{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Christina Gessler, Ph.D.","home_page_url":"https://christinagessler.com","description":"Christina Gessler, Ph.D.","author":{"name":"Christina Gessler, Ph.D."},"items":[{"id":"the-best-you-can","html_content":"

One summer Sunday the man in the front pew turned around and said “good morning” to me. It’s kinda our normal Episcopalian thing [we call it Passing The Peace] to greet at least one stranger before the service ends.

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/the-best-you-can","title":"The Best You Can","date_modified":"2026-04-08T13:00:00Z"},{"id":"write-it-down-the-hidden-power-of-making-to-do-lists","html_content":"

It turns out there’s lasting value in writing down anything you’ve done in a day. So put it on your to-do list. Yes, you can add something to the list after the fact and then cross it off, even if you never intended to h...

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/write-it-down-the-hidden-power-of-making-to-do-lists","title":"Write It Down: The Hidden Power of Making To-Do Lists","date_modified":"2026-04-01T12:00:00Z"},{"id":"the-other-side-of-the-desk-science-journal-submissions","html_content":"

The Other Side of the Desk is an Academic Life sub-series that helps writers learn more about the publishing industry. For this edition, we are joined by Paulina Strzyz. Dr. Strzyz is a Deputy Editor at Advanced Science,...

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/the-other-side-of-the-desk-science-journal-submissions","title":"The Other Side of the Desk: Science Editors and Submissions ","date_modified":"2026-03-25T00:19:05Z"},{"id":"why-youll-figure-it-out-is-awful-advice","html_content":"

Are you spending hours struggling? Feeling alone? Wondering what's wrong with you?

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/why-youll-figure-it-out-is-awful-advice","title":"Why \"You'll Figure It Out\" is Awful Advice ","date_modified":"2026-03-05T18:53:34Z"},{"id":"locked-out","html_content":"

\"This is precisely the time when artists go to work,\" Toni Morrison once wrote. \"There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is h...

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/locked-out","title":"Feeling locked out? ","date_modified":"2025-07-16T19:20:54Z"},{"id":"the-academic-life-newsletter-1","html_content":"

Volume 2

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/the-academic-life-newsletter-1","title":"the Academic Life newsletter","date_modified":"2025-07-10T18:58:39Z"},{"id":"the-academic-life-newsletter","html_content":"

Volume 1

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/the-academic-life-newsletter","title":"the Academic Life newsletter","date_modified":"2024-01-21T19:00:00Z"},{"id":"about-me-1","html_content":"

Hi! I'm Christina Gessler. I have a Ph.D. in American history, with research specialities in gender, the environment, and women's diaries and letters.

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/about-me-1","title":"About Me","date_modified":"2023-12-21T06:00:00Z"},{"id":"what-is-fit-and-where-do-i-fit","html_content":"

Finding the right publisher [or agent] for your work means figuring out where your writing project \"fits.\" Where are books like the one you are writing currently shelved? Who published them? Who edited them? And who rep...

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/what-is-fit-and-where-do-i-fit","title":"What is \"fit\"? And, where do I fit?","date_modified":"2023-11-21T19:00:00Z"},{"id":"about-me","html_content":"

I love to read. I was one of those kids who took a book everywhere. (You never know when you might find a few minutes to read.) I also took a small notebook and pencil, in case a sudden story idea of my own hit and I nee...

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/about-me","title":"Vulnerability and Writing","date_modified":"2023-10-22T00:00:00Z"},{"id":"feeling-stuck","html_content":"

Writing on days when you don't want to, or can't think of anything to put on the page, is really frustrating. Sometimes it feels like the harder you try to make yourself write, the less you achieve. It may be time to loo...

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/feeling-stuck","title":"Feeling stuck? ","date_modified":"2023-09-22T00:00:00Z"},{"id":"its-okay-to-stop-trying-so-hard","html_content":"

My dad left for work every morning around 7, just as I was heading out for my seemingly-long and definitely-foggy walk to the public school. He tried to get home by 8 PM, because we wouldn't sit down for supper until he ...

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/its-okay-to-stop-trying-so-hard","title":"Are you working too hard?","date_modified":"2023-08-22T00:00:00Z"},{"id":"finding-your-voice","html_content":"

Here is a starter list of books and podcast episodes to help you tell your story:

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/finding-your-voice","title":"Finding Your Voice","date_modified":"2023-07-21T04:00:00Z"},{"id":"do-you-need-a-developmental-editor","html_content":"

Hiring a developmental editor is an investment in getting your manuscript done.

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/do-you-need-a-developmental-editor","title":"Do you need a developmental editor?","date_modified":"2023-06-22T00:00:00Z"},{"id":"how-will-anyone-find-and-buy-my-book","html_content":"

You've written a book! Hooray! It's finally back from the publisher, and you can even hold it in your hands! It's a dream come true and one worth celebrating. You should have book launch party! But other than that, you a...

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/how-will-anyone-find-and-buy-my-book","title":"How will anyone find and buy my book?","date_modified":"2023-05-22T02:00:00Z"},{"id":"dealing-with-rejection","html_content":"

Nope, I'm not going to tell you to take your lemons and make lemonade. First of all, no one even includes lemons in the rejection packet. And secondly, no matter how nicely they tell you \"no thanks,\" it still hurts.

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/dealing-with-rejection","title":"Dealing with Rejection? ","date_modified":"2023-04-22T00:00:00Z"},{"id":"payment-for-services","html_content":"

We will decide what support your project needs during your 30 minute free phone consult:

","url":"https://christinagessler.com/blog/f/payment-for-services","title":"Considering Your Project's Needs","date_modified":"2023-03-22T00:00:00Z"}]}