Closer….

When I started this less-than-frequent blog in the Spring, I mentioned that my reasons arose in part from a desire to refocus my attention on my writing. I had/have a dissertation manuscript that is creeping toward a submission date that passed in September.

In the meantime, many things have been afoot. I bought a condo and moved. I participated in yet a few more grant applications. I helped usher one CHNM project to a conclusion, pushed and pulled another one slowly into being, and am in the midst of envisioning yet another one. On top of that, I’ve had the great pleasure of teaching a wonderful small cohort of undergraduates at Georgetown. Needless to say all of these activities have run some interference in my blogging activities…. and my editing. (Excuses, excuses….)

But, finally, in the last week, I really feel like I’ve made some progress on this manuscript. The end chapters are tightening — to the tune of almost 12,000 words in the garbage bin. Every once in a while I have a pang of panic about what is being left on the cutting room floor, but in the end it will make for a better book. All of this smoothing and slimming and choice making has led me to want to actually do some real writing, and I think that my chance is coming soon. The whole mess of stuff needs a good solid tie-together, and I’m hoping that I’ll manage to fit that in sometime in the next week or so.

So, better late than never; I’m getting closer.