I’m going to the library today. I need to figure out what a PhD proposal is and how I’m going to do one. Only in the Arts does one set out to get a PhD as a ‘fall back plan’ in case nothing else pops.
Admissions aren’t until October but apparently you’re supposed to really sound like you know what you’re talking about at that stage, so for me that means a very early start.
What tends to attract me to studying so much (other than being a 
huge dork) is that University admissions and degrees are based more on fact than say, getting accepted by a publisher. I’ve seen too many insanely talented Writers consistently knocked back by publishers with little explanation of why. Research is a bit different, it’s systematic. There are blatant guidelines to the ins and outs and if a Uni rejects you, you’re likely to at least get a decent reason why and a bit of encouragement to brush yourself off and have another go.
Furthermore as I get old and disgruntle I realize a job that doesn’t make me want to bang my head against a wall for stimulation during ‘work time’ hours is going to be in order at some point. I reckon lecturing at a University at down the track would suit me. Jumping up and down in front of a room of young minds saying ‘WRITE WRITE WRITE!!!’ has a special ring to it.
… so into town I go!!