Just sent off two more applications for one-year teaching posts. Both of them would be quite a tough commute for me, and neither would work if I need to be on campus more than 3 or 4 days per week. They're far enough that it'd require a two- or three- leg flight from where we live. I'm not about to ask my family to move with me for a temporary teaching post. That said, I'm eager to take what I can get while I keep looking for something permanent.
If I do that sort of thing, I'll be living alone for the time I spend at school, meaning I'd plan on working very long, very hard days, so I could be husband and father for the time I'm back at home. But, I'm jumping the gun. Just trying to think ahead. It gets to the stage however that I feel my standards and selectivity slipping a bit. I find myself writing in cover letters that I'd be pleased to cover their survey courses in areas that I'd really rather not tread. I figure the specific courses I teach can be decided after I'm offered a post, not before... I don't really like being in this position where I feel obligated to stretch my comfort zone.
But, I'm still receiving acknowledgement letters for posts I applied for previously, so I know some searches are still open. I'm biting my nails again, just waiting. For anyone who's curious, that brings my grand total for this season only to 46 faculty posts applied for. Plus 2 post-docs, one of which I posted about earlier. Last year, I applied to about 40 posts, including post-docs. Can anyone out there beat that? And, I thought I was being selective!
Thursday, March 02, 2006
My century post
This post makes my 100th for this blog. Does that make me a full initiate?
Here's something I wanted to share. A little while ago, I remarked that I wanted to contact a few departments who chose not to interview me, but whose rejection letters were positive, to ask about possibly giving a colloquium talk of my research.
Last week, I posted my most courtesy rejection letter to date.
Below is my recent email to the chair of that committee, and his response (a day later) interpolated as comments. It doesn't yet amount to an invitation, but it's positive feedback nonetheless, and gives a sense of acceptance and respect. It's nice to pretend that we are immune to the opinions of others, but then I'm no starving misunderstood artist. If I don't have an audence for my work, then the onus is on me to create one, or to somehow reach the one that is there.
Dear Professor [LastName],
Thank you for your kind note of [Date], regarding the status of the [Specialization] faculty search at [UniversityName]. I do not envy search committees their task of weeding through a mass of highly qualified applicants to select the one or two to be offered positions. Your letter was courteous and respectful, and for that much appreciated.
It's really very kind of you to say so.
I know that many [Field] departments these days hold a regular lecture series, or research colloquium for faculty and graduate students, which serve as appropriate venues for the presentation of new ideas. I would like to inquire as to the possibility to present my work to your department in this way.
In fact, we do have such a series [...]
This year, we knew we'd be asking candidates to speak at interviews, and rather than stretch the audience for lectures (our students) too thin, we decided not to have any regular speakers in [Specialization] or [CloselyRelatedSpecialization].
Please let me know if such an opportunity could be arranged. Depending upon the interests of your department, I could prepare a talk either on [FocusOfDissertation], or on [Field1] & [Field2] studies more broadly. To get a better sense of what I propose, I attach a recent article of mine, currently under consideration. I would be happy to discuss options and details with you at your convenience.
Thanks very much for your interest. [OtherProf] and I are both members of the lecture committee, along with a faculty member in [OtherSpecialization], and we'll certainly keep you in mind.
Thank you again for your time and courtesy,
You're welcome, and thank you.
All best wishes,
[FirstName]
Here's something I wanted to share. A little while ago, I remarked that I wanted to contact a few departments who chose not to interview me, but whose rejection letters were positive, to ask about possibly giving a colloquium talk of my research.
Last week, I posted my most courtesy rejection letter to date.
Below is my recent email to the chair of that committee, and his response (a day later) interpolated as comments. It doesn't yet amount to an invitation, but it's positive feedback nonetheless, and gives a sense of acceptance and respect. It's nice to pretend that we are immune to the opinions of others, but then I'm no starving misunderstood artist. If I don't have an audence for my work, then the onus is on me to create one, or to somehow reach the one that is there.
Dear Professor [LastName],
Thank you for your kind note of [Date], regarding the status of the [Specialization] faculty search at [UniversityName]. I do not envy search committees their task of weeding through a mass of highly qualified applicants to select the one or two to be offered positions. Your letter was courteous and respectful, and for that much appreciated.
It's really very kind of you to say so.
I know that many [Field] departments these days hold a regular lecture series, or research colloquium for faculty and graduate students, which serve as appropriate venues for the presentation of new ideas. I would like to inquire as to the possibility to present my work to your department in this way.
In fact, we do have such a series [...]
This year, we knew we'd be asking candidates to speak at interviews, and rather than stretch the audience for lectures (our students) too thin, we decided not to have any regular speakers in [Specialization] or [CloselyRelatedSpecialization].
Please let me know if such an opportunity could be arranged. Depending upon the interests of your department, I could prepare a talk either on [FocusOfDissertation], or on [Field1] & [Field2] studies more broadly. To get a better sense of what I propose, I attach a recent article of mine, currently under consideration. I would be happy to discuss options and details with you at your convenience.
Thanks very much for your interest. [OtherProf] and I are both members of the lecture committee, along with a faculty member in [OtherSpecialization], and we'll certainly keep you in mind.
Thank you again for your time and courtesy,
You're welcome, and thank you.
All best wishes,
[FirstName]
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Goals? Oh yeah.
Two days ago, I posted my next few goals. It's funny how we make a list, then seemingly ignore it. The one thing I started yesterday actually didn't make it to my list but should have. I started reading the book, in field #2, which I agreed to review for a journal.
I'm almost recovered from the flu, or whatever it is. Still a bit congested, with a cough, and headachy, but less and less. I've just felt a bit sidetracked these past few days; cleaning a bit, and wandering in a haze of directionlessness. Got some good cleaning done though. I feel a need to just keep it up, and once everything is in order, finally, I want to continue purging and purging, and downsizing our too many things.
I've had a few good days with the boys though, which is nice. I've been "working" at home, as I mentioned. We have an au pair who watches the boys mostly from 8-4, though when I'm at home, I interact with them quite a bit. It's a treat though to have someone else around whom I can call on to engage with them, when I feel a need to get something done. Normally, she takes the boys out to a museum, or the library, or a park for a couple hours each day. But, it's quite nice, I admit, to be able to take breaks by spending some time with them, rather than gossipping with grad students, or playing Russian Square or some game at PopCap.
Professionally, though, I'm still numb. I realize, and believe, that I am on the right track. I'm writing, I'm reading. I'm keeping up my research. I need to get back to conferences, preferably as a presenter. I haven't been to one since August 2004, when I chaired a panel and presented a paper. I was invited for two preliminary interviews at a mainstream conference in my field (what I called the Society of Old Dinosaurs) last October, but by the time they invited me, I had already decided not to attend. I offered a telephone interview, but neither took me up on it. When I had looked over the papers accepted for the conference, I found only one or two that seemed potentially interesting, peripherally. It's not really my scene.
I'm dealing right now with the issue of whether or not to renew my membership. It's the society in my field, so I'm led to believe. But, I honestly don't connect with the research that is promoted there. I'm not trying to be harsh, just honest. When I applied to go back to grad school (I already had a Master's degree), I wasn't sure what area, even what field I should apply to. I considered jumping to another principal field (my Master's was in the same department at most schools, though a different area from my PhD work).
I finally decided that I should stick with the same field, but which subdiscipline? I had a good idea of what I wanted to study, which questions I wanted to ask. That wasn't the problem. It was rather that no one (it seemed to me) was asking those questions. I wound up applying to three different programs (subdisciplines) at four different schools. As I wrote a while ago, I only got accepted to two of the four. The two where I wasn't accepted were my top picks. They both had existing programs in the area of research that I most associate with, with scholars actively a part of what I'll call the Society for Innovative Interdisciplinarity.
When I attend SII conferences, I have trouble choosing between concurrent sessions, because there's always something of interest. This society attracts together scholars from quite disparate fields. It's exciting. It's what I identify with. I feel welcome and respected (even by the scholars at those two schools) in that society. I have things to learn, and I have things to contribute.
But I was not accepted to study for the PhD at those two schools. In some ways, I don't regret it. It's allowed me more freedom to forge my own path, less guided (or restricted) by any specific approach to the subject. I wound up pretty much creating my own curriculum, replacing some normal classes in my first field, with classes in fields 2 and 3, and participating in an interdisciplinary program at the school (with which my department was not affiliated). I even proposed and taught a course through that program as a graduate student, for which I received no credit or payment. It was a labor of love.
I guess I also need to get back to teaching. I give lectures now and again, either as part of a colloquium series, or as guest speaker for some colleague's class. Other than that one interdisciplinary course, however, I haven't taught my own class since I was a community college lecturer, before returning for the PhD. I managed to get through five years of the doctoral program entirely under fellowships, one year at a time, rather than as a Teaching Assistant. My student evaluations from the 6 terms at the community college however show me as an excellent teacher. But I fear those voices are beginning to fade. Six years old? I can hear the hiring committees chant.
The job season wanes. I've still received no calls. Just those two early, preliminary interview invites, that seemed to go nowhere. I hear from colleagues who have been through it, that these conference "interviews" really don't amount to much, so it's no big loss. Who knows? There's still a bit of time. Some searches are still open. There will still be more one-year postings in the next month or so. But I fear the prospects of another year without permanent affiliation, another year of seeking, of hoping, of striving. I guess the fear gets me nowhere though. I just need to keep working. I need to be a bit more agressive perhaps in seeking adjunct teaching in this area, to get me back in front of a class again.
So, here's the revised goals list:
I'm almost recovered from the flu, or whatever it is. Still a bit congested, with a cough, and headachy, but less and less. I've just felt a bit sidetracked these past few days; cleaning a bit, and wandering in a haze of directionlessness. Got some good cleaning done though. I feel a need to just keep it up, and once everything is in order, finally, I want to continue purging and purging, and downsizing our too many things.
I've had a few good days with the boys though, which is nice. I've been "working" at home, as I mentioned. We have an au pair who watches the boys mostly from 8-4, though when I'm at home, I interact with them quite a bit. It's a treat though to have someone else around whom I can call on to engage with them, when I feel a need to get something done. Normally, she takes the boys out to a museum, or the library, or a park for a couple hours each day. But, it's quite nice, I admit, to be able to take breaks by spending some time with them, rather than gossipping with grad students, or playing Russian Square or some game at PopCap.
Professionally, though, I'm still numb. I realize, and believe, that I am on the right track. I'm writing, I'm reading. I'm keeping up my research. I need to get back to conferences, preferably as a presenter. I haven't been to one since August 2004, when I chaired a panel and presented a paper. I was invited for two preliminary interviews at a mainstream conference in my field (what I called the Society of Old Dinosaurs) last October, but by the time they invited me, I had already decided not to attend. I offered a telephone interview, but neither took me up on it. When I had looked over the papers accepted for the conference, I found only one or two that seemed potentially interesting, peripherally. It's not really my scene.
I'm dealing right now with the issue of whether or not to renew my membership. It's the society in my field, so I'm led to believe. But, I honestly don't connect with the research that is promoted there. I'm not trying to be harsh, just honest. When I applied to go back to grad school (I already had a Master's degree), I wasn't sure what area, even what field I should apply to. I considered jumping to another principal field (my Master's was in the same department at most schools, though a different area from my PhD work).
I finally decided that I should stick with the same field, but which subdiscipline? I had a good idea of what I wanted to study, which questions I wanted to ask. That wasn't the problem. It was rather that no one (it seemed to me) was asking those questions. I wound up applying to three different programs (subdisciplines) at four different schools. As I wrote a while ago, I only got accepted to two of the four. The two where I wasn't accepted were my top picks. They both had existing programs in the area of research that I most associate with, with scholars actively a part of what I'll call the Society for Innovative Interdisciplinarity.
When I attend SII conferences, I have trouble choosing between concurrent sessions, because there's always something of interest. This society attracts together scholars from quite disparate fields. It's exciting. It's what I identify with. I feel welcome and respected (even by the scholars at those two schools) in that society. I have things to learn, and I have things to contribute.
But I was not accepted to study for the PhD at those two schools. In some ways, I don't regret it. It's allowed me more freedom to forge my own path, less guided (or restricted) by any specific approach to the subject. I wound up pretty much creating my own curriculum, replacing some normal classes in my first field, with classes in fields 2 and 3, and participating in an interdisciplinary program at the school (with which my department was not affiliated). I even proposed and taught a course through that program as a graduate student, for which I received no credit or payment. It was a labor of love.
I guess I also need to get back to teaching. I give lectures now and again, either as part of a colloquium series, or as guest speaker for some colleague's class. Other than that one interdisciplinary course, however, I haven't taught my own class since I was a community college lecturer, before returning for the PhD. I managed to get through five years of the doctoral program entirely under fellowships, one year at a time, rather than as a Teaching Assistant. My student evaluations from the 6 terms at the community college however show me as an excellent teacher. But I fear those voices are beginning to fade. Six years old? I can hear the hiring committees chant.
The job season wanes. I've still received no calls. Just those two early, preliminary interview invites, that seemed to go nowhere. I hear from colleagues who have been through it, that these conference "interviews" really don't amount to much, so it's no big loss. Who knows? There's still a bit of time. Some searches are still open. There will still be more one-year postings in the next month or so. But I fear the prospects of another year without permanent affiliation, another year of seeking, of hoping, of striving. I guess the fear gets me nowhere though. I just need to keep working. I need to be a bit more agressive perhaps in seeking adjunct teaching in this area, to get me back in front of a class again.
So, here's the revised goals list:
- Read book, and write book review.
- Literature review for longitudinal study.
- Begin preparations/ideas/outlines for colloquium talk I'm giving in May.
- More aggressively pursue adjunct teaching opportunities for Summer/Fall.
- Start planning grant applications (including for longitudinal study).
- Keep developing ideas for new articles, and possibly book proposals.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
What do you say, when there's nothing to say?
My energy is down a bit. Not really depressed. Not really sad. Just a bit numb I guess. I spent much of yesterday and this morning dealing with our taxes. Non-Americans out there, count yourself blessed that you don't have to deal with these ridiculously complicated tax procedures! Suffice it to say, all the forms are printed out, and ready for signatures to be sent off. Yeah!
That's one more thing off the to-do list. I still need to finish my cleaning and organizing, which did make some progress yesterday, despite the exorbitant amount of time needed for taxes.
I haven't been in to campus for more than a week. The flu has kept me not wanting to leave the house more than necessary. And, since I was getting a lot of writing done sitting here at home, there was no point. But, the lack of socializing makes a hermit out of me.
Just now, I'm floudering a bit. I guess I often find myself at this point when I finish a big project (in this case the "dissertation distillation" article), especially when as lately the event flourishes with a minor splash, a few concentric waves emulating outward, then fading. I've written before about how anti-climactic finishing the dissertation was for me.
The feeling is of putting on a one-man show without an audience. The house is there, the lights, the curtain, the seats, the stage. And there I stand, imagining the audience, the critics, the applause. But so far they're only in my mind. Why does this still feel like a rehearsal?
That's one more thing off the to-do list. I still need to finish my cleaning and organizing, which did make some progress yesterday, despite the exorbitant amount of time needed for taxes.
I haven't been in to campus for more than a week. The flu has kept me not wanting to leave the house more than necessary. And, since I was getting a lot of writing done sitting here at home, there was no point. But, the lack of socializing makes a hermit out of me.
Just now, I'm floudering a bit. I guess I often find myself at this point when I finish a big project (in this case the "dissertation distillation" article), especially when as lately the event flourishes with a minor splash, a few concentric waves emulating outward, then fading. I've written before about how anti-climactic finishing the dissertation was for me.
The feeling is of putting on a one-man show without an audience. The house is there, the lights, the curtain, the seats, the stage. And there I stand, imagining the audience, the critics, the applause. But so far they're only in my mind. Why does this still feel like a rehearsal?
Monday, February 27, 2006
New Desktop
A quick pause from cleaning and organizing. (I had to turn on the computer for something else, honest!)
Here is my new desktop background, replacing the example from my dissertation (which was included in my article).
This was taken yesterday morning at the local Botanic Gardens, where I spent a lovely couple of hours with my two marvelous young explorers.
Just stop sitting there!
Okay, I guess that's what I need to tell myself. I think what I ought to do today is a bit of cleaning up and organizing. I need to put all these books back on the shelves, and clear my desk. I need to get some more clearing done in the garage, in hopes of setting up a work space there. I need to organize and prioritize these articles and books that are waiting to be read. Mostly, this entails, closing the laptop, and getting to work.
It's a rainy day here. Just the type of weather that begs for "spring cleaning." So... get to it, already!
It's a rainy day here. Just the type of weather that begs for "spring cleaning." So... get to it, already!
Sunday, February 26, 2006
The next few goals
- Literature review for next big long-term project (a longitudinal study).
- Begin preparations/ideas/outlines for colloquium talk I'm giving in May
- This is a talk in the department hosting my Visiting Scholar status (i.e. my second field)
- I'm hoping to make some major strides toward a new methodology which I'm developing, as a spin-off and follow up on my dissertation work. That's what I'm hoping to present, so any early start is warranted. This new methodology would allow direct comparison of data across my two main fields, and should allow more fruitful interactions between them. And, these new techniques will be directly applicable to analysis of the data that I expect to be gathering for the longitudinal study.
- I may likely need to do a thorough lit review on that as well, though as I am aware from the last few years of study, this is mostly new territory. But I need to be competent and well-versed in the methods that are currently in use in each field, so I can show where what I propose contributes something new to both fields.
- Start planning grant applications, since I may likely remain a Visiting Scholar for another year.
- Keep developing ideas for new articles, and possibly book proposals.
Submitted!
I clicked "submit". Gee!
This is a big deal for me. This isn't just any article. It's the essence of my work over the past 5 years, well of my dissertation work in any case. I'm honestly damn proud of it. God knows, I've read it and reread it a dozen times this past week, changing here, adding there, deleting this, moving that.
The reformatting was tedious, but in a way kind of fun. It's interesting how much thought you have to put into changing from one style to another. But it's done. I sent it off.
I'm giddy. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight, though tomorrow will be a long day for me. The wife is taking her fourth and final sailing lesson (from the package I got her as a birthday gift). Tomorrow she'll be gone all day (9-5), and it being a Sunday, that means I'm double-dad full-time. We'll have fun (but dealing with the flu and lack of sleep...). Hmmm... maybe I should have a stiff drink and hit the sack. (Dryden should be pleased.)
This is a big deal for me. This isn't just any article. It's the essence of my work over the past 5 years, well of my dissertation work in any case. I'm honestly damn proud of it. God knows, I've read it and reread it a dozen times this past week, changing here, adding there, deleting this, moving that.
The reformatting was tedious, but in a way kind of fun. It's interesting how much thought you have to put into changing from one style to another. But it's done. I sent it off.
I'm giddy. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight, though tomorrow will be a long day for me. The wife is taking her fourth and final sailing lesson (from the package I got her as a birthday gift). Tomorrow she'll be gone all day (9-5), and it being a Sunday, that means I'm double-dad full-time. We'll have fun (but dealing with the flu and lack of sleep...). Hmmm... maybe I should have a stiff drink and hit the sack. (Dryden should be pleased.)
Saturday, February 25, 2006
The nicest rejection letter
Here's one for the archives. Thoughtful and polite.
Dear Dr. __________:
The search committee received and reviewed 112 applications for the position of ___________ specializing in ______________. A good many of the applicants presented excellent qualifications, and we found ourselves wishing we could make several appointments.
In the end, it was necessary for us to choose those whose profiles best suited our present needs and future plans, and we narrowed our choices to three finalists. It is with regret that I must inform you that your name was not among those selected.
We thank you very much for expressing interest in our position. I am sure that I speak for the entire committee in wishing you all the best of success in the future.
Not that I wouldn't prefer to receive a phone call instead, inviting me for an interview. But, we takes what we can gets. It will all click into place, somewhere, somewhen, somehow. I've got to believe that. In the meantime, I keep plugging away.
Dear Dr. __________:
The search committee received and reviewed 112 applications for the position of ___________ specializing in ______________. A good many of the applicants presented excellent qualifications, and we found ourselves wishing we could make several appointments.
In the end, it was necessary for us to choose those whose profiles best suited our present needs and future plans, and we narrowed our choices to three finalists. It is with regret that I must inform you that your name was not among those selected.
We thank you very much for expressing interest in our position. I am sure that I speak for the entire committee in wishing you all the best of success in the future.
Not that I wouldn't prefer to receive a phone call instead, inviting me for an interview. But, we takes what we can gets. It will all click into place, somewhere, somewhen, somehow. I've got to believe that. In the meantime, I keep plugging away.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Reformatting
One of the least enjoyable parts of being interdisciplinary is the constant necessity to reformat citations from one standard to another. Since my work is based in the Humanities, but touches on the Social and Cognitive Sciences, each venue has a completely different style. It's not simply a matter of changing a comma into a period, or adding parentheses for the date. If only it were. Even superficially simple formatting changes often require a complete rethinking of what and how citations are made. I've spent most of today reworking the article, rather than re-editing it, changing footnotes into endnotes, and footnote citations into in-line references, etc. And, since I'm still fairly new to OpenOffice Write, I'm not sure how to get around all the formatting issues, so I end up typing many expectedly automated things manually. It's a lot of headaches, (which already with this flu I have quite enough of). I did draft up a concise abstract. With each modification this thing looks more and more like a real scholarly paper, which pleases me.
I decided (tentatively) that I will submit this article to a new electronic journal, utilizing an "open peer review" process, meaning the article is published with invited (or volunteered) commentary, which are signed rather than anonymous. I was invited to write just such a commentary for another journal of this sort about a year ago. I like the openness of it, and the efficiency. The turn around for these sorts of journals can be much quicker than with traditional ones.
Moreover, I realized over the past few days: 1) the most prestigious journal in my (ostensible) field may carry a lot of caché with the mainstream folks in my field. But, they're not likely to hire me anyway; 2) I don't think I've ever read an article in that journal, much less cited one; 3) when I've attended conferences held by that society (it's a Journal of...), I've mostly been bored to tears, and spent more time perusing the book exhibits than listening to talks; 4) I truly enjoy the papers at the smaller (and thus more focused) society conferences that I'm a part of, where I've presented most of my conference papers; and 5) The people who sit on the editorial board of this journal are ones whose work most intrigues me, and who are more likely to hire me should the opportunity arise.
So, what on earth would lead me to want to publish in Journal of the Society of Old Dinosaurs? This new journal is much closer to the sorts of work that I do. I won't have to pretned or stretch anything. It is innovative. It's new, which means (if my article is accepted) I get a chance to help forge the direction it takes. It's a step up from the journals I have published in so far, and what I really need is to just keep writing and publishing. It seems that I should choose journals on the basis of ones I would most enjoy reading, rather than simply ones I think would look good on my CV. I'm tired of being defensive about my work, since it seems peripheral to mainstreamers. I just want to speak to an audience who's interested and attentive. So, there you have it.
I decided (tentatively) that I will submit this article to a new electronic journal, utilizing an "open peer review" process, meaning the article is published with invited (or volunteered) commentary, which are signed rather than anonymous. I was invited to write just such a commentary for another journal of this sort about a year ago. I like the openness of it, and the efficiency. The turn around for these sorts of journals can be much quicker than with traditional ones.
Moreover, I realized over the past few days: 1) the most prestigious journal in my (ostensible) field may carry a lot of caché with the mainstream folks in my field. But, they're not likely to hire me anyway; 2) I don't think I've ever read an article in that journal, much less cited one; 3) when I've attended conferences held by that society (it's a Journal of...), I've mostly been bored to tears, and spent more time perusing the book exhibits than listening to talks; 4) I truly enjoy the papers at the smaller (and thus more focused) society conferences that I'm a part of, where I've presented most of my conference papers; and 5) The people who sit on the editorial board of this journal are ones whose work most intrigues me, and who are more likely to hire me should the opportunity arise.
So, what on earth would lead me to want to publish in Journal of the Society of Old Dinosaurs? This new journal is much closer to the sorts of work that I do. I won't have to pretned or stretch anything. It is innovative. It's new, which means (if my article is accepted) I get a chance to help forge the direction it takes. It's a step up from the journals I have published in so far, and what I really need is to just keep writing and publishing. It seems that I should choose journals on the basis of ones I would most enjoy reading, rather than simply ones I think would look good on my CV. I'm tired of being defensive about my work, since it seems peripheral to mainstreamers. I just want to speak to an audience who's interested and attentive. So, there you have it.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Distillation complete
Done! Finally. Just completed my second pass through the article, and the final edits. I'm just under 20,000 words. I'm pleased with it. I think it does, more concisely, what I hoped my dissertation would. Now, I have to send it off. I think I'll take the advice I've gotten to send it out for some feedback, before submitting it to a journal. The list of possible (preliminary) reviewers keeps growing. I'll have to think about it a little more, but I'll plan to send it off to some people tomorrow.
Hopefully I'll be feeling better soon. This must be the flu. My wife and two boys got shots, but I didn't. Let's hope they retain immunity. I feel lousy, physically that is. But I'm happy with myself for being productive again.
Hopefully I'll be feeling better soon. This must be the flu. My wife and two boys got shots, but I didn't. Let's hope they retain immunity. I feel lousy, physically that is. But I'm happy with myself for being productive again.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
A (temporary) end
I finished my initial pass editing of the dissertation distillation article. I pared it down just a little from where it was. At the moment, I have an article of 19,422 words, including 26 examples out of 80 some in the dissertation. I'll have to sleep on it, and review it all again tomorrow, as one coherent whole. I'm ahead of my schedule a bit, as I hoped to have it done by the end of this week. What I do with it now (or once I've completed a second editing pass), I'm not sure. I will plan to send it off either to someone(s) for feedback, or simply submit it as is to one of a handful of journals.
Then, I get back to this massive literature review of materials for my next big project. I have a stack of articles, and half a shelf of books that are begging for attention.
Then, I get back to this massive literature review of materials for my next big project. I have a stack of articles, and half a shelf of books that are begging for attention.
Dearth and Hope
Inspired by Jo(e)
Dearth and Hope (2/27/89)
On yellowed leaves of ancient lore
I found a tale from long before:
An aged man, who tilled his land
And sowed his seeds with chaffed, bare hands.
—You must believe my word in this;
The manuscripts no more exist:
As ashen forms once touched do fall,
Of what remains, the dust is all.—
The seasons changed, the air grew dry.
His health had waned, his end drew nigh.
His plantings, they were yet undone;
He would not pass 'til there were none.
His hearing failed, his eyesight dimmed;
His beard grew long, no longer trimmed.
But still he waited for the rain;
He would not pass before it came.
He would not plant in arid earth:
For seeds set dry give barren birth.
And yet he sensed his time draw short—
He'd soon depart this earthen port.
The mud from foot of former stream
He scraped with care, as were it cream:
And in his palms transported so
This dampness for his plants to grow.
The moisture spread enough apart
To urge the budding sprouts to start.
Ere all were set he'd not retire,
Lest in his sleep his air expire.
And so prepared to meet his death—
And thus expelled his final breath:
"These plants whom now I know as seed—
Though I'll ne'er see, shall bloom indeed!"
—You must believe his heart in this!
The old man can no more insist:
As forms decayed on touch collapse,
His dust is all we can yet grasp!-
Dearth and Hope (2/27/89)
On yellowed leaves of ancient lore
I found a tale from long before:
An aged man, who tilled his land
And sowed his seeds with chaffed, bare hands.
—You must believe my word in this;
The manuscripts no more exist:
As ashen forms once touched do fall,
Of what remains, the dust is all.—
The seasons changed, the air grew dry.
His health had waned, his end drew nigh.
His plantings, they were yet undone;
He would not pass 'til there were none.
His hearing failed, his eyesight dimmed;
His beard grew long, no longer trimmed.
But still he waited for the rain;
He would not pass before it came.
He would not plant in arid earth:
For seeds set dry give barren birth.
And yet he sensed his time draw short—
He'd soon depart this earthen port.
The mud from foot of former stream
He scraped with care, as were it cream:
And in his palms transported so
This dampness for his plants to grow.
The moisture spread enough apart
To urge the budding sprouts to start.
Ere all were set he'd not retire,
Lest in his sleep his air expire.
And so prepared to meet his death—
And thus expelled his final breath:
"These plants whom now I know as seed—
Though I'll ne'er see, shall bloom indeed!"
—You must believe his heart in this!
The old man can no more insist:
As forms decayed on touch collapse,
His dust is all we can yet grasp!-
... still going ...
Where's the Energizer bunny?
Up to 12,079 edited words. It doesn't look like this is getting any shorter. Hmmm. I keep getting more ideas of whom to send it to. I wish it were as simple as just sending it to a journal. It's possible the chief editor would be kind enough to inform me promptly if they find it inappropriate for their journal, but I'm not sure I can rely on that.
Maybe I simply have to suck it up, and deal with the potential for a long silence and delay. Who knows, maybe I won't have trouble publishing it. I guess this prompts me to write up a good abstract, once the whole thing is edited, and see where that gets me. I mean, who's going to read a 20,000 word article if they don't need to? And a decent abstract will help them make a decision more rapidly. I know some journals ask for the abstract up front, but others don't. I'm not asking for special favors; I'm just trying to find (and expand) the audience for this research.
Well, plugging along.
Up to 12,079 edited words. It doesn't look like this is getting any shorter. Hmmm. I keep getting more ideas of whom to send it to. I wish it were as simple as just sending it to a journal. It's possible the chief editor would be kind enough to inform me promptly if they find it inappropriate for their journal, but I'm not sure I can rely on that.
Maybe I simply have to suck it up, and deal with the potential for a long silence and delay. Who knows, maybe I won't have trouble publishing it. I guess this prompts me to write up a good abstract, once the whole thing is edited, and see where that gets me. I mean, who's going to read a 20,000 word article if they don't need to? And a decent abstract will help them make a decision more rapidly. I know some journals ask for the abstract up front, but others don't. I'm not asking for special favors; I'm just trying to find (and expand) the audience for this research.
Well, plugging along.
... and on ...
The edit goes on... and on. Finished editing the next section of analysis and discussion. Up to 9714 words. Got another idea of someone to send the article to. He's one of the founding editors of the top journal in a closely related subfield of my primary discipline (where somedays I suspect I more belong). He also happens to know the language that much of the materials I'm working with were written. I've had infrequent but pleasant contact with him over the years. He might read it and make suggestions about where to submit. Then again, he might ignore it. What have I got to lose?
... Got some DayQuil this morning. Feeling a bit better, though still less than well.
... Got some DayQuil this morning. Feeling a bit better, though still less than well.
Vinca major (Periwinkle)
Continuing the flower theme. Here's a Vinca major. Common name: Periwinkle.
I've got to start gardening again, eh? Here's a tidbit about me: For four years, while an undergraduate in the midwest, I supported myself almost entirely from a landscaping service that began with a used lawnmower in the back of my 1982 Honda Prelude.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
The edit goes on...
I'm at 8097 edited words. Now through with the preliminaries and the first section of examples, analysis, and discussion. Eight more sections to go, as it's laid out now.
I feel lousy. Physically that is. Went online to find a doctor with our new insurance. Actually, it's not very new insurance. We've had it since my wife started working again in June. I haven't been to see a doctor in all that time. Decided I should schedule a physical. Full checkup in about a month. The doctor is booked for office visits at least until Friday, so I'd have to sit in "urgent care" if I wanted to be seen for this ailment now. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.
I feel lousy. Physically that is. Went online to find a doctor with our new insurance. Actually, it's not very new insurance. We've had it since my wife started working again in June. I haven't been to see a doctor in all that time. Decided I should schedule a physical. Full checkup in about a month. The doctor is booked for office visits at least until Friday, so I'd have to sit in "urgent care" if I wanted to be seen for this ailment now. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.
Kaffir Lillies for spring!
Clivia Miniata. Common name: Kaffir lily. Native to South Africa (I believe). One of my all-time favorite flowers, hands-down. This shot was taken a few years ago on my doctoral campus.
Still sick... still writing
Yesterday, added a selection of examples and analysis, culled from the dissertation. Article now totals just under 21,000 words. Youch! Revised and edited the preliminaries today, now amounting to 5850 words. Flow is much better. I think it works. Need to go through the examples and analysis (about 1/3 of the examples from the dissertation), fixing the flow, revising the text, adding citations, cutting if I can, cleaning it all up.
If all goes well, I might be ready to send this thing off by the end of the week. Not sure if I should send an informal inquiry out to the editors of one or another journal, or just submit the whole article. What I don't want is to wait two or three months to hear that they don't think it's the appropriate venue, or some such. But I'd like to have the widest readership, and the biggest bang for my C.V.
The submission guidelines for the top journal in my field doesn't actually say I can't submit it to more than one journal, but somehow that seems bad form. Correct me if I'm wrong. What do you do? Would you write an informal inquiry, or submit to two or three journals at once? It's going to be a good article, I'm convinced of that. The problem is finding the right venue.
I cite material from three or four completely separate disciplines, but I'm not sure the mainstream journals in any of them will consider it sufficiently a part of their domian to print it. Maybe I'm just defeating myself, but expecting the worst makes anything else seem good.
Meantime, I'm still hacking up a lung, and sipping down tea like I've got the whole Boston harbor at my disposal. The car is still at the dealership; they're waiting on just one more part. They estimate we'll have it back by Friday at the latest.
If all goes well, I might be ready to send this thing off by the end of the week. Not sure if I should send an informal inquiry out to the editors of one or another journal, or just submit the whole article. What I don't want is to wait two or three months to hear that they don't think it's the appropriate venue, or some such. But I'd like to have the widest readership, and the biggest bang for my C.V.
The submission guidelines for the top journal in my field doesn't actually say I can't submit it to more than one journal, but somehow that seems bad form. Correct me if I'm wrong. What do you do? Would you write an informal inquiry, or submit to two or three journals at once? It's going to be a good article, I'm convinced of that. The problem is finding the right venue.
I cite material from three or four completely separate disciplines, but I'm not sure the mainstream journals in any of them will consider it sufficiently a part of their domian to print it. Maybe I'm just defeating myself, but expecting the worst makes anything else seem good.
Meantime, I'm still hacking up a lung, and sipping down tea like I've got the whole Boston harbor at my disposal. The car is still at the dealership; they're waiting on just one more part. They estimate we'll have it back by Friday at the latest.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Darn, darn darn!
Writing. It's good to be writing. But then, I keep catching myself, wanting to say more. Yet I know, I can't say things like "what does he think about x? Well, he never tells us, he simply says...." Why can't I say that? Because I haven't yet read everything he's written!
I wrote before how I discovered far more articles I needed to read and translate than I had imagined. About a week ago or so, I decided that I didn't really need to read all of them for this article. No, I could just get some thoughts out. I mean, I did write a dissertation about this. Why not just summarize some of those thoughts, then send it off?
Because I'm a perfectionist, or I'm honest! I'll tell you a little story about dishonesty in writing:
Years ago, I was fascinated by the painter Rembrandt. I read a biography of him by Hendrik Willem van Loon, that purported to have been written, not by van Loon, but by some great-great-relative of his, a friend and contemporary of the painter himself! Wow, I thought! And was I gullible. I wanted to believe it, so I overlooked the obvious clues, like the reconstructed dialogue.
Don't get me wrong, it was a well-written, historical novel. The unforgivable offense however was the deceit. Perhaps when it was first published in 1930, the author's name and reputation would have been sufficiently recognizable that the conceit of the manuscript having been found would have been easily read as a spun yarn. But I didn't read it then. I didn't read it with that knowledge. I was duped. And I was duped not simply by my own innocence and ignorance. But rather by my faith in the written word.
I revere writing. It should say something. It should challenge, but it should also stipulate and ruminate and bow down to its own lapses and lacunae. In short, it should be honest. I remember taking a psychology class as a graduate student, and discussing the confirmation bias. The instructor, unwittingly lobbed me a great compliment. I simply asked whether researchers ought not focus on disproving their claims, rather than proving them. If we believe our suppositions to be valid, shouldn't we make every effort to prove ourselves wrong? He replied with a laugh, as if to say, "well, no, for then we might discover we're wrong!" I was glad to be excluded from his postulated set of researchers.
So, I catch myself saying things in writing, that I can't be sure are true. And I have too much respect for my readers to let it slide. I'm trying to find the balance between reading more articles (ploddingly in this other language, because 1. my skills and knowledge of the language are not yet ace; and 2. the writing style is dense, poetic, and vague), and altering or weakening my arguments, so as not to state too strongly, what I can only surmise.
I begin to believe that this will eventually become my first book, not exactly a rewriting of the dissertation, as a reworking of it, and a great expansion beyond it. It feels good to be working again. But it's scary. It's scary to be out here all alone. Yes, writing a dissertation can be lonely, and isolating. But to be done. To have more to say, and the energy to pursue, but without a hand hold! No concrete goal towards which I'm heading; no diploma at the end; no deadline, or committee, or colleagues. I'm standing on the edge of an abyss, knowing the wind is behind me, not being able to see the other side. Somehow, I believe the clouds below will cushion me, if I fall; there will be no hard landing. But where will the winds blow? That I don't yet know.
I am caught between two fields. That was my choice. I own it. I have this [book/article/piece] to write. But I'm not sure where it will go, when I'm done? Who is the audience? I'm always thinking of my audience. If I'm speaking to dentists, then a tooth metaphor; if it's gardeners, I talk of plants, and flowers, and seeds. But I don't know who is listening just now. I've got to write. I can always edit later.
I wrote before how I discovered far more articles I needed to read and translate than I had imagined. About a week ago or so, I decided that I didn't really need to read all of them for this article. No, I could just get some thoughts out. I mean, I did write a dissertation about this. Why not just summarize some of those thoughts, then send it off?
Because I'm a perfectionist, or I'm honest! I'll tell you a little story about dishonesty in writing:
Years ago, I was fascinated by the painter Rembrandt. I read a biography of him by Hendrik Willem van Loon, that purported to have been written, not by van Loon, but by some great-great-relative of his, a friend and contemporary of the painter himself! Wow, I thought! And was I gullible. I wanted to believe it, so I overlooked the obvious clues, like the reconstructed dialogue.
Don't get me wrong, it was a well-written, historical novel. The unforgivable offense however was the deceit. Perhaps when it was first published in 1930, the author's name and reputation would have been sufficiently recognizable that the conceit of the manuscript having been found would have been easily read as a spun yarn. But I didn't read it then. I didn't read it with that knowledge. I was duped. And I was duped not simply by my own innocence and ignorance. But rather by my faith in the written word.
I revere writing. It should say something. It should challenge, but it should also stipulate and ruminate and bow down to its own lapses and lacunae. In short, it should be honest. I remember taking a psychology class as a graduate student, and discussing the confirmation bias. The instructor, unwittingly lobbed me a great compliment. I simply asked whether researchers ought not focus on disproving their claims, rather than proving them. If we believe our suppositions to be valid, shouldn't we make every effort to prove ourselves wrong? He replied with a laugh, as if to say, "well, no, for then we might discover we're wrong!" I was glad to be excluded from his postulated set of researchers.
So, I catch myself saying things in writing, that I can't be sure are true. And I have too much respect for my readers to let it slide. I'm trying to find the balance between reading more articles (ploddingly in this other language, because 1. my skills and knowledge of the language are not yet ace; and 2. the writing style is dense, poetic, and vague), and altering or weakening my arguments, so as not to state too strongly, what I can only surmise.
I begin to believe that this will eventually become my first book, not exactly a rewriting of the dissertation, as a reworking of it, and a great expansion beyond it. It feels good to be working again. But it's scary. It's scary to be out here all alone. Yes, writing a dissertation can be lonely, and isolating. But to be done. To have more to say, and the energy to pursue, but without a hand hold! No concrete goal towards which I'm heading; no diploma at the end; no deadline, or committee, or colleagues. I'm standing on the edge of an abyss, knowing the wind is behind me, not being able to see the other side. Somehow, I believe the clouds below will cushion me, if I fall; there will be no hard landing. But where will the winds blow? That I don't yet know.
I am caught between two fields. That was my choice. I own it. I have this [book/article/piece] to write. But I'm not sure where it will go, when I'm done? Who is the audience? I'm always thinking of my audience. If I'm speaking to dentists, then a tooth metaphor; if it's gardeners, I talk of plants, and flowers, and seeds. But I don't know who is listening just now. I've got to write. I can always edit later.
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