I submitted details of my PhD topic to a couple of online websites to do with the wider research context. I explained the gap I was filling, but was incredibly vague about the methodology and sources that I was using. So people couldn't steal my research, but knew that I was working in that area, and that was important to me not to be overtaken/gazumped.

I adopted a similar approach at conferences. When speaking to people I would be very vague generally, unless I was sure they were trustable.

I also was very vague about my sources and methodology when talking to a PhD student working on a similar area. Again so he could not copy what I was doing.

Barring big problems with writing up (like finding you find it extremely difficult) 1 year should be enough. But you will give yourself a head-start if you can start writing up before then. Write as you go along. I sort of did this. But I wish I'd done it more.

Surely it isn't that expensive to post copies using the Royal Mail? I send things overseas for eBay all the time. It's not that expensive at all. If they are the best journals you should aim for them.

You don't need to send it by courier or anything like that. Just normal post. Preferably airmail, but surface mail if need be. And it will qualify for printed papers rate.

I was a 6-year part-time student. However I hit the ground running. I wrote my literature review (which remained largely unchanged by the end of my PhD) within 3 months of starting. Then I immediately started the research phase of my research.

I still took nearly 6 years to submit (which is equivalent to 3 years full-time), partly because I found the writing up hard, partly because my neurological disease progressed. In the final years of my PhD had no more than 5 hours total (in 1 hour chunks spread throughout the week) for study time. But I finished.

I don't believe you need to spend ages "finding your area" in the first year. I also think people can often waste a lot of time doing far too much reading/lit review, which isn't relevant later. And then people run out of time and run into the fourth year.

If you seriously are suicidal please get professional help. Your GP is there for you, as are the counsellors at your university. And the Samaritans can be contacted at any time.

Have you taken full advantage of the careers service at your university? They may be able to suggest areas of work that you had not thought of.

Also what about the possibility of creating your own job and being self-employed Would consultancy in any form be an option? I don't know what your PhD is in, but it's often an option.

Good luck!

I'm with you Sneaks. I'm expecting a decision in the next couple of days (by end of this week the editor said). It's rather put me off checking my email to be honest!

Wow I envy you lot with whizzy online systems you can check to see the status.

I'm a historian, and although this is a very high impact journal I've aimed for, it's still a case of emailing the people and asking about status. No whizzy computer systems.

And even that only works if they reply to your email. I first asked a month ago. No reply. Then I emailed again yesterday.

I've had papers accepted. I think the wait-forever-equals-rejection is a myth.

Though I hope not. I've had a paper with reviewers/editors for 7 months (!). This is a journal that advertises its usual review time is 3 months. I emailed the editors to check its status this week. They are going to decide by the end of the week ... :$

Delighted to hear you're reaching the finishing line. And glad my advice was helpful.

Best wishes for the future.

Good luck Sneaks. Sounds as though you've done a lot of the groundwork already though, in terms of existing drafts. So while redrafting is hard (for example cutting down your lit review to an acceptable length) it's better than starting from scratch. So you should get there ;-)

I would also recommend considering seeing the university chaplain, even if you are (like me) agnostic, or an atheist. They can relate really well to very serious health situations, and would be very understanding about what you've been going through with your daughter and trying to juggle a PhD as well.

I went to see my chaplain in 2007, after my consultant had said there were virtually no options left to try to battle my life-threatening (and used to always kill) progressive neurological disease. I tried the university counsellors first, but they couldn't understand the severity of what I was dealing with. But the chaplain was great. And because she had a PhD as well she could relate well to that side.

Good luck!

I was a bit disappointed by that too, when we filled in the census online on Sunday night. My hubby has a PhD too, so it's not so much competition in our house on the academic front. Though I did tick more qualifications boxes than him, mainly because I have a SCOTVEC certificate in interfaces and control systems (robots and traffic lights - I'm really good at designing traffic lights)!