my master's thesis
i start classes again tomorrow--two courses plus my thesis. i'm taking poetry, which will be wonderful to be back in a workshop after a semester hiatus. and nonfiction, which should be a challenge, but good. i can't decide if it will be harder or easier than fiction. i'm leaning towards harder. we'll see.
i've been emailing with my thesis advisor and am turning in my first few poems tomorrow. i'm going to meet with him every other week before class. i pulled out all my thesis forms and requirements tonight to make sure i'm going into this with a plan. i think i'm insane for trying to do this in one full semester and the summer. i'm cutting myself a few months short. eek, starting to freak me out.
my final copy is due in the provost's office august 1st. before that, i have to hand in an unbound copy to the head of the english department who will give it to the graduate dean. she has to approve it, which means it may have to be revised before i hand in the final copy. plus there are VERY specific requirements for the formatting, cover page, approval form, index, binding, etc.
my goal is to have the 75 poems written and revised by july 1st. that gives me a month to order (though some thought will go into the order earlier, i'm sure) format and receive approval. this means i need to turn in a minimum of 5 poems a week, plus revisions. some of these pieces may need to be turned in several times. 5 a week may not sound like alot... but it is. i have a decent stockpile of things to include, but i'd like to write a ton more. i'd really love for half or more of this thesis to be new material. but that's incredibly intimidating. i know i'm too hard on myself, and i know i think too much. if i'd just stop trying so damn hard and just write everyday i'd see my work improve almost effortlessly. then i could pour my energy into revision instead of first drafts.
the real trick is, on top of this thesis i'm taking two classes between now and april, an intensive lit class in june (you know, right when i should be finishing this all up) and working 4 days a week. it's going to be a long 6 months... but the reward! that beautiful roosevelt frame containing my MFA degree... it's going to be worth every poetic word.
i've been emailing with my thesis advisor and am turning in my first few poems tomorrow. i'm going to meet with him every other week before class. i pulled out all my thesis forms and requirements tonight to make sure i'm going into this with a plan. i think i'm insane for trying to do this in one full semester and the summer. i'm cutting myself a few months short. eek, starting to freak me out.
my final copy is due in the provost's office august 1st. before that, i have to hand in an unbound copy to the head of the english department who will give it to the graduate dean. she has to approve it, which means it may have to be revised before i hand in the final copy. plus there are VERY specific requirements for the formatting, cover page, approval form, index, binding, etc.
my goal is to have the 75 poems written and revised by july 1st. that gives me a month to order (though some thought will go into the order earlier, i'm sure) format and receive approval. this means i need to turn in a minimum of 5 poems a week, plus revisions. some of these pieces may need to be turned in several times. 5 a week may not sound like alot... but it is. i have a decent stockpile of things to include, but i'd like to write a ton more. i'd really love for half or more of this thesis to be new material. but that's incredibly intimidating. i know i'm too hard on myself, and i know i think too much. if i'd just stop trying so damn hard and just write everyday i'd see my work improve almost effortlessly. then i could pour my energy into revision instead of first drafts.
the real trick is, on top of this thesis i'm taking two classes between now and april, an intensive lit class in june (you know, right when i should be finishing this all up) and working 4 days a week. it's going to be a long 6 months... but the reward! that beautiful roosevelt frame containing my MFA degree... it's going to be worth every poetic word.
posted by KTB at
7:29 PM
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