What happens when your vocation outlives your job?

In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, I share a personal confession: I still live like a scholar, even though I don't currently hold an academic post.

After earning my PhD and turning down two visiting assistant professor positions during a season of major life changes, I've had to wrestle with questions of identity, vocation, scholarship, and belonging. What happens when you still think, research, write, and contribute like a scholar—but no longer have the institutional title, resources, or recognition that often come with it?

In this conversation, we'll talk about:

• The hidden challenges of life outside academia • Why losing institutional support can feel surprisingly personal • The difference between a job and a vocation • Reframing your identity when your career path changes • Continuing meaningful scholarship in the midst of real life

Whether you're between academic positions, pursuing scholarship independently, balancing research with parenting, or navigating a career transition, I hope this conversation reminds you that your calling is bigger than any title.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments: Have you ever carried an identity that the world didn't quite know what to do with?

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#Scholarship #Academia #PhDLife #AcademicWriting #LifeAfterAcademia #IndependentScholar #WritingCommunity

Why is it so hard to start writing in summer, even though you finally have the time?

In this Summer Office Hours episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, I'm getting honest about a question that haunts graduate students, faculty, adjuncts, working professionals, and nontraditional scholars alike:

"Why can't I just start?!"

If you've ever stared at a blank document, avoided opening your dissertation chapter, delayed a conference paper, or spent an entire writing day doing everything except writing, this episode is for you.

We'll unpack the hidden reasons behind writing procrastination in summertime, including:

✏️ Changes in caregiving rhythms ✏️ Lack of structured time ✏️ Fears that emerge ✏️ Why struggling to start isn't always a discipline problem, but rather a case of the “should”s.

You'll also hear a personal reflection on my own writing procrastination and a simple reframe that has helped me begin projects when motivation is nowhere to be found.

Because sometimes writing doesn't start with what we think of as “writing.”

Rather, sometimes it starts with opening the document, annotating a source, drafting one terrible sentence, or simply admitting what's making the work feel difficult.

💬 I'd love to hear from you in the comments: What barriers do you face when you start writing?

🎙️ Crayons in My Manuscript is a writing productivity podcast for graduate students, faculty, first-generation scholars, military-connected academics, parents in higher education, and anyone trying to build a sustainable scholarly life.

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Episode 11 | Book Review: Procrastination Proof by Jon Acuff

I used to think procrastination was a discipline problem, that if I just had more willpower, I’d get things done.

After reading Jon Acuff’s Procrastination Proof, I came to the realization that I was wrong.

In this episode, I unpack some of my biggest insights from the book, including:

• Why procrastination may have less to do with laziness than we think • The hidden beliefs that keep us stuck • Practical mindset shifts that can help writers, creatives, and professionals move forward • My honest takeaways from reading Procrastination Proof

If you’ve ever struggled to finish what matters (or if you’ve wondered why procrastination feels so hard to overcome) this conversation might help.

📚 Book discussed: Procrastination Proof by Jon Acuff (2026) 🎙️ Welcome to Crayons in My Manuscript, a place for reflections on writing, creativity, books, and the habits that shape our lives.

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