Academic Book Writing Simplified with Jane Joann Jones

What’s required to create a solid book writing plan? What do you need to know to make sure that you can actually execute the plan that you make? Planning isn’t always easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. If you are ready to make a writing plan, or feeling discouraged about the plan you have, this episode is for you. Jane is going to introduce you to the three essential pillars of successful book planning. Once you learn these three pillars and then begin to use the skills in each, pla...

Are you struggling to get work done during the time you’ve scheduled to write? Do you walk away from a writing session feeling like your time would have been better spent watching water boil? It’s frustrating to protect your time then feel like you have nothing to show for it. In today’s episode, Jane is going to share three strategies for bringing more focus to your writing sessions. With a combination of careful planning and attention to how you think about writing, you’ll be able to leave ...

If you're writing an academic book in the humanities or social sciences, you might feel like the stakes are high when it comes to nailing your introductory chapter. How do you pique your readers’ interest while laying the foundation for a complex argument? What can you do to make sure you give the reader the appropriate amount of context without inundating them with details? In this episode of Academic Book Writing Simplified, Jane breaks down the four essential elements your introducto...

In this episode, Jane addresses one of the most commonly asked questions from academic writers who are turning their dissertations into scholarly books: What should I do with the literature review? As you transition from dissertation to book, it's crucial to rethink how you approach the literature review. While your dissertation’s literature review may have been long and detailed, the introduction chapter of your book requires a much more concise and analytical approach. The goal is not to su...

In this second episode of our series on book introductions, Jane answers the question of timing for book introductions. When is the best time to write the introduction? Should you do it first, or wait until you’ve written the entire book? This question covers a few issues: workflow, mindset, and organization. Tune in to today’s episode to learn: The real question you’re asking if you ask when to write your introduction. Three different options for organizing your thoughts in ...

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 your introduction be? In today’s episode, which is the first of a series on book introductions, Jane will discuss length. If you’re worried that your introduction will be too long or too short, after this episode you’ll know how to make the lengt...

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 treat your writing like a dress rehearsal. Embracing a sense of experimentation and curiosity can help you unlock your creativity. You’ll also learn how to practice patience for your own unique writing process. Grab your headphones and tune in so yo...

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 Lehman College, City University of New York. She is also part of the Sociology Doctoral Faculty at the Graduate Center at City University of New York. Her forthcoming book examines the role of trust in student-educator relationships, the salience of trust for student outcomes, and racial differences in t...

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 Immoral Whiteness in Immigration Politics. Tune in to hear: The resources from the program that Yalidy returns to again and againWhy Yalidy thinks the program is a unique space for minoritized faculty. How the curriculum helped Yalidy write and co...

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: What you can expect in the first two weeks, one month, and sixty days of the program. How our three-pronged approach helps you develop your writing craft, project management skills, and mindset.Jane’s counterintuitive approach to planning, and how...

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 what you can expect when you have your work edited. Jane and Kali discuss: How we define developmental editingHow developmental editing helps you develop and refine the big ideas in your bookThe most common concerns writers have about their work, and h...

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’s what Jane will discuss: 💡The thoughts that are driving you to make unrealistic plans: “I need to catch up,” “I should write all day,” and “I should work on everything” — and how to change them. 💡The two goals you should set so you can determine...

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 very candid look at the current landscape of academia to help you decide how to think about your scholarship and career. She’ll give you some ways to contextualize the current moment and questions to consider so you can make well-informed, intentional decisions...

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 biases and misconceptions about what happens when a writer works with an editor, and breaks down how these misconceptions can hurt junior scholars, especially if they are members of minoritized groups. Further listening: Episode 19: How work...

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, you’ll learn: Why academics work with editorsThe different types of editing available to academic writersThe pros and cons of working with an editor to improve your academic bookHow working with an editor can help you avoid time-consuming mistake...