Yes, I'm distance too, but PhD students in my country don't pay fees, so at least I don't have that to worry about. The worst thing about working from home is the isolation, it can be absolutely crushing. This forum helps, as does http://www.phinished.org. The other really bad thing is that not being on campus means that I have missed out on opportunities - my peers get offered work, as they're around, networking etc etc and their careers are taking off, whereas mine isn't...So, try and network too, if you can.

I'm also submitting in the next 3 months and have been looking for a job for the past year. You're lucky you've found 16 to apply for - I've found exactly 3 in my area, one of which pays less than half what I can earn in the civil service, my previous career. Lots of us won't find academic jobs - I'd suggest to start thinking about a plan B.

Good luck Chrisrolinski! If you don't get an interview, this is still good practice and hopefully you'll be able to reuse the work you've already done. But fingers crossed!

Hey Slowmo, I could've written that post!!! Remember that thesis depression is cyclical - you feel like s**t now, but you'll pick yourself up and keep going, and it will get better. There's bound to be something different between your research and hers - have an objective look and find it. The originality of a thesis doesn't have to be huge. I also found out 5 years into mine that someone had done the same question as me, but my methodology is slightly different, so that's my big contribution. Which is enough! So - look for differences, however small. But not today, in a couple of days, and when you feel a little better.

And you can't stop now, I understand the hating the thesis, but you've come too far. You've gotta keep going. Have a cry, a rant, talk to people, get pissed, exercise, have a break, talk to your sups, do whatever you need to do, but keep going. This is a torturous, long, hard road, and you're in a trough at the moment, but it will get better. Just keep going!!!

Hi Mlis

Lit reviews are really hard - have just been there. I also had a lit review written, and ended up throwing out 19000 words and only keeping 1000. I've just finished mine, and it was incredibly difficult and stressful.

Yes, talking to your sup about this is essential to get your plan in place. I found that sitting on the floor with a print out of my ideas, chunks of work etc, and then physically playing around with them, rearranging them until I thought the order made sense, was really helpful. I wasn't getting anywhere trying to rearrange on screen. Also don't think of the lit review as one huge piece of work, break it down into smaller chunks, and work on these one at a time. I didn't think I'd ever finish mine, but kept going, day after day, and slowly it got better, everything got incorporated and it did get done. Don't worry about your annual review and don't aim to have it finished my then, just keep going. You're not alone, lit reviews are a pain in the butt, but you'll get there.

Hi AL

Yep, he sounds like a right tool and his comments are not enough. I think you need to have a serious talk with him, and ask for more constructive, detailed feedback. I also think it's awful that he doesn't know one of the basics of teaching - that you give positive feedback before negative, to motivate people. I think I'd try and be assertive and let him know that constantly negative feedback is not helping, that what he does give is inadequate etc - all said very tactfully, of course.

My sup is wonderful, and gives me detailed, constructive feedback, on structure, style, content, the whole lot. She also changes words, but not unnecessarily so and I can see her choice of words is better. Talk to him, tell him what your needs are. Good luck!

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Hey AQ, glad it's working out for you - and you also sound determined!! You're right, this will probably be the last time I'll also be a student (oops - did I say 'probably'???), so we should try and enjoy it. I have to start back in the civil service in 6 weeks anyway, so my full-time student days are fast drawing to a close, then it's back to juggling work and thesis.

So yeh, let's try and be optimistic, work hard, and get this done!

Last week I sent off my lit review to my supervisor. I had written this early on - 3 years ago - and the focus of my thesis has changed substanially since then. So out of the 20000 words I'd written, I kept 1000 and then wrote another 11000 over the past month. It had me in tears; it challenged me constantly; I restructured it completely three times; but I did it.

Now onto completely rewriting another chapter, then the light at the end of the tunnel will be a little closer.

Hi everyone

Matilda, yeh, hope you ended up taking time off - we need to, after a chapter is done. AQ, that's not good about your examiner - let's hope he'll be professional and not an arse in your viva. Try not to worry too much, and concentrate on getting your work done and preparing for the viva. Focus, don't worry, if you can.

And Montezuma, welcome!! I think we're at about the same stage - I have everything written, apart from conclusion, with a half done to 2nd draft, half only done to first draft. I'm planning to give my sup a complete draft (everything will be done to second draft) by 17 July, and then when she gives it back to me, will do the 3rd draft, which I hope won't be too major and expect to submit end Aug. This is my 3rd revised deadline...ah well, takes as long as it takes...

And I've had a few days off!! Took work with me and didn't touch it. Had a think about things, and also had to do some family stuff. Once again realised that I just have to get this thesis done and over with, so I can start life again, move cities, onto new things. So, am determined, another push, need to get the first half done again by end of May.

Onwards!!! We'll all get there eventually!! We can do this, together!!!

Hi AL

Deep breaths! And hope you feel better after a bit of a rant! Keep going! It's great that you've written most of the chapter - that's excellent! The rest will come together, you'll figure out the methods and results section.

I've almost finished my lit review. Yesterday I did 25 tomatoes, was up till 1am (which I never, ever do) and have almost finished it. 2 weeks ago it was a mess of notes, badly written paragraphs, a real shambles, and now it looks like something that's not half bad, and that I'm not ashamed of. So - it can be done!

Am off to visit family interstate tomorrow, and am also having a night in a hotel at the beach by myself, which I'm soooo looking forward to. Will take a novel with me (as well as some work) and have a bit of a relax.

Soldier on, we'll all get there eventually!

Hi AQ

There's always people like this around - ones who work harder, are more stressed, are more important etc etc. I agree with the others - try not to talk shop talk. It can be really annoying having to put up with people like this, and I normally try and talk about other subjects. I have a friend who tries to compete with me all the time, to the point of considering herself an expert in my research area (mind you, she hasn't studied in this area at all), and I just don't engage in it.

If it's really getting to you, have a word with her to clear the air, otherwise your friendship could suffer. Maybe politely let her know that you also work hard, you both work hard, and it's not a competition...and then know that you have stamina, will be better equipped for when you get a professional position, and that deep down, are not so insecure that you need to brag about your work to make you feel worthwhile....

Hi there

Firstly, you are NOT an idiot - and your user name is just going to make you feel worse. Anyway, it's great you've posted here, we can help. We've all gone wrong in our studies at one time or another, and managed to keep going and you will too.

You need to be brave, and contact your supervisor. Explain that you've moved, other life issues have taken you away from studying, apologise if neccesary for not contacting them before now. Let them know you're keen and would like to start again. Make a time to speak/meet with them. They should your tardiness - issues come up for students all the time, supervisors know how to be flexible.

Start to work out a plan about how you can get that first piece of work done. Set yourself a deadline, then work out how to get it done - break it down into little tasks, with timelines, and have this ready to give to your sup - will show you've started to work.

Don't be too hard on yourself, but work out ways to go forward. But first off, make a meeting to talk with your sup!! Be honest with them, and get the first meeting out of the way. I'm surprised they haven't been in contact with you - but maybe they have...Once you start to take action you'll feel a lot better. Good luck!

Hi AQ

Breathe!!! Big deep breaths, work out your new timetable, you'll be fine!! It seems scary, but that's good you have dates, you are so going to be done by the end of the year!! Keep plugging away, you'll get there.

I've been working steadily rewriting my lit review, completely, it's been a major pain. I've done nothing else except work on this solidly, for 4 weeks now. But it's almost finished. Then I have another chapter to completely rewrite, then will start on the third rewrites... by the end my entire thesis will have been rewritten 3 times, some of it 4 times. So, am worse than you, Chrisrolinski!!

Have also not been working as hard as I was earlier this year. This thesis is going to take me god-knows-how-long to finish, I really have no idea of when I might be done. So I've been having a bit of a life, which has helped my mental health no end but also slowed me down just a little. Am still putting in solid days though.

Plodding along....