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[farm_boy]

I quit my research interest 10 years ago, but I'm thinking of picking it back up.  I just checked out a book from the library, and I've spent most of the morning reading it.  I also re-read my two published articles of 10 years ago.  I sure did use lots of big words back then!

I wonder what I've missed in my field in the last 10 years?  I suppose I could google it.

[bud04]

You are kidding aren't you?

[farm_boy]

Am I kidding?  Not really.

But I should qualify that.  I was thinking of posting all this in the research forum, but I think a few others here may find themselves in a similar situation.

My odds of actually "catching up" in my area of research and actually publishing are slim, but not impossible, because it's a pretty new and esoteric area.  My odds of getting a TT job because of something I may publish... are about zero.  (It's a long story: I burned bridges)

The thing is, I'm actually becoming interested in my research area again.  The question becomes how much time can I or should I invest in reading/writing?

Are there any of you out there who have given up on a TT job but continue to publish anyway?  Or, if you write for reasons other than publishing, what are those reasons?

Just curious.

[msparticularity]

Are there any of you out there who have given up on a TT job but continue to publish anyway?  Or, if you write for reasons other than publishing, what are those reasons?

I had a non-TT continuing lectureship for three years before getting a TT job--so I'm kind of the opposite of what you've asked for. Still, I researched, wrote and published during those years, not only because I was hoping to move into the TT, but also because I enjoyed it. Even though I experience the usual frustrations with research, I love it at the same time. I consider myself incredibly lucky, in fact, for this very reason.

[watermarkup]

Do it! Fall in love again. Reconnect.

One of the rare luxuries of being non-TT is that you can research whatever the heck you want and publish it wherever you please, and everyone will think it's great that you're an active scholar.

[the_honey_badger]

I quit my research interest 10 years ago, but I'm thinking of picking it back up.  I just checked out a book from the library, and I've spent most of the morning reading it.  I also re-read my two published articles of 10 years ago.  I sure did use lots of big words back then!

I wonder what I've missed in my field in the last 10 years?  I suppose I could google it.

Follow your bliss, baby. Follow your bliss.  If I could work up interest in anything, I'd be all over it.

[francie_]

I wonder what I've missed in my field in the last 10 years?  I suppose I could google it.

Depends on your field.  Mine moves forward at glacial speed.  In any case, go confidently in the direction of your dreams!*

*Okay, not my words.  Emerson or Thoreau?  I never could keep them straight.  Pry?

[new_bus_prof]

I think those in non-TT positions often have the luxury to write what they want and not worry about making the A journal list. I know several professors who wrote academic books about their research topics this way.
After several years of being "forgotten", they are now some of the most highly cited academics in their area.

[tamiam]

I wonder what I've missed in my field in the last 10 years?  I suppose I could google it.

Depends on your field.  Mine moves forward at glacial speed.  In any case, go confidently in the direction of your dreams!*

*Okay, not my words.  Emerson or Thoreau?  I never could keep them straight.  Pry?

Thoreau.

[conjugate]

Oddly and contrarily, I'm in a TT position and don't publish much.  If I can defy convention, then surely so can you.  I once published quite a bit more than I do now when I was at a small college with a hefty teaching load and significant service responsibilities. 

The world is full of ideas to be explored, theorems to be proved, correlations to be noticed, and observations to be made.  Go for it.

[lucille2]

I recommend getting into Dissertation Abstracts on-line.  If you search topics in your field there, and look at the most recent dissertations, you will get some idea about where new information is needed. You can also search professional journals of your field in the same way -- get an idea of their target audiences, and submit articles in their styles.

[bms2000]

I'm actually in the exact same boat. I just submitted an abstract (and had it accepted, wonder of wonders) to an ASEE conference for the first time in about 10 years. I'm an engineering adjunct, have been for all that time. I sort of regret the fact that I got out of the publishing habit. But I have come to realize that while I enjoy teaching engineers, and researching effective teaching of engineers, I really don't care much about doing engineering research anymore. It's ok, but I was never stellar at coming up with research ideas, truth be told. Perhaps this will be the start of a new direction in my career. For now, it's fun to spend some of my free time analyzing all the data I have gathered over the past 10 years and seeing what can be made of it. If I publish, awesome. If I don't, no big deal, I'll try again. As long as enough adjuncting money comes in to make the ends meet, I don't have any screaming ambitions. 

[farm_boy]

Congratulations, bms.

So what did I get done over Christmas?  I read a lot, and took some notes.  I think no one else has published on my topic.

But now I fear (with teaching 4 classes) that my research will sit (and ferment??) until spring break or summer.  No time right now.

[watermarkup]

If your semester just started, then it's reasonable to let the research stew until Saturday. But no longer! Re-use last semester's notes for Friday's classes and write something down.

[bms2000]

Congratulations, bms.

So what did I get done over Christmas?  I read a lot, and took some notes.  I think no one else has published on my topic.

But now I fear (with teaching 4 classes) that my research will sit (and ferment??) until spring break or summer.  No time right now.

I had a much lighter load this term and last term (grumble stupidbudgetcuts grumble), so I am taking the opportunity to write up some stuff I did at another adjuncting job last year. I figure, I'm either taking advantage of a slow time to do some of my own stuff, or I am prepping for job hunting if I get booted out if the budget is cut further. I have also been approached by a colleague about co-authoring a textbook. I am all over that, so hopefully it will work out.