This is good news indeed. Congratulations!
What Now? | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 8:39 am | #

Wow. Overcoming that, especially after the increasingly long delay making it ever harder to write something new, is a Good Thing. Congrats, and run with it - hope the momentum stays with you.

And you had me snorting my coffee over 'cobbled together'. Too often guilty as charged, but vaguely comforting to know it's endemic.
matt | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 8:49 am | #

I think this is why I'm excited about a paper I'm doing (thinking about) in May. it's new. it's pushing me to work again in the archives and the research. And it won't be "cobbled together" since it's not made up of the old stuff. Still a lot of vacuuming ahead of me though.

thanks for making it seem possible. sorry you went through so much time and trauma in the past.
timna | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 8:53 am | #

Keep on, Mel! I'm longing to have the same kind of experience.
dr.m | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 8:55 am | #

Congrats--that first step is the hardest until you get back in the groove. I had just the opposite experience; have done nothing (and I mean no housekeeping, picture framing, etc.) except write and what I was forced to do beyond that. I just hope I don't lose the creative force I've been writing just as you get back on the train. Enjoy!
susan | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 9:02 am | #

Good for you! Enjoy this, appreciate it.
Nels | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 9:23 am | #

Congratulations - and I'm jealous in that I've going through something similar where I haven't been able to write new material and even editing old stuff is hard. Enjoy your success -- it's the first of many
Powerprof | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 9:37 am | #

Brava!
Jill Smith | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 10:52 am | #

hooray!
JM | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 12:10 pm | #

A big congratulations. I always find it really hard to get started, especially when I've got stuff written but not published that I can't help feeling ought to be worked on. It must feel great to have new words on a new page (or screen).
cut-rate parasite | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 2:33 pm | #

No, wait ... click here
~profgrrrrl~ | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 4:04 pm | #

Congratulations! I know from experience that's a wonderful feeling. While I was working on my PhD, I spent about 18 months completely stuck in a rut, writing nothing new (maybe a conference paper or two), and my "rut" was also related to depression.

Anyway, congrats again on getting some new writing done!!
chuck | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 4:46 pm | #

Wow, and yes.
bitchphd | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 6:01 pm | #

So glad to read this! It definitely does feel great to be able to think and come up with new stuff - so glad that you're getting back to that place.
New Kid on the Hallway | Homepage | 03.24.05 - 8:48 pm | #

So glad you're able to write again. Yes, it's hard to do anything constructive while depressed. Sometimes I look back and think, "Wow, that was incredibly tough, and I'm glad I didn't realize just how tough it was at the time."

Light at the end of the tunnel...great sight, isn't it?
terminaldegree | Homepage | 03.25.05 - 2:10 am | #

Yay! Glad to hear it.

jwb
Jimbo | Homepage | 03.25.05 - 8:31 am | #

Good for you! I look forward to having that feeling again sometime. You're inspiring me.
beth | Homepage | 03.25.05 - 4:49 pm | #

How wonderful! Congratulations. It's a hard road out of depression; you should be so proud of yourself for making it so far.
Phantom Scribbler | Homepage | 03.25.05 - 5:39 pm | #

Hey, great. So glad that things are starting to work, long may it continue!
heading out | Homepage | 03.25.05 - 7:15 pm | #

Thanks so much, everyone -- I'm really touched to receive so much friendly support.
Mel | Homepage | 03.25.05 - 7:52 pm | #