Week 5: setting

Since some of you were looking forward to travel, let's think about setting: are you/your character stuck in one place, or do you have different settings to describe? I notice that my story is very light on setting. Apparently I'm relying on readers to fill in what a professor's office looks like. Do you notice the details of your actual, physical place in the world? Or do you run on autopilot? Would it help any of your goals to change the venue?

Here are last week's goals; let us know how you did, and what your new goals are.

Daisy
1) Finish conference talk (have no choice, conference is on weekend!)
2) Spend at least an hour a day working on big fancy future talk – trying again
3) Do figures for chosen paper
4) Go for at least 2 runs during week
5) Have a blast at regional conference, my favourite of the year!

Dame Eleanor Hull
Daily stretching, exercise, 8 hours sleep.
Finish and send article.
New memo to GD, apply for a thing.
Grade new set of short-ish papers; write syllabus (due dates, mainly) for independent study; update online quizzes.
Finish dealing with all the stacked-up mail.

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Go to two doctors’ appointments.
Schedule the next doctors’ apppointments.
Keep up with class.
Edit the first three pages of Illumination.
Create outline for Dial.
Break down Illuminated and Dial into constituent parts.

heu mihi
1. Read/write four days. (Already missed Monday, so....)
2. Prep and give workshop.
3. Do a little brainstorming/strategizing writing in my research notebook. What do I want to accomplish towards my next project in the next few months? What will it look like if I'm successful?
4. Begin compiling bibliography for Kzoo paper.
5. Travel: Apply for remaining visa, book last hotels, figure out trains, give driver hotel info.

Humming42
1 submit revised conference prospectus
2 submit article review
3 write essay for online writing course
4 write 1000 words for OKC
5 keep up with grading
6 watch film for short essay

JaneB
1) take one day COMPLETELY OFF this weekend
2) take the time this weekend to clean the kitchen and do meal prep properly, so I have good food to get me through the following week
3) spend an hour with my NaNo writing, because I enjoy it
4) not worry about other research things this week, just put them onto a list for future reference.

Karen
-clear 2 boxes (the ones next to the bookshelf)
-start all course F draft documents
-run x 2, yoga x 3. Wondering if I can fit in a weights session somewhere in my schedule because I realise I need to work on upper body strength, but can't see where.
-order wind sock, book in 4 field recording days.
-write up notes from this mornings library trip

Susan
1. Writing: 2000 words on famous Author who was famous author
2. Have one or two conversations at library
3. Enjoy the desert
4. Get exercise
5. Have fun

Waffles
1. Send response to reviewers to PO
2. YRBS paper - take stock.
3. PTSD paper - get started
4. IRIE intro - refine what is there and figure out what is missing.
5. MST abstracts
6. Scoping review R&R
7. LD's aims
8. PlosONE review

Week 4: Steps Forward

Happy February! I find it hard to fathom January has flown by, especially in light of the “January was a long year with 437 Mondays” posts I’m seeing across social media. I want more time for more projects, but knowing I only have limited time, maybe I need to limit the number of projects I take on.  

Based on what I have underway at the moment, I spent time last week setting reasonable, reachable small goals with an eye toward long term deadlines. Knowing that if I fail to meet a small goal this week, I make it more difficult on myself to meet those deadlines without panic and rush-jobs. So: steps forward. This week, what small steps can you take, or set out as small goals, toward your long term projects? I know this is rudimentary TLQ planning, but things I often forget to do.  

And it flows over to our stories, for those who are inclined. What steps forward might your protagonist take to move toward resolution or to make progress toward their goals? 

Wishing you a marvelous week, snow if it comes your way, sunshine if you have it, and the chance to embrace what nature offers us. 

Daisy 

1) Make a point of spending at least an hour a day working on big fancy future talk 

2) Finish conference talk 

3) Go see Dean in person instead of sending snarky email in response to ongoing course drama 

4) Do at least one fun thing that is not scheduled 

5) Do not throw anything at anyone and do not smother anyone with a pillow 

6) Keep up good work on chosen paper! 

Dame Eleanor Hull 

Daily stretching, exercise, 8 hours sleep. 

Finish and send article. 

Finish last doc for annual review; some new administrivia, including talk with chair, memo to GD, rec letter. 

Grade one set of short papers; write syllabus (due dates, mainly) for independent study; update online quizzes. 

Open and deal with all the stacked-up mail. 

 

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell 

Do homework for class. 

Start an idea file for rare books articles. 

Read the Illumination article ruthlessly for gaps and wordy pieces. 

Go to class. 

Walk the stacks every 45 minutes. 

heu mihi 

1. Research: keep reading a lot; touch writing daily; finish revisions to Wonder and send to friend for feedback 

2. Daily: sit x5, exercise x5, language x5 

3. Service: prep workshop, prep class for church, harass colleagues, apply for conference funding, follow up re. award, letter of rec 

4. Travel: email driver again, work on hotels 

humming42 

1 submit revised conference prospectus 

2 complete this week’s work for online writing course 

3 write a blog post 

4 finish article review 

5 finish reading book for review due next week 

 Good Enough Woman 

Work: 

1. Get next week's Brit Lit reading done by Sunday. 

2. Do most of the prep for next week to clear the way for heavier grading. 

3. Find short stories for independent study student. Create first few assignments for her. 

4. Research/write for 1 hour. 

People: 

1. Send at least three cards/letters to people. 

2. Have lunch with my mom. 

3. Float like mist through all four of my son's 4-H activities this week. Support him. 

Wellness: 

1. Walk 4x 

2. Meditate 4x 

3. Skip late-night treat 3x. Fast at least 13 hours 2x. 

4. Reschedule appointment that got cancelled. 

 JaneB 

No specific goals set for this week 

 

karen 

-Unpack office 

-2 x run, 3 x yoga 

-300 words daily Tues-Thurs 

-get SD card and record something on sound equipment 

-put in promotion EoI 

Susan 

1. 4000 words on Famous Author 

2. Keep chasing contributors 

3. Read one journal 

4. Admin stuff 

5. Walk twice (it's finally getting light earlier in the AM, that's helpful!) 

6. Get regular sleep 

7. Keep up healthy eating and intermittent fasting 

  

Waffles 

1. Edit and practice talk 

2. Give talk! 

3. YRBS paper - edit intro 

4. IRIE intro 

5. Start qual analyses 

6. MST abstracts 

7. PTSD paper 

8. Submit R&R