a writer.
what makes a writer nowadays? do you only have to be a memoirist, a creative writer, a novelist, a blogger? what if you write things that aren't that "fun"?
i'm in the middle of writing a policy brief on transitional jobs models and homelessness for this conference in july. a nice side project for InclusionUS, and it's nice to get back into the swing of it, even if it doesn't pay. just keep putting publications no matter how big or small on the CV, i suppose. i think just the fact that i'm trying to collect publications rather than pins on pinterest is a sign that i am either a.) maybe actually trying to do this whole "academic" thing, b.) neither crafty, domestic, or trendy in any way or b.) a sad, nerdy combination of both a and b. i'm sure there are people out there like me, and i'm positive they're currently wearing sweatpants or old Adidas shorts (my writing gear of choice) and they're most likely surrounded by old glasses of water or tea.
one day i'll find my kindred spirits and they're probably hiding in a university somewhere.
so, for those who are writers, who teach future writers (that's for you, Nancy!), i was motivated by this McSweeney's column: "The Ultimate Guide to Writing Better Than You Normally Do."
one of my favorite parts of this is absolutely fantastic, and what i'm currently struggling with as i try and power through this brief:
---
DON'T PROCRASTINATE
Procrastination is an alluring siren taunting you to Google the country where Balki from Perfect Strangers was from, and to arrange sticky notes on your dog in the shape of hilarious dog shorts. A wicked temptress beckoning you to watch your children, and take showers. Well, it’s time to look procrastination in the eye and tell that seafaring wench, “Sorry not today, today I write.”
--
so for all those on deadline, those who can't figure out how to start (let alone finish), i stand in solidarity with you. no, Weakley, you don't need to wander into the kitchen and eat another girl scout cookie, and you definitely don't need to look through someone's Thailand photos -- again. beat the seafaring wench, everyone.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
back in action - where i attempt to convey what's happening
it's pretty ironic that the last post from over a year ago involved me apologizing to my future engineer husband/boyfriend for dating that starving artist/poet. he may not be named Dan, but he's an engineer indeed and it turns out i did return his texts, he had no DVDs for me to steal, and he's smarter than me. all good things. oh, and he's from northern ireland and currently lives in scotland.
so there's that.
updates for the two people that read this: my contract with my current job ends at the end of this fiscal year so i'm thinking of heading to glasgow to live for a few months on a visitor's visa. ideally i'd like to get a job while i'm there and then get signed on with a work visa, but we'll see. i'm currently pinching pennies and saving so that i can do this little adventure without going bankrupt.
the great news is i'm also planning to apply to the University of Glasgow's PhD programme in Urban Studies to start September 2013. a long way off, i know, but i'm meeting with some professors when i go over for a conference in july (another story altogether) to figure out if my research interests align with what they're doing and then logistics. my professors at GW like to say that when a professor is trying to decide on a PhD candidate they just need to be able to say, "would i like to have lunch with this person?" except that lunch lasts 4 years. i'm hoping i'm smart enough and i end up writing a great proposal. i also hope that i don't have to take the GREs again. ick.
being a professor would be fantastic. i get to write articles (maybe a book), would get to talk in front of people for hours at a time and get paid for it, and everyone would HAVE to read my book/article. i can't think of a downside.
i'm headed to the UK from july 1-12 to see the boy, we're headed to n. ireland to visit his family (hopefully the weakley charm will work wonders) and then i'm headed to the Welfare to Work UK Conference in Birmingham, England through InclusionUS (a research and consulting firm i'm writing some stuff for). i'm excited to do some networking, present/circulate a policy paper i'm writing, and hanging out with some smart people. maybe i'll charm some folks into giving me a job or at least something to do while i'm in the UK for 3-6 months.
that's all for now, i promise to start writing more again. funny stories, too, and perhaps even a photo. here's one of the boy and i when i went to visit in march. this was in this national reserve in central england called milldale. not too shabby, i suppose.
so there's that.
updates for the two people that read this: my contract with my current job ends at the end of this fiscal year so i'm thinking of heading to glasgow to live for a few months on a visitor's visa. ideally i'd like to get a job while i'm there and then get signed on with a work visa, but we'll see. i'm currently pinching pennies and saving so that i can do this little adventure without going bankrupt.
the great news is i'm also planning to apply to the University of Glasgow's PhD programme in Urban Studies to start September 2013. a long way off, i know, but i'm meeting with some professors when i go over for a conference in july (another story altogether) to figure out if my research interests align with what they're doing and then logistics. my professors at GW like to say that when a professor is trying to decide on a PhD candidate they just need to be able to say, "would i like to have lunch with this person?" except that lunch lasts 4 years. i'm hoping i'm smart enough and i end up writing a great proposal. i also hope that i don't have to take the GREs again. ick.
being a professor would be fantastic. i get to write articles (maybe a book), would get to talk in front of people for hours at a time and get paid for it, and everyone would HAVE to read my book/article. i can't think of a downside.
i'm headed to the UK from july 1-12 to see the boy, we're headed to n. ireland to visit his family (hopefully the weakley charm will work wonders) and then i'm headed to the Welfare to Work UK Conference in Birmingham, England through InclusionUS (a research and consulting firm i'm writing some stuff for). i'm excited to do some networking, present/circulate a policy paper i'm writing, and hanging out with some smart people. maybe i'll charm some folks into giving me a job or at least something to do while i'm in the UK for 3-6 months.
that's all for now, i promise to start writing more again. funny stories, too, and perhaps even a photo. here's one of the boy and i when i went to visit in march. this was in this national reserve in central england called milldale. not too shabby, i suppose.
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