Photo by 
Just because your work doesn’t always look like work, doesn’t mean you don’t get to take a real vacation. You already deserve this vacation; it’s not a reward for achieving summer goals. In fact, not only do you deserve a vacation, you need a vacation. Why you need a holiday. You work hard. Fatigue impairs […]
Read More »Welcome to the Library
The Library is an archive of my writing about academic work since launching this website in 2009. The top section contains the most recent additions. If you are new here, scroll down to see a few suggestions for good posts to start with to get a sense of my general approach. The Spotlight section at the bottom highlights a series of posts on a specific topic, and is updated regularly.
Most of my writing is sent to Studio members or my newsletter before appearing here. Since 2020 I’ve been creating audio versions of most new posts. They are embedded here but you can also follow me on Soundcloud if you prefer to listen.
Recent posts
Introducing: the Academic Writing Studio
The Beginning When I started A Meeting With Your Writing back in September 2011, I didn’t even know if it would work. All I knew was that virtual accountability and community was needed, and that I was prepared to facilitate something that might help. Now, it feels central to everything I do. Participants have told […]
Read More »
Yes, you should take sick leave.
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Yes, you should take sick leave Note: I currently live in the UK and have previously lived in Canada. My statements are based in the general employment situation that pertains in those countries and countries like them, where there is significant employment protection in law, and significant levels of […]
Read More »Start Here
Introducing: the Academic Writing Studio
The Beginning When I started A Meeting With Your Writing back in September 2011, I didn’t even know if it would work. All I knew was that virtual accountability and community was needed, and that I was prepared to facilitate something that might help. Now, it feels central to everything I do. Participants have told […]
Read More »
What an academic career looks like
There are a lot of different ways to have an academic career. Your academic career is affected by both your own values and desires, and by forces beyond your control. Although a lot of academic career advice suggests that there is a clear path to success, there are lots of reasons you may not end […]
Read More »
Optimizing Focus: 3 elements to consider
Everyone struggles with focus. This is why I prompt participants in A Meeting With Your Writing to think about what they’d like to try that day to optimise their focus. In this rather long post, I set out the fundamental principles that underpin those prompts. There are lots of links to other posts, both here […]
Read More »Spotlight: Structure and support for your writing practice
This month’s Spotlight focuses on how to find *just enough* structure to support you in your writing, while still managing to looking after yourself.
The posts highlighted this month give you a good idea of how I approach these topics and are useful background for my planning classes.
Click the links below to explore various posts, or if you prefer to listen, you can find a playlist of the posts mentioned over on my Soundcloud.
The basic principle of my work is that you need a writing practice. That practice will look different at different times of year. The transition from your term-time practice to your summer practice can be hard.
In Freedom & Scheduling I use gravity as an analogy to tease out the apparent paradox, while in Pressure vs Ease I take lessons from an article on herding cattle to consider what kind of positive structures might work.
The Academic Writing Studio is how I provide long-term structure and support for academics.
You might want to read how a past client used it to finish a book, or how classes provide a structure for learning such as my Planning Classes, or if you’re new around here: you can learn a bit about how the Studio works.
Enjoy your writing!
