wow just got a reply back from her, she must be working late in the office (no suprise she works really hard! my main supervisor hardly appreciates the hard work she puts in and the long hours)

she said thanks and got the files okay

*clocks out*

total words for 1st draft of chapter 5 (results only and some discussion points) = 2,907

total pages approx = 15 pages

total productive time today = 4 hours.

nb: the freewriting, writing messy, zero draft concept, really works!!
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i am now taking the evening off. and starting on a new chapter tommorow...have't yet decided which chapter to work on next.

Thanks everyone for your support

my first draft of the results section of chapter 5 sent to my 2nd supervisor!

It took the whole day today, to transform my "zero" draft to a "first draft" and then I got an idea to make 2 new tables, whilst I was working on my zero draft.

well, I sent it! now I just have to wait to see what she thinks, she was very sceptical that the results don't mean anything and that perhaps i can't write a chapter on it for my thesis or include it! so hopefully all my result tables and figures and my thoughts on what the results mean, may sway her! *fingers crossed*

well done!!! so proud of you!

you're pretty much done then! so long ! good luck with the world out there.

Definately!!!

sounds like you have most of the chapters all ready there. its always easier to write chapters from published work, which can act like a skeleton to buildup on. and 6months is more than enough time to write the thesis.

i am planning on writing my thesis in 3 months (i have to! no choice, or i will fail).

so your time, is absolutely possible! good luck

awwww Thanks so much omega monkey!! so kind of you, I really appreciate it, you made my day

thanks for the advice, you're right! that does make sense. okay i will edit that bit out

thanks so much for the positive encouragement, it really means alot to me, i really appreciate your support and kind words!

I have composed the following email to my 2nd supervisor, who is the nice one and really helpful. unlike my evil first supervisor..

she wanted me to send her a rough draft of what i think the results mean, before i wrote a polished chapter of it. and she will decide whether i can write a chapter on these results or not..

let me know if the email sounds okay.. thanks

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Hi *****,

I hope you are well...

I am sending you my draft of the m**** results and what I think it all means.

Sorry I have taken so long on it, and please excuse the quality of the writing and the results, the draft is not polished, even though it's gone through several drafts.

I would be very grateful to hear what you think of it.

I have attached the word document, and the excel file sheet that contains the results tables.

Thanks so much, I really appreciate your help.

Kindest Regards,

just checking through my zero draft right now, and turning it into a first draft, as I have to email it to my 2nd supervisor by 3pm.

awww thanks Jojo! i appreciate that!...it's all down to you!! you inspired me!
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sometimes beverley, when i am REALLY struggling, i get my timer, and set it to 10 or 15 minutes, and tell myself, i only have to work for 15 minutes, and then i can do something else. usually that's enough for the ball to get rolling, and i continue to work even after the timer goes off.

or i say to myself i ONLY have 15 minutes left (like as if i am in an exam room) and by that time, i will have to email my supervisor with what i have. (even though i know logically i don't have to email my supervisor - but i pretend, that if my supervisor after 15mins asked to see what i have done, i would have "something" to show her)...

i am struggling with motivation and can't seem to pull it together, to tidy up my zero draft to send to my supervisor, so i'm going to try the timer thing right now! i need to send it to my supervisor within the next couple of hours!!

hey Chris, how did your handing in your chapter go?

i am struggling with tidying up my zero draft! keep procrastinating on it...

angie , i like your exercise idea. i have to start exercising, otherwise i will get fat, from just eating and sitting and writing!!

keeping a daily writing diary, really helps me too. that way i can track my progress, and have something to work towards. knowing that at the end of my working day, i have to declare how many productive hours i have spent on my thesis, how many words i have written, or what i have accomplished, which kinda helps keep me motivated.

and knowing everyone else on this forum is going through the same thing, and i'm not alone, helps aswell..

also, try rewards.

tell yourself, you have to write X number of words a day, or X number of pages, or spend X number of hours (productive hours where you are actually "working" and not just sitting there)... then treat yourself, once you've accomplished it.

sort of like, no dessert until you've eaten your veggies.

figure out what you like to do, then that can be your "reward"..

and also allowing myself to make a mess, i.e just write rubbish, the fear usually stems from having to write perfectly and my first attempt at a section of a chapter, to come out perfect.

once i allow myself to just write any old crap, in whateaver grammer and nonsense, i find it more "freeing"... then i can worry about tidying it up later on. and that maybe there will be some interesting work and insight in the madness, so to speak.. some hidden rough diamond in the rubbish i have written, usually comes about.

this works for me. yesterday i worked on a "zero draft", it's not good enough to call it a first draft, but it's better than a blank piece of paper. and i just wrote and wrote, in whatever way i felt like it. and today it feels good that i have something now, to work on and improve. although now i'm having trouble to make it fit enough to send to my supervisor today.

beverley, i totally feel the same way!! it takes me ages to warm up and start work on my thesis. and i have doubts that i will ever be able to do it. and i too feel this incredible dread of cloud looming over my head..

but what helps me, is to take little steps, not to think of my thesis all in one go, but just work on one piece of the puzzle. like a jigsaw puzzle. i know i can't put it all together in one day. so i just work on the one piece a day. and just focus on that.

making deadlines helps aswell.