Leanne C. Powner
@leannecpowner.bsky.social
Coach/Developmental Editor for social science academics, including dissertators. Sometimes methods prof; author of _Empirical Research & Writing: A Pol Sci Student's Practical Guide_. Accepting manuscripts for fall/winter & coaching clients year round.
Our brains are wired to seek rewards and to avoid things that make us miserable. Are your writing practices working WITH your brain, or against it? Rewards, even small or slightly ridiculous ones, work by priming your dopamine system.
November 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Our brains are wired to seek rewards and to avoid things that make us miserable. Are your writing practices working WITH your brain, or against it? Rewards, even small or slightly ridiculous ones, work by priming your dopamine system.
Not everything you know needs to be in the paper, or even in the book or dissertation. Not everything you read goes in the lit review. What can you assume about your audience? What features are CRUCIAL that they are unlikely to already know?
November 25, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Not everything you know needs to be in the paper, or even in the book or dissertation. Not everything you read goes in the lit review. What can you assume about your audience? What features are CRUCIAL that they are unlikely to already know?
The book I've been talking about for 2 years has a pub date! And a discount code!! And a link to request an exam copy!!
_Empirical Research and Writing_ uses primarily political science examples, but is easily used across a wide range of other positivist social science disciplines.
_Empirical Research and Writing_ uses primarily political science examples, but is easily used across a wide range of other positivist social science disciplines.
November 25, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The book I've been talking about for 2 years has a pub date! And a discount code!! And a link to request an exam copy!!
_Empirical Research and Writing_ uses primarily political science examples, but is easily used across a wide range of other positivist social science disciplines.
_Empirical Research and Writing_ uses primarily political science examples, but is easily used across a wide range of other positivist social science disciplines.
Monday Giggle!
November 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Monday Giggle!
Sunday Planning Time! Synch your calendars for the week and plan your dinners. If you're celebrating Thanksgiving on Thurs, sketch a timeline for the oven so you know what needs to go in when at what temp. Your turkey probably needs to start thawing in the fridge today, too!
November 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Sunday Planning Time! Synch your calendars for the week and plan your dinners. If you're celebrating Thanksgiving on Thurs, sketch a timeline for the oven so you know what needs to go in when at what temp. Your turkey probably needs to start thawing in the fridge today, too!
Self-Care Saturday! As the stressful times of term near we can often forget to tend to our physical health. Take 10 min to walk or stretch today AND tomorrow. Your body will thank you!
November 22, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Self-Care Saturday! As the stressful times of term near we can often forget to tend to our physical health. Take 10 min to walk or stretch today AND tomorrow. Your body will thank you!
It’s 5 Minute Friday! What’s one small thing Today You can do to make Monday You’s day a little easier? No ideas?
Touch base with your research goals for this month, reply to or delete 3 email, or grab a wipe & sanitize a public surface like the copy machine.
Touch base with your research goals for this month, reply to or delete 3 email, or grab a wipe & sanitize a public surface like the copy machine.
November 21, 2025 at 6:26 PM
It’s 5 Minute Friday! What’s one small thing Today You can do to make Monday You’s day a little easier? No ideas?
Touch base with your research goals for this month, reply to or delete 3 email, or grab a wipe & sanitize a public surface like the copy machine.
Touch base with your research goals for this month, reply to or delete 3 email, or grab a wipe & sanitize a public surface like the copy machine.
Is the world overwhelming right now? Do you remember struggling to work when the world was burning around you? Let's talk. I've got strategies you can use to manage those times and retain some sanity & productivity. FREE. Fri Nov 21, noon ET (GMT-5). buff.ly/rFgsJ1s
November 20, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Is the world overwhelming right now? Do you remember struggling to work when the world was burning around you? Let's talk. I've got strategies you can use to manage those times and retain some sanity & productivity. FREE. Fri Nov 21, noon ET (GMT-5). buff.ly/rFgsJ1s
As an academic, you are the expert at the intersection of your particular areas of interest. Virtually no one else shares that exact overlap of expertise. As a result, you need to ensure your writing speaks to readers who might be novices in parts of your expertise. Audience matters!
November 20, 2025 at 7:18 PM
As an academic, you are the expert at the intersection of your particular areas of interest. Virtually no one else shares that exact overlap of expertise. As a result, you need to ensure your writing speaks to readers who might be novices in parts of your expertise. Audience matters!
Small-group dissertation coaching is BACK! 2 groups to choose from: Destination: Dissertation for those in the messy middle of the process & Destination: Defense for those planning a spring/summer '26 defense. 12 weeks of targeted, tailored support, problem solving, & weekly accountability for $175!
November 19, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Small-group dissertation coaching is BACK! 2 groups to choose from: Destination: Dissertation for those in the messy middle of the process & Destination: Defense for those planning a spring/summer '26 defense. 12 weeks of targeted, tailored support, problem solving, & weekly accountability for $175!
Is the world overwhelming right now? Do you remember struggling to work when the world was burning around you? Let's talk. I've got strategies you can use to manage those times and retain some sanity & productivity. FREE. Fri Nov 21, noon ET (GMT-5). buff.ly/rFgsJ1s
November 19, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Is the world overwhelming right now? Do you remember struggling to work when the world was burning around you? Let's talk. I've got strategies you can use to manage those times and retain some sanity & productivity. FREE. Fri Nov 21, noon ET (GMT-5). buff.ly/rFgsJ1s
There is no one correct way to organize or structure a book. Book writing is full of choices about structure and function. If you're struggling to make your book work for your argument, maybe you should reconsider some of those choices. A book coach like me can help you explore the options!
November 19, 2025 at 2:14 PM
There is no one correct way to organize or structure a book. Book writing is full of choices about structure and function. If you're struggling to make your book work for your argument, maybe you should reconsider some of those choices. A book coach like me can help you explore the options!
Strategic planning looks beyond the immediate to a longer view of semesters and years. Try to keep a project at each stage at all times: conceptualization, data collection, analysis, drafting, circulation, under review, in press.
November 18, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Strategic planning looks beyond the immediate to a longer view of semesters and years. Try to keep a project at each stage at all times: conceptualization, data collection, analysis, drafting, circulation, under review, in press.
Working on your book next term? Need support & accountability? My two super affordable book writer programs are now accepting participants for Winter 2026! The Incubator is home to those in the earlier stages; the Greenhouse is for those who are solidly into writing. Wait list folks help schedule!
November 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Working on your book next term? Need support & accountability? My two super affordable book writer programs are now accepting participants for Winter 2026! The Incubator is home to those in the earlier stages; the Greenhouse is for those who are solidly into writing. Wait list folks help schedule!
Is the world overwhelming right now? Do you remember struggling to work when the world was burning around you? Let's talk. I've got strategies you can use to manage those times and retain some sanity & productivity. FREE. Fri Nov 21, noon ET (GMT-5). buff.ly/rFgsJ1s
November 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Is the world overwhelming right now? Do you remember struggling to work when the world was burning around you? Let's talk. I've got strategies you can use to manage those times and retain some sanity & productivity. FREE. Fri Nov 21, noon ET (GMT-5). buff.ly/rFgsJ1s
Users of my Empirical Research and Writing: the 2nd edition is available for WINTER 2026 adoption! NEW running example of ways to make multiple research designs from the same question! Expanded coverage of conceptualizing! TWO NEW APPENDICES on quant methods! Student-facing website w quizzes & vocab
November 18, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Users of my Empirical Research and Writing: the 2nd edition is available for WINTER 2026 adoption! NEW running example of ways to make multiple research designs from the same question! Expanded coverage of conceptualizing! TWO NEW APPENDICES on quant methods! Student-facing website w quizzes & vocab
Users of my Empirical Research and Writing - the 2nd edition is available for WINTER 2026 adoption! NEW running example of ways to make multiple research designs from the same question! Expanded coverage of conceptualizing! TWO NEW APPENDICES on quant methods!
November 17, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Users of my Empirical Research and Writing - the 2nd edition is available for WINTER 2026 adoption! NEW running example of ways to make multiple research designs from the same question! Expanded coverage of conceptualizing! TWO NEW APPENDICES on quant methods!
Is the world overwhelming right now? Do you remember struggling to work when the world was burning around you? Let's talk. I've got strategies you can use to manage those times and retain some sanity & productivity. FREE. Fri Nov 21, noon ET (GMT-5). buff.ly/rFgsJ1s
November 17, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Is the world overwhelming right now? Do you remember struggling to work when the world was burning around you? Let's talk. I've got strategies you can use to manage those times and retain some sanity & productivity. FREE. Fri Nov 21, noon ET (GMT-5). buff.ly/rFgsJ1s
Monday Giggle!
November 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Monday Giggle!
Sunday Planning Time! Synch your calendars for the week and plan your dinners. If budget allows, prep 2x of a dinner and freeze the other for busy term times! (Pro tip: Start a list on the fridge door so you don’t forget about those meals!)
November 16, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Sunday Planning Time! Synch your calendars for the week and plan your dinners. If budget allows, prep 2x of a dinner and freeze the other for busy term times! (Pro tip: Start a list on the fridge door so you don’t forget about those meals!)
Is the world overwhelming right now? Do you remember struggling to work when the world was burning around you? Let's talk. I've got strategies you can use to manage those times and retain some sanity & productivity. FREE. Fri Nov 21, noon ET (GMT-5). buff.ly/rFgsJ1s
November 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Is the world overwhelming right now? Do you remember struggling to work when the world was burning around you? Let's talk. I've got strategies you can use to manage those times and retain some sanity & productivity. FREE. Fri Nov 21, noon ET (GMT-5). buff.ly/rFgsJ1s
People who use slide decks provided by their textbook:
Should I bold the vocabulary terms on the slides?
Should I bold the vocabulary terms on the slides?
November 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
People who use slide decks provided by their textbook:
Should I bold the vocabulary terms on the slides?
Should I bold the vocabulary terms on the slides?
Self-Care Saturday! Take a moment to apply a solid full-body coat of lotion or other moisturizer this weekend. It doesn't have to be expensive. Just hydrate your largest organ - skin! - and show it some love! (Yes, I harp on this a lot. It matters!)
November 15, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Self-Care Saturday! Take a moment to apply a solid full-body coat of lotion or other moisturizer this weekend. It doesn't have to be expensive. Just hydrate your largest organ - skin! - and show it some love! (Yes, I harp on this a lot. It matters!)
It’s 5 Minute Friday! What’s one small thing Today You can do to make Monday You’s day a little easier?
No ideas? Grab a wipe and sanitize your desk, keyboard & doorknobs, or reboot your work computer.
No ideas? Grab a wipe and sanitize your desk, keyboard & doorknobs, or reboot your work computer.
November 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
It’s 5 Minute Friday! What’s one small thing Today You can do to make Monday You’s day a little easier?
No ideas? Grab a wipe and sanitize your desk, keyboard & doorknobs, or reboot your work computer.
No ideas? Grab a wipe and sanitize your desk, keyboard & doorknobs, or reboot your work computer.
Is this term not going the way you wanted it to? Struggling to figure out how you can make next term better? My faculty coaching services center on developing systems & processes that work for YOU to achieve YOUR goals. Curious? Let's talk! [email protected]
November 13, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Is this term not going the way you wanted it to? Struggling to figure out how you can make next term better? My faculty coaching services center on developing systems & processes that work for YOU to achieve YOUR goals. Curious? Let's talk! [email protected]