December is the month of writing

Finals this month, yet so much writing. Some personal projects, and also some stuff that might lead to publication. The problem is finding the time and motivation -- I usually have one or the other.

K'zoo 2011

I have had a proposal accepted for the Kalamazoo medieval conference in 2011. Two years in a row! Little old me! Crazy!

It's like, "Hey stupid, get to work already, people clearly value what you have to say!"

I've been keeping track of my time, and a lot of it is spent just goofing around on the internet. I mean, I work, I clean, I hang out with friends -- those are all important things. But there's no reason not to work. Other than inertia or fear.

So I'll get right on that tomorrow, or Monday, or....

A New Plan

I just looked through the UPenn Call for Papers and found some things to...try out for? submit to? It all sounds so seedy. Anything, something tangible to work towards.

Starting Monday, I'll write for at least 10 minutes. If I can't make it 10.5 minutes, that's okay. Just 10. And I'll increase it a little bit each day, and maybe take one day off (Thursdays, those are long days).

I love it, why is it so hard?

I wonder what I can do in 27 years?

Looking Ahead

Today is my mother's birthday. She would have been 56. She died last year, when she was 54.

I am 27. In 27 years, I will also be 54. I don't even know what to make of that. What if I only have half of my life left, instead of 2/3 or something? (What if I get hit by a bus tomorrow?)

My dad was 58 when he died. Needless to say, I don't think I'm going to live a long time anyway.

So I've done a lot. I have a lot to be proud of. But suddenly I'm struck with the thought....Only 27 more years. And I dare to waste them by just sitting around the house? Why aren't I writing?

I spend a lot of time grading and I think that is worthwhile. If I help even one student, that student can go on to help his/her child, or sibling, or coworker, who can then go on to help others. That's pretty darn awesome.

But if I keep putting things off, assume I can get to it when I'm 40 or 50, I'll find myself out of luck. The world won't mourn the loss of my non-existent Chaucer articles. But I will.

Planning

A friend of mine just pitched a book idea. The idea was met well, but my friend has more work today. Which got me thinking about my own plans. It sure is easy to plan. I think I'd be a great event planner, actually. It's the doing that's the problem.

Anyway, everyone wants to write a book, it seems. In my writing courses, at least half of my students tell me that. I don't teach lit or creative writing or anything like that. Something about the word "writing" or "composition" in a class title brings out the inner author. Which is good.

My current situation rather encapsulates my life. There is a call for papers I would like to respond to. It is a little outside of my area of expertise, but it is a topic in which I am interested. I have an old paper that sort of meets the guidelines. I could just send it in and see what happens. Or I could pull out my books and write something new. I like writing and research; I like planning.

But so far I've done nothing, not even check that other paper for typos. I'm definitely tired of rejection letters.

For Free

In thinking about writing and my last post....so many post so much to the internet. How is anyone going to make money any more? Or maybe no one ever made much to begin with?

Maybe I could write a research paper about this.

Book

Like so many, I have an idea for a book.

But I can't seem to start writing. What if no one wants to publish it, or read it? What if someone beats me to it?

What if I'm a hack, or not as smart as I thought I was?

I have nothing to lose by writing. Other than a lot of time. And the cost of postage.

Still. Thinking about my book is easier than writing it, or writing journal articles.

K'Zoo 2011

Last week, I sent out my proposal for the Kalamazoo Medieval Congress 2011. It's about Chaucer and children's lit. Whomever is chosen, I'm sure it will be a really cool panel.

I'm definitely nervous: Will I get chosen two years in a row? Will I be able to afford it? (This was fun, but not cheap.)

I feel that my paper this year was very successful, but I also feel like...I'm not living up to my potential. I haven't written any articles or anything. I should. I totally should. But there's always another paper to grade....

Titles

I like reading. I'm okay on research. Thesis statements and intros aren't bad. I rather dislike conclusions. But titles. Oh titles are the worse.

Gotta be descriptive. Gotta avoid cliches. For some reason "My Cool Paper" just won't do.

When I was a little girl, my friends and I joked about compiling a list of phrases people could use for titles. We'd make a book, a book of nothing but potential titles! Oh, I wish I had that now...

Reopening?

I was reminded of this blog while preparing some materials. The thesis was happily finished nearly two years ago, but I am back to writing and researching. I love them, and I had missed them.

So I think I shall return to blogging, too, at least the research process.

It's nice to have someone to talk to. :)