So, I whipped up an abstract, and they accepted it. The first draft was due 4/30, and I got mine in a good month early. I got some detailed feedback, and now it's time to start revising. I have until July 1.
The problem is that I'm stuck. Here are my current problems:
- . I am a completely different person than I was 14 years or so ago when I first wrote the chapter that is the basis for this article. Not only have my research interests changed a great deal, but I--as a person--am different. What is it they say about your cells being replaced every seven years? That means I am two Angels removed from Dissertation Angel, maybe. My cells don't even remember why I cared about this particular topic.
- As 2014 Angel I'm far more about non-fiction essay writing/narrative and fiction writing than I am writing about 19th century Regionalism. I just am. I should probably just embrace that.
- I'm sure my students have negative thought patterns about the papers they write for me (and for anyone) as exercises that are just about doing the thing. Other than their peer reviewer (who may or may not really read it) and their instructor, who is going to read it? Robyn said to me years ago that she questioned the importance of dissertation writing. Who is going to read it, after all? And, she was right, and I was right when I replied, "well, other graduate students who are writing dissertations." I don't even have to publish for my job (I have a 100% teaching position that is contingent--aka non-tenured). So, it won't even be my graduate students who are reading this piece, if I revise it. Because I do not have graduate students and never will.
- The revision notes I got didn't look so bad at first, but now they read as a complete rewrite to create a different article than the one I proposed in November of 2013.
I cannot tell if that is simply my bad attitude and my student-voice of "Well, if you want the paper to look like that why don't you write it?" (yes, students have said this to me before) or if I have a real objection. If I really had the interest in rewriting/revising/even taking up brain space with the piece of writing I am sure I could tell. But, I can't.