I keep post-it notes everywhere. When I have an idea I jot it down & stuff it in my pocket. At the end of the day I place the pile of notes on my desk. The next morning when sit down to write (or more recently edit), I have all the ideas in one place. Most I throw out. Usually 1 in 10 is a gem.

Jacqueline Antonovich@jackiantonovich.bsky.social · 6d ago

*Bonus*: always remind yourself that thinking is part of writing. Actual typing of text is just a sliver of writing. So, shower thoughts, walking thoughts, random thoughts in the day about your project *is* writing. Text yourself those thoughts (or get a dictation app)

🧵It's the last day of July, and perhaps your summer writing goals are starting to feel unachievable. What to do? 🌻 Don't panic. Remember that you are not alone. Almost every academic feels this way in the middle of the summer. And guess what? They still publish and get tenure. (1/3)

My love of routine makes summer overwhelming. A friend introduced me to "micro-routines"--small stabilizing moments (10-min meditation break, coffee ritual, etc) that can fit into any day. Authors, as you manage the summer tumult, micro-routines might help you find your ballast & focus. #AcademicSky

The good news for clients continues! An author emailed to share that she submitted her monograph's page proofs, & another sent me an advance copy of her book. Both faced challenges along the way. Setbacks in writing are inevitable-not signs of failure. Keep writing & revising, friends! #AcademicSky

Katherine Carroll@katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 4w ago

For 18 months, I've worked with a client on her diss-to-book manuscript & now it's ready for submission for peer review. Few people conceive of a book & far fewer complete one. Sometimes it feels impossible. But it is possible & when you hit "send" on your submission, it feels so good. #AcademicSky

This summer, I've focused TEA Delivered on suggestions for connecting with the best-fit editorial professional for you. Today, I remind readers to share concerns about confidentiality and AI. #AcademicSky open.substack.com/pub/theedito...

Professional Fit: Confidentiality and AI

Welcome to TEA Delivered, the newsletter of The Editorial Ally (TEA)!

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🙋Advice please! I'm having an overuse issue with one of my thumbs, and I think it's time to invest in an ergonomic and also possibly an easy press keyboard. Does anyone have a recommendation? I want to do this work for the long haul, and I know I need to protect my hands. Thank you!

💡Authors often believe that their outline failed if their first draft is messy. But you can't do all your thinking in the outline stage. Some ideas can only be worked out on the full page. Even with a fantastic outline, the first draft is always messy. Embrace it, & expect to revise. #AcademicSky

Why I’m a fan of the Oxford comma.

There is not enough summer for my writing.

For 18 months, I've worked with a client on her diss-to-book manuscript & now it's ready for submission for peer review. Few people conceive of a book & far fewer complete one. Sometimes it feels impossible. But it is possible & when you hit "send" on your submission, it feels so good. #AcademicSky

One element of choosing an editorial professional is "fit." If confidentiality and AI use are important to you, feel free to ask. Many of us also explain our thinking on these topics on our websites. You can find my statements at www.theeditorialally.com/contact #AcademicSky #NoAI #confidentiality

Contact — THE EDITORIAL ALLY

theeditorialally.com

Katherine Carroll@katherinecarroll.bsky.social · last mo.

Trusting someone enough to invite them into your writing process is not easy. Once you identify the type of writing/editorial service you need, the next step is choosing a specific professional to hire. In today's TEA Delivered, I share some tips. #AcademicSky open.substack.com/pub/theedito...

Trusting someone enough to invite them into your writing process is not easy. Once you identify the type of writing/editorial service you need, the next step is choosing a specific professional to hire. In today's TEA Delivered, I share some tips. #AcademicSky open.substack.com/pub/theedito...

Choosing an Editor

Welcome to TEA Delivered, the newsletter of The Editorial Ally (TEA)!

open.substack.com

Does your manuscript need light-touch structural support? Do you want to get a sense if something is working without a deep dive? I'm offering manuscript evaluations that give targeted, verbal feedback in a short amount of time at a lower price point. 👇 www.theeditorialally.com/consultation...

Consultations and Focused Support — THE EDITORIAL ALLY

In a one-on-one consultation, Katherine Carroll helps academics work through their structural hurdles out loud. Working with an experienced editor and academic writer can make seemingly insurmountable...

theeditorialally.com

Over the summer, some authors will discover they need help, but they won't know who to contact. In today’s TEA Delivered, I share who to call (or email) when you need support. I discuss writing coaches, developmental editors, line editors, copy editors, & indexers. open.substack.com/pub/theedito...

Who to Call When you Need Writing Help

Welcome to TEA Delivered, the newsletter of The Editorial Ally (TEA)!

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Academic authors-- June is waning, and summer is really, truly here. You have ambitious writing goals, AND you need to carve out some time for yourself. Maybe it feels like too much. Pro tip: Don't add to the list by beating yourself up if the writing feels hard. #AcademicSky #support #writing

I meet weekly with three other editors. We run our own businesses & hold each other accountable. Did we meet our posting goals? Did we update the website? How is the new blog format going? At today's meeting we are sharing our mid-year reflections. Imagine what you might be discussing. #AcademicSky

Katherine Carroll@katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 2mo ago

There are lots of great accountability programs for writers, & if they fit your schedule & budget, then absolutely enroll. But if you need a different solution, try gathering a group of 3-4 people who are writing books. Set up a weekly Zoom meeting, & see what happens. 📷 Derek Coleman/Unsplash

There are lots of great accountability programs for writers, & if they fit your schedule & budget, then absolutely enroll. But if you need a different solution, try gathering a group of 3-4 people who are writing books. Set up a weekly Zoom meeting, & see what happens. 📷 Derek Coleman/Unsplash

Academics talk a lot about word count and productivity. But we don’t talk enough about momentum. Don’t underestimate the value of momentum. If you have it, protect it. Learn more in today’s TEA Delivered. #AcademicSky Photo by Baptiste Buisson on Unsplash. open.substack.com/pub/theedito...

Protect Your Momentum

Welcome to TEA Delivered, the newsletter of The Editorial Ally (TEA)!

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Newbie gardener here...happily watching nature in upstate New York (and shaping it a little, too). The peonies are sighing, bending, dripping petals? Is there a word for this? It feels like the final curtain call on an exuberant theatrical production.

🧵Structuring the argument in your chapter or article? Sometimes authors seem confused when I suggest that introductions (of chapters, articles, & individual sections of chapters/articles) should state the argument of the chapter, article, or section. For many, this approach feels backwards. (1/3)

Independent scholars-- I see you. I celebrate you. I take your work seriously. I'm always happy to brainstorm targeted services that can fit within smaller budgets. And FWIW, I've been there; I revised my dissertation and published my book as a contingent faculty member. #AcademicSky #contingent

🧵Are you returning to a project that you haven't looked at in a loooong time? Here's a good first step: use your distance from the project to approach it like a new reader. If the word count is high, set aside a few DAYS to read the project from front to back keeping the following tips in mind.(1/x)

Want to learn more about book awards? Ideas on Fire has a list of 311, including related submission deadlines, fields, and more. #AcademicSky ideasonfire.net/ideas-on-fir...

Never lose the plot that the point of all of this is to live—to experience things, to create, to obsess over the unique details that make the whole of your life

Rebecca Colesworthy@rcolesworthy.bsky.social · 2mo ago

“The reason AI-generated content isn’t as good, Chieng argued, is that the journey of making and learning something matters —‘it’s the point of all of this.’” www.harvardmagazine.com/commencement...

Writing the introduction to your book can feel very overwhelming. In today's TEA Delivered, I share a succinct overview of the standard elements and structure of the introduction for a history monograph. I hope it helps! Keep writing, friends! #AcademicSky open.substack.com/pub/theedito...

A Structure for the Book's Introduction

Welcome to TEA Delivered, the newsletter of The Editorial Ally (TEA)!

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Are you returning to a manuscript you've had to put down for a while? My number one suggestion is to start with manageable and concrete tasks that will get your head back in the project and generate momentum. #AcademicSky #academia #summer #writing #editing

Trumpitecture is a series of empty symbols divorced from contemporary usefulness. Historicalish gold thing Columns Arches Big Stairs

Speaking as an editor of historians—usually too many. 😂

Doug Lindner@douglindner.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Human writers use em-dashes too

Keep walking not rolling, friends! Bonus picture of Poppy on our walk this morning, done rolling but not yet ready to walk! #AcademicSky #dogs #editing #academia #academicwriting

Katherine Carroll@katherinecarroll.bsky.social · 3mo ago

🧵I mentioned this visual to a client for the first time recently. It’s helped me a lot when I am writing, but I’ve been too embarrassed to say it to an author. The image resonated with him, though, so I’m going for it! 🫣 (1/2)

🧵I mentioned this visual to a client for the first time recently. It’s helped me a lot when I am writing, but I’ve been too embarrassed to say it to an author. The image resonated with him, though, so I’m going for it! 🫣 (1/2)