Hello, and welcome to today’s episode of Academic Book Writing Simplified. I’m your host, Jane Joanne Jones, and we’re going to do something a little bit different today.

Normally, I have a whole script prepared with talking notes and all that jazz. But today, I’m going to be a little more candid because I want to talk about what’s going on in academia right now—at this moment—as I am recording this on April 8th, 2025.

The State of Academia

If I spent this entire episode recounting everything that’s happening, it would take hours. So I’m going to give a high-level overview. Funding agencies are being gutted—agencies like the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. We see library systems being defunded. We see funding freezes and hiring freezes happening at institutions.

There is an incredible amount of uncertainty and fear in academia right now. Students are being deported. Students are having their visas revoked. Faculty are being denied access to the United States at the border. We’re seeing all sorts of terrible things. And like I said, if I listed them all, we’d be here for a very long time. I apologize if I missed something important to you, but I just wanted to give a high-level overview.

The Book-Writing Dilemma

Now, thinking about how this connects to the podcast—and to those of you listening who are writing books—you might be asking yourself: Should I even be worrying about my book right now? Should I be worrying about tenure? Is tenure even going to exist by the time I go up for it? Is the academy going to exist in any recognizable way by the time I finish this book?

These are all really important questions. I want to help you think about them in context. I’m not the first to bring this up, and I won’t be the last, but there are a few core issues to reflect on when you ask yourself: Should I write my book?

Chaos as a Strategy

First: everything is chaos right now—intentionally. There is deliberate chaos meant to make intellectuals feel terrible, demoralized, and afraid to do their research. There is censorship. There are threats.

To put this in historical context—especially for academics writing about race, gender, fascism, etc.—there have always been threats and censorship. What’s unique now is the scope and speed at which these things are happening.

Given this context, you may be wondering if it’s still worth working on your scholarship. That is a valid question. One of the outcomes of this chaos is that people become incredibly reactive.

You might feel pressure to react to everything instantly—whether emotionally, physically, or publicly. And yes, sometimes immediate action is necessary because people are in real danger.

But for something like writing a book, you do not have to decide in the next 30 seconds. You can take a beat and consider all your options carefully. Think about the pros and cons of writing—or not writing—your book. What are the consequences of each path? What alternative actions are available?

Be Thoughtful, Not Reactive

Decide where it’s important to be reactive, and where it’s actually detrimental. Book writing is one of those areas where reactivity doesn’t serve you. Writing has huge implications for your career—and, more importantly, for your values.

So dial down the pressure. People may want you to rush and make rash decisions. Resist that.

There’s going to be a lot of experimenting and trying things—just like in book writing. As we envision the future of academia, people will propose different solutions. It’s your job to evaluate them with the analytical skills you’ve spent years developing. Be deliberate.

Do You Want to Write Your Book?

Let’s shift to a different—but equally important—question: Do you want to write your book?

It’s no accident that academia is one of the first institutions under attack. Intellectuals who expose power, pursue science, and bring facts to light are among the first to be undermined. So ask yourself: outside of tenure and institutional expectations, do you want to write your book?

My friend Kathy Mazak talks about this—thinking of your scholarship independently of your institution. (If you’re not listening to her podcast, you should be.)

So ask: Why do I want to write this book?

• Is it because you’re answering an important question?
• Is it because people entrusted you with their stories and experiences, and you feel duty-bound to share that as you promised?
  That’s something I hear from clients all the time, especially those in Elevate, the book writers I’ve worked with.

Your Reasons Are Yours

There may be other reasons, too. Personally, I know I have a rebellious streak—if someone tells me I can’t do something, I’m like, “Screw you, I’m doing it.” So maybe you’re writing out of anger or defiance. Maybe you’re saying: “You’re not going to censor me. I’m going to write this book.”

That’s a valid reason. Or maybe you decide: “No, this isn’t worth it. This isn’t what I signed up for.” That’s valid too.

There is no shame in either decision. Only you can decide what’s best for you, your family, your community—where your talents are best utilized.

What Are You Willing to Fight For?

That leads to my final question: What are you willing to fight and advocate for?

Are you willing to fight for your ability to speak the way you want to? Last I checked, we still have a First Amendment. Are you willing to fight for your ability to tell the story of your book? To preserve your institution? (I’ll stay quiet on that one.) To uphold the intellectual project of scholarship more broadly?

If yes—then how will you do that? What’s your plan? You don’t need a ten-point plan today. But it’s something to think about.

Again, only you can make that decision. And while these are personal decisions, you can make them in community—with other scholars, with mentors, with people who’ve been through similar things and are willing to share.

Final Thoughts

So yes, this episode is a little different. But I wanted to speak to something that I know is on people’s minds—especially in the U.S., as the semester ends and people make decisions about their careers, summer plans, and how they relate to their institutions moving forward.

This is an important moment to consider these questions. Maybe cut out some of the noise and really tap into yourself.

And by “noise,” I don’t mean don’t talk to people. I mean step away from the chaotic distractions. It’s okay to take a break. It’s okay to walk away from BlueSky (as I tell myself every day). Step away from the news for a few hours to journal, meditate, or think.

What’s important to you? What are your values?

Values in the Driver’s Seat

That’s something I ask book writers all the time—when it comes to project management, writing, and sharing their work:
What are your values? And how can you put your values in the driver’s seat?

Let them steer you toward the career and writing life you want. These questions might feel precarious right now, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth your attention.

I hope I’ve given you some things to think about. This won’t be the end of this conversation—because it’s not the end of the chaos in academia.

But I wish you well, and I hope you find the path that’s right for you.

As always, thank you for listening—and take very good care of yourself.