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when your professor knows you too well...
Apr. 25th, 2007 04:42 pmOne of the benefits of working at a large university is I can take a class a semester for free as long as I can squeeze it in either during lunchtime or after work. I've been doing this for a few years now, taking a combination of literature, astronomy, physics, and other random stuff that seemed like it'd be interesting and fun.
This semester I am taking a graduate level Comparative Literature course on Aztec Manuscripts. I've taken two other courses with this same professor, so he's gotten to know me pretty well by now. In about two weeks the final paper for the course is due, which is a 15-page paper on a topic of our choice.
I decided to do mine on the Cinco Soles or Five Suns, the Aztec belief that we are in the fifth universe. It's a fascinating topic, but between various health issues, stress, and depression, I've been sort of stalled on the paper and not been making any decent progress. I hadn't, of course, mentioned in any way to the professor that I was stuck, but he must have figured it out somehow.
On Monday I got an email from him somewhat out of the blue. This is what it said (quoting exactly):
Hi, Suzanne,
You're doing a paper on the Cinco Soles, 5 suns. I would suggest, if you are interested, that instead of an academic paper, you write a story that might be publishable in such a venue as F&SF, and for the material that you turn in, include a one page precis of the background research that you have done for this story.
Actual sale will not affect your grade, but would make all concerned very happy. Let me know if you like this idea.
Of course the Unstoppable Inspiration-That-Wakes-You-Up-In-The-Middle-Of-The-Night Plot-Noodling began the *instant* I read this, completely outside of any conscious intent on my part. I don't know if I can write (much less polish up) such a story in two weeks, but the ideas are certainly there and clamoring for attention.
Drat it! Guess I can't give up writing this week.
This semester I am taking a graduate level Comparative Literature course on Aztec Manuscripts. I've taken two other courses with this same professor, so he's gotten to know me pretty well by now. In about two weeks the final paper for the course is due, which is a 15-page paper on a topic of our choice.
I decided to do mine on the Cinco Soles or Five Suns, the Aztec belief that we are in the fifth universe. It's a fascinating topic, but between various health issues, stress, and depression, I've been sort of stalled on the paper and not been making any decent progress. I hadn't, of course, mentioned in any way to the professor that I was stuck, but he must have figured it out somehow.
On Monday I got an email from him somewhat out of the blue. This is what it said (quoting exactly):
Hi, Suzanne,
You're doing a paper on the Cinco Soles, 5 suns. I would suggest, if you are interested, that instead of an academic paper, you write a story that might be publishable in such a venue as F&SF, and for the material that you turn in, include a one page precis of the background research that you have done for this story.
Actual sale will not affect your grade, but would make all concerned very happy. Let me know if you like this idea.
Of course the Unstoppable Inspiration-That-Wakes-You-Up-In-The-Middle-Of-The-Night Plot-Noodling began the *instant* I read this, completely outside of any conscious intent on my part. I don't know if I can write (much less polish up) such a story in two weeks, but the ideas are certainly there and clamoring for attention.
Drat it! Guess I can't give up writing this week.
