Abstracted

Writing an abstract can be a daunting task, particularly for academic writing. The article I have been working on is getting "closer" to sucking less, so I figured what the hey -- I should start checking out some CFP's and see if I might find a few query ideas -- you know, for when I'm "closer" to being satisfied with the draft. It never dawned on me that I might actually find a CFP that announced an upcoming special issue of a journal that would suit the project I have been working on perfectly. Of course, by the time I found this CFP, abstracts were due in a matter of days. Yay. Can you read the enthusiasm? What should have been a positive experience felt more like getting dental surgery sans the numbing goodness of Novocaine. That's not because I had to write an abstract, my first for real-world submission, or that I had to send it off quickly, but because I had to get all of that accomplished in the midst of travelling.

Trying to write an abstract for submission is challenging enough without the added stress doing so under the distraction of being on holiday. Did I mention I had to tap it out on a netbook while breakfasting in the very near vicinity of my parents arguing for the zillionth time over God knows what?

Needless to say, I am not operating under any illusion that this abstract will get accepted. It might not even get read. Despite the likelihood that this submission will wind up at the very bottom of the slush pile, I am still glad to have experienced writing it and writing it under a certain amount of duress. I suppose I can look at it as good practice for the eventuality of finding myself writing, once more, under less-than-ideal circumstances.