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[tee_bee]

There are a few independent scholars out there who are successful, but they are distinct minority.  Mostly, independent scholars are not very good scholars, and if there is a pecking order, then they are at the bottom.

Yes. In my field, "independent scholar" usually equals "flake." Sorry. I said usually--there are exceptions, but not enough to overcome the impression--based on hard experience--that "independent scholars" or "consultants" (sort of the same thing in my field) are academic misfits. I am not saying this is the OP's situation, but it's a hard perception to overcome.

And, with a "couple of a articles" and a book manuscript, there's not much of a record here to build on. This sounds like a retirement gig, not a career.

And, if you'rein the humanities, God help you--or, perhaps, charity.

[i_do_not_have_a_phd]

Mostly, independent scholars are not very good scholars, and if there is a pecking order, then they are at the bottom.

Um...

If they're making money, they have a one-up on you. It's actually interesting, in speaking with people who make s***loads of cash, seeing how little they care about 'pecking orders' or being 'good' in their fields.

If you reach people, you reach people. If you don't, well--welcome to the ivory tower.

[i_do_not_have_a_phd]

Yes. In my field, "independent scholar" usually equals "flake." Sorry. I said usually--there are exceptions, but not enough to overcome the impression--based on hard experience--that "independent scholars" or "consultants" (sort of the same thing in my field) are academic misfits. I am not saying this is the OP's situation, but it's a hard perception to overcome.

Keep in mind that value judgments are constructed by the culture in which they are applied. Academia is MOST DEFINITELY a culture in itself. A 'flake' in academia could be a superstar to the rest of the world. A 'consultant' might just have more people-skills than those who are locked too deep inside their own heads/disciplines. Therefore they might be of more use to society in general. Therefore they might get paid more. Nothing to be jealous of; you could do the same thing, if you'd get over your complex.

Really not hard to understand.

[alleyoxenfree]

If you need to stay where you are until you can get another source of income lined up, a couple of things I have seen work for others are to leave your small town as frequently as possible, for whatever reason.  Cut your expenses to the bone so you can afford air fare to visit friends, see museums, go mountain biking, whatever you need to rejuvenate yourself.

As for your teaching, do some radical shaking up.  See if you can trade some courses.  Or assign some new out-there books, assignments, go on a field trip, add a service-learning angle, do anything possible to entertain yourself.  It is also possible to do the same old thing so you have less prep and I am not suggesting too much new prep, unless you think that would let you dive in and divert yourself.  Just take some changes with new things since you might leave anyway. 

Look around the job market and see what you might be interested in doing for a buck (assuming you aren't independently wealthy).  If segueing to another area of teaching, make sure your courses fit those areas.  If some kind of non-profit or for-profit, see if you can connect those to your current teaching.  You'll get a charge out of knowing you are going in a new direction, while finishing this up.

Do the other things recommended on the fora for depression, as they also apply to second-year fatigue.

[larryc]

In history I know of some absolutely top notch independent scholars.

[marigolds]

In history I know of some absolutely top notch independent scholars.

Yep, there are some in English too.  In fact, one I'm thinking of was in academia for a long time and left because he wanted to write books that more than 300 people would read.  And boy, has he succeeded.  (And his 'popular' books show up regularly on comps lists, too!) 

[farm_boy]

And then there are those of us who have been miserable failures both inside and outside of academia.  But just wait until retirement--THAT'S where I'm going to shine!

[arizona]

In history I know of some absolutely top notch independent scholars.

Yep, there are some in English too.  In fact, one I'm thinking of was in academia for a long time and left because he wanted to write books that more than 300 people would read.  And boy, has he succeeded.  (And his 'popular' books show up regularly on comps lists, too!) 

Who? Who?