Monica Heilman
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writingmonicker.bsky.social
Monica Heilman
@writingmonicker.bsky.social
sociologist studying race, multiracial identity & whiteness using qualitative & arts-based methods

monicaheilman.com

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Since I still had a #dissertation to write, I continued the “Misery” series in 2022. It took one year longer than expected, reflected in “Misery III: The Final Chapter” and “Misery IV: The Actual Final Chapter.”

But now this too is done, with pieces hopefully on the way to publication.
November 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
So, I took my academic #writing goals and merged them with #NaNoWriMo’s tools. My 2019 “novel” was titled “Misery” & categorized as “horror.” (It was my MA paper.) I finished it, got the degree, and by the next time I logged into Nano, the paper had been published.
November 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Revisiting Kaba's "We Do This 'Til We Free Us" as my race & ethnicity class heads into our policing & prisons unit.

It's one of my favorite units because while there are still no easy solutions, there's so much to learn from ongoing abolitionist organizing.
November 3, 2025 at 2:32 PM
This one's trying out feathers instead.
June 20, 2025 at 7:14 PM
New #PhD skill for LinkedIn?

"Attention to detail" ❌️
-common
-cliche
-meaning can be unclear

"Dissertation accepted to ProQuest without formatting edits" ✅️🏆🙌
-obscure but iykyk
-shows your paranoia pays off
-meaningless but satisfying
June 16, 2025 at 3:59 PM
This piece made me laugh. "Chapter Revised." An academic's artwork for sure.
June 7, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I bought Nell Irvin Painter's new book of essays & art when it came out last year, read a little, & then got busy/distracted.

Returning to it now & wow. It's like I have the headspace to be inspired again. Academic research + history + race + art = past self chose well. 💯
June 7, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Posey season you say?
June 3, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Since taking the photo above, the sun has come out and two buds have softly popped open.

I always forget how nice it is to have fresh cut flowers at home.
May 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Paying my non-news post tax for the day. Post-defense celebration bouquet still going strong.
May 30, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Finally, I'm excited to be starting as a Visiting Assistant Professor this fall at Lafayette College!

Faculty and students I met on my visit were nothing but kind and enthusiastic about my research and teaching. Looking forward to joining the Lafayette community.
May 19, 2025 at 10:39 PM
The week after, I successfully defended my dissertation! I'm so grateful to the incredible group of women on my committee. Just a snapshot after years of mentorship. Thank you @dinaokamoto.bsky.social @jessicacalarco.bsky.social Jennifer C. Lee, Hyeyoung Kwon, & Sylvia Martinez. Dream team.
May 19, 2025 at 10:39 PM
I graduated! Overcame my ambivalence about commencement to embrace the ritual of closing out the PhD. An excuse to host family, dress up, and take pictures. I have to admit, it was nice after all.
May 19, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Higher Education Day of Action today! Here's what's happening at IU:

peoples2030iu.substack.com/p/the-people...
April 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Time for NCSA! Tomorrow I'll be presenting my research on bidirectional racial socialization, aka how children & parents both teach each other abt race.

Specifically I'm discussing how (and when) multiracial children do the work of teaching their parents about race. Come by!

#NCSA2025 #Sociology
April 3, 2025 at 11:42 PM
This paragraph also hits home:

"Finally, I would say that it helps, during turbulent times, to have a spine. Without one, you’ll find yourself being thrown every which way in the riptides before crashing up against the rocks anyway. ..."
March 26, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Did my writing and picked up Eve Ewing's latest book as a treat. Out today! #AcademicSky #sociology
February 11, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Ooh I'll play. Three books I love on #writing.

Honorable mention: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, which is about creative work more generally.
February 4, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Hmmm... well the end of this paper I'm working on does feel mythical
January 4, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Resumed reading Bite by Bite, now that I'm back to eating freely, and have discovered Aimee & Ross have a CROSSOVER CHAPTER! On watermelons!

Like any good crossover, you get to see details that the other version left out. A fun & sneaky delight.
November 3, 2024 at 1:17 PM
Timely part: "In 2022, about 14 million Asian Americans were eligible to vote, accounting for 5% of the total U.S. eligible voter population. Pew Research Center projects that the number of Asian American eligible voters will rise to about 15 million this November."
October 28, 2024 at 4:56 PM
In support. And I feel like this should involve hosting #MushroomMonday threads, just sayin.
October 14, 2024 at 2:56 PM
October 2, 2024 at 2:40 AM
Cauliflower and mushroom risotto!

No picture because I ate it too fast: friend's homemade broccoli cheddar soup.

Got a pretty good list of soft foods on file now.
September 13, 2024 at 12:18 AM
Sweet rice juk (aka congee aka rice porridge). Easy and smooth.
September 13, 2024 at 12:15 AM