I just got an email back from one of my supervisors, and she asked me about if i am REALLY not going to write the chatper on "such and such"

and i explained that no, i'm not , i really don't have the time, to write it. and it doesn't make sense anyways for the rest of my thesis argument.

so this time i am standing my ground!

Thanks BB for your encouragement and positive thinking! Really appreciate it.

yah let's do it together. sounds like we're in exactly the same boat! similar deadline and chapters to write.

it's nice to know i'm not the only one.

Hey BB,

wow ! I am relieved to hear I am not the only one in that position, well kiddo, it's you and me! we can do it!!

i know exactly what you're going through. for a couple of days, i was panicking big time, so much so, i was having panic attacks and hyperventilitating, and running around like a headless chicken. which did not help matters!

but joining this forum and starting a writing diary inspired by Jojo, has calmed me down. and instead of thinking of the BIG deadline. i've settled for mini deadlines. i might not meet the mini deadlines, but it's better i fail meeting those immediate deadlines, then miss the big one!

i remember during my BSc i was late submitting my final thesis, and that for every hour it was late, i would lose points! i keep re-living that nightmare, week.day last few hours. i don't want to do that again!

Thanks Rosy and Sheena!
having a writing diary, really does make you focus.

You're welcome :)

actually that's a good question. don't know.

at the moment my chapters are seperate .doc files.

but i am thinking, when i do the final bibliography of my whole thesis. i am going to make one big .doc file , and then do the "format" endnote thingy. so that all the references throughout my thesis will be in the right order.

hence, why it's important to keep the chapters with the original references. ie the funny brackets.

sorry if that's not making sense.

good question. i think i have to use the harvard system too, i am submitting to University of london.

word of warning though. BEFORE you format the final document, ALWAYS ALWAYS have a backup of your document.

ie document backup (unformatted endnote references) ie the document with the original references with the funny brackets { }

a collegue of mine, went to do her final formatting of her end note references, and her whole document got screwed up.

anyways here is a website that might help??

http://www.brad.ac.uk/library/elecinfo/endnote/bib.php


I haven't reached the stage where I have to do the final formatting. i am just copy pasting the references, and they appear as {Kim, 2006 #11} nb. funny brackets.

i'm trying to do the number of pages method Joan Bolker speaks of, right now, aiming for around 1000 words per day (most of it's junk words though or notes about papers)

i know what you mean about friends and family. because of my 3 month deadline. i've told all my friends and family. i'm in hibernation. and every sentence that comes out my mouth is.. I am writing my thesis. i can't do such and such.

Jojo, I completely understand!

and yes knowing you're in the exact same situation as me, and are working away, is motivating me to do the same thing, i don't feel so alone.

ooh looks like we both have a deadline. i too have decided to give in a first draft of chapter 4 to my supervisor. my deadline is 2nd of june (self imposed deadline though lol)

yah exactly, one step at a time..

i have a stop watch on my desk. i may be in my study room all day, but "actual" productive time varies. anytime, i'm procrastinating or not doing thesis related work, i stop the clock. that way i know exactly how many hours i've done.

Thanks Jojo, you too!

It's funny, but knowing I have to update my progress by midnight everyday, really has motivated me.. I just logged on for a quick 2 minute break.
it's like having a "virtual" dissertation support group.

just got an email from the consultant. he's reassured me that its probably benign.

and that my dads PSA levels are perfect. so looks like they cured the cancer. thats made me feel so much better. but they are concerned about a few other things like scar tissue. but will tell me in more detail next friday.

okay feeling reassured now. back to my writing.

Hey Jojo, how's the writing coming along and the first draft?

just found out that my dad has a cyst on his testicle. he had prostate cancer early this year. and had surgery, they said they think they got it all and it's not metastasized.

but now i'm feeling worried. i started to do research on it on the internet, but i think it's best i just wait till we see the consultant next friday. but i just emailed the consultant asking him what he thinks it is. whether its a benign fluid filled cyst or cancerous, or related to the prostate cancer.

i'm hoping its nothing serious.
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okay i better get cracking on my writing now. nothing i can do about it really.

sometimes I feel so helpless, that i can't really help my father.
and it doesn't help that my own phd is on cancer, but on ovarian cancer. sometimes i feel guilty i should have somehow prevented it or been more aware of it. but the doctors said they caught it at the right stage. i guess you can't know about everything.

i agree, i need to be monitored too, otherwise i will run riots like a toddler and not do anything.

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PC geek., totally agree with you there!!
especially about the need to work 24/7

it's about working smarter not harder

I hope so! because I am the biggest procrastinator ever!!!