I thought that I would use this first post of the
year to lay out some personal goals for the blog, my research and myself over
the coming twelve months. I really hope that all come true, but I doubt it.
PhD: I am actually in the last stretch of my PhD and I have
to submit the thing by October. However, my academic task in the next few
months is to take the eight chapters I have crafted over the last five and a
quarter years and turn them into a coherent piece of work that can be submitted
in draft form to my supervisor.
Theoretically, this should be easy, as in my head my thesis, which is on
the management of the London and South Western Railway between 1870 and 1910,
is pretty complete. The reality is that a lot of work needs to be done,
especially to brush up on a bit of background reading. But I’ll get there, I
have no doubt.
Blog: I have to warn you, given that these are the last
ten months of my PhD, my blog may suffer due to a diminished number of updates.
Already, the frequency of my posts has dropped to one a week and it is quite
possible that as October nears I may need to reduce this further.
This said, I am committed to the blog and will hope
to do some original research for it at points (naturally I may gush forth after
October with a plethora of posts because of the freedom I will have). More
importantly though, while I have made some wonderful friends through it, and
hope to make more, it entertains many who read it and also helps my ultimate career
goals (see below).
I don’t think the topics of my posts will change
much. I am still interested in railway management, even though I may be sick to
death of it by October. My continuing interest in Railwaywomen will feature,
not just because I have already written a post on this topic for the future,
but because I find it a fascinating area to study with new revelations coming
forth every time do more work on the subject. I will also want to look at a bit more at the
railways before 1870, as this area of railway history has received little
investigation. Ultimately, however, all of Victorian railway history is still
fair game for blogging about, and I hope to choose varied and interesting subjects
to post on throughout the year.
Work: As I have
mentioned elsewhere, I work in a public library part-time to fund my PhD.
Unfortunately, like all who work in libraries, I possibly may loose my job
by March.
Therefore, it should not surprise anyone that one of my hopes for 2012 is that this doesn't happen. Yet, given this has been a possibility for some while,
and to avoid not having the finance to fund my PhD, I have already paid off my university
fees.
Nevertheless, one interesting thought has crossed
my mind. If I am made redundant I’ll be able to finish my PhD early given the
free time. Clearly that would not be in any way ideal, firstly, because
this is not the way I hoped my career would progress (see below), but also
because I genuinely love helping people at the library.
Career: I suppose I had it in my head that in this year my
career would begin – whatever would be. I’ve had two main ideas since my PhD commenced; the first to be academic, the second to be a journalist and freelance
writer. The former is an option. However throughout my PhD I have not done any
teaching (and therefore have had time to write the blog). I would be very willing
to teach if it was to lead me to better things, but I have never been over-keen
on the idea. I dunno, maybe I’d love it when I get there. Furthermore, I have
always considered that there may be an opportunity to get an research grant to
do a project, perhaps on the early railways, so I may look into that as an
option.
However, I think I am more interested in becoming
the journalist and freelance writer (while keeping firmly in touch with academic
developments). Firstly, given the cuts, I am not sure that positions in the
academic world will be flowing as easily as they did in years past, especially
for an early career historian. But secondly, I so enjoy writing my blog and
would love to do something similar for some money (don’t worry, I love writing
my blog so much that that will always remain). Originally, before the crisis hit,
my idea was that I was going to keep the part time job in the library while
building up my profile as a writer. Then, when I was getting enough regular
work to sustain me, I would reconsider my position at the library. However, if
I do lose my job, parts of this plan may have to be advanced. Nevertheless,
whatever happens, I suspect I will be on that career road before the end of the
year.
Love: I am sure I will secure the love of many new friends in 2012
whatever happens, as that is what occurred in 2011. Indeed, one of the joys of 2011 has been that I have met so many good, kind, supportive and loving people.
Indeed, I want to wish everyone a
happy and productive 2012. I love writing my blog for such wonderful,
supportive, generous and friendly readers and Twitter followers. I am always
buoyed by your positive comments, your support for my work and your friendship. I cannot begin to thank you all enough. You are all so lovely.
And now for some blog stats from 2011:
Most visits on one day: 24 December – 284
Lowest number of visits on one day: 22 April – 12
Week with most visits: w/b 18 December - 576
Month with the most visits: December – 1,783
Total visits: 13,201 (Average - 36.17/day)
Unique visits: 9,651 (Average – 26.44/day)
Page views: 21,399 (Average – 58.63/day)
Pages per visit: 1.62
Average time on the site: 1 minute 13 seconds
Good luck in the coming year with your PhD. I think we can take a reduction in the blog output if it means you succeeding. Meanwhile, thanks for all your informative and interesting posts of the last year and I'm looking forward to any you have time for in 2012.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a wonderful blog.
ReplyDeleteOn the topic of careers, I would say that mine has been far from a planned progression. As one door closed another opened. Have an aim in view, but on the whole enjoy the ride and embrace the destinations.
All the best for 2012
Interesting stats. I note, for example, that you received more hits last year than the, albeit fictional, blog of Dr John Watson in the BBC TV update of Holmes.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the average visitor only stays for just over a minute does not necessarily mean that they are paying scant attention to what you have to say. I read this post via my feedreader and only clicked through to the site in order to post this comment.
As a public sector employee being made redundant at the end of March and, moreover, as someone who previously dabbled with library and academic careers, though I never started doctoral study, I empathise a lot with your career ruminations.
I wish you the best of luck in keeping your head above water and achieving your goals for 2012.