What is the Afterlife of a Dissertation?

Or, what do you write after you've written the longest text you've had to write in your life thus far?

After quite some time away, I'm returning to my dissertation project and working through the process of turning it into a book. It's been slow going so far, punctuated and prolonged by the humdrum of daily life, the responsibilities to which I must attend, the hobbies I tell myself I'm going to prioritize, the video games I've played too much, the books I'd like to read, the lessons I must plan, and the grading that piles up. Summer break approaches, and I'd like to tell myself that I'll use that free time to write—and write productively.

Despite the chaos my mind takes on without lessons to plan, papers to grade, the work of the book feels important. Even during breaks does my mind crave what many call work-life balance; I feel out of sorts when the scale tilts too far in either direction.

This blog post serves two crucial functions:

1. it helps me feel accountable to the project, in announcing my intentions to the world; and
2. it provides space for me to think through a central concern I face at this stage of my project: who is my audience? Do I write for a strictly academic readership, and if so, how should I should I characterize that imagined group of folks? Fellow humanists? Graduate students? Rhetoric/composition/disability studies scholars? Administrators of PhD programs? And if not, how do I make my work on grad student mental health interesting to those outside academe?

I think it might be many scholars' desire to translate their research for popular audiences and achieve a semblance of mainstream success—and compensation. (I remember trying to explain to my dad that I wouldn't be paid for journal article publications. It didn't and still doesn't make sense to him, or to me when I really think about it.) But this isn't something I've prepared myself for, and I wouldn't know where to begin. I suspect I need to step outside the tiny mental bubble I've placed myself inside since the onset of COVID-19 and spend some time researching what other scholars have done, what other publication paths they've tread.

In any case, I need to make a decision if only for the sake of solidifying the tone of voice and writing style I adopt while revising dissertation chapters for something new. I'm currently in the unfortunate position of not having one of those coveted tenure-track jobs, so I have some freedom in terms of timeline, audience, academic register, and accessible language and publication—by which I also mean whether to seek out open access options or not, whether to publish only digitally or also in print.

On the other hand, I can certainly appreciate the time constraints faced by adjunct faculty and other part-time staff. Where am I supposed to find time to write a whole ass book? So while there are benefits to the creative freedom I possess, there are also clear barriers to producing meaningful scholarship with any regularity. Hell, I barely have time to read academic work, let alone write it. This semester, for example, I am teaching three distinct courses over several credit hours. That's three preps per week (roughly) in addition to responding to student discussion, grading, keeping up with individual communications through email and Teams, etc. Again, I ask, where is the time? It's almost as though I have an embarassment of riches and a dearth of opportunity at the same time.

I also decided some time ago that I wouldn't let my professional life interfere with my personal/home time, my social life, or my sanity. This means that while I get to enjoy hobbies like reading or gaming, I'm explicitly limiting time available for academic writing. (I did try to participate in NaNoWriMo one year - weirdly, while writing my dissertation - but I doubt I have the resources to return to that project.)

I started this entry with a degree of optimism that I would be able to complete a book project, however long it took. Now I'm not so sure. It's difficult to know what to prioritize and when because, frankly, I now live a rich life post-grad school. I have so many hobbies and personal interests I can pursue, and, now that I live in STL again, I can spend time with people I care deeply about. (My house also somehow always requires cleaning.) In any case, I was hoping to write myself into a resolution, and I fear I've only muddied the waters further. I suppose I'll have to wait and see what kind of energy I have this upcoming summer season.