What happens when your vocation outlives your job?

In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, I share a personal confession: I still live like a scholar, even though I don't currently hold an academic post.

After earning my PhD and turning down two visiting assistant professor positions during a season of major life changes, I've had to wrestle with questions of identity, vocation, scholarship, and belonging. What happens when you still think, research, write, and contribute like a scholar—but no longer have the institutional title, resources, or recognition that often come with it?

In this conversation, we'll talk about:

• The hidden challenges of life outside academia • Why losing institutional support can feel surprisingly personal • The difference between a job and a vocation • Reframing your identity when your career path changes • Continuing meaningful scholarship in the midst of real life

Whether you're between academic positions, pursuing scholarship independently, balancing research with parenting, or navigating a career transition, I hope this conversation reminds you that your calling is bigger than any title.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments: Have you ever carried an identity that the world didn't quite know what to do with?

☕ Support the channel: https://coff.ee/staceygarrepy

📚 Subscribe for more conversations about writing, scholarship, productivity, and building meaningful work within a full and beautiful life.

#Scholarship #Academia #PhDLife #AcademicWriting #LifeAfterAcademia #IndependentScholar #WritingCommunity

Why is it so hard to start writing in summer, even though you finally have the time?

In this Summer Office Hours episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, I'm getting honest about a question that haunts graduate students, faculty, adjuncts, working professionals, and nontraditional scholars alike:

"Why can't I just start?!"

If you've ever stared at a blank document, avoided opening your dissertation chapter, delayed a conference paper, or spent an entire writing day doing everything except writing, this episode is for you.

We'll unpack the hidden reasons behind writing procrastination in summertime, including:

✏️ Changes in caregiving rhythms ✏️ Lack of structured time ✏️ Fears that emerge ✏️ Why struggling to start isn't always a discipline problem, but rather a case of the “should”s.

You'll also hear a personal reflection on my own writing procrastination and a simple reframe that has helped me begin projects when motivation is nowhere to be found.

Because sometimes writing doesn't start with what we think of as “writing.”

Rather, sometimes it starts with opening the document, annotating a source, drafting one terrible sentence, or simply admitting what's making the work feel difficult.

💬 I'd love to hear from you in the comments: What barriers do you face when you start writing?

🎙️ Crayons in My Manuscript is a writing productivity podcast for graduate students, faculty, first-generation scholars, military-connected academics, parents in higher education, and anyone trying to build a sustainable scholarly life.

If you're looking for practical writing advice, academic productivity strategies, dissertation support, and honest conversations about life in academia, subscribe and join us.

#AcademicWriting #WritingProductivity #GraduateSchool #DissertationWriting #AcademicLife #WritingTips #Procrastination #FacultyLife #PhDStudent #ResearchWriting #ScholarlyWriting #AcademicProductivity #HigherEducation #NontraditionalStudent #FirstGenerationScholar #CrayonsInMyManuscript

Episode 11 | Book Review: Procrastination Proof by Jon Acuff

I used to think procrastination was a discipline problem, that if I just had more willpower, I’d get things done.

After reading Jon Acuff’s Procrastination Proof, I came to the realization that I was wrong.

In this episode, I unpack some of my biggest insights from the book, including:

• Why procrastination may have less to do with laziness than we think • The hidden beliefs that keep us stuck • Practical mindset shifts that can help writers, creatives, and professionals move forward • My honest takeaways from reading Procrastination Proof

If you’ve ever struggled to finish what matters (or if you’ve wondered why procrastination feels so hard to overcome) this conversation might help.

📚 Book discussed: Procrastination Proof by Jon Acuff (2026) 🎙️ Welcome to Crayons in My Manuscript, a place for reflections on writing, creativity, books, and the habits that shape our lives.

#bookreview #procrastination #jonacuff #productivity #personaldevelopment

Struggling to write, even when you finally sit down to do it?

You’re not lazy. Yo u don’t need more willpower. What you need is a system.

In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, Dr. Stacey Garrepy breaks down the Pomodoro Method—a simple, powerful way to overcome writing anxiety, silence your inner critic, and actually get words on the page.

Whether you're a busy parent, first-gen scholar, or balancing writing with a full life, this method helps you make progress in as little as 10 minutes at a time.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why writing anxiety keeps you stuck
• How the Pomodoro Method works (and how to customize it)
• How to stop procrastinating and start writing
• A real story of writing 2 pages in under 30 minutes
• How to build momentum—even on your busiest days

🎯 Your challenge: Try 2 Pomodoros today and see what happens.

📲 Share your win on Instagram: @crayonsinmymanuscript ☕ Support the show: https://coff.ee/staceygarrepy.

Remember: One paragraph today becomes a page tomorrow.

Credits:

https://www.vecteezy.com/free-videos/elephant by Tom K

Elephant Stock Video by Vecteezy

In this episode, Dr. Stacey Garrepy shares the real story of taking a 2-year-old on an international conference trip, delving into the good and the surprisingly sweet, to the exhausting, chaotic, and downright overwhelming moments (yes, including that flight 😅).

If you’re an academic, writer, or working parent trying to balance your career with family life, this is for you.

We’ll talk about:

• What actually works when traveling with a toddler
• The biggest challenges no one prepares you for
• What I would do differently next time
• Why I still believe it’s worth it

✨ Because building your career and raising a family don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

👇 I’d love to hear from you: Have you ever traveled with young kids for work or had your kids in the room while you were lecturing? What was your experience like?

Writing sucks sometimes. Actually… a lot of the time.

If you’ve ever stared at a blank page, questioned your ability, or felt completely stuck in your research, just know you’re not alone.

In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, Dr. Stacey Garrepy breaks down:

• Why writing feels so hard (even for experienced scholars)
• How your inner critic is holding you back
• 5 simple strategies to keep moving forward (even especially when you don’t feel like it)

Whether you’re a first-generation student, a parent who is balancing deadlines, or navigating academia in a second language, this episode is for you.

✨ Remember: You’re not bad at writing. You’re doing deep, hard work.

⏱ Try this today: Write for just 10 minutes. That’s it.

📲 Connect with me: Instagram: @crayonsinmymanuscript Facebook: CIMM Podcast

☕ Support the channel: https://coff.ee/staceygarrepy

👍 If this helped, like & subscribe for more support on writing, research, and academic life.

Struggling to focus when you sit down to write? You’re not alone, and the solution might be simpler than you think.

In this video, I’ll share how simple writing rituals (yes, even lighting a candle!) helped me to stop my procrastination loop and start writing with more ease and clarity.

But here’s the truth:

It’s not about the candle.

Instead, it’s about how your brain responds to patterns, cues, and rituals.

✨ In this video, you’ll learn:

• Why writing rituals actually work (it’s brain science-y)
• How to reduce decision fatigue and start writing faster
• 3 simple writing rituals you can try today
• 3 common mistakes that make rituals ineffective

So whether you’re a busy academic, parent (or both!) trying to find focus in a full life, these strategies are designed to help you write more efficiently without burning out.

👋 Hi, I’m Dr. Stacey Garrepy I help busy writers and researchers with full lives build sustainable writing habits, stay energized, and actually enjoy the process.

🎯 Resources Mentioned:

• 📺 Watch next: How to Beat the Blank Page: https://youtu.be/-NTDLL7ghhc?si=VevetBUR1J-onqyx
• ✍️ Free writing prompts: https://land.staceygarrepy.com/12prompts

💬 Let’s connect:

• Instagram: @crayonsinmymanuscript
• Facebook Community: CIMM Podcast

☕ Support the channel: Buy Me a Coffee → https://coff.ee/staceygarrepy

👍 If this helped you, don’t forget to like & subscribe!

Have you ever had that awful moment at 11:00 pm when you realize… you’re not going to finish your chapter in time? 😱

If you’re a grad student, early-career academic, or scholar balancing research with a full life, you intimately know and feel the pressure of writing deadlines. In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, Dr. Stacey Garrepy shares a personal story about missing her own review article deadline, and what it taught her about time management, perfectionism, and academic writing.

If you’ve ever thought: • “Maybe I’m not cut out for this.” • “There’s not enough time to write the way I want to.” • “What if I don’t finish in time?”

This episode is for you.

In today’s conversation we talk about: • Why academic writing deadlines feel overwhelming • Perfectionism’s hidden role in missed deadlines • Building a sustainable writing system (even especially with a busy life) • Time-blocking and the Pomodoro Technique for academic writing • Reassessing deadlines with honesty and self-compassion

Whether you’re writing during nap time, juggling teaching and research, or navigating academia as a first-gen scholar, you belong here.

Your voice matters. Your scholarship matters. Every sentence you write counts.

📌 Connect with the community: Instagram: https://instagram.com/crayonsinmymanuscript Facebook Group: CIMM Podcast

☕ Support the podcast: Buy Me a Coffee: https://coff.ee/staceygarrepy

👍 If this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and leave a review; it helps more scholars find the channel.