the grid

the grid

Sunday 29 October 2017

Week 8: Tipping Points

It's that stage in the session where everything feels a little too up hill and the initial excitement of the start of term or setting new goals has faded somewhat. Many of us are making amazing progress, others trying to hold on while the ride is wild.  With several of us contemplating signing up for NaNoWriMo, it seems like a good time to revise and update our session goals.

Format: 

Weekly goals first (apologies if I've missed any if you haven't checked in for a while). I've not checked in myself for quite a few weeks because everything is TRQ and I can't quite bring myself to set goals, not do them, revise the goals, not do them and get into that kind of cycle.

Session Goals - progress made, alterations necessary/made...with a particular focus on ensuring your goals remain kind and helpful to you rather than a list by which to judge what you've not done.


Weekly Goals:

Amstr
-plan menus and grocery shop (lets keep this up!)
-exercise 4x
-in bed by 10:30pm most nights
-2500 words of MF
-rewrite query, make progress on secondary MSS, finalize primary MS, get strategy settled

Dame Eleanor Hull
1) Self: daily exercise, yoga (2x, preferably), enough sleep, work on at least 2 languages, do the necessary cooking so I can eat safely.
2) Research: 8 hours on main project, focusing on product.
3) Teaching: grade one set of assignments.
4) House/Life: tidy/organize in the basement.
5) Remember my session goals: Live with uncertainty and work the process.

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Repot outdoor plants. (TRQ)
Do a three-things post it every day.
Sign up for NaNo.
Begin to fill out project pages.
Edit at least five pages of the book.
Write at least four pages of the novella.
Walk more than 45 minutes a day.
Work on the grant 1 hour a day.

Good Enough Woman
1) Write 3x.
2) Take kids to pumpkin patch.
3) Move like water for daughter's Halloween party.
4) Walk 1x, Swim 1x.

heu mihi
1) Helping others: Finish and send off rec letter; start reading dissertation...(300 mostly single-spaced pages! Why??).
2) Research: Read the hagiography that I'm supposed to be writing about; read one essay for the proposed conference paper.
3) ?Fun?: Plan NaNoWriMo. I've never done this before (although I have binge-written a novel, 90k words in 56 days, back when I was on the job market and needed a distraction), but I'm toying with it because I feel like I need some kind of focal point and nothing else is cutting it.
4) Peace of mind: Meditate on the days when Husband puts Kid to bed--about 4 times this week, if I'm good about it.

JaneB
I'm still alive and still coping with work, but also stressed, struggling with my voice and needing to be Very Careful and Sensible about stuff :-(
I am going to do NaNoWriMo though in spite of all the TRQ, work-TLQ etc etc!

Susan
1. Read more of the book for review
2. Get started on my research project
3. Move: walk at least three times
4. Enjoy myself at the conference.

Waffles 
1. IRB for grant project
2. Keep trimming diss paper
3. Get more feedback on grant
4. Work on either PTSD paper or F32 paper, if time (grant is due next week and diss paper draft is due this week - so those are priorities).
5. Journal review (due this week - they only gave me 2 weeks, which is odd).


Session Goals

Amstr
-Draft half of my novel
-Develop submission packet for picture books/start submitting
-Finish prep for and teach weekend course (October)
-Develop website for editing
-maintain consistent exercise and eating habits (4x/wk exercise; daily meal planning)
-get more sleep! (7-8 hours a night)


Contingent Cassandra
--Continue working more regular movement into my routine: keep lifting weights on a regular (or semi-regular) basis, get back into habit of walking several times (or more) a week.

--Work more academic reading into my routine (with likely focus on Spring '18 class prep)

--Work in at least some other self-care (eating well, sleeping) and/or financial/household TLQ work when possible.

--Generally try to observe what works -- and doesn't -- in terms of forming new routines, keeping up with existing positive ones, avoiding bad habits (like creeping-forward bedtimes and too much reading on the internet when I'm tired/overwhelmed)

Dame Eleanor Hull (Sorry if I missed a longer list)
Live With Uncertainty and Keep Working the Process

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Session mantra: Organize, plan, contemplate
Continue to organize paper and electronic scholarship files.
Plan future projects.
Figure out my scholarship path.
Two hours on the book.
Walk an hour every day.
Keep up with medical needs.
Good Enough Woman
 Goals for the session:
1) Develop more stress management strategies, including exercise and, perhaps, exploring meditation and telling others how I feel.
2) Submit one article.
3) Either do NaNoWriMo or make another plan for drafting some of a novel, and develop a regular writing habit.
4) Make progress on bags and piles in the garage (this involves sorting and framing art pieces, finding places for supplies and books, and etc.)

heu mihi
*Research:*
1. Submit my manuscript to the interested publisher. I have a full draft of everything but the conclusion, and I've just reread/re-revised the introduction, but the five subsequent chapters need their own rereadings and re-revisions. I would like to have it sent out by November 1.
2. Plan/outline/research an article that would come out of a conference paper I delivered last year.
3. Submit an abstract to a conference (due late October).
4. Meditate four times a week. It's a habit that I've been wanting to establish, and I need it.

humming42
1 As ever, write 5x/week
2 Submit manuscript
3 Submit grant proposal
4 Find funding for December conference presentation
5 Submit abstract for photo essay
6 Submit Snow abstract
7 Catch up with co-author and resume Talk project

JaneB
1) self-care, self-care, self-care.
2) Research, money acquisition - get rid of the GrantINeverShouldHaveStarted, get a full draft of GallimaufreyGrant written.
3) Research, writing - don't start anything new until the current horde are out of the gates. I got a lot of stuff pushed from things I ought to do to actively being worked on this summer, so now just to keep it moving... Here's the current list, to be annoying
3a) ProblemChild1 and PC2 - hopefully submitted last week but no news yet from co-authors.
3b) PC3 - waiting for co-author to write their sections next week, then the discussion needs drafting, deadline of end of September for a special issue (AARGH)
3c) Tagalong paper - with co-authors for final checking, should be submitted by the end of September
3d) Gallimaufrey Review - a cast of tens, driving me nuts, but more herding than long slog on my part. end of December submission desired.
3e) MScPaper - a revise and resubmit to a new journal.
3f) Ferrett - needs the figures finalising and a final check of references, then will be ready to submit.
3g) PickyPaper - my baaaaaby, about half drafted and keeps changing shape. This will take up any quality writing time I can get my hands on.
3h) ExcessivePaper and SurprisePaper are both with journals at the moment, so waiting for comments. SpecialIssuePaper is awaiting proofs (submitted the R&R last December, accepted 4th Sept, have 3 days to do proofs sometime during my leave, sigh...)

I have allowed too much to get onto my plate at once, with these, and hope to have a much shorter list by the end of the session.

4) Other Academic Stuff that is TLQ - I'd like to spend a little time working on the new second year modules this semester before they are urgent. I have some ideas about incorporating group work and mini-projects, and know from past experience that with multiple academics involved and general student dislike of group work that this will work a LOT better if it's really carefully designed and planned and practiced, for this first year. And that takes time.
5) Stuff For Me - I want to finish a big crochet blanket/hanging project, and complete NaNoWriMo - I'm thinking of working on several short stories set in my fictional university setting (Department of effectively Magic based in a normal middling sort of contemporary university, which has exchange arrangements with a University in a parallel world where magic/fantasy elements are standard and technology levels lower - what with the talking cats (no-one is sure if that was an accident or an Evil Plan overtaken by events), non-human exchange students and staff, a dragon living in the boiler room (helps with the budget juggling) and students who keep trying to use mobile phones in zones where they really can alter the nature of reality, there's plenty of material, and I haven't worked on short stories for ages, so...)

karen
1. I have a whole lot of research deliverables (to drop into business speak) that need to be done before the end of the year: co-authored conference paper, solo conference paper, co-authored curriculum paper, community project, dowry grant, grass work. To get these done with any quality and without major panics I need to make time for progress each week, so the session goal is probably something about process as well as product.
2. The curriculum project - complete draft needed by end of year to meet timelines.
3. I have grand garden visions, but if I can have a vegetable patch with the complete set of planned summer veg and repeat sowing I'll be happy.
4.Cultivate inner calm by moving, sleeping, declutter/organising and carrying out creative activities.

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KJHaxton
mantra: be sufficient
1. grapple with the scholarship and research issues and try to reach a plateau if not a conclusion and new direction. The current state of freefall with arms flailing cannot persist.
2. get to Christmas as intact as possible.
3. finish Machair blanket, beach cushions, and tree printing project.
4. Submit an article 

Matilda
1. Finish writing drafts of Chapters 1, 2.
2. Finish writing first drafts of Chapters 3, 4.
3. Finish outlines and structures of Chapters 5, 6.
4. Exercise every day.
5. Eat well.
6. Organise my day. 

Susan
1. Finish Way Outside paper, that was a summer goal
2. Write article review for journal
3. Write late book review
4. Do revise and resubmit
5. Get regular sleep, aiming for 7 hours a night
6. Keep moving
7. Make sure I do one thing for fun each week





Monday 23 October 2017

Placeholder post for week 7

Sorry, no bells and whistles, but just a brief placeholder post for those who want to check in for week 7.


Amstr
-plan menus and grocery shop
-exercise 4x
-in bed by 10:30pm most nights
-10 pages of MF
-prep MS to submit to agents, update agent list, develop query strategy

Contingent Cassandra
--catch up with grading (getting-to-be-TRQ to make space for TLQ -- an upcoming conference and planning book orders and course descriptions for next semester)
--fit in a bit of exercise
--work on the garden (fall cleanup deadline is approaching, so this is becoming TRQ-ish)

Dame Eleanor Hull
1) Self: daily exercise, yoga (2x, preferably), enough sleep, work on at least 2 languages, do the necessary cooking so I can eat safely.
2) Research: 8 hours on main project, focusing on product.
3) Teaching: grade two sets of assignments
4) House/Life: get estimates on window washing.
5) Remember my session goals: Live with uncertainty and work the process.

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Next week’s goals:
Write committee recommendation to send to full council (TRQ)
Return library books (TRQ)
Find and hang out winter clothes. (approaching TRQ with temperatures in the mid-30s next week)
Edit at least five pages of the book.
Write at least four pages of the novella.
Walk more than 45 minutes a day.
Put in ILL request for the research book.

Good Enough Woman
This check-in is late, and my grading stacks are unbelievable big right now, but I'll still post a few goals for Friday-Sunday:
1) Write five minutes (or 50 words), 3x.
2) Finish one stack of essays.
3) Walk 2x.
4) Procure/order necessary halloween party and costume items for daughter and son.
5) Maybe have date with husband?

heu mihi
1) Reread conference paper from June, make a list of possible revisions and expansions, and send it off to writing group.
2) Write in journal daily or close to it.
3) Stay on top of service work etc: Letter of rec, blurb for colleague, all prep for Wednesday's reception, confirm Spring talk.
4) Read 3 articles towards conference paper.

humming42
1 get caught up on grading and service
2 finish two book reviews
3 get in touch with people I have not kept up with
4 make task lists for upcoming projects
5 draft outline for blog post

Matilda
1. Finish revision and writing Chapter 1.
1-1. Finish constructing the outline of Chapter 2 and start to write the draft of Chapter 2.
4. Do exercise (anything is ok) several times a day.
5. Have less bread and less snacks.
6. Write my journal every day.
6-1. No Internet surfing during research time.

Susan
1. really finish the grading
2. Start the book -- next week's book for my seminar I've read, so that's good.
3. Walk two times, along with my 3 workouts.
4. Return to reading a real book in bed.


Waffles
1. Finish a really good next draft of grant and get some feedback (esp on aims and qual section).
2. Write PTSD intro (really bad draft of intro)
3. Read over diss and make outline for pub from it
4. Make progress on all 4 review papers I am part of (ugh).
5. Work on F32 paper.




Saturday 14 October 2017

Week 6: And roll the credits...

At the end of every good journey movie, be it a road trip, a quest to find the oil or  cast the ring into the fires of a volcano, or a trip through the vastness of space, there comes a point when the end credits roll and the lead characters stroll, polka or drive their way off into the sunset. We've discussed our fantastical goals, and we've thought about what we take on the way, this week: what's playing when the end credits roll on that goal? 

Lots of us in survival mode at the moment, I hope this week is productive and a wee bit easier for all. 

Amstr
-plan menus and grocery shop
-exercise 4x
-in bed by 10:30pm most nights
-10 pages of MF
-rev 2 PB manuscripts

Contingent Cassandra
 --regroup

Dame Eleanor Hull
1) Self: daily exercise, yoga (2x, preferably), enough sleep, work on at least 2 languages, do the necessary cooking so I can eat safely.
2) Research: 8 hours, focusing on product. I hope to put all the revised bits together and work on transitions, maybe get it to the point where I can ask a friend to look it over.
3) Teaching: grade two sets of assignments (another one comes in tonight, along with the one I didn't do last week). Also read a diss chapter and think up good advice.
4) House/Life: finish packing the guest room, get discards out of the house, get estimates on window washing.

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell.
Create a pinterest board for the war bride novella.
Get my verification of employment form from HR.
Find and hang out winter clothes.
Edit at least five pages of the book.
Write at least four pages of the novella.
Walk more than 45 minutes a day.
Put in ILL request for the research book.

Good Enough Woman
1) Drink at least 36 oz of water per day (this is my first step to increase water intake with hopes it will help my allergies and joints).
2) Write 5x for at least 5 minutes or 50 words.
3) read article and make revision notes
4) pay bills (this is TRQ now)
5) Make reminder cards for stretching, etc.
6) Put grading schedule in calendar
7) Investigate other conference options for possible new funding request
8) 1.5 hours of walking

heu mihi
1) Lit review/bibliography for the conference paper I want to submit
2) Catch up on teaching and service work (esp. grading and curriculum proposal review)
3) Meditate x 3

humming42 (held oer)
1 complete and submit small Park project
2 get in touch with co-author
3 review conference papers, round 1
4 get organized and figure out what to do next

JaneB  (held over)
- survival

Karen
1. Do one remaining jog for Couch to 5K
2. Make progress on marking
3. Set up clear weekly goals and plan on Sunday night.

KJHaxton (held over)
survival

Matilda (held over)
1. Finish revision and writing Chapter 1.
1-1. Finish writing draft of Chapter 2.
4. Do exercise (anything is ok) several times a day.
5. Have less bread and less biscuits.
6. Write my journal every day.
6-1. No e-mails during research time.

Susan
Goals for next week:
Finish paper grading
Read book for book review
Walk twice + 3x workout
Keep practice of not bringing iPad to bed, and reading a real book

Waffles (held over)
1. Do other review
2. Finish draft of LHF grant (this has to happen as it goes through mock review next week)
3. Respond to editor’s comments on aging paper
4. Get most of the revisions for trans R&R done

5. Work on PTSD paper some more

Sunday 8 October 2017

Week 5: Carry it with you




Last week's topic, on fantastical goals, set off a lot of interesting thoughts. Simply sharing goals that we might mot always bring out into the world felt important.
Can we take the metaphor further this week? Going on a quest for a fantastical goal needs supplies and equipment - what will you bring? How can you find ways to remind yourself of those goals that you carry with you? Or, how could nurture a baby goal that's coming along for the ride and want to grow into something bigger?


Amstr-plan menus and grocery shop-exercise 4x-in bed by 10:30pm most nights-10 pages of MF-rev 2 PB manuscripts

Contingent Cassandra--Garden at least 1x, weights 2x; walk at least 1x
--Continue working toward regular bedtime
--Send group email re: pedagogy project
--Send email to regular teacher of upper-level class I will be teaching this spring re: texts, assignments, timing, etc. 
--Rearrange books in apartment to make those relevant to Spring '18 classes more visible/accessible. 
--draw up rough class schedule for Spring '18 so I can begin planning what goes where in both classes



Dame Eleanor Hull 1) Self: daily exercise, yoga (2x, preferably), enough sleep, work on at least 2 languages, do the necessary cooking so I can eat safely.
2) Research: 5 hours, focusing on product. I hope to put all the revised bits together and work on transitions, maybe get it to the point where I can ask a friend to look it over.
3) Teaching: grade two sets of assignments.
4) House/Life: finish packing the guest room, get discards out of the house, book holiday travel.



Elizabeth Anne Mitchell Turn in sabbatical application.
Edit at least five pages of the book.
Write at least four pages of the novella.
Walk more than 45 minutes a day.



Good Enough Woman1) Finish paying bills.
2) Make reservations for next week's conference. Excited about this one b/c it's at a great library I've wanted to go to for a long time, but also feeling hesitant about the time and energy to make the trip. I should really see it through though.
3) Write 15 minutes (or 200 words) 5x.
4) Walk 20 minutes 3x. Stretch daily.
5) Print dissertation chapter for considering re-reading/revision plans.
6) Prepare and present a good post-sabbatical report for the college BOT.
7) Enjoy the kids while hubby is out of town part of the weekend!



heu mihi1. Enter edits for chapters 2-5
2. Revise conclusion
3. Incorporate TM's comments on intro
4. Create bibliography
5. Format and send
Oh, and: 6. Meditate as many times as I can manage, whatever that may be.



humming42
1 complete and submit small Park project
2 get in touch with co-author
3 review conference papers, round 1
4 get organized and figure out what to do next



JaneB  (held over)- survival

karen (held over)1. Finish off marking2. Have complete draft of grass work.3. Hour and a half on coauthored conference paper draft (already put into calendar)4. 3 x walk/jogs (I don't think I can call them runs)


KJHaxton (held over)- 3 decent walks at lunchtimes or at dusk (decent = 3 miles)- use working at home day to make some progress on a potential publication (could be as simple as organising computer and physical workspace and files)- try not to freak out that it's the first week back and first lecturing since last October.


Matilda
1. Finish revision and writing Chapter 1.
1-1. Finish writing draft of Chapter 2.
4. Do exercise (anything is ok) several times a day. 
5. Have less bread and less biscuits.
6. Write my journal every day.
6-1. No e-mails during research time.

Susan

- tenure review file- Paper grading- letter of recommendation- Begin reading book for book review

Waffles 1. Do other review
2. Finish draft of LHF grant (this has to happen as it goes through mock review next week)
3. Respond to editor’s comments on aging paper
4. Get most of the revisions for trans R&R done
5. Work on PTSD paper some more