07 November 2007

And suddenly, it's real

For the last 7 years, I've been working toward this far off date when I would finally be done, finally have this thing called a dissertation finished and on the shelf. It's been five years, then four years, then three years, then two years away. Now, it's just over a year.

I think I realized just how solid a reality that future is yesterday when I was looking over a proposal I was writing and noticed the title I've selected. It sounded so authoritative and real--like something someone would actually write. And then it dawned on me, I am writing it. Slowly and surely, the jumble of half formed ideas I've been wading through for the last three years is becoming a dissertation...the first draft of a book.

It's strange when you work and work and plan and plan, and then, suddenly, you realize that it's working.

2 comments:

The Yellow Dart said...

so...
you finally finished that 'paper'

Lisa Dunick said...

only about 1/2 way, but at this point, there's no way it's not getting done :)