======= Date Modified 23 Sep 2010 15:41:18 =======
What discipline are you in? It varies by subject. In humanities it's common not to publish during a PhD, but focus on the thesis instead.

That said I had 2 single author peer-reviewed papers during my humanities PhD, but I was part-time, and studying forever (well 6 years - it felt like forever!), so had a bit more breathing space.

I find brainstorming my ideas verbally helps, so I record them on my computer, as I speak them aloud and run through them. That gets me going, then I work from that. Anything to get started.

Good luck.

My boxes are in the study (technically second bedroom, but we use it as a study) I share with my husband. They really are taking up too much space. But they are too big to easily put away in a cupboard. For now - months after finishing my PhD! - I'm still skipping around them.

I have piles and piles of photocopies from historical records, in various heavy boxes. But I'm a humanities (history) student. In addition I have a filing cabinet full of photocopies from journal papers (very few of mine are available as PDFs), and a bookshelf overflowing with academic books.

Now I've finished my PhD I need to move the material out of the way a bit, but don't really have anywhere to put it! A roof conversion would help :p

I was moaning to hubby about this the other day, saying "When did we become Radio 2 listeners?". He disputes that we are, but when we're in the dentist and that's what they're playing it's music of "our age" (80s in particular) that's on. Oh dear, I felt old then :) Can you tell I've recently had a birthday? :p

30s are nice though. I like those. You're still youthful, but with that bit more experience.

Try approaching 40. Then you'll feel old. Or maybe 50.

Then again I still feel 21 :)

Good luck Jojo!

I'd suggest teaching in a private school, where qualifications like PhD are really highly regarded, and - based on my experiences so far - they don't seem as fussy as I'd expect about teaching skills!

Obviously you'd have to teach the public you're qualified in, but it's an opportunity for people from all subjects. And you'd need to train as a teacher.

Is there someone else local who could take over if you changed supervisors? I wouldn't put up with this myself, but it's your call.

My PhD thesis was in the humanities too, and I had nearly 600 footnotes. I'd use them to include references (we don't have in-text references in my field, as in sciences, but put them in footnotes), and to expand on points that aren't strictly central to my argument. Basically if it had to be read it went in the main text. If it could be skipped, but was still somewhat important, it went into the footnote. And the footnotes all counted towards my final word count in the end.

Three students in my department were given resubmissions/major corrections at around the same time. All were given a year to resubmit in. Of those two managed it within that timescale, and have successfully graduated some time ago. The other has had to have extensions for various reasons, but is still working towards completing the PhD. So think positive thoughts.

Another student in my department was failed outright at her viva, which was a bombshell shock to the department, and to my then supervisor who was her supervisor. At least with major corrections / resubmission you have another chance, and the examiners should tell you what you need to fix.

My supervisor moved 500 miles away a couple of years into my part-time PhD, so around the same stage you are at. He tried to act as my supervisor long-distance, but a year later another academic stepped in. I knew him very well - he'd overseen the Masters course I'd taken - but his specialism wasn't in my area. But he was a good enough historian that he could usefully supervise my work, and gave me excellent feedback, and it worked out really well.

I was concerned he would want me to change direction, especially since by then I was halfway through the degree. But I stuck my ground, and my original supervisor also made the point that I was well through my research and it was a case of supporting me more than guiding me.

I was also concerned that I would get conflicting feedback from the two of them, especially because my original supervisor was still reading my work and giving me feedback on it. But they tried very hard to channel their feedback through the new local sup, and it worked very well. I was also told, repeatedly, that it was ultimately my decision about what to do, if they disagreed.

I'd be very reluctant to recommend changing your research towards the new supervisor. Your research is underway and I would have thought it was better to carry on with it. Also, thinking worst case scenario, what if your new sup has to move in future as well? I know another PhD-er in my department (full-time) who had many supervisors by the time she successfully completed.

I would suggest that you continue with what you're doing, but look into what other support arrangements you might need, including anything outside the university. And, above all, remember that it is *your* PhD, and make sure that you stay in charge of it.

Good luck!

Really pleased for you Wally.

Congrats Sneaks and Wally!

(secretly wondering how far I am from 5-stardom :)