Progress?

Well, yesterday and today a couple of rather profound (I hope) things occurred to me regarding The Dissertation. (Yes, it has taken on capital-letter status in my head.)

One of them provides, thankfully, the link between the two main ideas I've been throwing around for months, and the other allows me to connect those ideas to the plays I'm intending to use. Both also allow me to fight with various established critics (one in terms of extending existing ideas the other in direct opposition), which I guess is a good way to make your entrance into the field. It also seems to be something I tend to do a lot.

I also sent back the article revisions this week - hopefully I've managed not to mess up my English grammar (as opposed to American) too badly and they won't need to send it back to me again. I have to say, if the publication process for fiction is as tedious as it is for criticism, I'm not looking forward to trying to get the novel published. Particularly because it's MUCH longer. Of course, I do have to finish the blasted thing first. Again.

Ah, the story of my life. Write thing. Give thing to reader. Rewrite thing. Give thing back to reader. Edit thing. Give thing back to reader. Rewrite thing. Give thing back to reader...
You get the idea.
Perhaps the universe is trying to tell me that writing is not where my life is intended to go.
Then again, when have I ever listened to anyone who tells me I shouldn't/can't do something?

All the time.
No, really.
I listen. I just proceed to do the opposite.

It begins

Well, it's official. I have written something for my dissertation. Not much, mind you, and it probably won't stay in the final version, but I've actually started it.

My current dilemma - which isn't admittedly much of a dilemma - is that there isn't much out there written on The Maid's Tragedy. I think I've gotten most of the articles, etc., but if anyone happens to know of a chapter, book, or article that deals with The Maid's Tragedy, I'd appreciate them dropping a comment to give me a hand.

I've also decided that it's rather irritating that I still hear the actors in my head when I read this play. Not that they were bad, mind you - as they did a very good job with it - but it's very hard to try and parse some of this when you've got somebody else's voice in your head.

Or maybe I'm just going crazy.

I seem to have overcommitted...

To do list:

1. Write conference paper on Richard III and Henry V for Performing (In)Visibility in February.

2. Put on show (Edward II).

3. Write conference paper on Richard II for Medieval Congress Medieval/Renaissance conference in May.

4. Write chapter of dissertation on The Maid's Tragedy. Maybe convince self and advisors I should write the chapter on Edward II instead. Maybe not.

5. Turn aforementioned chapter on The Maid's Tragedy into an article using the Ohio Shakespeare Conference paper on the above. This is the real reason for starting with this play.

6. Teach Shakespeare class.

7. Maybe possibly finish prospectus before I die. Maybe.