• teaching freshman comp for the first time
• finishing coursework
• preparing for and taking oral examination
• writing my 50-page thesis
• orally defending thesis
• applying to PhD programs
  • taking the GRE again
  • taking the Lit Subject test again
  • writing a more detailed, professional statement of purpose
  • getting LOR writers
  • submitting a very decent/impressive writing sample

Can't exactly say that if I have to take a year off after the MA that it'll be the worst thing in the world. In fact, I may just plan to take a year off, because this sounds like a recipe for an Esther Greenwood-like breakdown.

• *UPDATE: most definitely will be taking a year off after the MA. I don't even think I'll apply to PhD programs that year because that would be just begging for a tragedy.