It's about time for me to gently approach my colleague D about her part of a textbook we're writing together. I've written, edited, and finalized my five chapters. A third co-author has done the same with her two. One of D's has been drafted (still rough and incomplete), and the other one hasn't been shared. It's the only thing holding up the textbook manuscript that should have been submitted over a year ago.
I've been frustrated because this project has been consistently on the bottom of her priority list. She would constantly take on new writing/service commitments that would then take precedent over this one. It's been an issue for a couple years. I was more sympathetic when she was in the run-up to tenure, because research articles are MUCH more important than textbooks in tenure decisions. But after a bunch of articles came out, and it was clear that tenure was assured, she didn't change her pattern at all. This was still last priority.
As you may recall, D is the colleague whose baby died during childbirth in August.
Before the tragedy I offered to work on her chapters, framing it in terms of "you must be scrambling to get stuff done." She declined, saying that she works on the chapters in 15 minute bursts anyway, and so she'll be able to work on them after the baby comes. I was skeptical of that, but it's a hard thing to challenge because in academic culture she sort of "owns" those two chapters. I can't just take them over, but at the same time she's deaf to my entreaties to just get this damned thing done.
Today I got an email from the editor, politely inquiring about the status of the project, and I've been thinking it's time to ask D where she's at with it. She's physically recovered, working on other stuff, and attending department meetings (where I wear my most belly-hiding outfits).
If I just ask what's going on, she'll probably say that she's planning to turn her attention to the chapters soon. But then it won't happen. And she's back in the classroom in January. I can offer again to do some work on her chapters, but I imagine she'll decline.
Dealing with this textbook issue has been an intractable puzzle all along, but now it's REALLY snarly because she's grieving her horrible loss, and I am visibly pregnant at 27 weeks. I don't want to be a jerk, but I want to get this thing done before I (hopefully) get super busy.
Your thoughts? What can I appropriately do? Do I need to just let this go?
Oh yuck, I do not envy your position. I am a big fan of just putting it there. be very honest with her, ask her what she is up for, and let her know that you know your pregnancy may be hard for her.
ReplyDeleteI am wishing you lots of luck with this.
P.S. Thank you so much for all of your thoughtful comments...
Wow- tough!!! I guess I would just give her a deadline. Not directly, though. You and your other co-author should just concoct a flurry of emails about how you are excited that this is nearly done and you are ready to get it out. Don't make it seem like she's been slacking, act like you *assume* that her chapters are also done. Say something like "OK, now that we are all in the final stages of editing our chapters, I think we can get this ms off to the publisher by Dec. 15. Why don't we send each other drafts of our chapters by Dec. 1 to look over and do final edits?" Then you and the other coauthor can send out your chapters to the three of you PRIOR to Dec. 1 (by private communication, arrange this), to really add the pressure. Leave it to her to either have to say that there's no way she can make the deadline (hopefully she is too prideful for this), or to scramble. In any case, she'll definitely get the point better than if you just ask her what is up, in which case she'll continue to assume that she has an indefinite amount of time left...
ReplyDeleteMan, I do feel for her though. She should really just back out of this project!!
I am a procrastinator. I hate it when something I've been planning to do gets done because I was slacking. That said, the slacking is my fault. You'll have to find a way to ask her whether she plans on doing those chapters or not in a polite, yet firm, manner.
ReplyDeleteWorking collaboratively means sucking it up and doing your part. She's got a lot going on and this bit might be too much for her. Unfortunately, it is what it is, and she can't just leave you guys hanging. It would be better to have someone not pregnant be the bad guy, but if it's you, then I'd keep the face time to a minimum with the belly. Not that you need to resort to email, a phone call can work as well.
I agree with pp. Gently prompt her to agree to a timeframe (perhaps suggested by the editors/publishers?).
ReplyDeleteIt's a tough position in the best of times. Good luck.
OUCH. This is a magically sucky situation! I like L&E's elaborate scheme, but in the end, it might just be simpler to ignore the personal stuff and treat her on a purely professional level. Via e-mail. I have NO IDEA what the right approach is, though.
ReplyDeleteThis is so hard. In my field there's not a lot of collaborative work so I have managed to avoid that particular bullet.
ReplyDeleteHave you thought about forwarding the actual e-mail you received from the editor? It might carry more "official" weight than just a reminder e-mail to you. You could even point out that the manuscript is a year late and you're afraid that the publisher, while polite, appears to be getting restive. You haven't mentioned your own publication history but on the offchance that it's not as extensive as hers, you could also stress how important this is professionally for you (I know you got tenure, but still...it is).
I'm not saying that you shouldn't have sympathy. And this is one of those tough situation where the shoe is on the other foot. But you also deserve to progress in your pregnancy without the worry of this hanging over your head.
Can you get colleague #3 to lay some pressure on her? Or make it sound like the publisher is getting really antsy? This sucks. I wish I had some advice for you, but I'm terrible when it comes to confrontation. Good luck!
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