I usually have one writing book in my reading rotation. They vary based on what I need & the state of my writing. My reaction to Pressfield's The War of Art is always the most telling.
As a freelance writer pre-grad school, it resonated deeply. I needed that "get over yourself & get to work" message.
But during other periods, I'm really turned off by it. That usually means I need to slow down, think through tough ideas, and/or seek out guidance.
Currently I'm re-reading Howard Becker's Writing for Social Scientists.
The "Terrorized by the Literature" chapter is a little too spot on. And the Risk chapter (Pamela Richards) hits a lot harder than it did my first year of grad school.
The publishing sector has a problem. Scientists are overwhelmed, editors are overworked, special issue invitations are constant, research paper mills, article retractions, journal delistings… JUST WHAT IS GOING ON!?
(This will be a very long list by the end of the year if I keep it up. We'll see.)
Your statements are basically done after the first few deadlines. I always thought I'd customize extensively for each school.
Nope.
On a week like this (with so many apps due Sep 15), you just don't have time. You have to trust that you already put in the work with your base template. It's a mental shift from fellowship apps.
I'm getting better at customizing application statements quickly, without being too much of a perfectionist, but it's already time to move on to the next thing: crafting the job talk.
There's no breather. Which of course means you have to create moments to breathe, disconnect, and celebrate yourself.
A few weeks ago someone told me your first practice job is always trash (so don't stress and rip off the bandaid).
I gave my first practice job talk yesterday. Calling it trash might be a little too self-deprecating... but let's just say I've got a LOT of revisions to make. Whew.
Jobs you don't get. Potential futures that disappear. Relationships that change or become strained during this time.
And maybe you don't let yourself fully process the grief yet, because there's no time before the next application, interview, or talk... but I can see how a recovery period will be crucial, no matter the outcome.
Advice is only helpful if you're in the right headspace to receive it. At some point, you have to start taking only what you need. Filter out the rest.
Example: This article was shared with me before my first campus visit. It seems perfectly fine (and I'm choosing to share it here), but at the time it felt like a list of additional stressors.
An offer is great, but then you have a decision to make. Fast.
And I gather that it's not uncommon to have to make that decision before you hear about other options.
Generally, I try not to post about a stage (i.e., job talk) until a few weeks after I've experienced it. Time to process and such. But this one is in real-time. And boy it's tough.