"Pushing Through" with writing

I was featured in a podcast episode recently (or, somewhat recently because my send of time means nothing at the moment). I had a blast talking to Dr. Marvette Lacy, reflecting on finishing the dissertation during the pandemic, and considering how I had to bo re-learn and unlearn many of the habits I had "picked up" while trying to "push through" the dissertation. I figure that some might resonate... 

Reflecting on the dissertation and faculty process, one of the bigest takeaways was my relationship with "pushing through"— that yes, I and I imagine many of you reading can push through with class papers, chaptesr, articles, writing, whatever the job requires, but at what cost?

In finishing the dissertation, I've written here, about some of the cost for myself— about falling out of love with my own writing and hating it by the end. I think that's part of why I think so much about this site, about my research, becauase I keep wondering, does it have to be this way?  I include more in my teaching page (which as a fun note, is technically "unpublished" so you all are getting the sneak peak). But this also means is thinking about how so much of our habits and culture in academia revoles around shame. I made my to-do lists often be things like "finish the dissertation" — just that. It was an impossible goal that would then start a cycle of shame: why can't I just finish. And learning through that, and still learning since the un- & re-learning is ongoing, I hope you are able to resonate with the episode and find some of the tips and advice useful~ 

Links for where to listen, depending on your platform: 

Apple Podcast

On Spotify

iHeart Radio

Player FM