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Original poster

Academics Chat Thread

999 replies

LRDtheFeministDragon · 02/09/2017 22:32

I believe the old Chat thread has fallen off the front page of this section, and I thought it might be time to reinstate it. I know it's only sporadically useful, but sometimes it's nice, right?

I am a lowly postdoctoral English Lit type. Finished my PhD in 2014, teaching associate for a couple of years, and now part-time while DD is a baby. I'm currently working frantically to get my book manuscript to the publisher by my deadline (October), and also trying to regain enthusiasm for the job market.

Who else is lurking around here?

OP posts:
Original poster
LRDtheFeministDragon · 23/09/2017 10:54

I would love that. I am very unsure how this term will go as DP and I are both planning to be working part time (DP's back 3.5 days a week; I'm teaching 12 hours), but I have an article to finish by November 1st and my book, which ought to be in by January 8th, but which I may ask for an extension on. This would mean:

  • 1 article, currently in early draft form.
  • 3 chapters, all in draft (two nearly done and one early draft).
  • book introduction (argh. The bit I'm not looking forward to).
  • at least one job application due in mid-October.
OP posts:
NeverEverAnythingEver · 25/09/2017 12:41

I'm not sure about Autumn writing challenge, but I definitely want to see a draft of at least 2 papers by the end of the year ...

worstofbothworlds · 25/09/2017 12:56

OK make me do something too!

I want to finish before Christmas:

1 grant submitted (it's nearly done so easy win - deadline 1st Oct)
Manual for a method we have developed
Finalise and submit paper that my former PhD student was supposed to be writing (it's nearly done)
And first draft of paper based on previous PhD student's data (have given up on both of these PhD students).

Most of this is developing stuff/rewriting/already started so it's not too daunting.
I am very poor at starting writing stuff from scratch despite my prolific MN posting under my main username.

bigkidsdidit · 25/09/2017 15:26

Fab-u-lous

murmuration · 25/09/2017 15:43

Okay, there's stuff I should be writing as well. I've got a bunch of new lectures to provide and am jetting off around the world a bit :) so may not manage as much as I want. But at least:

  • This new grant proposal (eep, I'm meant to write a draft letter of recommendation for ME - how does one DO that?).
  • Contribute my bit to 1-2 big, collaborative grants for Jan deadline (not sure the second is going ahead - we haven't done much on it so far...)
  • I've got to put in a renewal of a teaching ethics application before I teach it in the spring!
  • There's a new degree course I want to get started, so I'd like to write up the motivation for that - I've already mapped out the degree, but I need to write various bits of text about why we should have it, why students would want it, etc. This doesn't have a deadline (other than a student that I know might want to sign onto it next year if I get it through in time), but I want to try to increase my 'cred' in curriculum development, as I'm not sure how much further my research career is going to take me, so this is the one thing would be most likely to slide if I don't make it a goal

Stretch goals:

  • Revisit a paper that's gone nowhere for a year, and see if the problematic bits can be chopped out and it still be worthwhile - would require some understanding of a postdoc's old work and potentially running new analyses, plus bringing literature knowledge up to date
  • Another potential paper - requires implementation and testing of analyses, so less likely to accomplish
  • Analysing some data to see if there is even a paper in there...

Because all the 'stretch goals' include data analysis, I don't know if it's possible, as I've probably filled my time with other things and the two weeks of new lectures. But good to think about - and even if I don't get to writing, doing something on them would get me closer to a place I could write.

bigkidsdidit · 25/09/2017 16:14

Fab! I may start a new thread tonight. Don't want to fill up this one with me jotting down my deep work hours Smile

NeverEverAnythingEver · 25/09/2017 16:31

Damnit! I'd forgotten about the HEA thing!

SummerflowerXx · 25/09/2017 16:39

Yes. I have a mega writing block after personal stuff and my subject matter got too intertwined.

I have a book chapter to write and two articles to finish by Christmas.

I would really like supportive chat. I don't have enough distance from my subject matter, but I need to plough through. I started last week, and I now have a plan for the book chapter. The articles are half-way done; but I will complete them in turn.

SummerflowerXx · 25/09/2017 16:40

I will move over if there is a new thread for writing bigkids. I have not really posted on this thread at all, so don't want to gate crash.

Yogafire · 25/09/2017 17:14

A have a major book deadline at Xmas so I can join this party! My problem isn't motivation or concentration (at last - it's taken me months to get up to speed though) - it's speed and productivity. I have mapped out my schedule and not kept any of it so far, even though not particularly distracted. Days are short due to picks etc and I don't work in the evenings though.

So finish current chapter by 8 Oct.
Chapter 2 finished by 28 Oct
Chapter 1 by 10 Nov
Chapters already written but needing revision & updating (4,5,6,7) by 30
Nov - impossible target
December intro & conclusion - in time to take a massive chunk for Xmas & breathe
Then tinker with references and edit start of Jan
This is all I am doing st the mo but I know I'm going to struggle. I just don't work fast enough

Yogafire · 25/09/2017 17:17

Rereading my post it is barely literate. No wonder I don't make progress. And when I say pick up, it's 5.30 so I am doing full days time wise just not quantity/quality-wise

murmuration · 26/09/2017 07:00

summer - totally post here all you want! It's a general chat. But yeah, bigkids, another thread just for writing updates could be useful. I forgot one - only tangentially academic, but I'm supposed to be finishing an SF novel! Over a year late now. Getting that done (on home time) before Christmas would be a good goal.

bigkidsdidit · 26/09/2017 09:06

New thread up!

Yogafire · 26/09/2017 09:36

Great thanks big kids.

I've also started a thread for help with a word/analogy. Please go over and help me clever people...

Polter · 01/10/2017 20:36

De-lurking as have just enrolled for my PhD, and feel like I'm entering a whole new world.

purplepandas · 01/10/2017 21:31

Good luck polter :) Off to locate writing challenges thread, I need help with that.

Original poster
LRDtheFeministDragon · 02/10/2017 17:27

Hi polter. What's the PhD in?

I am currently pondering the role of guilt/goodwill amongst (women) academics. I've been on the receiving end of loads of lovely, 'beyond the call of duty' help and I've also, I am really fairly sure, provided loads of it. To people I think are deserving and polite and nice. I am currently getting really fed up with the expectation that I will always be available to give help and support. A colleague has now emailed me three times to ask me to perform some research about jobs for her colleague. I have zero interest in doing this, as it'd be quite a bit of work for me, and I can't help feeling if you want to find out about a potential job, you should get off your arse and do it. But plainly, there is an expectation that, as a nice collegial female academic, I should donate my time. Hmm [grr]

OP posts:
Polter · 02/10/2017 18:28

Thanks Purple and LRD, it's an ethnographic thing.

That would piss me off to LRD

Polter · 02/10/2017 18:28

too

Yogafire · 02/10/2017 21:03

Wtf LRD? Was this person your PhD supervisor? Mine asked for some cheeky favours, or gave me paid work for which the pay didn't anywhere near tally with the hours to the point that I stopped counting. I'd review a paper for a colleague but not perform actual research

Original poster
LRDtheFeministDragon · 02/10/2017 21:30

Nope! Someone I know because we worked together briefly. She's not remotely senior to me. I've now had a fourth rather pushy email wondering why I'm not doing more.

It genuinely does make me wonder, though - would I get further in this career if I were like this?!

polter - it sounds interesting! And thank you for the sympathy.

OP posts:
purplepandas · 02/10/2017 22:38

Massively out of order LTD, stick to your guns .

Yogafire · 03/10/2017 08:58

That is bloody off LRD. Don't do it, and while you're not doing it send them something to do for you!
And yes I do think pushy helps with career progression

Yogafire · 03/10/2017 08:59

Welcome and good luck polter!

ArbitraryName · 04/10/2017 18:12

I've just been to an away day and I'm now extremely cross. It was a wonderful illustration of everything that is wrong with the university/department and why it'll never meet the (utterly ludicrous) targets in the corporate strategy.

I have much better things to do with my time than this. I don't know why I went. I knew it would be awful. I've just declined the calendar invitation for yet another one (my HoD is obsessed with them). I'm going to do something that will be more productive for my career and better for my general wellbeing instead of attending.