PhD thesis writing motivation/support thread!

[JumpingJellyfish]

I know there's a few of you lurking out there and thought we could have a new sparkly thread to coerce encourage us with thesis writing....

I'm in my 6th (or is it 7th) year of a part-time PhD in marine biology- and writing up (though still occassionally dabbling in data analysis which I shouldn't be!! but it's always more interesting than writing...). Hoping to submit 1st May 2009. have to really for my sanity and that of my long-suffering DH & DCs. Need to finish my first draft by end of January I reckon to give me time to make corrections etc.

But I am having long periods of self doubt and general procrastination so could do with some motivational support from anyone going through similar (Acinonyx for example?! ps. I've name-changed from madmarriedNika )

hello all- just popping on briefly (& typing badly with one hand) to ask for tips... I have finally got my viva date through- 3rd feb- any preparation advice?! Also have now got 7 week old baby DD2 (DC3)! All going well but v little time in which to prepare for viva, so getting a little anxious! got to get her taking a bottle too- have requested a break to express- wonder if they've had to accommodate that before?!

hope you're all well & those still writing are managing to keeop at it while retaining some semblance of sanity!

hi jumpingjellyfish, great to hear about the viva date! i'm still waiting to hear about mine, hopefully it will be around the same time as yours. so i'll be watching the tips with interest!

how is your thesis writing going notanidea?

Hey.I have written material and methods and one of the result chapters.. Can anyone here tell me how to get the bibliography page compiled if you have been using zotero.Need all your support.Going to do the second set of results from today.

I prepared for my viva by reading the book by Rowena Murray- How to survive your viva. I also was given a list of possible questions by my professor along with a note of which chapter they came from. I also reread it several times but found that each time I did this i had less confidence in what I'd written so a bit of a double edged sword that one! Most important though was planning what I would wear- smart and comfortable won the day

Good luck- it is scary but needs to be done!!

I read the same book as Sunny - in fact I think we list our practice questions earlier in the thread.

I think I also spent more time planning what to wear. I bought a smart white shirt - then went to the pub afterwards and spilt food on it (yes I did drink rather a lot...) and the stain won't come out.

Well, the date of my viva has just come through - the 27th Jan. So shortly before yours JumpingJellyfish. Suddenly it seems very real and close !

I was thinking of wearing some blue/white cords and a stripey dress shirt. Does that sound formal/comfy enough Sunny and Acinonyx?

Sorry notanidea, I have no experience at all with your reference programme. If you're still having problems maybe you could start a thread with its name in the title? I know there are some people around who have experience with it.

Well tomorrow is my graduation!! New outfit bought, guests lined up to support me and a nice meal afterwards. Now off onto internet to see how to doff that hat!!!

hi sunny, how did the graduation go. i hope all your relatives came and watched your big moment!

Hi WHiteflame
I hope that you are holding out your arms? Yes ? Good then I'll just throw you tons of luck for your viva- sock it to em!!!

Graduation was great fun, although damn cold. Guess I just haven;t acclimatised from the warmer weather in the med. Had a lovely meal afterwards and it was a great day....now I just need to find a job!

passed, with minor corrections ! so thanks for the luck sunnylabsmum!

the exam was pretty gruelling, feel like a wet rag right now. off to have a finally-guilt-free nap and then do some celebrating i think

Thats brilliant news. Hope that you will get a chance to celebrate your success.

IIRC most of us who have had vivas on this thread seem to have got pass minor corrections.

One funny thing I was told ages ago about the viva is that if they say that they want you to write bush on the bottom of every page, just calmly ask what size font!!

Congratulations whiteflame! So pleased for you

Had my viva on Weds and also passed with minor corrections! It lasted 3 hours and was actually quite enjoyable- thankfully the corrections are really quite minor so shouldn't be too arduous to work through. Can't quite believe I've finally got to this stage after 7 years, 3 children, 3 house moves & a number of jobs! Unfortunately have to save serious celebrating for when DD2 isn't b'feeding, or is a little more settled in the eve & takes a bottle!

Thank you all for your support throughout this last year+ We got there in the end!

Wow, that's awesome JumpingJellyfish!!! Big pat on the back

I actually quite enjoyed my exam too, we had quite a good discussion. I've completed my corrections and handed the final hardbound thesis in now - it looks weirdly thin in book form!

Have you got any plans now Jumpingjellyfish, or is it mainly chilling for a while? What are you up to at the moment sunnylabsmum?

Well done jumpinghellyfish and white flame! I have been ignoring this thread since submitting but now have a viva date in 3.5 weeks - argh! Suddenly very very real

great to hear of everyones success. I am busy trying to get back into teaching. I am finding I am having to omit the docorate to get considered. Really annoying as it took me 9 yrs to complete. Hopefully something soon will turn up!!

that must be annoying sunnylabsmum!! is it because most teachers where you are have a masters degree?

how are you doing peppapig? are you reasonably relaxed (or as relaxed as you could expect at least)?

I'm ok - think I may well be in denial. Finding it really hard to actually open the thing and read it. Trying to reason with myself that I know the area well, I wrote it, know whats wrong with it...

Gulp

that's the way to go peppapig, keep it up as long as you can!! i managed to stay calm until about 2 am the night before, and even then wasn't majorly stressed. i'm not a very calm person so i'm pretty sure i just blocked it out... very useful

Yeah - whats the worst that can happen? I fail. Sure life will go on a 99.9% of people in my life will still just be confused at what I was trying to do...

5 days. Eek!

won't be around tomorrow, so best of luck peppapig!!!

Good luck Peppa!! It really won't be as bad as you think, promise! (and if it is, blame your supervisors!).

Working through my corrections is taking forever as DC3 does not sleep!! Ah well, it'll get done hopefully within a month. Then it's back to paper writing...hmmm...the joys of academia eh!

Wooohoo! Minor corrections which I actually understand

Am in absolute shock - you were right it wasnt actually that bad

Congratulations!!! Having seen everyone get through successful is quite inspiring for us not yet that stage! Hope you had (are having) a good celebration

Congrats Dr Peppa!! See, told you so

How long have you got to complete the corrections? Hope it'll be a breeze, and really hope you're letting your hair down tonight! Felt I missed out on a proper celebration as b'feeding restricted my alcohol consumption (and possiblity of a good night's sleep to sleep it all off!) so postponing proper celebrations until graduation in July, by which time I'll be making sure DC3 is taking a bottle!

Keep going all those still at the writing stage, it will be worth it!

wow, well done Pepppa, it's such a huge relief to be done isn't it!! you must be so stoked. hope you have a relaxing weekend