This is a Q and A that arose on the blog this week, following the blog post, How To Write a Book Proposal. I've been asked this question many times. This is my answer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q: Karen, can I ask you to … [Read more...] about Should I Send Out a Book Proposal Before the Manuscript is Completely Finished?
Surviving Assistant Professorhood
Don’t Get Your Career at Costco
From a reader, on Facebook: "Thank you for the post on The Five Year Plan. "After reading it, I realized that during my years as a tenure-track assistant professor, I went about publishing and doing research, the way I do the grocery shopping: … [Read more...] about Don’t Get Your Career at Costco
How To Talk To A Dean
Over the course of the 2011-2012 job market cycle, several clients wrote to me inquiring about how they should talk to the Dean they were scheduled to meet during their campus visit. Indeed, many, if not most, campus visits still include a visit with … [Read more...] about How To Talk To A Dean
Job Market PTSD
(Thursday Post Category: Here's How You Get Tenure) Today's post is another Special Request post, this time coming from Kate, who wrote an eloquent email asking for advice on how to cope with what I will call “Job Market PTSD.” By Job Market PTSD … [Read more...] about Job Market PTSD
How to Tell Your Department About a Family Crisis–A Special Request Post
Today's post is requested by Shane. Shane wishes to know about the etiquette for academic workers in vulnerable positions--particularly adjuncts--to inform their departments about family crises that might impact their work. For example, if a parent … [Read more...] about How to Tell Your Department About a Family Crisis–A Special Request Post
Getting Schooled for My Sexism
(Friday Post Category: Yes, You Can: Women in the Academy) When I was a brand new assistant professor, the chair of my department put me in charge of the department's speaker series. This was actually a good thing. Being in charge of … [Read more...] about Getting Schooled for My Sexism
It’s Your Fault. Or, Who Gets Turned Down for Tenure?
(Thursday Post Category: Here's How You Get Tenure) For this week's "Tenure" post, I was planning to write a post called "Playing the Percentages," about knowing your department's expectations for your time and effort breakdown as an assistant … [Read more...] about It’s Your Fault. Or, Who Gets Turned Down for Tenure?
Hooray for Elite White Men! External Reviewers for Tenure
(Thursday Post Category: How to Get Tenure) Today let's talk about your external reviewers for tenure. First, since this blog is new, my credentials. In my 15 years as a faculty member at two major research institutions, I worked on 6 tenure cases. … [Read more...] about Hooray for Elite White Men! External Reviewers for Tenure