Academic Book Writing Simplified with Jane Joann Jones
Does writing your academic book feel like a complete mystery? Wondering how other scholars find the time to write while juggling teaching, research, and service - when you have been looking at the same page for weeks?
Welcome to Academic Book Writing Simplified - the podcast for women and non-binary scholars who want to cut through the confusion of academic publishing so they can finally write their book with clarity and confidence.
If you’re ready to stop second-guessing and finally write the book that establishes your expertise, you’re in the right place.
I’m your host, Jane Joann Jones, PhD, former academic on tenure track turned developmental editor and book writing coach for women of color in academia. I’ve helped over 100 academics publish their book with leading presses including University of Chicago, Duke, Stanford, Rutgers, Oxford, Princeton and Stanford. I want to help you do the same.
This podcast will give you clear, practical answers to your biggest book-writing questions including:
- How do I start writing my academic book?
- How long does it *really* take to write an academic book?
- Can I just revise my dissertation and turn it into a book, or do I need to start from scratch?
- How can I write my book if I don’t feel like an expert?
Each episode busts common myths about academic book writing, exposes the hidden curriculum of scholarly publishing, and gives you actionable strategies so you can make steady progress — without waiting for the perfect time to start.
Ready to demystify the book writing process?
Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and share with a fellow academic who’s ready to navigate the path to publication with more ease and less overwhelm.
Learn more about how we can help you become an academic author: https://rightprose.co
Episodes
28 episodes
Episode #28: How Long Should an Academic Book’s Introduction Be?
Your academic book’s introduction is your first opportunity to make an impression on your reader. It’s natural that you’d be worried about writing it well. One aspect of the introduction that authors tend to fixate on is length. How long should...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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18:10
Episode #27: [Replay] Treat Your Writing Like a Dress Rehearsal
As you start writing this summer, you might be feeling pressure to “get it right the first time.” After all, you have a lot to catch up on, right? In this replay of our most popular episode, Jane discusses how and why you should tre...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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10:57
Episode #26: Student Spotlight: Dr. Brittany Fox-Williams
In today’s episode, Jane talks to Dr. Brittany Fox-Williams, an alum of the Elevate (now known as Book Brilliance) coaching program. Dr. Fox-Williams is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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20:54
Episode #25: The Coaching Client Experience: Yalidy Matos, PhD
In today’s episode, Jane has a conversation with Dr. Yalidy Matos, an alum of the Elevate book coaching program. Dr. Matos is an Associate Professor of Political Science, a Russell Sage Foundation Fellow, and the author of Moral and I...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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17:15
Episode #24: Behind the Scenes: The Book Brilliance Walkthrough
Join Jane for a look at the Book Brilliance program. In today’s episode, you will learn exactly what happens in the program, the types of goals you can achieve, and why working with a group is essential to your success. We’ll cover:...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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16:50
Episode #23: Behind the Scenes: How Developmental Editing Works in Book Brilliance
Elevate has a new name! In today’s episode, Jane is joined by Kali Handelman. Kali is the developmental editor for Book Brilliance. She has her eyes on every single piece of writing reviewed in the program, and she’s here to discuss...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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32:10
Episode #22: How To Make a Summer Writing Plan That Actually Works
Do you always start your summer with grand ambitions, only to look back at the end of the summer and realize you only finished half of what you planned? If you’re ready to stop making unrealistic plans, this episode is for you. Here...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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12:07
Episode #21: Should you be writing an academic book right now?
To say that people working in academia are living through tumultuous times would be an understatement. You might be facing current circumstances and wondering if writing a book is worth your time. In today’s episode, Jane takes a ve...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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16:03
Episode #20: Working with an editor on your academic book is not cheating
There are some strong opinions in academia about the merits of academic editing. In today’s episode, Jane discusses the perception that working with an editor is “cheating” or an indication that you’re not a serious scholar. She addresses some ...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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14:43
Episode #19: How working with an editor can help you write your academic book
Have you ever worked with an editor? Does the process of working with one feel like a mystery? In today’s episode, Jane is going to pull back the curtain and explain how academics can work with editors to improve their writing. In this episode,...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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14:43
Episode #18: Writing an Academic Book Takes Longer Than You Think! 4 Steps to Completing Your Book
Do you know how long it will take to write your academic book? I don’t mean how long it took your friend with the cushy postdoc or how long you wish it will take - I mean how long it will actually take. The reality is that most people don’t. If...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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13:41
Episode #17: You Need Feedback While Writing Your Academic Book: Here’s How You Get It
Good feedback is an invaluable resource for academics writing books, but how do you get it? In today’s episode, Jane gives you a primer on the importance of feedback and how to ask for feedback that will help you make progress. She covers: ...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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20:04
Episode #16: How Many Drafts of Your Academic Book Should You Write?
With any piece of academic writing, you are going to write multiple drafts. The question is, how many? In today’s episode, we’re going to discuss the writing and revision process to determine how many drafts it will take to get you to a publica...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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15:36
Episode #15: When Is the Right Time to Write Your Academic Book?
Are you wondering when along your tenure-track journey you should write your academic book? Do you think you have to “clear the decks” to gain traction in your book writing? In this episode, I’m going to show you that the right time to write yo...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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12:22
Episode #14: How To Create a Consistent Book Writing Practice
Are you concerned that you aren’t working on your book often enough? In today’s episode, I’m teaching you how to create a consistent book writing practice. Tune in to learn how to create a realistic schedule, why you’re probably bei...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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14:45
Episode #13: Why Waiting for a Sabbatical to Write Your Book Could Be Holding You Back
Many academics treat a sabbatical like a magic solution for finishing their book—but is that really the best approach? In this episode, I’m breaking down the myths around sabbaticals and what it actually takes to make real progress on your acad...
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12:04
Episode #12: From Academia to Book Writing Coach: Why I Left the Tenure Track
Ever wondered what it really takes to leave academia and build a business of your own? In this episode, I’m getting personal and sharing my story of leaving a tenure-track job to start my own coaching business. Tune in to hear: ...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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13:34
Episode #11: Welcome to Academic Book Writing Simplified! Finally Start Writing Your Book
Ready to finally start writing your book - with clear and actionable guidance? In this episode, I’m reintroducing the podcast (we’ve had a glow up!) and sharing what you can expect this season, plus the practical strategies that have helped ove...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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3:22
Episode 10: Treat your writing like a dress rehearsal
Have you ever stared at a blank page for what seemed like hours? Do you feel slightly nauseous at the prospect of sharing your work with others? Many academics are afraid to put their words on paper. You might be one of them! In today’s episode...
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10:57
Episode #9: The simple math of writing a book [Part 2 of 2]
In part 2 of this 2-part micro-series, Jane will show you how to accurately assess the progress you’re making, so you don’t succumb to fear or feel overwhelmed by your work. You’ll learn the most important factors you should consider in gauging...
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10:51
Episode #8: Are you weaponizing your productivity? [Part 1 of 2]
There’s a lot of noise in academia about productivity. You’re likely bombarded with opinions about how much time you should be writing, how many publications you should produce each year, and how you’re “wasting” your time on mentoring, service...
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13:00
Episode #7: How to use the secondary literature in your book
What does the way you think about your writing have to do with the way you leverage the secondary literature in your work? A lot! In today’s episode, I’m going to tell you what I see as the three most common approaches to citing the secondary l...
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11:27
Episode #6: Boundaries are values in action
Are you regularly giving your writing time away? Do you find it hard to say no to requests for your energy and effort? If you answered yes, then it might be time to reassess your boundaries. In this episode, Jane will explain how tapping into y...
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11:05
Episode #5: Your dissertation isn’t a first draft of your book
Do you believe that writing your first academic book is going to be as simple as “revising your dissertation”? In today’s episode, Jane discusses how the prevalent but pernicious advice to “revise your dissertation” actually stifles your boo...
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9:09
Episode #4: You don't need more tools, you need better systems.
Have you ever agonized over selecting a project management software? Do you peek around Scrivener every so often, only to abandon it because it’s too confusing to get started? Staying organized can seem like an intractable problem if you’re ...
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9:54