On writing

Writing is hard work.  The process is slow.  Today I worked and re-worked on a chapter, eager to send it to my supervisor for feedback.  It seems as if every time I work on a section, I think of further sections to include.  I cannot assume that my reader understands what I mean, and so must make everything plain.  I therefore feel the need to include quite descriptive sections, i.e. "I did this, then I did that, then I thought this, then I did the other..." simply so that my reader remains informed. 
My desire differs from this ploddy approach.  I want to jump ahead to express my ideas.  Instead, I must carefully articulate all my considerations, and offer a rationale for every step I took. 
As qualitative researchers, however, I am aware that 'we do not simply chronicle "what happened next"' (Richardson, 1990, p.10).  Instead, 'we weigh and sift experiences, make choices regarding what is significant, what is trivial, what to include, what to exclude' (Ibid.).  Writing is laborious, slow, absorbing, productive, enlightening, compulsive... Writing cannot be avoided.  Writing enlightens and reveals the gaps. Writing...

On titles

I like titles.  They break up text, point to content, separate meaning, organise information, indicate, announce...  I am considering what title to give my section about analysing the data.  How did I make meaning out of the oral tellings, transcripts and notes?  How did I analyse my encounters with the participants, the ensuing transcripts, my reflections and evolving understanding, my decisions, my subsequent conversations with the participants, my organisation of the content and my writing and re-writing of the stories? I started with the title: 'What happened?' Then I thought of other, more fitting titles: 'Mapping the Stories', 'Charting the Research Journey', 'Moulding the Transcripts', 'Moving Stories', 'Making Sense of the Stories', 'The Stories'...
Perhaps I am not ready to seal this chunk of EdD work with a title. Titles seal.