I was recently reading Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day by Joan Bolker, rather than actually writing my dissertation, and her discussion of “the Penelope syndrome” made me smile:

I have named a more extreme version of this problem [inefficient writing] “the Penelope Syndrome.” Penelope, you probably remember, spent the days of Odysseus’s absence weaving and the nights unweaving in order to hold off the suitors who were harassing her. For a multitude of other reasons, some dissertation writers act like Penelope: they write a few decent paragraphs, and then a day or a week later they decide that what they have written is not any good at all, and they toss it. They do this over, and over, and over again, so that the stack of completed pages remains exactly the same height over time. If you’re doing this, you may be overly perfectionistic, or maybe you have a screwy idea of how one writes or, on some deeper level, you may be very conflicted over finishing your degree. If you recognize yourself as a Penelope type, try forcing yourself to move forward (Bolker, 1998, pp. 71-72).

I don’t consider myself to be a “Penelope type,” even though it is my name (!), rather my problem seems to be actually writing anything at all. I’ve never had this much difficulty sitting down and writing before! I seem to be doing all of the “right things:” going to writers groups; setting up a regular schedule; making deadlines; eating properly and yet… it’s still not happening. Although, I do get extremely distracted (side-tracked) by information online. My filters, RSS feeds, and email work a little too well: everything I receive through my PLN is very interesting to me and hence very distracting. And so I’ve made the commitment to follow Bolker’s other excellent advice and write first. I usually begin my day by checking email – this has to stop. I need to write first. If I don’t write first, then I need to exercise first (another big hole in my life right now). I think by tackling the writing and exercise I will be more productive, happier, and get the damn thing done!

But oh, to be a “Penelope type”. At least I’d have some writing done!