This second episode addresses how many WOC faculty members often feel behind in their work. Host Dr. Katherine Lee shares some of her own challenges on the tenure track and offers some strategies on how to stay ahead with your writing.
In this second episode of the podcast, I’m going to share with you some strategies on how to cope with that mindset of always feeling behind in your work when you’re on the tenure track.
Competing Priorities of Writing, Students and Commitments
How many times have you come to the end of the academic year and asked yourself: How did I fall so behind on my book? If you’re someone like me, that question then quickly spirals into a lot of self-judgment:
Why can’t I write faster?
Why didn’t I make more time for writing this year?
Fear follows soon after.
What if I don’t finish my manuscript on time?
What if I don’t write the book I really want to write?
What if I don’t get tenure?
Instead of feeling joyful and relieved about your upcoming break, you start to feel a sense of dread.
You have so much to catch up on and complete during your break.
When you’re in a field that requires the publication of a book in order to get tenure, making time for the book should really be your first priority. But there are so many other things that compete for your time, energy, and attention during the school year. And let’s be honest … if you’re a woman of color faculty on the tenure track, there are additional hurdles:
- You have a higher teaching load
- You have a higher service load
- You often meet with more students in office hours and you feel drained afterwards
- You constantly have to process microaggressions or racialized aggressions
- You are not held up as an authority in your department or sometimes in the classroom
- You don’t really have allies in your department
It can feel like success on the tenure track for you is more like surviving an obstacle course. Is it any wonder that you are finding it difficult to have the time, energy, and inspiration to work on your book during the school year?
The Fast Track to Tenure Doesn’t Feel Fast
In my case, during the first two years of working as an Assistant Professor at an R1 university, I devoted myself fully to the job and I:
- Taught my own courses for the first time
- Served on various committees
- Started a Korean percussion ensemble
- Hosted a yearly lecture series
- Organized performances with international musicians
Even though it may have appeared from the outside that I was on a fast track to tenure, I was really struggling inside. I felt like I was constantly behind in my work. There were some days when I would come home and literally collapse from exhaustion and wake up the next day, without having turned off any of the lights in my apartment.
It is not an exaggeration to say that I did not work on my book manuscript during my entire first year on the tenure track. In year two, the thought of the book manuscript loomed so large and completely stressed me out.
When I had a block of time for working on the book, I found that I was either physically exhausted or I didn’t have the bandwidth to think. At the end of my second year, I decided that I needed to be more strategic about setting attainable and realistic writing goals in order to finish my book.
Here are four things that helped me to eventually make time for my book during a busy school year:
- I learned to assess whether or not I needed to say yes to every single request that came my way. At the beginning, it was quite flattering to receive requests to review manuscripts, write book reviews, and serve on new committees. But all of these activities take up valuable time away from the book. I would ask myself if I would feel resentment about agreeing to extra service. If the answer was yes, I would politely decline the request.
- I found a supportive group of faculty members outside of my department who were also working on writing their books. Since writing is such a solitary process, I found that I needed to build in support systems in order to keep me motivated.
- Instead of holding open office hours, I created a sign-up sheet that allowed me to be more focused and more efficient with students who came to see me. I felt less drained as a result.
- As someone who needs deadlines, I would strategically present different chapters at conferences, workshops, or at invited talks as a way to make progress on my writing goals.
Now looking back, I consider this all an exercise in maintaining boundaries and prioritizing my own needs. This can be hard when you’re a giver.
Are you a giver?
If you prioritize other people’s needs over your own on a regular basis, then you’re probably a giver. While it is great to be of service to others, if you aren’t giving to yourself in terms of adequate time for your own work, then you will likely feel behind and maybe even resentful.
In my Signature Program for WOC faculty, I help you prioritize yourself so that you can achieve your writing goals for tenure. You’ll become more strategic at managing your weekly schedules and choosing exactly what service commitments you are willing to take on. The whole process will become more meaningful and motivating.
If you want support for your important goals, fill out the questionnaire you’ll find at RisewithClarity.com, under the Work with Katherine tab. Tell me about yourself and we’ll talk soon.