I get a pretty regular stream of fan mail from clients and readers, and I read all of it, respond to all of it, and deeply appreciate all of it. When I get a letter from someone telling me how the reading the blog and/or working with me changed … [Read more...] about On Leaving the Cult (A Letter From a Client)
Productivity
“Write Like a Motherfucker”
I've been post-academic now for just about exactly three years. Three years since I left my tenured position at University of Illinois to move back to Eugene, Oregon with no job and no idea what I'd do next. This summer I finally started to … [Read more...] about “Write Like a Motherfucker”
Eight Tips on Writing Efficiently while Overloaded with Teaching, Service and Kids (A Guest Post)
A reader wrote asking for a post on how to write a book while working at a teaching-intensive university. I put out a request for a guest post on the subject on Facebook, and Steve Engler responded with this account of writing a book while teaching … [Read more...] about Eight Tips on Writing Efficiently while Overloaded with Teaching, Service and Kids (A Guest Post)
Writing Your Book While Juggling Teaching and Kids (A Guest Post)
A reader wrote asking for a post on how to write a book while working at a teaching-intensive university. I put out a request for a guest post on the subject on Facebook, and Katherine Vukadin responded with this account of writing a book while … [Read more...] about Writing Your Book While Juggling Teaching and Kids (A Guest Post)
Of Cover Letters and Magic (A Follow-up Post)
There is some advice I give that I believe in fiercely and will defend to the death (ref: Should I Do an Edited Collection?). And then there is some advice I give that I am very willing to concede may be wrong or at least, less than completely (or … [Read more...] about Of Cover Letters and Magic (A Follow-up Post)
How To Write a Journal Article Submission Cover Letter
Today's post is a special request post for several clients who have written to inquire how to write a cover letter for the submission of an article manuscript to a journal. ****Addendum (4/29/13): Please read the follow up to this post, "Of Cover … [Read more...] about How To Write a Journal Article Submission Cover Letter
Nobody Cares What You’re Interested In
One very common error that writers of job documents make is going on and on about what they are interested in. It's often quite a writing tic. “I am interested in.... and I am particularly interested in...and a topic of particular fascination … [Read more...] about Nobody Cares What You’re Interested In
Gerund Addiction and Word Repetition–Two More Scourges
Faithful readers know that I have several posts on different kinds of writing tics that plague many academic writers. These include list addiction, dyad addiction, and cheap adjectives. There are two more writing tics that I've come to identify: … [Read more...] about Gerund Addiction and Word Repetition–Two More Scourges
The Weepy Teaching Statement: Just Say No
An expanded and updated version of this post can now be found in Chapter 25 of my new book, The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide to Turning Your Ph.D. Into a Job. I am keeping a shortened version here, but for the complete discussion including … [Read more...] about The Weepy Teaching Statement: Just Say No
How and Why to Write Collaboratively: A Guest Post
For the next bit of time I will be posting special guest posts early in the week, in addition to my regular Friday post. These guest posts are kindly submitted by readers in response to requests that arise on the blog or Facebook page. I appreciate … [Read more...] about How and Why to Write Collaboratively: A Guest Post