Revisions

In nonacademic writing, there is a saying that once you submit your work it becomes a business proposition. In other words, you put your heart and soul into a piece of writing, but as soon as you turn it in, you have to think about it as separate from yourself. Keeping this in mind makes it easier to accept and act on criticism when it comes (and it's bound to come because no writing is perfect). I was thinking about this today because as I put the finishing touches on the paper I've been working on for months, I have become concerned that I'll turn it in and my committee chair will tell me the first version was better and that I've gone off the deep end with this latest draft. This would negate my entire quarter of work.

I know that's stupid, but it's a real fear that many of us grad students have. What if our work isn't as original/insightful/well-written as we think? What if we turn in a paper only to have it thrown back in our face along with fits of laughter? Realistically, I know this isn't going to happen. My committee chair would never be so blatantly disrespectful. But, as a friend put it, what if they're secretly thinking that the paper is crap? Wouldn't that be worse in some way?

Enough pessimism. I will not fall victim to my inner critic. I'll just turn in the paper and remind myself that I did the best I could.

Today's Grad Gravy: Your work is as good as you secretly think it is.