The last time I posted was just before Easter, about 10 days ago. At some point over the Easter break, the full argument of the article has crystallised out. It’s not what I thought it was. It’s bigger, simpler, and makes so much more sense. At various points over the last 10 days, I’ve sketchedContinueContinue reading “Day 13 – The clarity of a week off. And now…”
Author Archives: Mike Gulliver
Day 12 – One-touch is all it takes
Have you ever been in that situation where you know you had perfect evidence for something, but you either can’t remember quite exactly what it was, or quite where you found it. But you really need it. And you remember that it was probably in a book that you read a week or so ago,ContinueContinue reading “Day 12 – One-touch is all it takes”
Day 10 – “I can get them for you in a couple of weeks”
Roadblock… there are two really key documents that I need to read before I can really say that I’ve covered everything I need in my background work. Unfortunately, they’re in Paris, and I don’t have an electronic copy in my (vast, but sadly missing in this case!) electronic archive. I have a colleague there whoContinueContinue reading “Day 10 – “I can get them for you in a couple of weeks””
Day 9 – Invasion of the ‘more’
It was inevitable that it should happen at some point, but I’ve started this morning assailed by the conviction that anything that I write will be reductive, and that I really need to include more (and more, and more, and more) information. This isn’t driven by a desire to show off… actually, possibly the opposite.ContinueContinue reading “Day 9 – Invasion of the ‘more’”
Day 8 – Tightening the focus
After nearly two weeks of reading – specifically revisiting known material and finding some new information, I’ve probably got enough to start planning out a structure to the article. In fact, I paused on day 6 (after the dishwasher, and the birds) to write a brief outline. That held yesterday as I was dipping moreContinueContinue reading “Day 8 – Tightening the focus”
Day 7 – Reading, translation and possible pause projects?
In continuing today’s prepping of the article, I’ve come up against a challenge. Lots of my materials are in French, which I can either read and note from straight… or I can translate. Normally I do the former. After all, there’s no point in having loads of translated text which I don’t then use. ButContinueContinue reading “Day 7 – Reading, translation and possible pause projects?”
Day 6 – What’s the point?
Having taken Monday off to attend a memorial I worked sporadically yesterday, still reading and making notes, but using the Silent Zoom Writing Group (which I’ll do another post on shortly) for support. This morning, I’ve returned to reading… but to reading that’s left me with a question. Given that I’ve now got my headContinueContinue reading “Day 6 – What’s the point?”
Day 3 – Pick the right gear… particularly if you’re lacking momentum.
Today, the AWP2024 is on a Writers’ Retreat so, although I’m writing, I’m also a bit distracted; thinking about whether the weather will allow us to go for a lunchtime walk, scouring the room for raised hands and listening for noises to squash. So my mind is drifting a bit… and, when that happens, IContinueContinue reading “Day 3 – Pick the right gear… particularly if you’re lacking momentum.”
Day 2 – Reading, and prepping a retreat
Yesterday went well. I found a few additional things to add into the reading, including some background material that I’ll use in the introduction to situate the issue. Today I’m reading more… I’m trying not to find too much at the moment. I only need enough for a solid introduction and I can always beefContinueContinue reading “Day 2 – Reading, and prepping a retreat”
Day 1 – planning and reading
Today is day 1 of AWP2024WritingZoo: this year’s Academic Writing Programme writing experiment… and it’s time to start planning. Yesterday, I picked what I was going to write – a journal article, and a rough topic… with a few questions in mind. I did this by journaling… just free-writing around what I wanted to do,ContinueContinue reading “Day 1 – planning and reading”
The Garage of Books 