What does the future of textbook and academic publishing look like in the age of artificial intelligence? According to Bryan Alexander, award-winning futurist, researcher, writer, speaker, consultant, and educator recognized internationally, the answer is already beginning to take shape.
Dear Dr. Noelle: Time! Help!
By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: As a tenure-track professor, I’m looking up, and the year is ending. I sign up for the TAA programs and schedule writing into my calendar. But during my reflection, I allow other “things” to take precedence, and I don’t attend the programs I sign up for, and the writing time I’ve planned slips away. Can you offer words of encouragement that my time management skills will continue to improve and that protecting writing time is possible?
— Passionate About Academic Growth
A: Dear Professor Passionate—
We all fight time. especially as we continue to accomplish in our chosen specialties.
Maybe you’re self-judging too harshly and expecting too much of yourself.
Submit Your Proposal for the 2025 TAA Virtual Conference Now!
Are you interested in presenting at the 2025 TAA Virtual Conference? Submit your proposal by October 13, 2024, for the chance to share your expertise. Attendees are textbook, academic and aspiring authors, as well as graduate students and industry professionals, all of which are eager to learn and grow in this industry.
The 2025 Textbook & Academic Authoring Conference will be held online June 6-7. We invite presenters, first-time to veteran-level, to submit a proposal.
2025 TAA Virtual Conference on Textbook & Academic Authoring Call for Proposals Now Open
The TAA Conference Committee invites proposals for its 2025 Textbook & Academic Authoring Conference, which will be held online June 6-7. Presenting at TAA’s 2025 Conference provides an opportunity to share your knowledge, experiences, and ideas with other textbook authors, academic authors, and industry professionals. The theme is “The Future is Now.” We welcome proposals from first-time and veteran presenters! The deadline for submitting a proposal is October 13, 2024.
Do Side Writing Projects Sideline Your Book Project?
By John Bond
Journal articles. Grant proposals. Book chapters. White papers. Blog posts for a friend. Contributions to the university newsletter. Alumni magazine articles.
There are lots of “opportunities” or requests from colleagues and friends to write. As you develop in your career, the number will increase, especially if you can deliver. On time and with the expected results. But there may come a day when you will have a contract for your own textbook or monograph. Then things will all be on your shoulders.
And the other writing request will keep on coming. Is this a good thing? Do they help or hinder the book project? As with most questions, the answer is that it depends.
My Day Off
This piece follows directly from last month’s on taking time off. The author explores why taking a day off is so hard and describes her attempt.
Finally, I decided to take a day off. I work at home and, as anyone knows who does, that means all the time. No boundaries, no borders, no warning bell blaring at 9:00 at night or security guard barking “Closing!” When you quit is dictated only by hunger, exhaustion, or an occasional family emergency.
Ironically, I’ve often published advice to others to stop work and smell the rest of life. And yet, the doctor can’t comply with her own prescription.