Someone on Twitter mentioned book proposals in response to my post on planning. This is a good example of getting stuck in the plan (and then possibly getting stuck with the plan), so I thought I’d talk more about it. What is a book proposal for? The obvious answer is that it is the means by which […]
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Changing your relationship to planning
Did my post on planning make you think about changing how much planning you do? Did a gremlin (or six) turn up to tell you what a big risk that would be? This is not surprising. After all writing is an important part of your work. A lot is riding on it. Maybe no one […]
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Getting stuck in the planning stage
#writing thought of the day: less planning, more writing. I do love planning. But I need to do more writing. That’s the feeling as of late. — Liana Silva (@literarychica) January 24, 2013 The allure of plans Plans offer us the illusion of control. You consider what is possible. You consider the resources available. You […]
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What can you accomplish in a week
When I wrote about how the typical week always includes something unexpected, I talked about the importance of having spare capacity in your work-plan to accommodate those unexpected tasks or events. But what happens if you don’t even have a clear sense of what your typical week involves? For several years I offered e-mail support for clients. They […]
Read More »All or Nothing thinking
How do you react if someone suggests you put less time and effort into your teaching preparation? Or, be stricter about office hours? What about the phrase “good enough”? What does that say to you? Confusing excellence with perfection As Kerry Ann Rocquemore pointed out in her excellent blog series on perfectionism. Many times people […]
Read More »Principles vs rules: Write every day?
Recently I came across this article on Study Hacks: Why “Write Every Day” is Bad Advice Here’s what happens when you resolve to write every day: you soon slip up. If you’re not a full-time writer, this is essentially unavoidable. An early meeting at work, a back-up on the subway, an afternoon meeting that runs long — […]
Read More »On hearing of the death of Mary McIntosh
This is a very personal reflection. I did not know Mary well, nor have I been in contact with her in over 20 years. Our relationship was always a professional one. Hearing of her death has brought back good memories. Small things that remind me of the influence she had on my intellectual and career […]
Read More »The Spectre of Professionalism
As I was writing about how your office is organized, I realized that many of us are haunted by the Spectre of Professionalism. Luckily I have a cartoonist on speed-dial. This Spectre might haunt your office set-up, your writing style, your manner of dress, your interactions with students, your interactions with colleagues, your decisions about […]
Read More »Do you recognize this gremlin?
I’ve noticed this little fella hanging around lately. I’m not sure that they’re hanging around more. I think maybe I’m noticing them more. I think what happens is that someone suggests a way of approaching something that I’m stuck on and it makes visible a whole set of rules I thought I needed to follow […]
Read More »A lot can happen in 10 years
A new start. Ten years ago today, on January 7, 2003, I arrived in Ottawa with a suitcase and my ruby iMac with the intention to find a job so that I could move my whole family here. I had been living in the UK since September 1988, having initially gone as an undergraduate exchange […]
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Letting go of unfinished projects
Every once in a while my knitter friends have a friendly contest for finishing UFOs (UnFinished Objects, a.k.a WIPs or Works in Progress). Sometimes there is a prize for finishing the oldest UFO in one’s possession. Do you have UFOs on your desk or in your files? conference papers you meant to turn into articles […]
Read More »Does your office inspire your best work?
During a coaching session a client mentioned how much she loved teaching. She looked forward to being in the classroom. Colour was really important to her. She brought a tool box full of coloured markers and other supplies that she used to teach in an interactive way that involved lots of visual work and colour. […]
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