6. publish in a peer-review journal

This morning I entered the annual Graduate Student Paper Competition associated with the Missouri Library Association conference. Winners get a waiver of the conference registration fee, a $100 honorarium, and a 25-minute slot to present the results at the conference in October.

To enter, I just had to write up the abstract. I submitted my idea for a study that I believe would be publishable in a peer-review journal. I'll pursue the study whether or not I win the competition, but winning would give me a deadline--as a student, I find deadlines very useful for structuring my time to complete projects.

So cross your fingers, send postive vibes, include me in your prayers, or employ your favorite method of virtual support. This is a goal that will require a bit of luck along with effort.