How the #$% do some academics write so much?

Struggling to publish more? You’re not alone.

The title of this post is the exact question a client posed to me in our most recent Zoom call. "Is it AI or something?" she wondered. "Are they hiring ghostwriters?? I can't even imagine writing, let alone publishing, as much as they do, and I feel like I'm falling behind."

The answer to her question lies in a number of factors, which I've outlined below. Most of these factors are within your control (they're proven writing strategies for publishing more that I've helped several clients implement). But even those beyond your control should inspire a little more kindness toward yourself.

1. Write Consistently

The #1 habit of productive academic writers, hands down: they write regularly.

Consistent writing—even just 15 minutes a day—leads to significantly more output over time. As Paul Silvia notes in How to Write a Lot, waiting for inspiration (or looming deadlines!) to binge-write is a losing game. Instead, schedule your writing like any other important daily task, and protect that time like it’s a meeting you can’t escape.

Pro Tip: It’s easier to build and maintain a consistent writing practice when you have structure and support. That’s exactly what we offer in the Impact Incubator—built-in accountability, coaching, suggestions for designing your optimal writing habit, and more.

2. Embrace the Messy First Draft

You don’t need a perfect draft—you need a draft, period. As the saying goes, "The worst thing you write is still better than the best thing you never write."

The most prolific scholars write ugly, fast, and with as little backward tweaking as possible. Granted, it's impossible to tidily separate the processes of conceptualization, writing, and revising in academic research. But you can focus on maintaining forward momentum in each one. That means staying primarily in writing mode when you're writing, encouraging yourself to get thoughts down on the page above all other objectives (badly worded thoughts, incomplete thoughts, uncited thoughts... just keep going!).

3. Leverage Time Constraints

Parkinson’s Law tells us that work expands to fill the time available. So if you block out an entire afternoon to write, your brain is much more likely to take a scenic detour through emails, grading, and maybe even reorganizing your bookshelves.

Instead, write on days when you're sure you can't find enough time to write. Set a timer for 15 minutes and write in a short, focused sprint. You’ll be amazed how productive you can be in even a tight window. Now imagine fitting one of those quick sessions in before your work day and one after. Now imagine you did that 5 days a week for a year. You get the picture.

I'm always in awe of my clients who are also parents: they seem to get more done in a day than I can in a week! Turns out, this is how: they leverage constraints. They know exactly how precious even one free minute is in their schedule, so they use it to its full potential.

4. Prioritize High-Impact Journals

Before you start comparing your output to a colleague's, consider the critical aspect of quality. Not all publications are created equal.

Yes, publishing more helps your CV. But publishing smarter matters even more. One strong, readable publication in a top-tier outlet can outweigh several lesser-known entries. In fact, too many publications can be a red flag in many situations, as it suggests you've prioritized low-quality "wins."

That said, strategic mid-tier journals can be useful, especially if you're building momentum or reviving an older piece that needs a home. As one of my clients put it, "Some committees read and some count"; balancing quality and quantity (but with the focus on the former) helps you cater to both.

5. Delegate Research and Writing Support (If You Can)

The most productive scholars realize that they'll never be able to do it all, so they outsource things they hate, things they're slow or unskilled at, and anything that isn't a vital task only they can do.

In other words, they lean on coauthors, doctoral students, research assistants, data analysis tools, and any other help they can get. Doing so isn't cheating—it’s strategy. But the academics I've met who are socially conditioned to believe they should be able to do it all (women in particular) are inevitably the ones struggling.

Can’t afford this kind of help? Please don’t compare yourself to those who can. Do what you can with what you have. But if you do have help, use it well.

6. Hire an Academic Editor (Seriously, We Exist)

Let me be clear: Many of your colleagues are using academic editors, and it’s a game-changer.

This is a specialized, super-powered form of the help I mentioned above. The right editor can accelerate your ideas from sloppy draft to polished submission in a matter of days. For instance, some of my clients will send me 3–4 messy drafts a year. We clarify the arguments, polish the prose, highlight the contributions, align every detail with exactly what the target journal's review team wants to see, and almost always get an R&R as the outcome.

That’s up to four top-tier publications a year out of your pipeline and onto your CV instead. Imagine the impact that could have in a critical year (or two) for your career.

So yes, some scholars write “so much” because they’re working smarter, not solo.

And if you didn’t know that was even an option? Welcome to the secret club! The one where writing doesn’t have to be painful, private, or perfect from the start.

This is exactly why I created the Impact Incubator.

It’s a structured writing and publishing program for scholars who are ready to stop spinning their wheels and start finishing papers. 

Inside, we combine:

• Tools and resources to improve everything you write going forward

• Targeted coaching on your writing process and publication strategy

• Expert editorial feedback on your actual writing

• Support and accountability

The outcome is an outstanding submission that also shows you how to repeat this process again, and again, and again for snowballing results across your career. Whether you’ve got a half-finished manuscript or a head full of ideas you can’t seem to wrangle, this incubator gives you the space, support, and tools to turn drafts into done.

Final Thoughts: Write Smarter, Publish More

So, how do some academics write so much?

• They write consistently

• They embrace messy first drafts

• They use time constraints to stay focused

• They prioritize quality over quantity

• They delegate strategically

• They get editorial help

The good news? None of this requires superhuman talent. Just systems, support, and a shift in mindset.

So what’s your next step?

Can you block out 15 minutes today to write without stopping? Ask for help on a rough draft? Spend 10 minutes listing your tasks and spotting opportunities to delegate?

Tiny steps, taken regularly, lead to massive output over time. 

You can do this!