The title of this post is the refrain I’ve been hearing all week long, from myself and others. Last Monday I discovered an opportunity to take one of my writing projects a huge step forward. The opportunity itself is so big that just applying for it is something that I can add to my resume (after I upload my resume with the application, of course). The opportunity isn’t code for “new job,” by the way; it’s a chance to get some funded project support and get connected to the university press community. So no worries there — I can stay in the same job and the same graduate program where my next class will start in just over two weeks. As you can imagine, I’ll have simply gobs of spare time and I won’t know what to do with myself. Now, never fear! I can also work on my book with more determination.
What happens if I don’t apply for the support? Well, nothing. Nothing happens. So I have nothing to lose. And that realization has given me all kinds of little courage. Make an appointment to talk to someone on campus about how to revise my resume and fill out this application? Why not? I have nothing to lose. Create a detailed outline of the project? Nothing to lose. Start actually writing sections of the book? Nothing to lose. Send blind emails to famous scholarly people to request information I can use in the book? Nothing to lose.
The book, the book, the book. Over the weekend it has become much more real, much more than a “project.” When I finished writing the outline on Saturday morning, I knew in my bones that what I was really working on was a BOOK.
I’ll try to make it a book that you will want to read, will enjoy reading, and will be glad that you’ve read.
This particular opportunity sort of dropped into my lap (via my email in-box) when I wasn’t looking for it. But I’m getting so much energy from just the thought of the application process that I plan to actively look for other programs that might help me as I write the book. That energy can carry over (I hope) to my other project and place it in the “book development” category as well.
Why shouldn’t I write a book? I have nothing to lose.
The Impossible Read continues, slowly. Last week I chatted about it to someone new, and while his eyes did widen his reaction wasn’t “you must be crazy” but rather “aren’t you going to read the Aeneid?” So he’ll definitely be consulted on the order of books when I arrive at the Greek and Roman section.
Right now I’m on page 555 of The Mists of Avalon, with six more chapters to go in section three, “The King Stag.” It’s all downhill from there, for me and for Camelot.
Knitwise, I have been staring at the owl wrist warmers and their project bag all week, but I haven’t touched them. After I publish this post I will slip the stitches off the needle, wind up the yarn, and cast on again. I should have run in a lifeline at the end of the ribbing section, but it’s not really much of a bother. It’s a problem I can solve, and I’ll make sure to do the new knitting in good light, reduce distractions during my knitting time, and rewrite the cabling instructions so that I’m always looking in the right place for what to do next. This is a little project with just a little trickiness. I can do it.
P.S. If you don’t see me on Facebook these days, don’t worry about it. I’m taking a break and I don’t know when I’ll be back. I will continue to share these posts on my Facebook page. If you’re also taking a Facebook break, you should be able to click somewhere on the post to subscribe so that my future posts will be delivered to you via email. What do you have to lose?
Chocolate Sheep 