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You probably think of summer as the easiest time of year to focus on research and writing. You’ve probably been looking forward to it for months because of that. So why would you want to join the Studio? Some people who attend A Meeting With Your Writing regularly during the main part of the year, […]
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
Planning in uncertain times
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Planning in Uncertain Times None of us are any good at predicting the future. On one level we are always planning for uncertainty. The level of uncertainty varies though and has been very high for the past year or so, both generally and in relation to your academic work […]
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How to take a vacation
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · How to take a vacation 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 […]
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 […]
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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 […]
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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: Writing & Resting
This month’s Spotlight focuses on the importance of writing *and* resting over the summer break, maintaining focus and motivation throughout the unstructured time.
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.
One of the main challenges you face in the summer is juggling writing and rest.
The first step is to resist the urge to Write All The Things! I’ve used a hiking metaphor to explain how your summer writing fits with the writing you do in the rest of the year to help you decide what to prioritize.
Rest is also important, because you can’t start the new academic year as tired as you are now. But resting is not easy. It takes practice. It might be uncomfortable at first. I’ve written about how to take a vacation and also why you might need to plan for your rest.
Joining the Academic Writing Studio would give you just enough support and structure to help you do both over the summer break.
Enjoy your writing!
