Freewrite from the morning

If I wrote a book… wait a minute, I think I already have. In fact, just last Thursday I found out that I am going to be published, the senior thesis turned compilation work has come to fruition in publication. I knew this day might come, but was never quite sure; it was the end of my fall term, senior year at Middlebury and my adviser, John P. Keenan had been away for the entire semester as I tried to come up with something interesting to say for my 500 project, the first hoop to writing the thesis, or the 700 project. This had to be good in order for me to continue and I had no way of knowing if Keenan would approve. “This is great,” he said after reading my thoughts on ineffable experiences cross-traditionally, “and I’d like it to be the foundation for a larger compilation work to be written by you, myself, and a few other writers. What do you think?” Wow, I thought, he likes it and he wants to publish a book with me! Publication is nothing new for a college professor, but for a young college student unsure of herself or career path, it was a huge opportunity. The thesis was written, passed with flying colors, and then it was in the hands of Keenan and the others. Two other students and myself contributed work, and Keenan worked alongside another professor editing, reworking, rethinking, and rewriting. I received a manuscript 3 or so years after graduation, recognized some of my words, but didn’t know how to respond. How do I revise something written by myself and 4 other people? How will this ever get published? I got the email last Thursday, after writing and sharing about Keenan in the writing project. How serendipitous. How do you want your name to appear on the cover, he asked, 7 years after starting this project.