tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post5804853911627553660..comments2023-05-22T03:04:42.242-05:00Comments on Dame Eleanor Hull: Big changes or small ones?Dame Eleanor Hullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06512884104691200975noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-64662396593911523092012-01-01T17:50:46.747-06:002012-01-01T17:50:46.747-06:00Thank you both!Thank you both!Elizabeth Anne Mitchellhttp://elizabethannemitchell.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-52143757426079296222011-12-31T00:02:23.043-06:002011-12-31T00:02:23.043-06:00Yes, congratulations! That's good news. Good...Yes, congratulations! That's good news. Good luck with the packing!Dame Eleanor Hullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06512884104691200975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-15369950693994804622011-12-30T23:58:04.359-06:002011-12-30T23:58:04.359-06:00Congratulations, Elizabeth! That's fantastic!Congratulations, Elizabeth! That's fantastic!Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-90563755162487592832011-12-30T17:37:32.176-06:002011-12-30T17:37:32.176-06:00@Rented life, best of luck moving into the writing...@Rented life, best of luck moving into the writing life; I wil try not to be overly jealous, lol. I cannot manage that yet, so my quest is for a job that doesn't impinge as much on the rest of my life.<br /><br />@Good Enough Woman, seizing moments to be elsewhere is often my only hope. As a librarian, my "office" has no walls or door, so I have to hide to get things done. <br /><br />Also, while short bits of time can be frustrating, they can also add up to be very helpful. You're quite smart to seize what you can. <br /><br />@Dame Eleanor, thank you for the good wishes. I got a job offer this morning. Now to keep my writing/mindful inflexibility going while packing and moving!Elizabeth Anne Mitchellhttp://elizabethannemitchell.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-26732094094484055402011-12-30T15:12:49.460-06:002011-12-30T15:12:49.460-06:00Small changes can be good, but sometimes I need th...Small changes can be good, but sometimes I need the BIG COMMITMENT to get my butt in gear. <br /><br />This week was one of those weeks when I had to just completely let go of any of my hopes or ambitions. My car's transmission was declared terminal, with the engine not far behind. So all free time (whatever that is) was taken up with car shopping and worry. So my one page goal this week? Well, I did do some brainstorming on the article one morning before Toby, who is home from school all week, woke up. That has to count as okay. Sometimes schedules have to move over for life. <br /><br />But I really liked this post. Thanks, Dame Eleanor, for doing this.WTG Homesteaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06941679658584146678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-12101602620426163092011-12-29T22:44:55.527-06:002011-12-29T22:44:55.527-06:00I'm so behind! Family drama = next to no writi...I'm so behind! Family drama = next to no writing done, but I'm finally safely ensconced at home and getting back on track. I think I actually wrote maybe two hours this whole week, rather than two hours a day. Shocking.<br /><br />I think the "mindful inflexibility" is the perfect idea. I need to implement a schedule and not get sidetracked. I'm always sidetracked. This semester coming up will not allow for being sidetracked, especially not if I actually am going to defend this summer.<br /><br />My favorite thing about the end of the year is actually planning out the next semester. I spend a good amount of time planning when I need to finish projects, when I need to start them, and goals along the way. Usually, despite all evidence to the contrary this semester, I meet those goals, but I think that's largely due to the amount of time I spend thinking about what I can realistically accomplish in a certain timeframe. If only life leaves me alone this semester!Jodi A. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04049368949080807185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-88858172378880601922011-12-29T13:45:55.580-06:002011-12-29T13:45:55.580-06:00Profacero, I want to hear more (because I tend to ...Profacero, I want to hear more (because I tend to agree about them not being super flexible)!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-9750879765299743122011-12-28T23:42:42.538-06:002011-12-28T23:42:42.538-06:00P.S. I favor the inflexibility mode. Always did. D...P.S. I favor the inflexibility mode. Always did. Do not think academic schedules are actually flexible. Could expand on this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-17487636554005230322011-12-28T23:41:37.888-06:002011-12-28T23:41:37.888-06:00Did it, then fell off wagon, now recommitting.Did it, then fell off wagon, now recommitting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-59044195932464863112011-12-28T22:37:25.708-06:002011-12-28T22:37:25.708-06:00My goals this week were to read 50 pages of primar...My goals this week were to read 50 pages of primary text, read at least one chapter of secondary text, and write for 15 minutes three times. The only thing I did was to read about five pages of a secondary text. We're still traveling, and we've spent the past week visiting friends (who have a five-week-old baby*) and my MIL. With all of the scheduled holiday activities, it was very difficult to get anything done, especially since my grades weren't finished until last Thursday. <br /><br />Tomorrow, we're heading up to a cabin for several days. I should be able to get a bit of work done, but I also need to start prepping for next semester. And, it's also really important to the kids that I play in the snow and sled and ski with them, sooooooooooooooooo, we'll see.<br /><br />I find it very hard to maintain "mindful inflexibility." One of the challenging things for me lately is that I have 30% reassigned time for service work. That time helps with the grading, but I am at other people's beck and call (to a much greater degree than I am with teaching), and I have a lot of meetings. It seems that every time I want to spend a couple of afternoon hours researching or writing, I end up having meetings to attend at the last minute.<br /><br />Something I did a couple of times last semester was to sneak over to the library for 45 minutes between classes to get some grading or reading done. That way, I was away from e-mail messages or colleagues who want to chat. Maybe I should try to find a few slots for library time each week, even if it's just 20 minutes.<br /><br />But, for now, I have to figure out how to get work finished over the next week. I guess I'm going to have to face my children's disappointment when I tell them I have to work instead of playing while we're "on vacation." And I hope Hubby will support me in grabbing a few hours here and there. I don't feel like I have a lot of control over when I do the work, but I'm going to try to put in six hours between now and next Monday.<br /><br />*We were asked to be godparents!Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-45230620975901378352011-12-28T22:31:57.587-06:002011-12-28T22:31:57.587-06:00This is a helpful post, Dame Eleanor. My timing ha...This is a helpful post, Dame Eleanor. My timing has been all messed up because of Christmas and family, but really, that's just an excuse; they'd leave me alone to work if I would just settle down to it.undinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05589384016564587214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-12512214571364031412011-12-27T17:48:43.727-06:002011-12-27T17:48:43.727-06:00Just checking in to say I did get down to work tod...Just checking in to say I did get down to work today, and am catching up with unmet goals from the Another Damned Notorious Writing Group. As Dame Eleanor (and The Now Habit) suggest, just get started with a short writing session. It's just that then I get going and don't stop (good) and run out of time for rewards before day care closes (in 13 minutes). Short-term rewards that is. I know the long-term rewards.Luo Linnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-25766369903267592612011-12-27T15:25:35.266-06:002011-12-27T15:25:35.266-06:00Wow -- I will have to think about this a lot. One ...Wow -- I will have to think about this a lot. One of the things I was talking to my therapist about recently about how I wish my life were more proactive instead of always reactive and crisis management mode. I really want to audition for a choir, and that means having to fit an obligation into my schedule that is at a fixed time. Aaaand, I just realized that I scheduled the lab for my class across from practices for both the choirs I want to join. Idiot. <br /><br />Anyway, I think I will start small. I will try to set aside at least one day a week(end) when I do nothing for the teaching/service part of my job. If I want to read or write, that's fine, but nothing to do with prep or grading.<br /><br /><br />Finished my grading on the 22nd, went to a party, am now madly revising with what is some sort of throat/lung infection, I think. But my report is that I'm revising and have to turn the thing around. So for next week, I want to have an ILL book (in German) read, and perhaps also have the review of Modern Medieval's book done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-34388333613750253542011-12-27T14:15:25.513-06:002011-12-27T14:15:25.513-06:00Elizabeth, exactly! "real life" people w...Elizabeth, exactly! "real life" people who know are far and few between, and I could dount them on one hand. I'm looking to leave teaching all together so that fiction writing will be my only writing!rented lifenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-53212951879414221272011-12-27T13:46:22.162-06:002011-12-27T13:46:22.162-06:00Sis and Luo Lin, it sounds like it's time for ...Sis and Luo Lin, it sounds like it's time for small steps. Do one little thing, or work for just 15 minutes, and then REWARD yourselves. You want to encourage work, rather than discourage it, so focus on the positive.<br /><br />EAM, I hope you get good news about the interview soon!<br /><br />Today's score: two days of 9:15 to 1:15 work (yeah, so, I tend to come in a little late, but then I stay a little late to make up). Progress on various fronts. Time to get away from the computer and do other things now.Dame Eleanor Hullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06512884104691200975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-50559258130763806532011-12-27T12:43:44.613-06:002011-12-27T12:43:44.613-06:00I just pulled out my revision-in-progress, which I...I just pulled out my revision-in-progress, which I haven't touched since 12/2. Some of that time I had other things to do, but mostly the problem has been letting myself procrastinate. Making a schedule and falling behind is better than drifting without a plan, but making a schedule and ignoring it does not help.<br /><br />My change will probably be to work more at home instead of at a cafe. I can procrastinate at home too, but at least I'll save money on meals. I'm not sure whether that counts as a big change or a small one.Luo Linnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-75683847258880063772011-12-27T11:57:48.561-06:002011-12-27T11:57:48.561-06:00Ok, I put in at least one hour a day last week, wi...Ok, I put in at least one hour a day last week, with one day (wed?) being a very long and productive all-day citation style changeover. That was until Friday when the first of the out of state guests arrived at my parents' house, and I have had no alone time to work on the article since then. Until today. Except I don't feel like working again now.<br /><br />In the next week, I need to:<br />-tame the content footnotes<br />-smooth out conclusions (of paragraphs, sections, the whole thing)<br />-refer to another historical figure (fix that page)<br />and<br />-fix the "while other scholars have claimed X..." lit review type section.<br />and then move to editing at the sentence/phrase level.<br /><br />How to do this when all I want is to play that video game my niece left???Sisyphushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09880634753539329199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-69009058783303523792011-12-27T10:32:53.661-06:002011-12-27T10:32:53.661-06:00Lots of wonderful insights here. Ink, I love &quo...Lots of wonderful insights here. Ink, I love "mindful inflexibility"; Dame Eleanor, the idea of doing what I want before getting into what other people want is so important. I do think that academics, and perhaps female academics especially, are socialized into what ADM called the Professional Good Girl.<br /><br />I had an on-campus interview a week ago, and am waiting anxiously by the telephone, which wrecks my concentration. However, I am getting up one hour early every day to work on the lit review for this group before visitors awaken this week. I have to go back to my job next week, so the juggling will take some more work then.<br /><br />Rented, I hear you about having to justify fiction writing. I love writing in all its forms, but fiction is my secret. A very small group of close friends know I write fiction; my co-workers barely accept my academic writing, and would be horrified at my writing fiction (which is a large part of why I'm on the job market).Elizabeth Anne Mitchellhttp://lapidaryprose.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-36095089707962137402011-12-27T08:11:08.729-06:002011-12-27T08:11:08.729-06:00Cassandra, I think the topic of transitions will n...Cassandra, I think the topic of transitions will need its own post. I too find them hard, and I bet we're not the only ones. Your plans are very thoughtful.<br /><br />Sitzfleisch, I love the term "mindful inflexibility." I also schedule e-mail checks, and try to do things that matter to me first, before getting into what other people want.Dame Eleanor Hullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06512884104691200975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-5591219876320940982011-12-27T03:34:46.084-06:002011-12-27T03:34:46.084-06:00P.S. My quarter starts next week--long before most...P.S. My quarter starts next week--long before most of your semesters, probably--so I'll let you know if I have any email-scheduling advice once the ball gets rolling and I see how well it works.SwallowingSoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16467753218637571559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-39978481853055096402011-12-27T03:33:35.727-06:002011-12-27T03:33:35.727-06:00I think it's a great idea to cultivate mindful...I think it's a great idea to cultivate mindful inflexibility. I'm doing this by scheduling email time in the coming quarter. I've made a daily schedule that includes time M-F for emailing and I will not check it during other times--not even on my phone. I hope this helps.SwallowingSoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16467753218637571559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-28902262620285427472011-12-27T03:32:39.763-06:002011-12-27T03:32:39.763-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.JBC/CMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01445301778425725238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-43426439366878492832011-12-27T00:14:09.209-06:002011-12-27T00:14:09.209-06:00Thanks, DEH. Your response, as always, is both re...Thanks, DEH. Your response, as always, is both reassuring and kind.<br /><br />I just turned grades in on Thursday, so technically (factoring in the holiday), I'm just kicking off the break this week. It's helping me stay focused on the prize (making writing time happen) to read what you all are doing, so thanks to everyone.Inkhttp://inktopia.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-48579216866703200882011-12-26T22:29:14.306-06:002011-12-26T22:29:14.306-06:00Since I didn't get the last batch of grades in...Since I didn't get the last batch of grades in until (very) early on Christmas Eve day (partly my fault, partly the fault of the calendar and other circumstances beyond my control), I'm still somewhat in the planning stages for the winter break (which runs fairly long for us), and also trying to fit in a little bit of actual rest and relaxation before putting more sustained effort into making substantial progress on writing and other work. So: <br /><br />--Small change in my overall goal for the WWW(which might need further adjustment once I get into the writing, but I think this is realistic): complete all the primary-source-analysis-based writing for the article (in other words, a full draft, but one that may still need some fleshing out in the places where my ideas intersect with existing scholarship. I don't think I have time to read up on that in the next few weeks, and I do think I can fit it in -- to my schedule and to the article -- later). <br /><br />--Goal for this week (on the light side, to allow for a few days of true R&R): write for 2-3 hours on 2-3 mornings. <br /><br />--Goal for the first 3 weeks of January: write for 3-4 hours on 4-5 mornings a week. <br /><br />The rest of the day in January will be devoted to logistical/life maintenance activities, writing syllabi, *and* revising and obtaining permissions for a second, provisionally-accepted article due Feb. 1. I'd love to say that I'll just leave all class prep until week 3 of January (the week before classes start) and squeeze it in then, but that's not realistic or wise for several reasons. But I'm determined to keep such work out of the writing times outlined above, and think I can afford to mostly ignore it during the first week of January. By the third week in January, I may need to cut back to 2-3 hours on 4-5 mornings, partly to leave more time for prep, and partly to get back on a schedule that I hope to sustain (at least at the 2-3 morning rate) during the term. I'm not as good as I need to be at switching from writing and research early in the morning (6/7-9 a.m.) to other work for the rest of the morning (9-12/1). And like many people (including those who work in offices/ are bound by a strict time clock), I'm not tremendously productive in the early afternoon, though I can get some less-mentally-taxing work done then, and sometimes get a second wind in the late afternoon/early evening, especially if I've exercised in the afternoon. The trick then, of course, is to stop and get myself to bed in time to wake up early the next morning. <br /><br />Speaking of which, I'm trying to work myself back to a bedtime that will sustain that schedule, so I'll sign off now, with thanks, again, for an incentive to stay on track.Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188858439852729115.post-29526411135082753602011-12-26T22:20:02.522-06:002011-12-26T22:20:02.522-06:00One of the great things about ADNWG was the indivi...One of the great things about ADNWG was the individual comments that ADM and N gave us. I don't think I can live up to their standards, but here goes:<br /><br />Lost, I hope you figure out a good way to think about what you're doing. That can be very important.<br /><br />Matilda, mostly I agree with your usual approach, but as I said in the main post, sometimes you just need to do something different, especially if through procrastination and guilt a task has donned a monster mask. I hope the writing continues to be enjoyable and that you can get it done and go back to something you want to do more.<br /><br />Ink, despite all the hype for Brief Daily Sessions, if what your life allows is binges, then better binges than no writing. IMHO.<br /><br />Sapience, that sounds like good news---takes some pressure off!<br /><br />N&M, turning proofs around fast sounds like a shot in the arm: a clear achievement in more ways than one. Congratulations!<br /><br />Rented Life, I love hearing that writing is a thing that brings people joy. <br /><br />Zcat, those sound like manageable goals, small enough to be accomplished, big enough to give you a real sense of achievement when you stick to them.<br /><br />Theologoumenathon (may I call you Theo?), I know what you mean. Reading feels easy to do here and there; it's low-commitment. Writing feels harder. You can trick yourself into it, if you need to, by writing notes in the margins or on post-its, and then typing them up later.<br /><br />All right, my friends, carry on: whether you're just starting now, or finishing up, or practicing for the New Year, I wish you well with this week's writing work.Dame Eleanor Hullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06512884104691200975noreply@blogger.com