Hi all. Interested to learn ideas on how to get from first draft to finished Thesis. Do you
(a) Write a chapter, submit for feedback, move on and revise all when you have a full unrefined first draft.
(b) Write a chapter, submit for feedback and keep revising until Supervisor happy before moving on to next Chapter.
(c) Something else.

I'm asking as I'm more of an ideas person and I've been told my data and my analysis is original but writing style and the technical terms from the theory need work. I can write really quickly (I write as a means to form ideas) so I'm wondering I'f I'm better doing scenario (a) and get an unrefined first draft and then using my final year to refine, refine, refine?

You've answered your own question. Take a break. Wow 6am is early! Don't worry about the hours. I'm not saying slack off but it's about quality more than quantity. Just because you are there doesn't mean you are present. If you're just putting the hours in but not benefitting then do less hours. I might have a week or so when I write furiously or read lots, then I put it aside. I have a week or so ruminating in my thoughts, then go back to it. Gym is a good way to relax, maybe you can join some more of their classes.

I will have to go do a conference within the next 12 months because I submit this time next year and I haven't presented yet. It's such a pain. It's not that I don't want to go, I'd love to but when you have young children and no childcare it's a nightmare. No one can get the time off when the conferences are (July) because for my husband and the grand parents it is their peak time at work, they are literlally not aloud to take leave then. School have said they will fine me if I take the kids with me as it's still term time - because it is important they don't miss out on their education even though it is the end of term (watching, films and colouring in!) :(How do you manage it?

Well done you, your advisers and judge. :D

I know Barramack. Nothing worth doing in life is usually easy. Best dig deep and find the will ha ha

Well done :)

What does your supervisor say? Tbh that it might 'cause confusion' doesn't sound like a good enough reason to not let you send the proper version if you are in the deadline.

You may need to check the status of your studentship. Some studenships are 'employed status' where you pay tax on it. If it is not taxable then you don't declare. Have you mentioned your stipend to them? If so that may be why your payments stopped. Some workers do not understand that it is in effect a grant. Going from the advice on their page I wouldn't even mention it to them so when you ring up just say, my tax credits have stopped. Why is this?

This is direct from their site on what income you don't declare.


Don’t include:

student loans
student grants, except the Adult Dependants’ Grant or any dependants’ grant in Scotland

OMG I am so bored with my PhD right now. I am not a natural writer and preferred the data collection and reading bit. This part of getting it all wrote up just does not appeal to me arghhhh. I know I can do it and have one more year to go but I have no patience for revisions to chapters and now that's all that is ahead of me!!!!

One of the main reasons is my main supervisor is not really helping in developing my writing and rarely makes critical comment. The times they have given a critique I have made the changes suggested only for the other sup and internal to have issues with them and I find my original ideas were more along the lines of what they were looking for! Of course I haven't mentioned to them that it is the other Sup that suggested the changes but it's getting infuriating to write something, then have me change it for the others to have me change it back. . Any advice.

RinaL isn't that the truth. Have kids? have a deadline? Yeah give yourself a different deadline oooo at least 2/3 weeks before it actually has to be definitely done because you can just guarantee something will happen to the kids around deadline day!

Beware the list as a substitute form of procrastination lol. I have developed an excellent skill for having about 10 tabs open in the PC. My document, Facebook, LinkedIn, mendeley etc and happily flit between them all. I find having children has made me (1) an excellent multi tasker, (2) get everything done way way way before deadline in case chicken pox, tummy bug or some other illness apocalypse decends on the house for a month (3) stops perfectionism- have I written lots of words (check), is it making some kind of point (check), yeah that'll do. Yes that's me advocating parenting as an excellent way to get things done and not stress over it :D what I'm trying to say is you need to find something that balances the stress of writing. My kids stress me more hence writing is a breeze in comparison. What do you find de stresses you? Can you treat yourself with that before or after a writing session?

Who is the info from? I think it makes a difference if it's internal or external. The other examiner may not see an issue. Remember, it takes both to make a decision. By all means prepare a defence but see what they mention on the day first. If they don't bring it up don't you bring it up. Be confident about your contribution. People are more easily assured by confidence so don't go in and knock your own research. It probably won't be the best work you will ever do and they should know that it really is developmental. I remember being told I was probably going to fail the panel upgrade. I got through with no issues. Not the same gravity I know but just goes to show what can happen on the day. Good luck.

I am totally motivate by the sun. It arrives here in the Northwest tomorrow so the second edit of my methodology will be finished by then ready for 4 days of sunbathing before I have my 2nd year review :D

Oh don't get me wrong Nautilus that's not of finished quality. I do write, leave, come back and refine. I go by 'a finished thesis is a good thesis' so just get it all wrote, don't be too precious about it at the first write then refine, refine, refine. But some people prefer to plan and bullet point etc. I can't work that way, I think through the process of writing. I too find I work best with a focuses time. I have a set time window of 9-3pm for work after that I pic the kids up so I'm forced to get it done!

That's good advice about the project. It is my area but I couldn't use the data from it. I suppose it's hard not to get carried away with thinking forwards but it's tempting what with knowing how god awful post PhD job prospects are! It sounds like it's just in development atm so here's hoping they need staff as my PhD finishes :D

It is a good conference so I will broach this with my supervisors as they haven't actually ear marked any conferences yet that might be suitable for me to present at.