The Path to Finally Finishing Your Dissertation, Book, or Article
Using project management and adaptability to meet your goals.
You're staring at your screen, feeling stuck, and maybe even a bit demoralized. Maybe it's a dissertation draft that needs to become a book, a complex journal article that's not coming together, or a book chapter deadline that keeps slipping away. Every time you try to start, the project feels overwhelming. You have no clear sense of what to tackle first, and you're starting to feel defeated.
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Academia expects us to manage huge writing projects—from dissertations to journal articles, from book manuscripts to edited collections—but we're rarely taught how to do it systematically. Instead, we're left to flounder, overwhelmed by the scale of our various writing commitments and our own high expectations.
Maybe you're where I often find my coaching clients: You know your writing needs to meet certain milestones but what does that actually mean for your specific project? What should you prioritize? Every attempt to map out the work leaves you feeling more confused, and you worry you're falling behind.
I deeply understand your frustration because I've been in your shoes. But I also know there's a way forward. Here's what most early-career academics don’t fully understand: Project management—a crucial skill for tackling any substantial academic writing—is often missing from PhD education and early career mentoring.
Project management isn't just about making to-do lists or setting deadlines. It's the skill of breaking down complex work into manageable pieces, creating realistic timelines, tracking progress, and—most importantly—adapting your approach when circumstances change. Think of it as having both a map and a compass: the map shows you the overall terrain of your project, while the compass helps you navigate when you need to find a new path forward.
It's not your fault if you haven't developed these skills yet; you simply haven't been taught, and you might not even realize this is the skill you've been missing.
Your Path Forward
Project management starts with mapping out the specific requirements and goals of your writing project. You'll identify models that resonate with your vision and goals, giving you a clearer sense of direction. From there, you'll break your project down into manageable pieces—whether that's chapters, sections, or key arguments—so you can focus on one smaller, achievable task at a time.
You'll create a timeline and set clear, achievable goals. Step by step, you'll begin to see progress—and that progress will give you the confidence to keep moving forward.
But here's the thing about project management: it's not just about making a plan; it's about learning to adapt when the plan doesn't go as expected.
This is where many of us get stuck. When a plan falls apart—as they often do—our instinct is to throw it out entirely. You might tell yourself I’m "just not a planner" or that planning doesn't work for me. But that's not how effective project management works.
When you hit roadblocks (and you will—life happens!), your plan isn't ruined. Instead, you shift. That idea didn’t go as planned, and now you’re behind the timeline you originally set? This is completely normal and it’s time to adjust instead of blaming yourself for not doing it right the first time.
Some weeks, you might need to scale back. Other weeks, you'll adjust your focus. You'll learn to identify what's realistic for your current circumstances and make a new plan. The goal isn't perfection; it's progress.
Through this process, you won't just make significant strides on your current writing project—you'll learn what kinds of work styles and strategies work best for you. And that's the real power of project management: it's not just about getting one piece of writing done. It's about developing sustainable practices that will serve you throughout your academic career.
If you're ready to develop these project management skills and create a sustainable writing practice, I can help. In my upcoming course, Flourish: Cultivating a Sustainable Writing Practice, you'll learn how to move from feeling stuck to making consistent progress.
The course includes:
Clear strategies for breaking down any writing project—whether it's a dissertation, book, or article—into manageable, actionable parts
Tools for reflecting and adjusting your approach as you work so you can keep moving forward even when things don't go as planned
Support to design a writing practice that's truly sustainable and adaptable enough to support you through all stages of your academic career
Most importantly, you won't just be learning theory—you'll be making real progress on your current writing project while developing skills that will serve you throughout your academic career.
You’ll learn by doing, which means you’ll make progress as you learn to make your process better.
If you're feeling stuck and overwhelmed, there is a way forward. You can learn to manage your writing projects effectively and build a sustainable writing practice that works for you.
Want to learn more about the course or ask questions? Reply to this email or book a free discovery call!
