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 )

Hope the interview goes well Sunny.

I've made a plan with dh that after Sep I will do PAID work - so I need to get the papers done over the summer.

Peppa - July is pretty soon!

Still tying up the bits and bobs here. Dh caught me going off down another mathematical rabbit hole and lectured me about staying on course and just getting finished.

My main anxiety is about having major corrections to do - I hasn't been very thoroughly checked by my supervisor.

Good luck Sunny!

Peppa- it is very, very hard juggling young DCs with writing- have you got much in the way of childcare? I find working in the eves so hard, but since I took on a pt job I've only been able to do that really, and try to get 1 long day in at the weekend while DH minds the kids. My DD also wakes a lot- she's 20 months! Been bad since she was 10 months old...and it's killing me! So I have managed now to juggle things about a bit with childcare to give me 1.5 or even 2 full days during the week just for PhD writing.

Acinonyx- sounds like you're doing really well! Glad you have DH to keep you on the straight & narrow! My DH really hasn't a clue about what I'm doing, but I'm lucky that he too did a PhD (though in chemistry) and knows the process well, and does keep giving me a much needed kick up the backside to not let this become my life's work.

Got comments back on my monster 2nd experimental chapter and even my very critical supervisor has said I only need to make tiny changes Now half way through the 3rd experimental chapter, then got to tackle the overall intro & discussion. Still hope to finish by June somehow. Work has been very hectic but final deadline for my research project is tomorrow so once that's cleared can focus on PhD again.

I do get sidetracked to by the urge to try publish papers...have one that needs submitting but had been started ages ago so kind of had to do it, but it has detracted a bit from the PhD chapters...

Good luck all- keep going, we are getting there (but damn that lovely sunshine...just want to be outside now!)

How was the interview Sunny? I've just applied for a couple of posts.

My official submission date is April 15th. Could have been earlier but 'we' forgot to officially appoint my examiners

I almost can't look at the thing! The page numbering is driving me slightly mad.

no joy with the interview- I was gutted for all of 10 mins and then actually relieved as I wasn;t sure it was the place for me to develop professionally. Few more irons in the fire, else it'll be bread and gruel come Jan! Am enjoying my part time sec teaching lots and reckon I could always do supply if nothing permanent turns up.

Well thesis land as I now call it is changing rapidly. Have decided, with tutor help it is done, so now DH is doing formatting and printing changes and then I will be submitting hopefully by 15 April like you Achinoyx. My examiners were appointed last autumn so I just have to see when the viva will be and organise flights to the UK for it. They did offer me a webcam viva but I thought that i'd prefer to face the music head on (Also means I can do some sneaky shopping in cheap old england!!)

Keep plodding team thesis!!

I think sometimes you feel you really should apply for something but at the back of your mind you're not really sure it's the right way to go.

I'm waiting to hear on two applications and thinking about doing another one but not sure if it's too far out of my comfort zone. If I don't get any interviews that will really send a message about how hard the job hunting is going to be. Tbh - I really long to have some money!

Hoping my viva will be sooner rather than later - looks like it will be either mid May or mid June.

yeh understand that point about applying for loads of things, but feel that most of my applications probably end up in the bin as they fall under the too difficult to consider as lives in cyprus. So realistically it might have to wait until we are back in the Uk. Hb's boss here wants him to extend by a few months so it could be Oct before we are back, although I could move back in Aug as our house will be ready then.

Just had an email from my tutor offering to get her sec to print of my thesis if i want to save it getting lost in the post....yes please!!!

How's it going sunnylabsmum and acinonyx? are you on track for april 15th?

i've been away for a few days break, and am about to head into another chapter. now that i've had time to consider my last written results chapter i'm not sure if the general outline i had planned for my thesis makes sense or not, sigh.

Yes - I have bound copies for the 15th

But it never stops - now it's papers, viva prep, looking for a job.....

Wow, congrats Acinonyx! I bet you're pleased to have crossed such a major thing off the to do list

Well done Acinonyx! Bet it was such a relief to hand the thing in! Do keep us posted re. your viva etc.- how soon do they expect you to have it?

How did you get on sunnylabsmum?

Well my submission date is now back to 1st Sept- but have put in the intention to submit forms so committed for sure now. Kind of sad to have missed May 1st as the darn thing will now hang over me all summer, but I have been limping along with it so really was not going to make May at all. Trying to finish a chapter in the next few days but that'll be a bit ambitious as only have rest of today and a few hours on monday, and still LOTS to get through. DH feels I'm being too much of a perfectionist, and he's probably right, but don't know how to speed myself up any more... So sick of this thing and spending at least one day of every weekend sat on my own in the lab...

Yes mine submitted too!!! Now scurrying around getting stuff in a folder for the viva, so the work is not really over.

Jellyfish- I do sympathise with you having it over your head over the summer. I was in a similar position last year as I vainly rushed to complete and then was told that I needed to do major revisions. It really knocked me for 6 as well. My Prof tried to bolster me up by saying that this would be the last summer and then It would be over, but its not what I really wanted to hear. I guess that as long as we make it in the end, few people will ask how long it took and why didn't we get it done sooner! DOH!

Hang in there!!

I know this is an old thread, but was searching for another one I wrote on a while ago and just wanted to say to Acinonyx that I went to BlueCoat and Fram too!

Hi ladette - but which side of 40 are you? I expect you were there after me! I wonder if we had some of the same teachers. Fram: Mrs Johnson, Mr Wilson, Mr Grimshaw, Mrs Scott?

Jellyfish - I totally dropped the perfectionism towards the end. I just wanted it done.

I'm now anxiously trying to sort out a job and knuckle down to writing a paper which I am procrastinating over.

Just found this thread and wondering if there is anyone else out there still writing up! I was so jealous when i read about submission dates - congratulations to you!

I'm in my third/fourth year of phd in law and trying desperately to write up - 8 month dd is at nursery this morning - she goes two mornings to allow me to write and of course i am guilty of browsing mumsnet

would be good to hear from those of you out there

hi mcg welcome to our merry band! Yes writing up is a constant pain but I'm sure you will get there. you sound very motivated and organised! I have just submitted BUT it took me over 8 years to get there. Like you i juggled childcare and writing and found that setting a time limit for breaks helped me keep on focus. In my humble opinion re-writing is even worse than writing...some of my chapters had so many versions that I lost count, however one chapter methodology seemed to get done quickly and that boosted me no end!
Good luck

thanks! just reading this thread gave me some much needed inspiration on a slow morning! but you are so right when it is going well i still enjoy it but that seems so rare nowadays. my mum is going to be around for 2 months so that i can concentrate on writing so will try and make the most of it!

Just dropping in to give you all encouragement!! I'm a PhD widow but hopefully not for long - dh finished (except abstract) last night at 3am, with blisters from typing, completely run down but THE END IS INSIGHT!!!

Just the final ok and then binding, and the defending viva

He can't wait to play families with our ds

Goodluck to you all - I am in awe!

(and if any of you wonder why you end up doing all nighters after 3.5yrs, I have no idea either, but I have learnt from many friends this happens regardless!)

mcg - it it hard not to browse while writing up, isn't it? I am supposed to be writing a paper Right Now but here I am... procrastinating. I'm kind of written ou since submitting. There was a phase where I thought I might never get the thing finished - but it DOES happen - keep the faith! Viva now end July.

I agree with sunny - I hate rewriting.

Belle - my dh is very relieved. I am now on grocery duty for the next year in repayment.

Hi mcg! I'm third/fourth year of my PhD too, although in a different area. I'm currently writing up - got the bulk of my results chapters written, and am working on my introduction now. It's pretty hard going isn't it, how far into it are you? I could do with someone to boot me up the bum occasionally!

Hi whiteflame

good to hear you! I have written up most of my research chapters - but doing a lot of rewriting of my theoretical stuff as unfortunately the results meant i need to look at some other literature. I find rewriting the hardest - some sentences i think are perfection then i have to reword them. Conclusion is completely up in the air! Are you still managing to write on a full time basis?

yes, i'm writing full time, 5 or 6 days a week. sounds good that your mum is helping out for a while. it must be so hard if you can't write for a decent stretch at once.

i hear what you're saying about re-wording - i find it really difficult to think about sentences/paragraphs in a slightly different light when they need re-writing! i haven't made a proper start on my conclusion yet either, can't think of anything to say that i don't already say within the chapters... back to it tomorrow for me!

found out today that my viva is at the end of July so now organising flights back to the UK for this. Any advice on what I need to do in preparation for this, apart from worrying about 30 times a day??

Mine is July 30th - when's yours sunny?

spookily enough the same day...how weird is that!

Have just started to read a book I'd bought ages ago called 'How to survive your viva' by Rowena Murray. Will let you know if its any good

Oh I think that sounds like a book for me!