Defend, Publish & Lead Podcast

In Episode 262, host Christine Tulley offers practical strategies for faculty to optimize their spring semester teaching while protecting their scholarly writing time. She presents five countdown tweaks: Establishing and knowing your teaching, grading, and prep schedule   Implementing pattern teaching to save preparation time Identifying grading-heavy weeks and adding extra writing time beforehand Reducing student complaints by providing assignment models and maintaining a bank of common explanations   Selecting one specific teaching improvement goal for the semester (like better organizing course management systems)   Tulley emphasizes that these adjustments are designed to make teaching more efficient without sacrificing quality, particularly during the spring semester when faculty typically have less preparation time than in the fall.   Resource Mentioned: "Top 10 Ways to Avoid Student Complaints: It is more imperative than ever that we establish ourselves as calm and trustworthy leaders" by Jennie Young Episode 35: Cut Prep with Pattern Teaching   DPL Resources Last Call for HOLIDAY COACHING HOURS - All hours at lowest prices for the year Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP25! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

In Episode 261, Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach at Defend, Publish & Lead, presents five key questions for academics to consider about their writing in 2026: whether to commit to or abandon zombie writing projects that have stalled, clearing out outdated writing debris like old files and emails, deciding how many hours per week to dedicate to writing given other obligations, developing strategies to actively promote published work beyond initial publication, and identifying one priority project to complete during the year. Throughout the episode, she draws on examples from her work as an executive writing coach and emphasizes making intentional, low-pressure decisions about writing habits and projects for the new year, while also promoting the Textbook and Academic Authors Association's upcoming institute and her own coaching services. Resource Mentioned: Textbook and Academic Authors Association Summer Institute DPL Resources Last Call for HOLIDAY COACHING HOURS - All hours at lowest prices for the year Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP25! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

In Episode 260, Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach at Defend, Publish & Lead, emphasizes the importance of celebrating writing wins as the holiday season approaches, arguing that CVs often function more as stress-inducing evaluation documents than celebratory records of accomplishments.  She demonstrates her approach using Penzu (a free digital writing journal that she loves but is not a sponsor), walking through how she reviews her Fall 2025 Semester Writing Project Mix to assess what she actually completed—discovering she finished 3 out of 4 planned projects, including two chapters of her sabbatical book and presentation slides, while her "yucky writing project" remained incomplete. She highlights unexpected wins like her Inside Higher Ed article on who owns faculty writing (co-written with Jennifer Ahern-Dodson) that she had forgotten about from her Summer 2025 plans, reframes the 3 out of 4 completion rate as a success focused on movement and completion rather than perfection, and encourages listeners to celebrate broader wins beyond publications (such as consistently hitting 8 hours of writing per week) while using this reflection to inform planning for 2026.  She concludes by mentioning her coaching services and the resources available through podcast sponsor Textbook and Academic Authors Association. Resource Mentioned: "Make Faculty Writing Support Easier to Find" (Inside Higher Ed) DPL Resources HOLIDAY COACHING HOURS - All hours at lowest prices for the year Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP25! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

In Episode 259, Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach of Defend Publish & Lead, addresses the common question of when to start writing after the holiday break, emphasizing the importance of making this decision ahead of time rather than letting it remain nebulous as the calendar year flips. She shares her personal approach of designating January 5th as her first official day back to writing (separate from her first day of class), blocking out specific time slots in her calendar (9:00-11:30 AM on January 5th, 6th, and 7th for a total of seven and a half hours that week), and color-coding this time as brown to protect it from competing demands. She recommends preparing for this first writing day by treating it like the first day of school—cleaning out your laptop bag, restocking essential supplies like hard drive connector cords and extra headphones, gathering any articles you'll need, and perhaps choosing a favorite coffee shop instead of the library. Christine emphasizes that setting up special elements for your first writing session can infuse it with new energy, mentions her holiday playlist of writing episodes, and concludes by offering a free Textbook and Academic Authors Association membership giveaway to the first person who emails her at christine@defendpublishlead.com along with her coaching practice's ongoing holiday pricing special. Resources Mentioned Holiday Playlist DPL Resources HOLIDAY COACHING HOURS - All hours at lowest prices for the year Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP25! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

In Episode 258, Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach of Defend Publish & Lead, discusses the importance of planning ahead for summer 2026 writing opportunities and skill development, even though it's only December 2025, because many programs open registration in January. She recommends several writing retreats and institutes she's personally experienced or researched, including Bard College's Institute for Writing and Thinking (a five-day immersive summer program focused on writing and teaching), Writing in Depth Academic Writing Retreat (a productive long weekend in rural Ohio where she made significant progress on her book), Bowling Green State University's Summer Faculty Writing Retreat (strategically timed for late July before the fall semester ramps up), and Hollins University's Tinker Mountain winter retreat in February for those who can't wait until summer. She particularly highlights the new virtual Textbook and Academic Authors Institute as an affordable option for those who can't travel, emphasizing that skill development is important at every career stage, and concludes by mentioning her coaching practice's holiday special discount.   Writing Opportunities  Bard College - Institute for Writing and Thinking (IWT)  Hollins University - Virtual Winter Recharge (Feb 20-22, 2026)  Bowling Green State University summer Faculty Writing Retreat (July 29-31, 2026)  2026 TAA Institute for Textbook & Academic Authors (Virtual, June 12-13, 2026)   Resources HOLIDAY COACHING HOURS - All hours at lowest prices for the year Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP25! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach of Defend Publish & Lead, presents her annual holiday gift guide for writers. This year the list focuses on budget-friendly items all priced at $50 or less. Here is her countdown of the Top 10 gift items for 2025 for writers or yourself: 10) Sardine Pens 9) Book - "Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors" 8) Writing Sweatshirt 7) Small Space Heater 6) Book - "Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout" by Cal Newport 5) Fences Desktop Organizing Software 4) Metal Mesh Desktop Organizer 3) Cloud Bliss Cushion 2) TAA Membership 1) DPL Gift certificate Resources Mentioned: Episode 204: More December Writing Strategies (has all past Holiday Gift episodes) Resources: HOLIDAY COACHING HOURS - All hours at lowest prices for the year Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP25! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach, explores the concept of maintaining an "origin story" for academic writing projects in the context of surveillance, power dynamics, and emerging technologies—the theme of the 2025 Big Rhetorical Podcast Carnival. She examines how various stakeholders (universities, publishers, plagiarism detection software, AI tools, and tenure committees) have claims to or surveillance over faculty writing, raising questions about ownership and originality. Tulley offers four practical strategies for documenting the development of writing projects: maintaining dated drafts, using version control systems like GitHub, creating process documentation through blogs or social media, and sharing work-in-progress through conference presentations and public scholarship venues. She emphasizes the importance of tools like ORCID IDs for tracking authorship and highlights the Textbook and Academic Authors Association's upcoming webinar about claiming damages in the lawsuit against Anthropic for unauthorized use of academic work by AI tools, framing documentation of writing origins as both a protective measure and a meaningful way to capture the creative process. Slides The Big Rhetorical Podcast Past Carnival Episodes Episode 199: Civil and Collegial Scholarship Episode 138: AI and Scholarly Writing Support Episode 33: Scholarly Responsibility and Misinformation Resources Mentioned: The Big Rhetorical Podcast Maintaining Writing Momentum in December (December 1st annual webinar) Resources: HOLIDAY COACHING HOURS - All hours at lowest prices for the year Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP25! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach, shares practical strategies for maximizing conference value while attending the POD (Professional and Organizational Development) conference in San Diego. Rather than focusing on pre-conference planning or post-conference follow-up, this episode addresses the often-overlooked middle phase: what to do once you're actually at the conference. She introduces a goal-setting framework to help academics be intentional about their conference experience, balancing networking, presentations, professional development, and personal priorities within tight time and budget constraints.  Slides Episodes Mentioned: Episode 113: Four Actions to Take Once You Return Home from a Conference Episode 235 - Give Yourself a Conference Maintenance Day Resources Mentioned: POD Network Conference (Professional and Organizational Development in Higher Education) Maintaining Writing Momentum in December (December 1st annual webinar)  Resources: HOLIDAY COACHING HOURS - All hours at lowest prices for the year Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP25! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach, explores how to use Academic Writing Month (November) not to add more work, but to improve your writing habits and practices. She shares four strategic tweaks that can help academic writers become more satisfied with their work as the calendar year closes: finding one ideal writing day, creating a dream project list, taking stock of nine satisfaction areas, and taking advantage of free learning opportunities. Rather than pushing harder, these tweaks focus on reconnecting with what makes academic writing fulfilling. Slides Resources Mentioned: Bonus 2023 Academic Writing Month episode Maintaining Writing Momentum in December (Dec 1 from 12pm to 1pm EST) Resources: HOLIDAY COACHING HOURS - All hours at lowest prices for the year Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP25! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach, shares her experience using AI (Claude) to create a comprehensive writing plan for her upcoming book on sabbaticals, commissioned by Princeton University Press for their Skills for Scholars series. With a deadline of February 20th and only 18,000 of 65,000 words written, she demonstrates how AI can be a powerful project management tool for academic writers while maintaining ethical boundaries about what content to share with AI platforms. Episodes Mentioned: Episode 164: Closing a Writing Session   Resources HOLIDAY COACHING HOURS - All hours at lowest prices for the year Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $30 using discount code TAA70 for 70% off!!! Returning TAA members can use the coupon code TAADP10 for $10 off an annual membership. You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach, discusses how academics can determine whether they have a viable publication idea by examining four key factors: first, whether you can execute the project with available resources including time, materials, and access to necessary data; second, whether the idea fits with a target journal or publication outlet and potentially a backup option; third, how the idea aligns with your scholarly positioning, expertise, and research agenda; and fourth, whether the idea has potential impact with an identifiable audience who would actually read and engage with the work. Tulley emphasizes that ideas should be tested through conversations with colleagues and conference presentations, and she provides practical examples from her own career transitions, noting that some ideas may be too small for full articles or too broad to execute effectively. She concludes by promoting her writing coaching services' holiday special for faculty who want help developing their publication ideas.  Slides Used Resources HOLIDAY COACHING HOURS - All hours at lowest prices for the year Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $30 using discount code TAA70 for 70% off!!! Returning TAA members can use the coupon code TAADP10 for $10 off an annual membership. You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach, addresses the mounting pressures academic parents face as they juggle grading, writing deadlines, children's activities, caregiving responsibilities, and the approaching holiday season. She offers four practical strategies for managing overwhelming periods, including leaving margin in your schedule, connecting with other academic parents for support, and seeking guidance from those who have successfully navigated similar challenges. While acknowledging that opting out is always an option, this episode focuses on resources for those who want to stay in academia while maintaining their well-being. Episodes Mentioned Episode 13 Writing at Home with Kids (during pandemic)  Episode 229 Summer Planning  Episode 245 Leaving Margin  Episode 108 Your Writing Project Mix  Episode 43 Five Steps to Effective Writing and Research Collaborations  Episode 62 Reasons for Source Support  Episode 122 Interview with Bec Evans of Written  Episode 196 How I Used 4 Hours of Writing Time  Books Mentioned Productivity, Professionalism, and Parenting in Academia by Christine Tulley (Routledge) Resources Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $30 using discount code TAA70 for 70% off!!! Returning TAA members can use the coupon code TAADP10 for $10 off an annual membership. You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach, counts down her favorite episodes in this 250th episode of the Defend, Publish & Lead podcast. Starting at number five, she highlights "Your Writing Project Mix" (Episode 108), which helps academic writers strategically plan which projects to tackle each semester. Number four covers "5 Steps for Effective Writing and Research Collaborations" (Episode 43), featuring advice on contingency planning when co-authors fall behind. Number three discusses "Reasons for Source Support" (Episode 62), based on the book "How Scholars Write," which explains the specific functions of scholarly citations. Number two features an interview with author Bec Evans about maintaining writing motivation (Episode 122). Her top pick is "How I Used 4 Hours of Writing Time" (Episode 196), a behind-the-scenes look at what actually happens during a scholarly writing session.  Slides from Episode  Episodes Mentioned Episode 108 - Your Writing Project Mix YouTube video | Apple Podcast Episode 43 - Five Steps to Effective Writing and Research Collaborations YouTube video | Apple Podcast Episode 62 - Reasons for Source Support YouTube video | Apple Podcast  Episode 122 - Interview with Bec Evans -Written: How to Keep Writing YouTube video | Apple Podcast Episode 196 - How I Used 4 Hours of Writing TimeYouTube video | Apple Podcast Books Mentioned Written: How to Keep Writing and Build a Habit That Lasts by Bec Evans & Chris Smith How Scholars Write by Aaron Ritzenberg and Sue Mendelsohn Resources Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $30 using discount code TAA70 for 70% off!!! Returning TAA members can use the coupon code TAADP10 for $10 off an annual membership. You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

This episode shares three ways to keep thinking about scholarly writing when you are not actually doing it. Recommendations for podcasts and books on academic writing are shared, along with suggestions for joining an organization or other initiative where regular contact with your writing is encouraged. Episodes Mentioned Episode 89: How I Got Back into Writing after a Month Off  Books Mentioned: Academic Writing as If Readers Mattered by Leonard Cassuto Written: How to Keep Writing and Build a Habit That Lasts by Bec Evans Published: a guide to literature review, outlining, experimenting, visualization, writing, editing, and peer review for your first scientific journal article by Thomas Deetjen  Resources: Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $30 using discount code TAA70 for 70% off!!! Returning TAA members can use the coupon code TAADP10 for $10 off an annual membership. You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

In Episode 248 Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach AT Defend, Publish & Lead, shares four practical strategies for managing grading responsibilities while protecting writing time: front-loading writing at the beginning of the semester before grading intensifies, leaving detailed notes after each writing session to facilitate re-entry after breaks, prioritizing writing before grading whenever possible to ensure it happens and to capitalize on fresh mental energy, and proactively blocking backup writing slots in future weeks to compensate for reduced productivity during heavy grading periods. She emphasizes that balance isn't always realistic—some weeks will be more grading-heavy while others allow for more writing—and encourages listeners to stay connected to their scholarly work even during demanding teaching periods, suggesting resources like the Tuesday Toolbox video series as a way to keep writing skills sharp when time is limited. Episodes Mentioned Episode 89: How I Got Back into Writing after a Month Off  Resources: Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $30 using discount code TAA70 for 70% off!!! Returning TAA members can use the coupon code TAADP10 for $10 off an annual membership. You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

In Episode 247 Christine Tulley, Defend, Publish & Lead President and Executive Writing Coach, shares multiple strategies for a resetting a day, a week, a project, a mode of writing, and more.  Resources: Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $30 using discount code TAA70 for 70% off!!! Returning TAA members can use the coupon code TAADP10 for $10 off an annual membership. You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

In Episode 246 Christine Tulley, Defend, Publish & Lead President and Executive Writing Coach, shares three insights the Tuesday Toolbox writing initiative including: Academic writing benefits from formulas as starting points, writing sessions need single focuses beyond project selection (like argument clarity or sentence variety), and surprisingly, academic writers lack opportunities to regularly refresh their writing skills. Christine encourages listeners to actively seek ways to strengthen their craft through resources and continuous learning.   Related Episodes Episode 240: The Tuesday Toolbox   Resources Mentioned: Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $30 using discount code TAA70 for 70% off!!! Returning TAA members can use the coupon code TAADP10 for $10 off an annual membership. You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

This episode describes the critical importance of building adequate margin into academic schedules. After a week that went "off the rails" due to unexpected emergencies including children's health issues, emergency dental work, and even a mouse invasion, Christine Tulley, President and Executive Writing Coach at Defend, Publish & Lead, discovered that while she thought she had built sufficient 30-minute buffers into her daily schedule, she hadn't accounted for how tightly stacked her days were against each other. When one day explodes due to emergencies, there's insufficient margin in subsequent days to absorb the ripple effects. The episode offers practical strategies for creating true margin in overpacked academic lives, including asking for help, moving non-urgent tasks, shortening meetings, saying no when possible, and building in extra travel time to prevent the stress and errors that come from rushing. Slides shown  Related Episodes: Episode 244 – Make a Weekly Template and Adjust Resources Mentioned: Tuesday Toolbox series - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $30 using discount code TAA70 for 70% off!!! Returning TAA members can use the coupon code TAADP10 for $10 off an annual membership. You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

This episode demonstrates the importance of creating realistic weekly templates rather than making assumptions about available writing time and compares before and after templates after first mapping an ideal week and then making real time adjustments based on the semester's workload, demonstrating how templates require ongoing refinement based on actual workflow patterns rather than theoretical scheduling.   Related Episodes: Previous episodes on teaching overload 242 and semester planning 237 Tuesday Toolbox introduction episode Resources Mentioned: Weekly template download - Blank mapping template available in show notes for creating personalized schedules (save as Microsoft Word) Tuesday Toolbox series - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $30 using discount code TAA70 for 70% off!!! Returning TAA members can use the coupon code TAADP10 for $10 off an annual membership. You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.    

In this gentle re-entry strategy episode, DP&L President and Executive Writing Coach, Christine Tulley shares a low-pressure approach for returning to scholarly writing after extended breaks, particularly useful at the beginning of semesters when writers feel disconnected from their projects. Her "just look and notice"  method involves reading through manuscripts without committing to write new content, simply observing structural issues, incomplete sections, or organizational problems, then using the comment function to leave targeted notes and generative questions that create manageable entry points for future writing sessions.   Resources: Tuesday Toolbox series - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net/ New to TAA? Join for just $30 using discount code TAA70 for 70% off!!! Returning TAA members can use the coupon code TAADP10 for $10 off an annual membership. You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.