Reflections on almost a year of blogging

It’s been almost a year since I launched this blog. Some 40 posts have been published and a few more are in the pipeline. However, in just over a month, on February 1, 2020, it will be over. At that time, this blog project will have reached its finish line. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the manuscript for my second book. This will require some additional time for writing. 

There are several reasons why the book manuscript will not be finished. First, I knew already in advance that a year for writing a book was a pretty ambitious goal. I’m not a slow writer. Nor am I fast as a bullet. What helps me produce text is that I have good routines, good self-discipline and a good minimum level. This means that I can consistently squeeze out one page a day. Sometimes two. Only rarely more than that. 

Second, I’ve had a lot of other things requiring my attention. In 2019, I have written applications, edited two books, traveled to conferences and organized seminars. I have also received requests for a couple of small writing projects that I didn’t want to turn down. The book has been a priority during 2019. At times, however, the project has been on hold. These are the choices I have made and they are ones I accept. 

However, a project that has not slowed down my book is this blog. Before I started, I was afraid that it would consume a lot of time. To some extent, this is obviously also the case. Blog posts don’t write themselves. But at the same time, at least for me, writing has resulted in more writing. By constantly writing for publication, I have increased my speed. In addition, I have become more fearless expressing myself in writing. Unlike almost all other forms of academic writing, blogging also offers immediate feedback. This has been valuable. 

A further advantage of blogging about my writing and working process is that it results in a form of accountability. My book writing occurs in public, thus creating a form of social contract. Sure, none of you readers will punish me if there is no book in the end. But as far as I am concerned, the promise made to myself is made stronger by making it public. From time to time, I have to report on the progress of the book. This means that my blogging represents additional pressure on me to actually advance in the book project. This pressure has also been valuable. 

More important than all this, however, is the fact that this blog has taken on a greater purpose along the way. As it is now entering its final stages, I realize that it no longer primarily concerns academic writing and writing a second book. It is about what it’s like to be an academic at the beginning of his or her career and everything associated with that. 

Many of us live this kind of life. But we are rarely heard. The voice of the project researcher has no obvious forums or any obvious representatives. Yet, we represent an important part of the academy. Without us, many departments and research fields would have ground to a halt and become rigid. For our well-being, however, we need each other. We need to share experiences and help each other. I hope that this blog has played such a role and that it will continue to do so for a while. 

With these words, I thank you for this year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! The blog will start again on January 17.

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