WRITING AND ENDITING


I am trying to write myself a book this summer. I do have a dissertation draft, but now I am trying to revise that turkey into something more ... book-like. This means I need to think more critically about my theoretical frame, which means I need of course to think about my introduction. But I am realizing that beginning at the beginning is a pretty bad idea. I get derailed, and overwhelmed, and frustrated by my own repetitions and then there's the lit. review that I know has to go (because I've read Germano, who says I gotta jettison the list-y summaries) but I don't even know what to dispense with and what to keep and blech. Where TO begin, then? I have decided to dig into the middle, with chapter 2, as chapter 1 was recently polished to a fine sheen and sent out as an article.

Have I been able to do this?

Why no, as I am also teaching a summer course. And trying to prepare for my research trip to the UK, which is proving considerably more complicated than it should be on account of university bureaucracy. And then there's the research and drafting of a conference paper, too, to be delivered at Leeds.

And of course, I am suffering from what Renaissance Girl also seems to be stricken with: the dreaded OCD cleaning that always seems to accompany working at home. Because I mean REALLY, the floors needed mopping. They totally did! And then files ordered, and mail dealt with, and crap thrown away. Because who can write when there is chaos?

I am reminded of something Second Reader told me about when he was dissertating. Apparently, he'd go through the library locating mis-shelved books. And then bringing them helpfully back to the librarian.

In other writing-news, I have had an article accepted for publication. With no substantive revisions required. This is my first peer-reviewed article acceptance. The journal will be available wherever obscure and regional medieval publications are sold. You know, like at the Barnes and Noble and shit.

The acceptance is a balm for my soul. But it is not making the book-writing any easier.