Miss Brightside

Presenting at a zoom conference tomorrow, have only written half of my presentation, am too bored and too burned out, and probably will pull an all-nighter but haven't freaked out just yet. I have no idea why I am this calm. Just wanted to share this.

Hello, I have decided to do an article-based thesis. It's going to help me to get published.

Update: I still haven't defended, but have come a long way in just one year. In the months to come, I'll have two articles published in peer-reviewed journals, and I'm also working on two chapters for edited volumes. I had another two publications in conference proceedings, and will participate in five more conferences, via Zoom, in the following months. I also had at least ten rejections in just one year. I'm sharing this update because I was super stressed last year, so I want to remind everyone that things can and will get better.

For lit studies programs, your proficiency in language is not a factor in applications (an exception might be if you are planning on studying medieval literature but even then, I don't think coming in with no Latin/Old French knowledge is necessarily a dealbreaker). If you are trying to bolster your lit studies applications, your time would be better spent improving your statement of purpose and writing sample.  
For comp lit, it most definitely is necessary to have proficiency in another language, so it really just depends on what programs you will be applying for. 
I see you've noted that listening/speaking is where you have difficulty with German/French and again, for lit studies programs, I wouldn't worry about that at all. You won't be evaluated on your speaking skills — most likely to pass a language requirement all you'll need to do is translate a short passage and you'll be allowed a dictionary. 

Thank you so much; that helps a lot! I'll definitely just invest in that French book then (I was afraid I'd buy a 30 euro book and then find out I really shouldn't be spending time on learning French), especially since I just want to, but it probably could also be useful in a SoP or CV or sth to mention that I've already started becoming more proficient in it. What you mention about the starting requirements for English is also super useful - I was a bit uncertain if I was reading it right on some uni websites before, because yeah with a dictionary German and French are much less of an issue bc the grammar comes quite intuitively to me (though I should definitely refresh it a bit), but the vocab and listening/speaking is where I just shut down lol. I'll also definitely reach out to some people, since I do think you really make sense in that my not knowing what the better programme fit would be does seem a bit central to this (and other) issues. Oh and if I manage to get into the swing of things I'll definitely reach out! ^^

If you're applying to an English PhD, you will have to have proficiency in another language - meaning reading/translating (not having to be fluent in conversation by any means). This is common for any language PhD program. However, it is not necessary to have that before you start the program and programs often help you to achieve the proficiency. In any case, it seems you possibly already would have that proficiency in German or French. Since you're a modernist, Ancient Greek wouldn't be the one you would use for the proficiency exam. By all means, taking time to become more fluent now is always helpful and less stressful for you later. (That's what I'm doing currently - taking time to learn French now so that I won't be so stressed in grad school next year adding that to my endless list of things to do. We can practice together if you like!☺️)
In terms of Comp Lit, you need to be fluent in 2 languages (in a addition to English). Since you're uninterested in your native tongue, you really need to hone German and French to be competitive in Comp Lit apps. Comp Lit is an extremely competitive field to get into. It's honestly much easier to get into a single language program like English. So if you decide that Comp Lit is your preferred program and you definitely want to begin in 2022, I highly recommend having some back up applications in English. 
Also, just rereading everything you wrote, I'd like to offer a suggestion. Maybe you've already thought about this, but reach out to people in both English and Comp Lit programs. Talking to them about the program and their experiences may really help you discover what's the best fit for you. I did that a while back and it was very helpful in deciding between Comp Lit vs Italian programs. People are generally really nice and willing to talk to you, too. Everyone has been in your shoes at some point.

I started my PhD two and a half years ago and am expected to defend this Fall, I only have 3 publications so far (conference proceedings, one of them very prestigious). I was due to present part of my work to four conferences but they were cancelled due to COVID-19, if there isn't a second wave they will probably be held sometime in the Fall.

I'm currently writing my dissertation. Its structure is 3 parts, each consisting of 3 chapters. I started with chapter number 1, then moved on to chapter number 2, and then wrote another version of chapter 1 because I felt it didn't click. I'm now continuing writing one chapter after another. The Intro will be the last thing I'll write.

...and just accepted into CSU L.A., which is/was in a three-way tie for M.A. programs for me! No information about funding, etc., just a brief but pleasant email from the director of graduate admissions. I've been cutting everyone a break this admissions cycle, so I've only expected brief emails from anyone and I've been delighted to get anything else. Everything from simply processing documents to evaluating funding and hiring freezes has become so much more difficult
Yeah, the faculty at UNM are really up to some interesting work that is very hard to confine to any bubble, and all of them have been really pleasant. 

Accepted University of New Mexico's M.A. offer. Virtually sitting in on Dr. Paul Livingston's Sense and Possibility class. Honestly, pretty stoked to see a course that discusses Deleuze and Frege. A lot of the conty-analytic divide is a bunch of nerdy infighting and pearl-clutching. If I get better offers from CSU Long Beach or CSU L.A., it's going to be a really tough decision because I really like the faculty at UNM, the interests of the department align well with my own, and the students seem to be of a higher caliber than other programs I was accepted into.

Declined University of Miami's offer and will be accepting Central European University's offer tomorrow.

Accepted UC Irvine (LPS)!

Oh whoops, already commented this on another thread, but - corona permitting, I'll be heading to Madison, Wisconsin.
And just a quick note for applicants who have either been shut out or are still unsure they'll have a positive decision to make this cycle: everybody's position is different, of course, but this was the third year of applying to schools for me. Thirty-eight other applications before this one finally clicked. So don't get disheartened too soon! ❤️

Accepted: Boston University! ^^
Declined: Duquesne, Stony Brook, Boston College, Fordham
And took myself off the waitlist at Villanova. Excited to hear about where everyone ends up!

Accepted University of Michigan! 
Declined: Marquette, Stony Brook, Villanova, Boston University, Fordham
Took myself off the waitlist: DePaul, UT Austin, Emory
(and, of course, rejected far, far more places than these)

@Miss Brightside You can list those on your CVs even if they were cancelled. 
https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/canceled-conferences

I started my PhD two and a half years ago and am expected to defend this Fall, I only have 3 publications so far (conference proceedings, one of them very prestigious). I was due to present part of my work to four conferences but they were cancelled due to COVID-19, if there isn't a second wave they will probably be held sometime in the Fall.

Don't listen to him if you want a TT track job or anything nice in academia. There is a reason there is a publish or perish paradigm in academia...he is leading you towards perishing. Publish something...do... it... now, but in a reputable, quality journal. It is not easy getting published. On average, it takes me two years to get a paper published from the first start/submission to final publication. 

I've heard this advice for book fields, and since I'm not in one this is all second hand, but my understanding is that the main concern has to do with publishing too much of your dissertation to be able to get a book contract. The "don't publish anything at all" version sounds a little paranoid. Sure, early on you might be immature as a researcher, and it is true that everything you have out there is out there forever, but by the time you're in your 4th and 5th year and ready to go on the job market, one would hope that you're sufficiently mature that you won't regret anything you've published. Or if so, I would have serious doubts about your dissertation. Are there other professors whose advice you might seek? Other graduate students in more advanced stages? It's a delicate matter because your advisor seems to have a strong opinion, but I wonder if there are ways of getting him on board (like maybe making sure to run everything by him for his approval before submitting). Either way, I tend to agree that if others on the job market are only hired if they have other publications, it would be advisable for you to seek some yourself, too.