The Futility of Stopping Time

Research writing is a futile endeavor to stop time long enough to capture a moment.  Yet time never stops.  New events or ideas continue.  When an event impacts your line of inquiry and research, you have to take note.  It is both fortuitous and unfortunate at the same time.  It can be a breakthrough moment that pulls together strands of thought in a new way with added insight.  Yet, it also creates a troubling loop when a deadline approaches.

I experienced that double sensation while I was drafting my research paper.  A breaking news event seemed to "fall into my lap" that made me think about my topic with renewed vigor.  What I believed was a  well constructed argument took on additional meaning and gathered new shape.  I thoroughly enjoyed this fact.  It made the task of researching and drafting considerably more pleasurable.  It also meant that I  increased my workload and did not get to the main point of my paper yet.  I'll take it though.  I am really energized as I approach my final draft.  I wish all writing was this delightful.

Another Timely Event

A sincere tip of the hat to Dr. Gabor.  Thanks to her librarian contact, Bernd Becker, I have expanded my research paper.  The process of writing to Bernd helped me clarify my argument and address open questions that were bothering me.  I asked Bernd about the open-access part of the issue between open-access vs verifiable content.  I will be meeting with him on Friday.  The King Library is also hosting an open-access forum on Monday that I will attend.  You fellow students in class have all heard my open-access spiel, so I'm really enthused.  Thank you Dr. Gabor.  Although I sense a serious lack of  sleep; my body still operates on the clock.