Navigate is designed for tenure-track women and nonbinary professors with a disruptive perspective on their field. In the 12-week program, you will learn how to write and publish more using our mission-guided time and project management processes. Navigate is a twelve-week coaching program that combines recorded modules with high-touch coaching and community, which will help you get results in just 12 weeks. During this info session I taught about: The three mistakes that most academics make whe...
Jan 09, 2025•43 min
Happy New Year! In today’s episode, I share how to write your New Year’s story. I use my experiences from 2024 to guide you through creating your vision for 2025. From agency to decision-making, I break down the ups and downs of identity and mindset shifts that happen as our goals change and evolve. Reflecting on the past year is an essential step in shaping what you want your future to look like. This discussion applies to both personal and professional ambitions. As you consider what you want ...
Jan 07, 2025•43 min•Season 11Ep. 251
If you are a frequent podcast listener, you know I advocate for writing just two hours per week to make significant progress on your writing and publications. However, many scholars struggle with the idea that such small blocks of time will make a difference. In today's episode, I discuss why two hours of writing per week is not only sufficient but often preferable to trying to carve out large blocks of time. I challenge common beliefs that more time is necessary to make progress on writing proj...
Dec 31, 2024•23 min•Season 11Ep. 250
If you want to unclog your publication pipeline and get more consistent with your writing and publishing, you must develop a resilient writing practice. In this episode, I discuss how a resilient writing practice allows you to navigate life's inevitable derailments so you don't have to be resilient yourself. Rather than writing from guilt or pressure, a resilient practice lets you pause and return to your work. I explain how predictable challenges, like academic responsibilities, and unpredictab...
Dec 24, 2024•34 min•Season 11Ep. 249
From the moment you first picked up a crayon, pencil, or pen, you started building your experience as an academic writer. Your writing practice has evolved and adapted as you've progressed through different stages of life and career. In today’s episode, I dive into how long it really takes to transform your writing practice as an academic. I explore how your approach to writing shifts throughout your career and share my timeline for building a more sustainable writing routine that supports consi...
Dec 17, 2024•26 min•Season 11Ep. 248
In today's episode, I discuss why writing and publishing are the catalyst for change in your career. An obvious benefit of changing your writing practice is that you publish more and get your unique perspective out into the world in an impactful way. But that's just the beginning. Shifting your focus to writing doesn't just improve your output—it can transform how you approach your entire career. I'll explore the most powerful results of nurturing your writing practice, such as enhancing your se...
Dec 10, 2024•20 min•Season 11Ep. 247
Welcome back to another segment of the podcast series about writing practices. Today, I discuss two extreme writing practices: writing every day and binge writing. If you've been struggling with your publication pipeline, chances are you've tried one of these methods. While it might sound logical that writing daily or cramming during off-times will help you reach your publication goals, it won't. I break down why these approaches ultimately fail and how you can build a more sustainable, relation...
Dec 03, 2024•17 min•Season 11Ep. 246
Welcome back to another segment of the podcast series about academic writing practices. In today’s episode, I tackle a major challenge many academics face in their writing: breaking the binge and bust cycle. Many professors look forward to summer, winter, or semester breaks as an opportunity to catch up on all the publications they have put off during regular working hours. You think, “I’ll get so much done!” But then, the workload catches up with you, you burn out, and the break ends up being a...
Nov 26, 2024•21 min•Season 11Ep. 245
Today, I am continuing the podcast series about writing practices in academia. In this episode, I'm digging into five things that you learned about academic writing that are wrong and what you can do to fix them. These misconceptions—like believing you need to "binge and bust" your writing or that you must write every day—are often a result of how we're socialized in academia. I'll explain why these methods are unsustainable for professors, especially once you're juggling teaching, research, and...
Nov 19, 2024•20 min•Season 11Ep. 244
Are you blaming lack of time for your backlog of publications? In this segment of the podcast series on writing practices, I explain why your publishing problem isn’t time. It’s a lack of discernment. I discuss how academia breeds a scarcity mindset and why the pressure to do as much as possible hinders our ability to move projects through to publication. Instead of trying to work on every idea that comes to mind, I suggest adopting a more strategic approach to project selection by leveraging yo...
Nov 12, 2024•23 min•Season 11Ep. 243
Today’s episode is part of the podcast series about writing practices and tips for establishing sustainable academic writing habits. In this segment, I explore a critical question: is your writing a core part of your career, or is it hanging out on the sidelines? Listen to five key clues indicating your writing might not get the attention it deserves. For each one, I share why you might have gotten trapped in this practice or mindset and why moving your writing to the top of your priorities is s...
Nov 05, 2024•18 min•Season 11Ep. 242
Welcome to another segment of the podcast series about writing practices and establishing sustainable writing habits in academia. Today, I am discussing how to make and keep a writing date. As a scholar, you juggle many responsibilities, and it can be challenging to say no when things come up that interfere with your writing date. We allow these "urgent" requests to overshadow the importance of your writing. There will always be something or someone pulling at our time, and we need to learn how ...
Oct 29, 2024•19 min•Season 11Ep. 241
I am excited to introduce a new podcast series focused on writing practices. Throughout the series, I will share insights on redefining what writing means in academia, dispel myths about writing, and offer practical advice to help you cultivate a sustainable writing practice. In today’s episode, I explore the true definition of writing. I share why I believe writing is more than just words on a page and how the steps we take to prepare to write are essential parts of our writing practices. I als...
Oct 22, 2024•15 min•Season 11Ep. 240
I have worked with many academic women and nonbinary, and a recurring challenge about their writing is that no matter what habits or methods they try, their writing practice is never sustainable. The problem is that sustainable practices are a moving target. Writing habits you relied on during grad school no longer work as you juggle the demands of faculty life, including teaching, committee work, and personal responsibilities. Today's episode kicks off the new podcast series about writing pract...
Oct 15, 2024•20 min•Season 11Ep. 239
Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 5 of the podcast. Do you feel excited, happy, and encouraged when you think about writing? Or do you feel guilty, sad, and overwhelmed? Creating a good relationship with your writing doesn’t happen by accident. The secret to writing and publishing more is turning your writing practice into a joyful and positive experience. As part of the Emotions and Writing podcast series, I've chosen to rerelease an earlier segment that explores behaviors that can fos...
Oct 08, 2024•17 min•Season 11Ep. 238
Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 13 of the podcast. Listen in as I discuss how our jobs as professors are designed to pull us in different directions, making it hard to focus on one thing. Simultaneously working on multiple projects is the default nature of working in academia. When we struggle to manage competing priorities, we experience a perpetual cycle of guilt and overwhelm. In today’s episode of the ‘Emotions and Writing’ series, I dive into dealing with overwhelm and its impact...
Oct 01, 2024•21 min•Season 11Ep. 237
Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 12 of the podcast. Listen in as I explore one of the most challenging emotional obstacles to academic writing: guilt. Guilt is the biggest killer of writing productivity. When you feel guilty about something, all inspiration or motivation to complete that task evaporates. Who wants to spend time working on something that makes us feel bad? Academics, particularly women, often grapple with the overwhelming burden of guilt when they fall short of their wr...
Sep 24, 2024•26 min•Season 11Ep. 236
Today's episode is part of the Emotions and Writing podcast series. I delve into the topic of grief and its impact on academic work. This episode explores three key areas where grief can manifest in research and academic roles: Loss of Research: I examine how losing access to a research site or experiencing other research disruptions can profoundly affect academic writing. Institutional Loss: This segment discusses the emotional challenges associated with changes in academic institutions, such a...
Sep 17, 2024•32 min•Season 11Ep. 235
Join me as I continue the conversation about emotions and writing! Today's episode focuses on something we all struggle with: motivation. There is a popular notion that creativity is sparked by a grand moment of inspiration. But that isn't really how academics or creative writers complete projects. I am refuting the idea that writing needs motivation and instead arguing that systems and processes are the key to a sustainable writing practice. First, I'll clarify the difference between intrinsic ...
Sep 10, 2024•24 min•Season 11Ep. 234
Welcome to the second episode of the ‘Emotions and Writing’ podcast series. Today, we are tackling procrastination. Procrastination is usually associated with negative self-talk, like laziness or ineptitude. But the real reason behind it is emotional. I start the episode by discussing how academics think about procrastination and why that mindset backfires. Then, I share a framework to help you get out of the cycle of procrastination around a writing project. There is a very close connection bet...
Sep 03, 2024•22 min•Season 11Ep. 233
I am launching a new podcast series,' Emotions and Writing.' In this series, we will cover the most common emotions people struggle with when writing in their academic careers. After the strong response to our episode, ' You Can't Write When You're Mad ,' I was inspired to delve deeper into how emotions influence writing practice. In today's episode, we discuss the significance of recognizing and addressing your emotions and their impact on your writing. Writing is inherently emotional, and it's...
Aug 27, 2024•21 min•Season 11Ep. 232
On today's bonus episode I'm addressing a thought that might be keeping you from applying or enrolling in Navigate. Fear that you may fail at Navigate? Join me as I address this common fear. We're receiving applications for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®! Check out the program details and start your application process here . CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn and nonbinary professors to publish their backlo...
Aug 15, 2024•9 min
The Navigate program takes about two hours per week over the course of 12 weeks: one hour to watch the recorded material and do the exercises, and one hour to attend the live call. Instead of investing in the program, should you just write for two more hours a week? Catch today's bonus episode to hear more about this. We're receiving applications for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®! Check out the program details and start your application process here . CONTINUE THE CONVERSATI...
Aug 14, 2024•14 min
You deserve to have the best career possible. If you are struggling with writing and a clogged pipeline, don’t wait for it to get better. In today’s episode, I discuss why academics don’t get professional development or writing help because they wait for circumstances to change. When you say, “I’ll wait until it gets better,” you are really saying, “I’ll wait until it gets worse.” The “it” is stress, overwork, and obligations. It isn’t your circumstances that are the problem; it’s your approach ...
Aug 13, 2024•23 min•Season 11Ep. 231
Working closely with Navigate clients in both Round 1 and Round 2 of the program, breaking writing projects into tasks and estimating how long it will take to finish those tasks has been a consistent sticking point. And finally, a few months ago, I had an “ah-ha” breakthrough to address this sticking point. In today’s bonus episode I explain the latest update to Navigate-which officially joins the curriculum for the Fall Cohort. We're receiving applications for our next cohort of Navigate: Your ...
Aug 08, 2024•10 min
In today’s bonus episode I answer the most frequently asked questions about our Navigate program. I explain the structure, content, and benefits of Navigate, including the coaching sessions, writing support, and the application process. If you're considering joining, I'll guide you through what to expect and how to make the most of the program. Join me as I answer common questions and share insights to help you decide if Navigate is the right fit for you. We're receiving applications for our nex...
Aug 07, 2024•28 min
In this next segment of the co-authoring series, I address common thoughts and problems academics have when writing with students. Working with students is a learning process, a part of the professorship that no one teaches you how to do. The guidelines for co-authoring with students are the same as for co-authoring with colleagues. The main difference is the teaching and mentorship elements, which can complicate the project. Co-authoring with mentees or students offers many opportunities but al...
Aug 06, 2024•28 min•Season 11Ep. 230
If you’re a long-time listener, you might be considering the Navigate program, but also wondering, “What else could you possibly have to teach me, Cathy?” In today’s bonus episode I explain why Navigate is right for you even if you have heard every podcast episode. We're receiving applications for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®! Check out the program details and start your application process here . CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® progra...
Aug 01, 2024•13 min
In today’s bonus podcast episode, hear Dr. Noor Sayed as she reflects on the connections she made during the Navigate program and how they helped her face some of the most difficult moments in her career so far. If you are looking for other academics who share your desire to publish your backlog of papers and to live a fulfilling life and career, Navigate is the program for you. More about Noor: Dr. Noor Syed (she/her) is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Applied Behavior Analysi...
Jul 31, 2024•26 min
Today’s episode is another segment in the co-authoring series. Many academics attribute a clogged pipeline to working on a project with a co-author. This episode is dedicated to discussing the potential obstacles of co-authoring with a colleague and how to avoid delays in publishing team projects. First, I will give an overview of the definition of a publication pipeline. Then, I dive into the reasons academics find it difficult to overcome a clogged pipeline when working with a co-author who is...
Jul 30, 2024•28 min•Season 11Ep. 229
