Dear Dr. Noelle: Another Sensitive Request

By Dr. Noelle Sterne

Q: How do I tell my chair I don’t want her to coauthor an article from my dissertation?

— Ungrateful?

A: This is another sensitive topic, first cousin to last month’s on your chair suggesting (dictating) you dissertation topic.

As your defense winds down, you’re flushed with relief and pride that you got through the PowerPoint without a storm of committee interruptions or zoom technical tantrums. After the approving nods and smiles, your chair may say, “Your dissertation is so important! It deserves publication as an article!” You blush, and they can see your red cheeks on the screen. Then you hear the chair’s words, both flattering and ominous: “Let’s coauthor it.”

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2025 TAA Virtual Conference Registration is Now Open

Calling all aspiring and veteran textbook and academic authors—this is your chance to connect, learn, and grow with fellow peers from every corner of the authoring world! Join us online on June 6-7, 2025, for the TAA Virtual Conference, an event packed with valuable insights, networking opportunities, and hands-on workshops.

Engage with publishers, editors, coaches, indexers, attorneys, and more, as we dive into a diverse range of topics tailored to your needs. Whether you’re looking to explore the latest in AI, strategies for co-authoring, tips for boosting productivity, staying up-to-date on rapid changes in publishing, or expert guidance on contracts, we’ve got you covered!

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2025 TAA Conference Bookstore Featured Book: ‘Teach: Introduction to Education’

Through a concise but wide-ranging exploration of the American public education system, Teach: Introduction to Education by Janice Koch, asks readers to imagine themselves in the classroom and develop their own ideas of what it means to be a teacher. Combining historical and contemporary perspectives, along with real-life classroom stories, Koch helps future teachers examine the ways in which society and culture shape schools. Published by SAGE.

Purchase in the 2025 TAA Conference Bookstore

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How to Bring More Joy into Your Writing

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

Recently, I found myself feeling good after a writing session. Even though I hadn’t completed a project, I was more focused, productive, and creative during that time, which made the experience more enjoyable. It was great to have a writing session that felt better than previous ones. But what made it better? As I reflected on this, I realized it was likely because I had rearranged my office shortly before I began to write. You might wonder, “How does rearranging my office impact my writing?” Let me explain.

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