Okay, it is Sunday morning. I am almost at the end of my week off. It is time to sum up my progress. How far did I make it through my list?
Write an essay for a fan-led journal about a TV series.
Done! Now I need to review and redraft. This is my task for today.
Write a blog post about writing the essay.
Not done. The piece was started but not completed. I'm now aiming to get it done in the next week.
Finish three short stories for submission to a competition.
Done! They need further reading through and refinement. One, I think, is very special. I enjoyed writing it. I always get ideas - I'm not one to suffer writer's block. This time not only did I have the idea, it also seemed to really live in me.
Attend meeting with a lecturer with a view to them supervising my dissertation; visit the Modern Records Centre.
Not done, but with good reason. The lecturer in question is ill so I could not meet her. I decided instead to formulate a proposal for my dissertation. I sent this early draft proposal to the lecturer for her to read when she recovers. I also asked her a couple of questions.and do some research from home on source types and background reading. I then made a list of the archival resources at Warwick. I am very glad I did because it would be a mistake to turn up at Warwick unprepared. I now aim to complete a revised proposal in the next two weeks, placing my research in a conceptual framework. I shall then visit Warwick mid-April.
Dinner and drinks with friend, go to concert;
Done! Not a hard one to complete. I took the whole day off. We laughed all day.
Attend a lecture day; start the research and writing of my next essay.
Half-done. Attended the lecture day which was superb. So superb that it changed my idea about which essay question to tackle. So, the ten books I had been reading and making notes from are going back and another ten shall take their place. I blame Professor Ann Hughes for being brilliant. I have put my essay back until the last week in March anyway. I have too many other writing projects to get through.
Other things I did.
Read a book on David Bowie.
Read a book on secret societies.
Watched series one and two of The Venture Bros.
Summing Up
I think that overall it was quite a successful week. I got lots of things done - not all. Most of the projects require review and revision. I think I was capable of doing more but I rested also...did a bit of daydreaming too. Should I have pushed myself harder? Maybe - but I have to remember that I work full-time at the moment and need holidays as well.
The lessons of this week are that when I leave work I shall need a routine, otherwise I shall go stark-raving bonkers. It is no good idling - I hate laziness anyway - but my days shall require structure. I will also take full advantage of my online life, as I will be isolated once I leave the acquaintance of the office. Most exciting is that there are lots of little opportunities for me to take advantage of - paid research placements, writing - that may earn my crust and provide me with excellent experience.
I have nine months to go before I leave. I am counting down the days.
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