I’ve had a bit of a cold over the weekend, and so of course everyone is claiming that I have swine flu. It’s possible, I guess – but it’s far more likely to be man flu.
Swine flu, of course, has already claimed as many victims as Bird flu, the Millennium Bug and the Titanic film combined – all equally and preposterously overhyped pandemics.
But I can’t talk at all today – my throat is sore, so I’m taking it easy. Missing the scheduled conference at that ‘other’ Birmingham University; staying at home and writing things instead.
Book appointments
I have a fair bit to carry on with. Most important (or, rather, most urgent) is the undergraduate textbook ‘Understanding the Music Industries’ that I’m co-writing with some friends of mine at Southampton Solent University.
It’s designed to be a general introduction to studying the music industries, and while I have my bit all mapped out, it’s taking rather longer than anticipated to come up with the actual words.
The deadline for my opening chapter went whizzing past on Friday, so with an allowance for a long weekend, today is probably the day I should get that in. However, the deadline date itself was completely arbitrary and was only offered when I actually requested one. Last minute panic always gets me working at my best, and even artificially created milestones help.
But if you’ve ever been involved with an academic textbook before – or indeed, any kind of book project – you’ll know that deadlines are a fluid concept at best. The most recent one I had anything to do with was a model of efficiency, and that went on for about a year or so longer than anticipated.
It’s called Media Studies: Texts, Production and Context, and should be coming out this month. I just did a few bits and pieces, mostly on the online stuff, and anywhere I could shoehorn McLuhan into the conversation.
The real work was done by Paul Long and Tim Wall, and the Interactive Cultures team who stitched it all together.
So, today is all about the writing. I tend to do 45 minutes on, and 15 minutes off – working with a timer. Seems the best way to get things done. That said, it’s taken me till lunchtime to get going.
Meanwhile, I’m sipping lemon drinks and eating plenty of apple sauce.
Tagged: Book, Personal, University