Rethinking Writing Time

In last week's Monday Motivator I challenged each of you to take time to write down your semester goals and post them publicly. I was amazed by the goals posted in the discussion forum and inspired by the collective spirit of support and determination to achieve them. Rethinking Writing Time This week, I want to focus on how to move from having clearly stated Semester Writing Goals to actually achieving them! Based on the findings of faculty development researchers, the answer is straightforward: write every day for 30-60 minutes. It sounds so easy, but for most new faculty, post-docs, and graduate students, writing for 30-60 minutes every day is anything but simple. It is more difficult than it sounds because even though we KNOW that writing and publication are high priorities, we often BEHAVE as if writing is our last priority. In other words, despite knowing that writing is critical to our professional success, we often treat it as an optional activity. We "try to make time for it" at the end of the day, or "hope to get to it" after everything else has been done and everyone else's needs have been met. I want to make a radical suggestion this week: let's rethink our writing time by giving it the same weight in our schedule that it will have in our tenure review (or job applications). To begin rethinking your writing time, try blocking out 30-60 minutes of each day for writing (Monday through Friday). In order to send a powerful message to ourselves and the universe, let's go ahead and block that time out of your calendar the same way you would a meeting or a class. Then treat that writing time with the same respect and professionalism that you would your colleagues or your students. That means it is non-negotiable, nothing else can happen during that time, and if anybody asks, the answer is "Sorry, but I'm not available at that time, I have a meeting." The Weekly Challenge This week, I want to challenge you to do the following: If you have not yet written down your semester writing goals, do so ASAP. Feel free to post them in the Fall Writing Goals thread in my discussion forum (the forum is free, but you have to sign up for a Yuku account to post on it). Block out 30-60 minutes of time each day this week for writing. I mean literally write it in your calendar! If you feel bold, go ahead and block out your writing time for the entire semester. Treat that writing time with the same respect you would a meeting with your colleagues or your students. Show up at your computer during the writing time this week and see what happens. If you need support and accountability in developing your daily writing, join us for the September Writing Challenge on the  discussion forums. If you find yourself unable or unwilling to do any of the above, gently and lovingly ask yourself WHY?

I hope this week brings you the openness to rethink your writing time and the strength to aggressively, pro-actively, and even ruthlessly make time for writing every day. You deserve it! Peace & Productivity, Kerry Ann Rockquemore Associate Professor African American Studies and Sociology University of Illinois at Chicago KerryAnn@NewFacultySuccess.com