26.
The coronavirus has been declared a pandemic, and this is affecting the academic community in significant ways. Universities are going online, travel is being canceled, and the impact is profound.
How can you finish the academic semester and continue your writing practice during this difficult time?
In this episode, I’m sharing my recommendations for creating a minimum viable semester. Listen in to find out what this means and how to implement it.
Shift the Way You Think About the Semester In the world of business, there is a term called the “minimal viable product”, which is the simplest version of a product. Often a company starts with the minimal version, makes sure people like it, and then makes improvements.
In this situation we are going to do the opposite of that. We've set the syllabus and our semester in order, but now we have to drastically reduce what we thought we'd be able to do.
Empathy and Grace The two themes that I want you to keep in mind as you are developing your new semester are empathy for students and grace for yourself. This situation is horrible for you and it's also terrible for your students.
You are under lots of stress, and will potentially be delivering the rest of the semester with others in your home. It’s going to be stressful and not ideal, but have grace for yourself.
Document Everything I want you to document your efforts for everything you do. Presenting is no longer an option, so you won’t be able to put it on your CV. As we remove things from the CV, there's a lot more work you are doing that is invisible… but I want you to document that.
Start a document that will be titled “Additional Labor During Pandemic” and just make a running, informal list. List all of the stuff you are doing that you weren't doing before that is labor, such as “online support group”, or “redesigned 3 classes to be presented online.”
Minimum Viable Semester Planning I want you to get it out of your head that you can recreate that semester that you had planned. It's just not going to happen. Instead we have to back way down on your goals.
Check out the book “Finish” by John Acuff. He says you need to cut your goals in half or double the time it takes to get there. It is so important for our momentum that we hit our goals, but since sands have shifted, it's time to back way down on your goals.
Instead, look for opportunities to create something different. Look through your areas of teaching, research and service and think about what goals were included in those three areas; then rewrite your goals. You (or your university) cannot hold yourself to the previous standard.
Rewrite your syllabus The contract that you made with your students at the beginning of the semester cannot be the same now. A few things to consider:
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What is your situation really going to look like if you have to work from home? Change your goals correspondingly. You can’t work 8 hours a day the way you work on campus, but you can be more efficient in less time. Try to get 4 hours of work done to start. Then adjust if you can get more in.
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Try to lower the bar on your writing, and get 1-2 hours once or twice a week during your tiger time. I would call maintaining a writing practice for 1-2 hours a week a huge win, considering the amount of brain space this crisis is taking up. You can check out this video for more on this topic.
Teaching One of the things that derails our writing is when teaching takes over... and if this happens, so be it. Document what you are doing, and have grace for yourself. Look at your syllabus, and figure out what considerations are called for. For example, you can’t give the students a ton of online reading if students can't get online. You will have to scale way back.
Ask yourself: What do I need to teach them? What do they need to be able to do and know in order to say they took this course? Eliminate or simplify assignments, or change the way assignments have to be submitted, etc. You need an online course that is empathetic to them.
Simple Tools Zoom: You can use Zoom to create a nice powerpoint presentation video to download, then upload it to a learning management platform. You can use a free Zoom account for up to 45 minutes. If you want to upgrade your zoom account, it's only $15/month.
Loom: A totally free way to do super easy recorded videos. It will record your screen and record you talking over your powerpoint. Screenshare gives you a link so you don’t have to do the downloading/uploading.
Slack: Another free tool used for group texting.
Google Docs: You can share documents this way and forego a learning management system.
Make it Easy On Yourself Make it easy for people and do a couple of things:
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Make templates for your lessons. It is predictable for students, and it makes it easy on you to have that structure which helps you when creating the lessons
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Think about the combination of synchronous and asynchronous methods of teaching online. If you did your lessons asynchronously (record something where students can consume anytime), that can be good for you and your writing. Then your days are more flexible and you can use more of your tiger time to write. If your students have unreliable internet access, this is a good method for them.
There should be some time for synchronous meetings, so you could have asynchronous content plus 1 hour per week of virtual office hours that lets students connect with you.
“Everything is gloom and doom, but there is also opportunity here.”
Look for those places in your academic career that you can control and take action there. Use situations like this to build empathy, to practice grace for yourself and document it all along the way.
Links mentioned:
- It's time to create the Minimum Viable Semester (FB Live)
- How to get writing done in times of crisis (FB Live)
- Zoom
- Loom
- Slack
- Google Suite
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Are your working hours spilling over into nights and weekends as an academic? Do you feel powerless to squeeze everything into a ‘regular’ work week? This is the episode for you.
As an academic woman, you undoubtedly have a lot on your plate. You may feel like there is simply no way to fit all the work into a regular work week. And if you enjoy working on the weekend, by all means, do it! But if you want to reclaim your extra hours for yourself, to spend with your family, just not working, there are things you can do to make that happen. This doesn’t mean that there will magically be less work.
“There is always going to be more work in your academic career then there are hours in the day.”
So how can we reduce the hours we work if we can't reduce the work itself? By changing the way we approach it, in two ways: through utilizing systems and processes, and by changing our mindset.
Use Systems and Processes Academic culture is not always the best about passing on the kind of information that is helpful in managing our day-to-day lives and workloads, so if you haven’t got this part figured out, don’t blame yourself. But instead of telling yourself, “I have so much work, I need to work more hours”, focus on what you can do to fit the work into the hours you want to be working. Using repeatable, predictable systems and processes is key.
- Use Writing Systems. Create a system for a regular, predictable writing practice, one that is easy to pick back up if you get off track, and puts you in the chair at your most focused, energetic times. Check out episode 2 to learn how to find your ‘tiger time’ and implement it for a robust practice.
Using a writing system:
- Doesn’t have to be every day
- Creates positive feedback around your writing
- Helps you regain momentum if you fall out of rhythm
- Gives you a way to consistently place writing inside the workday
In our programs we teach you how to use a variety of tools (including writing sprints, retreats, tiger time and more) to create a writing system that works for you. To get an in-person taste of how we implement this in our programs, join us on April 9 in Philadelphia for The Write More Workshop.
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Use Pipeline Management Processes. You need to know exactly where all your work is in the publication process in order to make the best decisions about what is most important to work on, and to make the biggest impact with your work. Having a reliable process for managing your publication pipeline means:
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Knowing what is in the pipeline and where it is in the process
- What steps need to be taken to move things along
- Which projects should be worked on when
- Making better decisions about where to invest your time for maximum impact
In our Amplify program framework, we work through 3 main areas with you. Last week on the podcast, we talked about Clarity. The steps we’re going through this week are covered under the Demystify part of the framework.
- We teach you how to implement systems and change your mindset to write and publish more so you can go up for tenure with confidence.
- The natural side effect of this work is to corral your work into a 40 hour work week.
Change Your Mindset What you believe about the work that you do is the most important aspect of this whole process. How you view your work, your time, your mission and yourself as an academic woman forms the basis for your entire career. I can’t stress enough how important mindset is! Here are two ways to use mindset to transform how you are using your time.
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Create Boundaries. You are the person in charge of whether you work weekends. If you want to change this habit, you must create boundaries around your time, and what you are doing. This means you will have to:
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Say no sometimes
- Understand what you are not willing to take on
- Decide which things get your highest levels of excellence and which simply get checked off
- Draw a line in the sand (ex: I will not check email after 5pm on Fridays. Period.)
I suggest doing a time audit. Disclaimer: they are no fun! Take a week and write down everything you do, and how long it takes you. Where are you putting your best hours? How many hours do you spend grading? Writing? On email? In the lab? What can you tighten to spend less time doing things that are not essential? What system, process or boundary can you implement to reduce unuseful hours?
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Examine Your Beliefs. Take some time to really examine what you believe about what it means to be a “good academic”. Deep down are you carrying around beliefs that a “good academic:
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Works nights and weekends
- Is always busy and stressed
- Must say yes to demands made on her by others
- Is powerless over her time
Because none of these are true! In order for you to be the best academic you can be, you need to have a rested, revitalized brain, and you need to be a healthy, cared for whole person.
“If you don't rest, you won’t bring your best self to the work; and the world needs your best self doing the work!”
If you are interested in working with me and my team to demystify time savings in academia through mindset shifts, and using systems and processes, consider checking out my programs.
The Write More Workshop: April 9 in Philadelphia.
Amplify Faculty Writing Accelerator: Enrolling now
Academic Woman’s Writing Roadmap course: Enrolling in May
And join us in the I Should Be Writing Facebook group!
Connect with me: Website
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode25.
What one thing is key to writing and publishing more? The answer is clarity. Without it, you’re inviting overwork, overwhelm, and a strain on your creative output.
In this first episode of a three part series, I’m showing you how getting clarity around your career goals not only turns overwhelm into purposeful work, but it actually kick starts your ability to write and publish more. In order to find this kind of crystal clarity, you need an academic mission statement. In all of my programs, this is where we start, with good reason!
In my Amplify program for pre-tenure women, we use a 9 spoke framework, with 3 main areas of focus. The first of the areas we focus on is clarity. Getting clear on your career purpose helps you define who you are as an academic, and where you’re going.
Check out the graphic on my website to get an idea about our framework. We work through 3 steps to achieve true clarity.
Step 1: Academic Mission Statement If you don’t have an academic mission statement, you need one. This is a one sentence statement that encapsulates your mission and vision as an academic. It’s the standard you’ll use to measure every opportunity and request against. Check out this blog post for a full description and step-by-step process to create your own using my template.
Here is the basic template, followed by my own statement from 2 years ago:
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I use _____ to study_____ in order to _______.
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I use ethnographic methods to study translanguaging in Puerto Rican University classrooms in order to normalize bilingual content learning and inform theories of bilingualism.
If you find it hard to say no to every opportunity or request made of you, your career feels lackluster and unfocused, or you are suffering from “activities creep”, it’s because you don’t have a strong point of focus to measure against and align with. This is what a mission statement can help you with!
If you are having trouble distilling your mission statement, or feel like you need to have TWO mission statements, I want you to dig deeper into this blog post, and remember: you must align all your activities to one focus if you want to experience the fullness of your academic purpose.
Don’t be afraid to really reflect on what you WANT. You will find that you make the biggest impact and experience the most fulfillment if you are working in ways that make you happy!
“What do I WANT my academic mission statement to be?”
Step 2: Milestones Once you’ve drilled down to the core of what your academic career is all about and come up with your one line mission statement, the next step we use in our programs for achieving clarity is to map out your milestones. In this step, we help you to:
- Create a unique timeline of milestones that is specific to you and your mission
- Align your activities to your mission
- Make a plan for how and when to change or add to your activities
Write More Workshop:
To experience this process hands-on and in person with me and my coaches, we have a rare opportunity for you to join us, one day only, in Philadelphia on April 9, 2020 for the Write More Workshop!
You’ll get the rubrics for creating clarity in your career that we normally only include with our Academic Writing Roadmap course and Amplify program, as well as a walk-through to help you use them and put them into practice. There are only 30 spots at this workshop, so don’t wait to sign up. I hope to meet some of you in person! Click here for all the details.
Step 3: Strategic Pipeline The last step in our process is to create a strategic pipeline. After your mission statement is in place, and you’ve mapped out milestones for your own unique journey, you’ll need to take a zoomed-out, birds eye look at your goals to help you decide how to get where you’re going. As always, writing is at the center. This helps you suss out things like:
- Who do I want to be in conversation with through my work? Which publications should I choose to accomplish that?
- Where do I put my efforts so that my research flows out in a way that accomplishes my goals (to meet tenure requirements, get a grant, etc.)?
- What strategies will I employ to meet my milestones?
When you Have Clarity Just like anything, getting clear on your academic mission statement, creating milestones and strategic pipeline take time. But putting in the time is so worth it! Aligning with your mission means:
- Culling things from your schedule that don’t line up, and not feeling guilty about it
- Freeing up time and mind space for those things that will move the needle on your vision
- You won’t feel pulled in a thousand directions. Even if you end up with more on your plate, it feels better to be doing things that align with your vision and mission.
- Writing is easier to center. Everything feels like it’s contributing, rather than pulling you away from writing.
“You feel busy because you’re doing things that aren’t in line with your mission.”
Check Out Our Programs to Help You Gain Clarity Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap course: Opening for enrollment in the first week of May. This program is for anyone who wants to gain clarity and revitalize their writing and publishing pipelines.
Amplify Faculty Writing Accelerator: Enrolling now. This program is for pre-tenure women who want going up for tenure to feel more like inspiration and less like hazing. Click here to find out all the details about this year-long program.
Elevate: Running now. This program is for post-tenure women who want to continue to gain clarity, work toward their goals, and hone in on their “zone of genius”. Learn more here.
And don’t forget!... Want to move the needle on your writing? Join us in Philly for our one day Write More Workshop on April 9th! Click here for all the details.
Join us in our Facebook group, I Should Be Writing, and share your academic mission statement!
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode24.
Have you ever done professional development? So often, it feels like academics get professional development wrong. Usually, it’s done with a one-off training, but the problem is that there’s no follow through or follow up. There’s no relationship with the leader or the participants.
I want to help transform professional development for academic women. I've been in academia since 1998, and in all those years, I don’t remember any content from one-off trainings. Instead, I remember the relationships I developed along the way.
In this episode I’m talking about good professional development and the benefits that come from combining training, coaching and community.
“The way you are going to change your professional life is through the development of relationships, not through training or teachings you receive.”
Training One-off trainings sound appealing because we think that if we just know a certain skill, we’ll be able to change the way we integrate writing into our career. In my coaching programs, the content of the training portion is based on a few key takeaways from my past career trajectory:
- You have to have clarity. You have to be clear on what you want to do so you can take action.
- Control and how to step in to power and direct your career. You also need to have clarity on your boundaries.
Coaching Coaching is ultimately about relationships, and how it can influence and change your professional direction. You are in a relationship with your coach.
Teaching and coaching are different; teaching involves passing info from one person to another.
The job of a coach is to ask the right questions that lead people to figure out what they need to do themselves. It is not about the coach and their experiences, but walking someone through a process of transformation. You want your coach to take your unique situation into account, and develop a plan of action for you.
Community Community is the secret sauce, but unfortunately there is a lack of community in academia. Once you have your tenure track job, it can be very difficult to create community. A community solves a few problems:
- The onus of implementing what you’ve learned is not solely on you. If you find implementation difficult, you can get feedback from your community.
- Brings together diverse groups of women who can support each other. This includes diversity on every level such as diversity of institution and types of positions.
- Stops you from feeling isolated
- Provides you with source of information you wouldn't otherwise be able to tap into
- Adds accountability from those who understand and support you
“If you think back to your career to those pivotal moments, they will be moments in relationship with other people.”
Coaching Programs There are several ways we can work together to achieve your goals:
Amplify: Faculty Writing Accelerator program is for pre tenure women on the tenure track. This year-long program offers training and support through coaching and community as you implement what you learn.
Our NEW program has launched! Uplevel your post-tenure career with Elevate. This program is for post tenure women, and it is a 6 month coaching program that follows the training- coaching-community model.
Mark your calendars for May, because The Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap course is reopening! This 10-week program teaches you how to make time to write. Topics include writing systems, time management, project management, creating a pipeline for your writing, and creating short and long term plans.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode23.
It’s completely acceptable to get help with your writing, even as a full professor. So what does that look like in academic writing? I’m giving you the lowdown on what’s available for writing help.
It’s important to understand that it is absolutely ok to get help with your writing. Savvy academics get help in a variety of ways in order to shape their writing into the best finished product it can be.
On this episode of The Academic Woman Amplified I’m giving you an overview of what writing helps are available out there, from the many types of editors to coaches, and giving you the encouragement to find the right one for you.
Authorship Different academic fields handle authorship differently. Science-based fields may attribute authorship to lab participants or people who contribute graphs, statistics, etc. In the humanities authorship is generally attributed only to those who actually write words for the publication.
However your particular field approaches this, getting writing help doesn’t affect whether or not you are a “real” author of your project. Ghostwriting is a no-no in academia, but getting editing or coaching help is not the same as ghostwriting. It is not only acceptable, it’s advisable! Don’t rely on your publishing house to proofread your work; be sure it’s in impeccable shape before submitting.
Editors and What They Do While the word ‘editor’ is used often, there are several different types of editors and the work they do is very different. Let’s break down the different types so you can get a clear picture of what you may want in an editor.
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Journal or book editor. This type of editor isn’t someone you can hire to help with writing. They are content curators, choosing which pieces work for their journals and publishing houses. What they do:
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Curate content for their publications
- Decide if a piece needs extra work or whether to send it out for review
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Facilitate the process of getting work published
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Proofreaders. This kind of editor performs surface level editing tasks. They work with you on minor tweaks of a finished piece of work. What they do:
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Check formatting, spelling and grammar
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Take a last look at your completed piece
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Copy Editors. This kind of editor goes a bit deeper than a proofreader. What they do:
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Check formatting, spelling, grammar
- Give a little more feedback on the writing itself
- Look for inconsistencies in language, style
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Check a text against the reference list
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Substantive Editors. This kind of editor goes more deeply with you into the writing itself. You may use this kind of editor earlier in the writing process, or with a rougher draft. What they do:
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Address clarity and style
- Revise sentence structure and structure of the piece itself
- Help rewrite sections
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Check structure, tone, style and organization of the piece
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Developmental Editors. This kind of editor is involved early in your writing process, helping you develop the piece. They provide the kind of help your PhD advisor may have given you while writing your dissertation. What they do:
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Help advise you on the direction your content should take
- Let you know if you need more references, deeper explanations, or a different approach
- Advise you on the best way to make your argument, or how to structure your information to tell the story you want
“Getting editing help is not cheating.”
Coaches and What They Do Writing coaching is another kind of help that is available to academics. While some writing coaches also provide editing services, most coaches have a different focus. Rather than reading and providing feedback on your writing like editors do, coaches help with your process and strategy. What coaches typically do:
- Support development of your writing process and habits
- Help you find time to write
- Listen, and coach you through the decision-making process for deciding which projects to work on and how to proceed with them.
- Help you develop a publication strategy, choose timing, and decide on journals to target
- Help you get clarity on your career goals and how to pursue them through writing and publishing
- Connect you with community
There are coaches who specialize in different fields or types of writing. You can find specific support with book coaches, grant-writing coaches, and dissertation coaches. I personally specialize in helping people find the time to write, create robust pipelines through project management and process, and empower themselves by challenging norms in academic culture.
My Coaching Programs My Amplify: Faculty Writing Accelerator program is a year long program designed to help you go up for tenure with confidence. If group coaching, mentorship and support in a community of like-minded academic women appeals to you, click here for more information and to apply.
The Academic Women’s Writing Roadmap course is reopening in May, and is geared toward any academic woman who needs to create a strong writing pipeline, or reinvigorate her practice. Grab my free 10 Ways to Find Time to Write guide and you’ll be put on the waiting list to be notified when sign-ups open.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode22.
What makes a writing practice, or any habit, sustainable? How do you create new practices that stick when the old ones aren’t serving you well anymore?
Creating sustainable practices can be difficult, in writing and in life. Especially when what used to work for you may not work any more. It’s important to begin change from the right place if you want to create a lasting habit and get the results you’re looking for. In this episode I’m sharing some thoughts on sustainable practices, and how to change your mindset to achieve them.
Sustainable Practices Look Different Over Time There is a saying in the business world that “what got you here, won’t get you there”. The same can be said for writing practices. Maybe when you were a PhD student, you had the ability to do binge writing sessions and had fewer constraints on your time and life. The habits that worked then won’t work now, and finding something that is sustainable in the midst of teaching, service work, or the tenure track can feel overwhelming. It’s important to remember that as circumstances change, our practice will change. Being aware and willing to find a new normal is the first step.
“Sustainable practices are a moving target. They change as your career stage changes.”
Forcing Actions to Achieve Results Isn’t Sustainable Sometimes we try to change our results by forcing a habit. For example, if we want to write and publish more, we might try to force the habit of writing every day in order to achieve that result.
We might try to draw a line in the sand, and force a way to write every day. But, this usually isn’t sustainable. What happens when the semester hits the fan, you or a family member gets sick, or some other problem throws off your plan?
- Guilt, overwhelm, and negative feelings: “I broke the chain, didn’t stick to my plan, failed.”
- You look to others through accountability. This is a buzzword these days, but to me, trying to find outside accountability is like telling yourself that you are weak, broken, unable to make change yourself and need an outside entity to force you. More negative feelings.
Trying to get the result you want by forcing an action just isn’t sustainable.
“To make sustainable change in your writing practice, what you really need to do is change your thoughts.”
How to Begin the Process for Sustainable Change In listening to a podcast with life coach Brooke Castillo, I had a lightbulb moment. She explained so well what I am always trying to convey to my clients about how important it is to cultivate our feelings around writing. In order to make lasting, sustainable change in life (including in our writing practices!) Brooke Castillo says we need to approach things like this:
Feelings-->Thoughts-->Actions-->Results
In other words, if you try to get your desired results by forcing an action, like writing every day, but haven’t changed your feelings and your mindset, it will not be sustainable. So, if you are having trouble finding a new sustainable practice where you are now in your career, I want you to try this exercise.
- Sit down, take a moment to reflect, and write down your feelings around writing. What do you think about when you think about writing? About yourself as a writer? As an academic? Be honest with yourself, and write those feelings down.
- If you see negative thoughts and feelings, write down a replacement thought for each one. For example: If you feel that “I’m a bad writer”, come up with something to counter that, like “I passed my dissertation with flying colors”, or “I love to write.” If you have positive thoughts, reinforce them!
- Try a few actions that support your positive feelings, and don’t force anything! Check out Episode 12: Combating Writing Guilt for some ideas to keep the positivity flowing, and actions steps to take.
Our Programs - Get Support for Creating Sustainable Change Our Amplify program provides trainings, community, group and one-on-one coaching to help you create lasting, sustainable practices to get your desired results. If you are a tenure track woman who wants going up for tenure to feel more like inspiration and less like hazing, click here to learn more.
Our popular Writing Roadmap course is reopening in the Spring. It includes teaching modules, office hours to ask questions, and a facebook group to submit work, get feedback, and make connections with other women in academia. To be notified when sign ups are open, join our mailing list by joining the FB group or emailing support@cathymazak.com.
To get my tips for asking your institution to fund your professional development, check out Episode 7: Securing Professional Development Funding.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode21
Why is it acceptable in our academic cultures to go to conferences, but less so to attend writing retreats? I’m diving in to the (evidence-based) benefits of retreats and how you can find one that works for you.
Writing retreats might be viewed by some institutions as a vacation more than an important work activity, but that just isn’t true! Retreats are shown to have measurable positive effects on your writing and your career. That’s a win-win for everyone.
In this episode of The Academic Woman Amplified I’m going deep on writing retreats to help you see the very real return on your investment. I’ll walk you through the evidence-based positive outcomes, give you tips on what to look for in a retreat, and share ideas for every level of retreat, from professional to DIY.
Research on Benefits of Writing Retreats Writing retreats are good for your writing and provide ongoing benefits, and there is research to back this up.
A 2016 integrative review on academic writing retreats by Kornhaver, Cross, Betihavas, and Bridgman found that increased publication outputs was a measurable outcome of academic writing retreats. Five themes were linked to this outcome:
- Protected time and space. Time apart from distractions helps with focus and reflection on writing, and not just at the retreat itself. Participating in a retreat helps participants legitimize the time needed and prioritize it as an important activity on their return to campus.
What we do on our retreats: Make sure that your needs are taken care of so you don’t have to devote time to things like planning meals, housekeeping, or caregiving.
- Community of practice. A supportive cohort and social interaction provided by a writing retreat helps participants write more. Discussing ideas and common roadblocks with your peers adds tremendous value.
What we do on our retreats: We provide structured times for co-writing, goal-setting and time for community and support.
- Development of Academic Writing Competence. Another key aspect of academic writing retreats linked to increased writing output was the development of academic writing competence. Focused time to practice, and learning from other attendees or presentors adds to competence. Everyone learns differently, and exposing ourselves to new avenues of learning is priceless.
What we do on our retreats: At our last retreat, we had presentations and feedback from periodicals editors, as well as time provided for peer review and feedback.
- Intra-personal benefits. My favorite intra-personal benefit that Kornhaver et al. found was “increased self-awareness.” The studies showed retreat participants learned barriers and enablers to increased writing output during their interactions with other retreat participants.
What we do on our retreats: We include relaxed, peer interaction and downtime as part of our retreat structure. We also provide peer mentoring and review.
“When you get academic women together across fields, mentoring happens.”
- Organizational Investment. Not surprisingly, the review found that writing retreat participants experienced longer lasting benefits when they had support from their institutions. When your institution supports you by allowing you the time to attend a retreat, or even funding your attendance, it creates a positive cycle of support and mutual benefit.
What we do on our retreats: We help with goal-setting to maximize outcomes for you and your institution, and each attendee gets a one-on-one session with one of our coaches. If you need tips for how to approach professional development funding requests with your institution, be sure to listen in to Episode 7: Securing Professional Development Funding.
The main outcome of this evidence-based research is this: increased publication outputs are a measurable outcome of academic writing retreats. That sounds good!
“The bottom line is that you want to publish more.”
For another take on the benefits of retreats, see the research of Dr. Rowena Murray. She researches academic writing retreats using a social processes approach. She discusses the common purposes that writing retreats share in her book: Writing in Social Spaces: A Social Processes Approach to Academic Writing. She lists a number of essential purposes that writing retreats share, including increasing and improving outputs for research assessment or promotion.
What to Look for In a Retreat * A change of physical space. Make sure you are out of your usual environment, away from the usual distractions. * Physical needs like food and housekeeping are met for you, or there is a plan in place to do so. * There is structure, but not too much structure.
Three Levels of Retreats 1. Professionally Run Retreats.
The retreat I have coming up in July 2020 is a professionally run retreat. We provide lodging for a week, most meals, group activities, coaching, co-writing, goal setting, and one-on-one sessions. Retreats like this one give you all of the evidence-based positive outcomes discussed in the research linked above.
Cost: $4000-$4500
- If you are struggling with the idea of spending this much money, look at it as the very real investment in your career that it is. If a writing retreat moves the needle on a book, or a grant project, or receiving tenure, the payoff received in terms of higher pay over the course of your career offsets the investment pretty darn quickly!
- Don’t forget to petition your institution to help with the cost of a retreat under professional development umbrellas.
“Making investment into writing will have the biggest payoff in terms of our career.”
- Low Cost DIY Retreats.
If a professionally run retreat isn’t going to work for you, consider creating a retreat experience for yourself. Be sure it still has all the essential elements to look for in a retreat.
- Change in physical space: rent an Air BnB or a hotel for a few days.
- Physical needs met ahead of time: be sure to have a plan for meals ahead of time.
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Create a little bit of structure for yourself: an example would be to write, then walk, then eat. Repeating this cycle throughout your day gives a little structure, but not too much.
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No (or very little) Cost DIY Retreats.
If you truly can’t get away, consider a working-hours-only retreat. Even in this pared down version, be sure to still include your 3 essential elements.
- Change of space: reserve a room in your public library or another department of your institution; go to a hotel lobby or a coffee shop where you are unlikely to know anyone.
- Be sure to have a plan for meals.
- Give yourself some structure or a plan for your day.
I hope you’ll come away from this episode with a lot to think about, and some good ideas for how to include some kind of writing retreat in your writing goals this year. Read on for more information about our upcoming retreat.
Puerto Rico July 2020 Retreat If you’ve decided that the lasting benefits to your writing practice and the payoff for your career are worth investing in a professionally run retreat, consider joining me in Puerto Rico this summer!
The retreat price of $4000 includes 7 days, 6 nights in a boutique hotel in Old San Juan, steps from the beach, in a culturally rich and vibrant neighborhood. Group coaching, peer mentoring, co-writing and a one-on-one coaching session for each participant are part of your program.
If this sounds like a good fit for you, be sure to click here to join before 2/15/20, when the price will rise to $4500. We have 6 spaces left as of the recording of this podcast. Keep in mind that this will be our last “stand-alone” retreat… future retreats will be included in the membership for my Amplify program.
Get in on future retreats by joining Amplify, my program that helps academic women go up for tenure with confidence. Click here for more information and to apply.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode20.
Writing is a practice that we probably all need to practice more. But it can be hard to get the ball rolling. I’m sharing 6 strategies to build momentum, so you can ride out the rough writing days and not let them stop you in your tracks.
Momentum infuses writing with energy and helps your writing practice take on a life of its own. When you’ve created some writing momentum, you reduce guilt and overwhelm (writing’s two biggest enemies) because you feel like you’re on task and in charge. In this podcast episode I’m sharing six strategies to help you jump start a writing practice that has been on pause, or breathe new life into one that has begun to feel like a chore.
Six Strategies for Creating Writing Momentum
Strategy #1: Small, Consistent Sessions It would be awesome to have big, clear chunks of time for writing. But usually, we don’t. If you’re waiting for those times to magically appear, your writing practice may have stalled out.
To get it going again, aim for short, consistent sessions every day. Use your “tiger time”; those times when you are most energized, focused and ready to work. {Not sure what Tiger Time is or how to find out when yours is? Listen to Episode 2: Why You Don't Have to Write Everyday (and What to do Instead)}
“Just one hour in the zone moves the needle more on your writing than 3 hours where you have to force yourself to concentrate.”
Strategy #2: Create Cycles of Positivity Around Your Writing Sometimes your difficulty in creating consistent routines isn’t so much about you, but about your to-do lists. A big mistake that academics often make is creating a to-do list that looks like this:
- write article
- finish book chapter
- submit grant proposal
And then they feel bad all the time because those tasks are always sitting there—for months and months—on their to-do list. This creates negative feelings around writing. Here’s how to fix this problem and create positive feelings about your writing to-dos.
Think about the big tasks as projects. For each project (write article, finish book chapter, submit grant proposal) you need to create a list of all the tasks that it’s going to take to finish it. When you plan your writing sessions, pull from this list of broken-down tasks, and be sure you choose tasks that you have time to actually finish.
Strategy #3: Create Writing Rewards Giving yourself rewards for accomplishing your writing goals increases those positive feelings. You want to be excited about writing, looking forward to your tiger time, not dreading it. So once your writing task list is full of goals that are small enough that you can both measure them and accomplish them realistically in the time that you have, be sure to set up some rewards. I use two kinds of rewards.
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Reward type #1 is a big reward that you give yourself when you submit something for publication (or review, like a grant). This needs to be something all about you, that really nurtures you and makes you feel great. (Go out for a fancy meal, get a massage, take an evening out with your partner.)
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Reward type #2 is the micro reward, or the little reward for having kept up with your writing sessions consistently, or having met one of your micro goals. This should not take too much time to implement–because it needs to be something that you could do every day–but should also nourish you and make you feel happy. (Have a cup of your favorite hot beverage, go for a run, watch your favorite show; or hey, even adults like fun sticker charts!)
Strategy #4: Do a Writing Sprint Another good way to develop momentum in your writing practice is to do a writing sprint. A writing sprint is two weeks where you use your tiger time to focus on making progress on one writing project. You can do this to jump start an old project, sprint to the end of an almost-done article, or start a new project. The key is to only focus on one writing project during the sprint and to finish that project (however you define “finish” for your particular project). When planning for a sprint, be sure to:
- Select the two weeks when you’ll do the sprint and mark off 1-2 hours per day (during tiger time) on your calendar.
- Choose your writing project and define what it will mean for it to be finished. Make a list of all the tasks that will need to be done to finish.
- Write the tasks on your calendar for each day of the sprint. Be realistic! If you finish early then yay! That’s much better than overbooking and feeling guilty.
Strategy #5: Find A Writing Group (or Make One Yourself) Many things in life are more fun with friends, writing included. A writing group is a great way to build writing momentum, because you can feed off of each other’s progress. Writing groups can be in-person or virtual. For an in-person group, try to find a weekly meeting time that works for everyone.
Some groups commit to reading and critiquing each others work, which is great! But simply meeting to co-write is a great way to go about it too. If you just want to get the collective energy and community of writing in a group without reading each other’s work, that’s great. Any fellow writers can be part of a group like this, not just those in your field.
Strategy #6: Go on A Writing Retreat To really breathe some life into your writing practice and create writing momentum, consider going on a writing retreat. Your writing needs love, focus, and care to achieve momentum and become a regular part of your academic life (instead of something that keeps falling to the bottom of your to-do list). A writing retreat invests in your writing, it’s a great way to focus on and nurture your writing practice—one that will have continued benefits even after the retreat is over.
You’ll find that even after you return from a retreat, the investment of time, money, and focused energy will continue to energize your practice and build momentum.
If you are listening to this episode in real time, there are still a small number of spots open for my 2020 academic writing retreat here in Puerto Rico. Our beachside retreat includes co-writing, coaching, and a one-on-one writing session, not to mention delicious food and beautiful accommodations. Check out the details here before we are full!
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This episode was first published at https://cathymazak.com/writingmomentum.
Academic culture makes us believe that the "traditional” path through academia is the “normal” path, and a “non-traditional” path is often code for “less-than”. Don’t believe it! Your path is valuable.
Today I want to talk about disrupting this idea of the “traditional” path in academia.
So many of the women I talk to during the application process for Amplify and Elevate (our programs for pre-and post-tenure women on the tenure track) lead by saying that they haven’t taken the “traditional path” through academia. Here are some reasons:
- They had a baby during their PhD
- They worked a career between their undergrad and grad school
- They became the associate director of a research center instead of getting a “traditional” tenure-track job
- They worked as an adjunct between their PhD and their tenure-track job
- They took longer than their cohort to graduate their PhD
- They worked at a teaching institution or an aspiring institution and so they didn’t build a line of research early in their careers, but they need to do so now because they want to get promoted under new rules or change jobs
These experiences don’t fit the mold of what the racist patriarchal culture of academia wants us to believe is “normal” for a career path. But your path is a legitimate path. YOU get to shape it, to decide what steps are important, to decide when and how you accomplish each milestone you choose for yourself.
To keep making strides in shifting the culture of academia, we need to disrupt this idea of the traditional path. Here are 3 ways we can do it.
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Change the Words We Use When we use the term “non-traditional” we are legitimizing the idea of a “traditional” path. Let’s come up with new ways to describe the paths we’re on: disruptive, intersectional, successful, whole!
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Set Our Own Milestones In both Amplify and Elevate, we work on creating a milestone map that reflects the milestones that YOU want for your career. If you are working towards your milestones, you will satisfy your university’s requirements for tenure and promotion. And if this isn’t the case, then you are at the wrong institution. Make your path yours. Own it. You will be more successful for it.
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Embrace Your Path and Know Your Assets When you create your tenure and promotion documents, embrace your path formerly known as non-traditional. Play it up. Because your particular set of experiences is an asset to your university. Help them understand in your dossier how and why that’s true.
The content in this episode was inspired by the 35 women I spoke with in depth through a workshop I did for post-tenure women. Conversations with these academic women also became the beginnings of my Elevate program, a program designed to help post-tenure women get clear on what the next steps in their career should be, and supporting them to get there.
Elevate is a 6-month long intensive program limited to 10 women. Through one-on-one coaching, group coaching and support, this program helps you figure out YOUR next career milestone and how to get there. The next session of Elevate starts in February 2020, so click here to begin the application process and see if you are a good fit for this program.
If you are a pre-tenure woman on the tenure track who is ready to invest in going up for tenure with confidence, my Amplify program may be right for you. In this year-long program we dig in to what's holding you back and how putting writing at the center will lead to a calmer, more focused, pre-tenure experience. Admission is rolling, so click here to apply now.
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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode18.