The Recovering Academic features exclusive interviews, essays, and craft resources for writers.
Paying subscribers get access to:
Behind the scenes interviews with PhDs who have successfully transitioned to industry roles, such as Gertrude Nonterah, a medical communications professional, and Larry McGrath, a senior researcher for Amazon.
Thought pieces on higher ed, including longform reporting on faculty fleeing the profession, opinion pieces on branding and budget priorities, and more.
Original essays, including new work and excerpts from my book, Down from the Mountaintop: From Belief to Belonging.
Craft resources for writers of all levels.
Founding members get all this plus a signed copy of my memoir, an electronic copy of my novel, and one free coaching session.
Free subscribers get public posts and previews of interviews.
Testimonials
“Joshua Doležal writes with clarity, deep knowledge, and conviction on a range of topics from literature to family life to practical options for PhD graduates beyond academia. His posts are reliably well written and full of ideas, and liable to sparkle like the surface of a summer lake under a rope swing, challenging: You next.” —
,“Josh combines the critical thinking of an academic with the heart of a writer.” —
,“Joshua may be a ‘recovering" academic,’ but he remains a scholar and teacher and a writer of deep insight and sensitivity. He offers so much on his substack.” —
,“I can’t thank Josh enough for the transformational experience I had working with him as a writing coach. His expertise, dedication, and genuine passion for the craft have been instrumental in my growth as a writer. Josh has an uncanny ability to help writers tap into their inner power. What sets Josh apart is his commitment to fostering authenticity in every writer he works with. Josh's approach to coaching is not just about teaching writing techniques (though he offers plenty of that, too); it's about nurturing the writer as a whole. He encouraged me to embrace my unique voice and style, empowering me to write with confidence and conviction.” — DJ Lee, author of Remote: Finding Home in the Bitterroots
“Sharpen your writing skills with Josh's newsletter! Retired professor and accomplished writer, he offers valuable insights into the art of effective writing. Perfect for aspiring college students seeking to make their applications shine!” —
,If you belong to the recovering academic community or know someone who has left academe, check out my tees and hoodies!
About me
I am a writer, award-winning teacher, and writing coach with 20 years of experience in publishing and editing. My mentor was Ted Kooser, former Poet Laureate of the United States and Pulitzer Prize winner. My work has appeared in more than 40 magazines, including these.
My memoir Down from the Mountaintop: From Belief to Belonging was shortlisted for the 2016 William Saroyan International Prize. It is available on Amazon, at The University of Iowa Press, and at many other places where books are sold.
I co-produced an oral history podcast, Mid-Americana: Stories from a Changing Midwest, which you can hear on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. Season 1, “Homecoming,” features stories from native Iowans who left the Midwest and then came back to stay. Season 2, “Immigration,” features stories from people who left their native countries to make a home in the Greater Midwest.
I am also father to three fantastic kiddos, who sometimes humor me with backcountry adventures and help me plan each year’s garden. In the hours before breakfast, you can usually find me running the back roads in central Pennsylvania or pumping iron with the other early birds.
I write for you! If you have a question I can tackle in a future post, feedback on what I could be doing better, or comments on something you particularly enjoy, I’d love to hear from you. Just reply to any message you receive or send me a private note at dolezaljosh@gmail.com.
Josh
https://drgvloewen.substack.com/p/on-self-loathing
I am imagining you and your readers might be amused by this piece, though I am not seeking sympathy here. GVL
Nicely done!