Academic writing has a different rhythm from fiction writing, for me, and the virtue of usually coming with a deadline. I have found, over the decades, that I work better in a dedicated office than I do at home, and I work better with a deadline than without one.
I recently finished a second paper on AI and student journalism with my co-author on the first, and it’s off to the conference; we’ll be submitting it to a journal, as well. My co-author has the research formula down to a science; it’s been great working with her.
My “big project” right now is to revisit my dissertation topic on apparel and sumptuary/etiquette laws through an updated theoretical lens. Lots of new work has been done on the topic, especially sumptuary laws, and of course theories of power and representation have expanded and explored new directions as well. This summer I’ve been hacking my way through my old text and notes, figuring out what’s worth keeping and what needs to be set aside, and working out what I want to say from a newer, more nuanced perspective about the topic. My current thought is that it may make a good book, especially if I can dig up some interesting archival illustrations while I’m in Oxford for a bit, but it’s still very much in the (re)formulation phase.
In revisiting my dissertation, I discovered — shoved waaaay back in one file drawer — this old plastic box filled with notecards I’d assiduously filled with quotes from the references I’d used as a grad student. Yes, I DID have a computer, but it wasn’t by any means portable, so I did a lot of handwriting in various libraries and archives! And my handwriting suuuuuuucks, by the way.
I have to admit, I still like handwriting while I’m brainstorming; I have two whiteboards in my office with notes on them for this project. I regularly teach college students how to visually brainstorm when they come to my office for paper-writing help.
They’re skeptical at first, but I think they “get it” as we start drawing lines and arrows and they see their often scattered ideas beginning to gel around certain themes. Often they take a photo of the board before leaving.
I have some photos of my two dissertation-rethinking whiteboards tucked away in my phone, as well. The housekeeping staff on campus won’t wash whiteboards with writing on them as a rule, but you never know…! Besides, I may want those notes when I go to Oxford.