By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: I’m burned out but don’t feel I can take a break. Help!
— Written Out
A: Like this writer, have you lost your dissertation fervor? Even mild enthusiasm? Do you long to regain that old rush of excitement (or at least a little)? Maybe, like companies that close temporarily for renovation or universities on a holiday break, you need to close your writing shop for some needed rejuvenation.
By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD
Writing can be emotionally challenging. You have probably experienced this yourself. As writers, we often feel frustrated when we cannot find the right words to express our thoughts and ideas, annoyed when we get stuck, lost when we are unsure where our ideas are leading, confused when we struggle to connect them, and disappointed when our work is rejected. The emotional challenges of writing can seem endless.
By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD
Getting our writing done has a lot to do with how we respond to expectations. Here’s why.
As writers, we are constantly expected to meet different expectations. For example, we may be expected to write about a particular topic, publish in a certain journal, submit by a specific deadline, or complete a project in a certain format.
We asked 2026 TAA Textbook Award winners what strategies they use to fit writing into their schedules, and they delivered. From early risers to the Nordstrom women’s sofa lounge, you’ll find a tip and location that speaks to you.
We asked 2026 Textbook Award winners some questions about their authoring experience. Two respondents, Peter Copeland and Janok Bhattacharya, co-authors of Earth History: Stories of Our Geological Past (1e), winner of a 2026 Most Promising New Textbook Award shared their journey.
By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD
About 40 percent of people in the United States make New Year’s resolutions. Are you one of them? I am. One of my resolutions for this year was to write 12 TAA blog posts. You might ask, “How many have you written so far?” Just one—the one you’re reading now. Between unexpected hardships, work commitments, and starting a graduate program in Happiness Studies, it was difficult to keep up with everything. As someone who loves to follow through my resolutions, I felt disappointed in myself for not staying committed to my goal.
