Seated marathon of words

“Support my fundraiser! Come to my soiree on the 22nd!”

He invited me to play the grand piano or bring my ukulele group for a singalong to fundraise for his half-marathon in Jordan. I can do neither. I am already missing the Chocoleles performing at the second annual Milton Porchfest. I am missing the open museum day in Boston and open historic houses in London. I am missing everything because I am running a seated marathon.

After visiting Italy, Croatia, and Holland in August, I had trouble settling down, staying put and getting into the routine of reading. I couldn’t read while I was travelling. Rather, I couldn’t fathom reading passive tense.

Upon my return to this quiet, empty house, I pushed myself to read. I forbade myself to write until I finished reading.

Once I got into the rhythm of reading, I didn’t want to stop. After struggling through two must-read books, again, passive tense galore, I forced myself to sit at my computer and type. By then, I was well into Joseph A. Maxwell’s thin but useful paperback “Qualitative Research Design.” I should have read this a year ago.

By saying no to all invitations and temptations, I freed up my calendar to focus on my research. My thesis. My magna opus.

Or so I thought.

My plan backfired. In a sea of endless free time, I noodled. I checked my e-mails. I checked Facebook. I opened the fridge to get something to eat. I was not productive.

Then I started making appointments I couldn’t resist or say no to. An amazing thing happened.

Appointments became my mini-deadlines. I am wired to deadlines, you see. My former boss famously said, “If you don’t meet your deadline, you’re dead!”

Give me a word count. Give me a deadline. I’ll deliver whatever you want me to write.

12,000 words. 1st October.

Today I passed the half-way mark. I’m counting every word and logging the number into my Google spreadsheet. I am reducing my trips to the supermarket and even the gym. I am counting the maximum number of words I can write each hour, each day, if I can cut out all interruptions.

Tomorrow I will produce the appendices and write my findings.

During my break I will figure out which style to write the bibliography. I’ll write the conclusions and the 400-word abstract last.

It’s a pity that the number of words in the abstract and bibliography don’t count.

But then I should be thankful, for I always exceed the number of words given.