I have that book too! Did you notice that they call the introduction 'How to write 1000 words an hour' but then they don't really follow up and tell you how that is actually possible?

Anyway I probably could but it would also be drivel I think maybe 1000 words a day seems to be roughly my output - when I put my mind to it, that is!!!

Well I am going to be a 'devil's advocate' here and say it is better to just take a day or two off. What's the point of torturing yourself by sitting in front of a blank screen for two days? You already know you're not going to get much done... So why not just take a complete break???

I did that last week for two days and I got a lot more done this week because I had a clear head. The only thing is, make sure you don't do this too often! Just every now and then

God I hope my supervisors don't read this forum lol

I'm sorry, procrastinator

Anyway what on earth would be the point of having a 'hoax' blog???

She's just FUNNY you moron!!! It's called HUMOUR!!!

No. Have you read the blog? Sounds pretty realistic to me...

It has been officially added to my list of 'diversionary tactics' - I subscribed to it in "Netvibes"! Excellent reading jola

Olivia I know how you feel - I ask myself those "why am I doing this" questions a lot of the time. My reasons for doing a PhD boil down to wanting to get a lecturing position - a job that is hard to come by nowadays and even if I could get a job, it doesn't seem to be all I thought it would be back when I started!!!

My only reason to continue is that I have started so I may as well finish! IF I ever finish (big IF) I think I want to go and do something completely different that has absolutely less than nothing to do with research.

Wow, I'm not much help am I??? Sorry... I do think, however, that you have come so far that you might regret throwing it all away... I think stick it out - for a while at least, and then see how you feel...

Good luck

This one conference you have already gone to - did you fly there? I get the impression from your post that you did... so if you have done it once you can do it again!!! Suck it up and get over it! Think of all the fab places in the world you will be missing out on if you don't overcome your 'dislike' of flying. I hated flying the first few times and was so nervous that I threw up (sorry if TMI!) but now I love it.

Have a look at this site: http://www.fearlessflight.com/airplane-disasters-plane-crash-statistics

"Your chances of being involved in an aircraft accident are about 1 in 11 million. On the other hand, your chances of being killed in an automobile accident are 1 in 5000."

Maybe if you were going to tell everybody about it you should've called it "The Not-So Secret Life" instead...

Sorry I couldn't resist... I love blogs really, good luck with it

I certainly wouldn't quit over these people!!! If you enjoy what you're doing that's a big bonus. It is a shame that your colleagues are acting this way - but maybe if you try to interact with them a bit more they will warm to you? If you do try this and they continue to act this way, it's their problem - just ignore them! I know working in isolation sucks but don't let them get the better of you!!!

Good luck

And why does he keep saying 'laid on'??? "I've laid on two vanloads of fish"... "I've laid on a special dinner"... Get a thesaurus SIR Alan!!!

Yes that is a good idea - asking them if I am on the right track before I go through this whole process again! The thing is, I thought I was incorporating the things they suggested the last time! I think maybe it's not until they see it all in place that they realise it wasn't a good idea... or maybe they don't even remember the advice they gave last time around?!?!?

Thanks for the comments I think I will just try not to get down about it, and plough ahead next week! And in the meantime get very, very drunk

Just need a bit of a vent today... I just completed the best part of a chapter over the last few weeks - that was a major achievement for me because I have been very unproductive lately. Anyway I met my supervisors this morning to discuss it and they have completely different ideas about how things should be done - I won't bore you all with the details - but basically what they are saying is 'start this from scratch and do it completely differently'. AARRRGGGHHHH!!!

I think I am upset because I actually thought I had done good work this time! I felt totally ambushed in the meeting and was fighting back tears the entire time :-( But I am determined not to cry in front of them - that is unthinkable!!!

Anyway I just needed to get that out of my system... think I should just go home now and start again (from scratch!) on Monday. How depressing :-(

sm888 maybe some people just want to support others going through the same thing that they did? You know, to be nice??? No you probably wouldn't know about that...