the tyranny of the blank page

[westernind]

I'm in somewhat of a blue funk about a paper that I'm writing. It's on cybersecurity, a subject in which I have been dumped up to my neck since early July. Now has come the time to draw a line, accept that I can't know everything, and just write the damned report. It doesn't help that every manager, analyst and his/her dog keeps making helpful suggestions which would involve more data collection.

Instead of getting on with it I have been engaging in avoidant behaviour, messing about on social media; you name it. But time is ticking on, and I have to have a reviewable draft by Monday morning.

Thankfully ellefurtle has broken the paralysis. She makes the excellent suggestion that I should explain the subject verbally to someone, because a verbal explanation will have a structure built into it. If I ask that person to take notes (and forbinproject has kindly volunteered) I can then use the narrative structure as the outline for the written paper. This is going to happen later today.

One might well ask why, knowing I have this mental block, did I move into a job which requires me to produce this sort of written output on a regular basis. Part of the answer is that I used to be able to write with ease, and lost it somewhere along the line when I moved into the zeros and ones world of programming. I'm hoping that the enforced change in behaviour will facilitate a change in mindset.

Comments

[delta_mike]

I have some non-trivial awareness of computer security issues; poke me if I can be of possible use..

[westernind.livejournal.com]

Cheers m'dear. The trouble is, it's a twofold problem. On the information security side, it's the research into specific details that could be neverending, and I can't talk about that aspect due to confidentiality.

The other aspect is looking more promising now. Thanks to patient listening and scribbling by my beloved, I now have a viable report structure. :-)

[sixtine.livejournal.com]

We all procrastinate about something. I used to tell my goldfish to help me when I was a student. I'm sure S takes better notes!

[westernind.livejournal.com]

The method has worked beautifully. I have now typed up his notes, and thus have a first draft.

Quid pro quo: it's payback for all the help I gave him with his CIPD assignments. :)

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Happy to listen and annotate if it would help at some future point?

[kt-peasant.livejournal.com]

Au contraire, it seems entirely reasonable that you've taken a job that'll push you. Though I can't explain something to someone til I've written it down first, so I think we're back to back on what causes the push :)

[greatbigshowoff.livejournal.com]

Glad you've managed to find a way round your writer's block. Hope it goes well.

[westernind.livejournal.com]

Got an initial draft now. :-)

By the way I've only just seen your messages that you were in London. Sorry to have missed you this time... as you can see, I was unfortunately otherwise employed!

[greatbigshowoff.livejournal.com]

No problem - sounds like you were pretty heavily engaged elsewhere.

[greatbigshowoff.livejournal.com]

I'm back 24-27 November, if you're about?

[westernind.livejournal.com]

(procrastinating again - should be writing up the recommendations!)

Yes, we're around that weekend. WOuld you like to stay over on the Friday or Saturday?

[greatbigshowoff.livejournal.com]

We're fine for somewhere to stay thank you, we've got a hotel booked, but it would be great to meet up if you're free. Plans so far... I have a conference during the day Thurs and Fri, Ian's coming up Fri night and we're both going to see Matilda on Saturday night, but we're pretty flexible otherwise. Lunch or afternoon tea Saturday maybe?

[westernind.livejournal.com]

Afternoon tea sounds rather fine. Shall I find somewhere and book it? (Any preferences?)

[greatbigshowoff.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a great idea. I'm happy with anywhere; just let us know a time and a place.
Looking forward to seeing you.