I’ve been out of school since May. Since then I’ve done everything I could to put all that academic stuff as far as possible on the back burner. I wanted a break. I needed a break.
I wanted to pursue other interests that were as far away from academics as possible. And I did that. I wanted to write anything that wasn’t “scholarly”. And I’m doing that, too.
I didn’t want anything to do with all that academic mumbo jumbo because I wasn’t sure any of it would ever actually reach those that could benefit from it the most.
But oday I had lunch with my professor – the guy that helped me survive getting a PhD. We chatted, laughed, shared stories and gossip, and introduced new ideas – all over some turkey sliders and chardonnay.
He wanted to talk to me about publishing my dissertation. Maybe an article or two. Maybe something more. I wanted to immediately shake my head and tell him no for no other reason than I didn’t want my research to only exist in that unreachable academic bubble.
What if it could reach both? That’s what he asked me. What if my research could not only reach academics interested in new media, but also those bloggers that put vulnerability and authenticity into their words every time they publish? What if I could do it my way?
I said okay.
And left lunch with a general deadline for two article.
And plans to publish my dissertation as a book. A boundary-crossing non-academic book for real audiences.
So I guess I’m writing a book!
Neena
I think the idea is fantastic. You need to share your wonderful words with others. Who knows who it may inspire. And write. Keep on writing. You are wonderful at it. You rock!