Academic Book Writing Simplified with Jane Joann Jones

Mar 04 2025 15 ep. 10 mins 2

Academic Book Writing Simplified with Jane Joann Jones Podcast artwork

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

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Episode #15: When Is the Right Time to Write Your Academic Book?

Mar 04 2025 12 mins

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 your book is the time you make for writing it. Tune in to learn how to align your writing goals with your timeline, my 3-step process fo

Episode #14: How To Create a Consistent Book Writing Practice

Feb 25 2025 14 mins

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 being too hard on yourself about the frequency of your writing, and what to do when you hit a roadblock. Be sure to listen with a notebook in hand

Episode #13: Why Waiting for a Sabbatical to Write Your Book Could Be Holding You Back

Feb 18 2025 12 mins

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 academic book. Grab your headphones and your notebook because in this episode we’re getting to work. We’re going to discuss: ➡️ Why

Episode #12: From Academia to Book Writing Coach: Why I Left the Tenure Track

Feb 18 2025 13 mins

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: How my early doubts about academia laid the foundation for my choice to leave Why I felt like I “had to” get a tenure-track job before taking a differ

Episode #11: Welcome to Academic Book Writing Simplified! Finally Start Writing Your Book

Feb 18 2025 3 mins

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 over 100 academics get their books written. Tune in to learn: Why so much academic book writing advice is overly complicated.How you can br

Episode 10: Treat your writing like a dress rehearsal

Sep 26 2024 10 mins

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, Jane will explain where that fear comes from and how to mitigate it. If you’ve been delaying sharing your work, or writing it in the f

Episode #9: The simple math of writing a book [Part 2 of 2]

Sep 26 2024 10 mins

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 your progress. Then, you’ll learn how to use these factors to evaluate some common thought patterns that can help or hinder your wo

Episode #8: Are you weaponizing your productivity? [Part 1 of 2]

Sep 26 2024 13 mins

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, and teaching. In today’s episode — the first of a 2-part microseries — Jane explains how and why you’re using the langua

Episode #7: How to use the secondary literature in your book

Sep 26 2024 11 mins

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 literature, and the thought you have about your writing that is most likely motivating that approach. Then, I’ll describe what your app

Episode #6: Boundaries are values in action

Sep 26 2024 11 mins

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 your values will help you protect your boundaries. She’ll also teach you a simple way to understand the relationship between your values an