QuickWrite Check-In 11.9.10

I had a productive week writing, which is amazing considering the week I had. My assistantship duties really hindered my writing time and I was not faithful to my scheduled writing times. I had to fit in other times for writing. However, I had some nice downtime this weekend to do some sustained writing. As of right now I have a full framed working draft of my article. I think my introduction is coming along nicely also. The conclusion is another issue. I can't think of my conclusion just yet. I don't work this way and so I am having to side step Belcher a bit. I can't compartmentalize my starting and finishing like this. My conclusion sort of comes to me. I have a conclusion, but the hook of it will reveal itself as I come to it.

Amal and I had a nice writing conference today also. Her work and mine comes from the same theoretical camp in a way. It was nice to talk with someone who has read the same foundational pieces and to be able to read her work and know the foundational pieces she engages in her work as well. She mentioned that she likes my writing style. I appreciated that comment as I've worked very purposefully to connect my creative writing identity with my academic identity and feel this is a constant area of insecurity for me.

What I wish is to have some sustained time to just focus on my article. I am enjoying the writing and how it is developing now. I'd like to give it some substantial time, but I need space to do that in. I need to be able to work with it, step away from it, and go right back to it w/out the outside world distracting me in between. Alas, that is a Utopian dream I fear.

I would like to take a day of just writing. I feel like I would like to go away somewhere with just my computer and my article work and write. It is right there and I am highly motivated. I get really irritated when other things distract me from the thinking. I feel almost like this is some sort of weird procrastination thing. It makes me almost not want to get to the writing. I've been forcing myself to sit down on my writing times to do the work. The work included this week reading as well as actual finger to key or pencil to paper writing. It also included some editing. I reorganized my outline and was able to see where different holes were that need to be clarified. This is actually helping to solidify the argument. It is shaping the body of the paper. I feel I have a solid and complete abstract. The abstract is keeping me true to the focus of the article. I often times tend to derail in my writing and go off on my soap-box. I think by having the abstract there, always in my sight, I have a mission almost. Plus, this is what the journal I have selected is expecting to read about. I want to be ready to mail something out by the start of December. I have to stay focused. I also have to chunk out more time to get done.

I am a bit afraid of the first final draft draft. But, also excited. Thus far all of the feedback has been amazingly productive for me. I've never had this level of feedback. I have never had a piece of my work move to this level either. It is exciting. It is exciting to think of what potential is inside of me also. It is fun really. I want to write. It isn't a chore as it has felt like in the past. Some of my other writing feels more "chore" like because it is more about just getting an assignment done. This is not about an assignment it is about actually contributing to my field's conversation. That is why I am here. I am wondering if doing this sort of thing earlier in the PhD program would be of value in the authenticating of our identities as academic writers? Would I have been ready? I don't think I would have been ready my first. Not even sure I would have been ready my second year. So, perhaps this 3rd year was perfect for me. Something for discussion anyhow. But, I digress. I think I am going to go work on my paper in the last couple of minutes :-) of this quickwrite... ciao