On the writing front ...

Today I met with one of the members of my manuscript committee. (I have another meeting with the chair of my committee on Thursday.) It was immensely helpful. She helped me see certain patterns that I tend to fall into with my stories, some of which I had almost-sort-of realized by myself before; but there's something about an outside voice pointing things out that can make things so much clearer.

We talked lightheartedly about the possibility of Baby coming early and complicating things, and she said something about my being able to wrap this thesis up in two weeks. I don't think that's possible, especially considering the essays I need to grade and the ten page paper I have to draft (both by next week), but ... perhaps I could conceivably have this thing ready for binding and committee signatures by the end of the month? It would be nice ...

Meanwhile, I got an email from an old professor asking if I would submit something to the literary journal I used to edit in undergrad. So soon I will have another publication under my belt. Pretty awesome!

Rest and Hiding

"There is a difference between hiding and resting. When we hide, we are afraid. When we rest, we are wise. It can take time to figure out which one is at work. But once we notice the signs, we'll know for next time."

~~~

Tomorrow I am going to finish a story I've been struggling with for a good year and a half. And then, I am going to gather all of these stories together into a Bigger Thing (a book? let's just stick with manuscript), and I am going to email the Thing to my committee.

And then I will be able to breathe--if only one breath before diving back in and revising, and revising, and revising.

(For better or for worse, I tend to do a lot of revision even while composing a first draft. It makes getting stories out of my system pretty difficult, but perhaps I already have the lungs of a swimmer?)