12,000 words by 29th Jan...35 words so far.

[AlwaysStarving]

So I am attempting to write my dissertation and am completely effing up. Have no concentration and the lack of motivation is a bummer. For background, I have 2DDs. DD1 is 3 and DD2 is 10 months. I had DD1 in 2nd year of uni and DD2 in final year (last year). I have had an extension to complete the dissertation and feel like I am not going to hit it. The reason why I didn't manage to do it last year was firstly, because I was heavily pregnant and then had baby. I sat an exam a month after she was born and prioritised other long essays before the dissertation. Second, my DH was working abroad for the year so was effectively by myself looking after 1 child and being pregnant, then having a young baby to add to the mix and no DH. I am soo tired and cannot think anymore! I feel soo sad having to abandon my girls constantly with mum, but even then I get nothing done. Help! Has anyone else been in a situation such as this before?

Ok so you have 24 days to write 12000 words? So about 600 words a day? That is manageable. What is it about?

You need to be strict with yourself and set a target. How about 1000 words a day and the rest for editing and refining? Footnote as you go, don't leave things like that to the end.

Have you done the research already so just writing?

It's totally doable. I have done 20,000 in 10 days, but that was hard going.

Main tip would be just start writing. Get some words down and worry about refining it later. Write a bit about each section in your plan (or start by doing a skeleton plan). You will be surprised how quickly it grows.

If you have your research it's doable I've done 1500 word in a day, it was a slog but doable. In fact I have 2000 words to write tomorrow for a deadline on Wednesday so how about we both come back here tomorrow night and see where we've got too?!

You need a plan, I like to get a massive role of paper and plan it out in sections. If you have a bit of structure then it gives you some focus and you can concerntrate on one bit each day rather than thinking about the over whelming prospect of 12000 words.

Hats off to you though having got this far with a toddler and a baby!

Ellicam it is on British perceptions of Russia as an Imperial rival in Persia between 1880-1907.
I have split it up in 3 main sections and leaving conclusion and intro til the end.
I have a plan for the first section but I literally cannot get the words out.
cuntycow I am planning on doing 3000 words in the next few words to finish this first section and then moving on. And meeting back here tomorrow night sounds like a great idea. Thank you!

I have no idea about British perceptions of Russia as an Imperial rival in Persia between 1880-1907. Do you want hi give a brief synopsis? It might be helpful to get the ideas flowing?

Great see you tomorrow! Honestly if you can knock out a couple of thousand words then it will be the boost you need.

Provided you have done the research it should be doable. I wrote my entire 12000 dissertation (History) in around two weeks. I set myself little targets each day. For example, I could have a cup of coffee once I'd written 300 words. Daily targets were around 800 words. It soon adds up and once you get to around 7000 words, you'll feel like you've broken the back of it. Luckily I didn't have too many distractions - dc at school - and I took two weeks off work to knuckle down. Good luck!

hahaha right at this moment neither have I! Well, gaining a foot in Persia was beneficial for the Brits because it was a significant route to British India which at the time was the jewel in the crown of Britain. By gaining power in Persia, they tried to block other European aggressors ie Germans and Russians who looked like they were heading towards India, and Britain could not allow this etc. I have 3 sections for the main body which I was thinking of doing roughly 3000 words on each then 1000 each for intro and conc each leaving me 1000 to play with later if I haven't already used it up.

First time I have sat down all day so will attempt to do a couple of hundred before dd wakes up for a breastfeed (big exhausted sigh)

How did you get on?

Hello...

I know nothing of your topic...!

Some practical suggestions;

But

If your typing is not touch-typing level-mine isn't! . I found it much easier to use dictation software... Dragon is brilliant... Also there is a free trial dictation software as part of the SwiftKey keyboard... On android at least! So i used to use my mobilr and i would randomly dictate bits of my thesis sittinf in traffic jams.... Or lying in the bath.

Something which will save a couple od days;

References/content pages- take an absolute age... So do it automatically if you havent discovered? -

referencing software such as refworks /endnote save days..you can download from google scholar /academic databases automatically... It will order it how you need it.... So you DONT have to type out the reference list/or reorder it... It's done automatically!

If you dont know - find out how to use automatic tabel of contents in word. It means with one key stroke all your page numbers will be updated.

Still very possible.
Must be inspired by all the things you have to say, though.

Plan out topics you want to comment on. Break it into chunks (chapters).
Plan chapters & type notes for each one like you would explain to your husband what each chapter (chunk) is supposed to say.

Smooth it up, waffle a bit, you'll have 5000 words in no time & build from there.

Ok, so I am on 1007 haha (nervous snigger). Hopefully will try to get it to either 3000 or the end of the chapter, which may be more than 3000, by Friday. Ever find your mind gong elsewhere and planning what you are going to do when you are free of it all? Like right now, I'm thinking I'm going to go shopping the day after the deadline just for the sake of it, then take my eldest for icecream and a looong day out blah di blah. anyhow!!!
DevilsAvocado I didn't even think of those things so thank you very much.
will keep everyone updated and any more suggestions/ words of motivation/ success stories are more than welcome!

and yep lljkk literally bllshi*ing my way through it all

Do you not have a protocol of some sort, the research proposal to your supervisor? Copy & paste & expand.

I always advise students who are having trouble writing that they should do one of two things:
a) start with a general plan then write very short summaries of each section, then break each section into subsections, again with very short summaries, then do the same with paragraphs and finally fill in each paragraph, starting with the easiest. So you end up writing a few sentences expanding on the summary for each paragraph. Or:
b) Just write down everything you can think of, without worrying about style or order then edit, edit, edit. Make sure you keep versions in case you lose things in the cutting and pasting. This way you get to a complete version quicker than method a), which you can then refine until time runs out.
Definitely use Endnote or something to keep your references straight. In method a) you can add them to your paragraphs. Poor referencing is the easiest way to drop a grade or two.

Just popping in to say I am just over 7000 words. Still feels like along journey, submission is Friday wish me luck guys

Well done alwaysstarving. Keep going you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you manage to get it in? I'm hoping from the silence, you've been beavering away - that's a yes! And what a brilliant topic to choose - so interesting: if I'd seen this thread earlier, I'd have offered to proof-read it for you

Hi everyone, yes I did manage to hand it in it was manic in the end, had a friend near uni print it and bind it for me with 10mins to go because I 'finished' extremely late! But atleast it is done and I can say I tried. would hate to ever see my dissertation supervisor again because I know it wasn't very good complete shite. Thank you soo much for all of your support, I am glad to have found company on MN!

Well done. Hope you have some nice plans for the weekend!

catching up on housework!

Well done :)

Well done AlwaysStarving - have been following your posts as ds is also writing his dissertation at the moment although his isn't due for another couple of months - this weeks deadline was just for the draft. You chose a fascinating subject and I hope you do well.