I have one that I find useful, it's called "The Handbook of Academic Writing: A Fresh Approach" by Murray & Moore. It is mostly about style of academic writing, tips for being productive etc.

I also have another one I used a lot as an undergrad as it tells you what is required for different types of writing (e.g. what should go in an abstract) - it's called "Writing for Science and Engineering" by Heather Silyn-Roberts - it is obviously discipline-specific so I don't know if that's any good to you!!!

Lol you nearly had me for a minute lastsamurai

Hey you don't think supervisors read this forum do you? Think he's too busy for that kind of thing... but you never know!!! Scary thought... Maybe I should change my username to something a bit less identifiable

My sup doesn't really like the casual conversation either - anytime I tried in the past to start one (e.g. where did you go on holiday) he launches into a one-hour history lesson (e.g. complete history of Venice)... my research has nothing to do with History by the way He has to know everything about whatever topic he is talking about, can't just make small talk... needless to say I don't try making idle chit-chat anymore!!!

As far as I know if it's outside of a university then it's not an academic position... I would think the definition of 'academic' is that the position is one in a college/university - I could be wrong though!!!

I had the exact same conversation with my supervisor... He said that academic positions are impossible to get and 'the system doesn't treat you well' and that postdoctoral research positions are extremely competitive and offer no job security so he wouldn't recommend either route.

I was just thinking why am I doing this then - the only reason I want to get a PhD is so that I will be qualified for either of those jobs!!!

I know what he said is true but he went out of his way to make it sound awful - it is very demoralising My only advice is ignore these people!!! You are already doing the PhD now so just keep going - and whatever happens afterwards will happen!

I don't know where this one is from (could be a movie even???) but I like it...

Nothing worth having comes easy

I hope this makes you feel better because I hate to admit it... but I don't really have any 'real' writing done either and I'm at the start of my 3rd year I'm kinda hoping to cram it all in this year... but I wouldn't advise it!!!

I know everybody says this (and I still didn't do it) but you really should start writing ASAP! Even if just when you read an article try to write 1-2 paragraphs about it, or when you do something (i.e. make a decision about an approach you will use) write up half a page on what you did/why etc.

It will all add up in no time... I wish I had done it that way

That is really good to hear barnaby It is especially nice in comparison to the 'you must work 60+ hours a week or you're doomed' line that we are usually fed!

Ok if I could work that many hours i might finish quicker... but worrying constantly about the amount of work I had to do has hampered my productivity for the best part of a year now... Lately I have started just trying to make a little teeny tiny bit of progress every day - and I find that I can get more done in 3 hours than I used to get done in 3 days (due to time taken up with sheer panic lol!)

I know I am thinking of sending out a search party!!! Olivia where are you????? Come baaaaaaccccccckkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!

Wow there are some nasty people on this forum

Pay no attention olivia

I'm sure it's a different process depending on your university - but here I was told that your supervisor picks your external examiner (i.e. you don't get to suggest an examiner yourself) but you do have the option to 'veto' someone if you're not happy with who they've picked. My supervisor has already picked my examiner - I don't know why because I'm nowhere near finishing lol

I have heard though that another student (also in my department) was actually told to pick her own examiner so who bloody knows really!!! Why can't they all just stick to one set of rules

Wikipedia says 1 in 5 Irish people suffer from SAD!!! What a load of rubbish, every 5th person I meet is not depressed... I think I would have noticed?!?!?

This is all about cosmic balance... things go right for me for the first week in about a year - so things have to go wrong this week for 52 other people - that's the law of the universe. Sorry!!! Don't worry I'm sure order will be restored next week

No one around to notice is my biggest problem lol!!! It's way too easy to just not bother showing up/doing any work on a particular day - like today for example haha! I would do better with someone standing over my shoulder preferably with a whip

Well I hate to be one of these people who started being 'healthy' two weeks ago as a New Year's Resolution and suddenly goes around preaching to everybody else but what the heck I'll do it anyway...

I think regular exercise is the answer to all your problems Especially with the insomnia, IBS, depression and obviously the weight gain - maybe not for the weight loss though! I was reading this book by Tony Buzan (memory-improving guy) and he said that getting exercise everyday is important for improving mental abilites... Now finding the time is the only problem