Yes, this is exactly my issue at the moment. Thank you for explaining it well!
I appreciate that it's quality over quantity. I just worry that if I force myself to reduce the quantity, purely to meet a suggested word limit, then it will actually reduce the quality! Not always, but if I feel I've written productively. I suppose either way I am saving the work with a view to using it elsewhere.

Congratulations! Amazing news. Glad those worst-case-scenario threads are redundant now. ;-)

Thank you all for the replies.

I think I phrased my original post badly: I'm not talking about sending a rough draft, but sending something that is clear and well-structured, but possibly more detailed than it needs to be. At this point (several months in), I am trying to convince my supervisor that a certain method is applicable by way of explanation, but I find it difficult to balance being too descriptive/detailed vs. writing that takes it for granted they are experts.

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Thanks for the response, Ady.

I do always send work that is 'complete' and polished, with introductions and conclusions, as though it were to be graded formally. It's just that it is a longer piece of work than is expected, maybe because I include more detail than is required at this stage.

You're right, I think I should just ask my supervisor if what I'm sending them is okay from a practical perspective.

This will probably sounds slightly ridiculous, but I'm having a problem knowing how much I should edit down my writing to send to my supervisor.

I tend always to go over the suggested word count, but I feel like since I am only in the early stages of writing it is probably better to let my supervisor see the extent of my ideas, since I'm still in the exploratory stage.

I feel like I've a productive month, but am concerned about giving them much more to read! I don't want to seem incapable of editing out material or picking out the very best ideas.

Has anyone else felt this way? It certainly feels like a leftover habit from undergrad days, when you knew you would be punished for going over the word limit!

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I think all the Introverted ones are considered relatively rare, since between 60-70% (I can't remember exactly) of people are extroverted. INTJs are meant to be 1-2% of the population.

Very funny account, pjlu. I definitely think they can be addictive; self-knowledge is always useful!

I like Keirsey's method of dividing the 16 types into 4 Temperaments:

Guardian:
Supervisor (ESTJ)
Inspector (ISTJ)
Provider (ESFJ)
Protector (ISFJ)

Artisan
Promoter (ESTP)
Crafter (ISTP)
Performer (ESFP)
Composer (ISFP)

Idealist
Teacher (ENFJ)
Counselor (INFJ)
Champion (ENFP)
Healer (INFP)

Rational
Fieldmarshal (ENTJ)
Mastermind (INTJ)
Inventor (ENTP)
Architect (INTP)

I just did the Enneagrams test and got a tie between 3 (the achiever) and 4. (the individualist). They do sum up the contradictory aspects of my personality eerily well!

Type Three
The Achiever
The adaptable, success-oriented type. Threes are self-assured, attractive, and charming. Ambitious, competent, and energetic, they can also be status-conscious and highly driven for advancement. They are diplomatic and poised, but can also be overly concerned with their image and what others think of them. They typically have problems with workaholism and competitiveness. At their Best:: self-accepting, authentic, everything they seem to be—role models who inspire others.

Type Four
The Individualist
The introspective, romantic type. Fours are self-aware, sensitive, and reserved. They are emotionally honest, creative, and personal, but can also be moody and self-conscious. Withholding themselves from others due to feeling vulnerable and defective, they can also feel disdainful and exempt from ordinary ways of living. They typically have problems with melancholy, self-indulgence, and self-pity. At their Best: inspired and highly creative, they are able to renew themselves and transform their experiences.

Lots of interesting replies. 8-)
Good to know there are lots of 'E's out there. I agree that is very beneficial for teaching and presenting, although I definitely know lecturers who seem introverted, but can switch easily into the role of public speaker when the time comes.

People sometimes confuse being introverted with being shy/lack of social skills, when it generally just reflects whether you gain or lose energy from interaction with others. Many Introverts have extroverted Thinking; they are energized by sharing ideas with others (well-suited to academia), but they can be drained by too much group interaction and work better in solitude.

I'm curious as to whether other PhD candidates (and doctors) on the forum know their Myers-Briggs personality type. (or Keirsey/Jung for that matter)

There is some evidence to suggest that INTJ (Introvert, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging) is the most common type among academics and scientists, despite being one of the rarest of the 16 personalities.

I have taken various tests and repeatedly come out as an INTJ. It is slightly unnerving to see how well it applies to me! Does anyone else care to share?

For those who don't know theirs, there is a version here: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
Or for a more comprehensive test you can go to the official website.

Here is a run-down of INTJ. Even if it isn't your type, you may recognize it from your experience with academics.

To outsiders, INTJs may appear to project an aura of "definiteness", of self-confidence. This self-confidence, sometimes mistaken for simple arrogance by the less decisive, is actually of a very specific rather than a general nature, its source lies in the specialized knowledge systems that most INTJs start building at an early age. When it comes to their own areas of expertise -- and INTJs can have several -- they will be able to tell you almost immediately whether or not they can help you, and if so, how. INTJs know what they know, and perhaps still more importantly, they know what they don't know.

INTJs are perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving upon anything that takes their interest. What prevents them from becoming chronically bogged down in this pursuit of perfection is the pragmatism so characteristic of the type: INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion "Does it work?" to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing the INTJ from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its own sake.

INTJs are known as the "Systems Builders" of the types, perhaps in part because they possess the unusual trait combination of imagination and reliability. Whatever system an INTJ happens to be working on is for them the equivalent of a moral cause to an INFJ, both perfectionism and disregard for authority may come into play, as INTJs can be unsparing of both themselves and the others on the project. Anyone considered to be "slacking," including superiors, will lose their respect -- and will generally be made aware of this, INTJs have also been known to take it upon themselves to implement critical decisions without consulting their supervisors or co-workers. On the other hand, they do tend to be scrupulous and even-handed about recognizing the individual contributions that have gone into a project, and have a gift for seizing opportunities which others might not even notice.

In the broadest terms, what INTJs "do" tends to be what they "know". Typical INTJ career choices are in the sciences and engineering, but they can be...

'Which' has to be proceeded by a comma, but 'that' doesn't. That is the rule, which is the same for 'but'.
That was almost fun! :p

I'm not sure if it's correct, but I would use firstly, secondly, thirdly.

That's poor show. Less than one week's notice of the speakers?! Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that you didn't get to present; who knows what else they forgot to do ;-)

Wow, the Flowers method brilliantly captures the way I have always written! I am delighted to finally have terms for the stages.

Right now I am in carpenter mode. I want to be the judge by Thursday. Although, my judge frequently insists that the architect come back and do some structural repairs. :p

Hi Manfred,

Sorry to hear that you suddenly feel like you're struggling. If you read around the forum, you'll see how often the PhD journey is compared to a roller-coaster ride - frequently one that involves weight gain! I'm in my first year, too, and while I still feel happy and in control of my progress, I'm very aware that this could change at any week.

The lit review is always going to be a struggle - the very nature of the task is to take a huge chunk of material and succinctly analyse it to fit your research bill. It's an overwhelming task, but keep in mind that your lit review will evolve over time, so the important thing now isn't to write/research all the literature perfectly, but to jump into the pool and start wading around.

As for the exercise/food issue, you seem to know yourself that it is just a question of make a conscious decision to change your habits. It is so comforting to reward your hard work with junk food - some days it is the only think I have to look forward to! - but I try not to keep any in my apartment, so that the energy required to go buy some suddenly makes eating the healthier stuff in the fridge seem a bit more appealing! As for the exercise, I try to do 30 minutes of gym/exercise dvd five times a week. I write my chosen days/times in my diary, so that I will feel guilty if I decide not to do it. I have done this for several years and it works surprisingly well for me. As you've probably heard, it takes 21 days for a behaviour to become a habit, so keep in mind that the first 3 weeks of lifestyle changes are the hardest. Don't despair, you and your problems are common and you will overcome them. (up)

Interesting replies. Just the other day I was wondering whether I should even say ''Merry Christmas'' to mine, since I have it on good authority that she's an atheist; I'm a bit worried the term itself might bother her. (even though it doesn't bother me, and I'm more or less the same. I think I might be obsessing. :$
I think I'll risk it! (sprout)

1. nothing
2. nothing
3. hypothetically, maybe something for the baby, as Dr. Corinne suggested.
4. something tailored to their tastes, which hopefully I will better understand know by then.
5. nothing

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Hi Marasp,

I've just read your story and you have my sympathies for the situation you're now in. It would be one thing if you felt you weren't ready to submit, but obviously you worked very hard and are now in limbo. Hopefully your supervisor will get back to you soon and that the reports will arrive. Maybe things will all start to make sense when you can finally dissect their comments and look at your work from a fresh perspective.

I know it's very hard, but try to keep the faith. You have completed a very large research project and it WILL earn you that PhD in the due course.