Wow that was quick, so you won't have much revision to do on the first draft? I have allowed 2 months for revisions after the supervisors have seen it, but I would be so happy if my first draft was almost good enough to submit!

I think most people struggle with confidence issues at this stage, in particular thinking is this really good enough for a PhD? I always set over-ambitious deadlines (e.g. writing one chapter per week) and then get really fed up when it doesn't work out! Also you are pretty much working without supervision, but in my experience when you do get feedback it's much harsher than in the earlier stages, which doesn't help with the confidence issue!

Hi all, at the moment mine is also 85,000 words over 10 chapters but I am struggling a bit to produce a cohesive piece of work at the moment... I have been working on each chapter individually but now trying to ensure it works as one piece, and have to resolve some structural issues, dammit.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
You are a star!

How does it feel? Bet you are exhausted!

Forgot to add coffee drinking!

I'm interested to know about any side effects people are experiencing through the writing up process. Some of mine:

Chronic procrastination, including:
constant web-surfing,
compulsive e-mail checking
Addiction to surfing for blogs about writing up phds

Cravings for junk food
Extremely messy flat
Telling friends I can't see them because I have to work
Desire/ mourning for social life

1000 words before breakfast, that's great! I can't seem to get out of procrastination mode! I'm revising the literature review I wrote in my first year - can't believe how bad it was when I read it again now!

Well done! Any plans to celebrate?

One of my friends told me that perception is everything. When I went in for the interview I tried to do an impression of a confident, intelligent, enthusiastic person (not that confident in real life!). Was careful about my pace of speaking, speaking loud enough, body language etc (recommend standing up). By the time the presentations were over I was feeling very happy (that I had got through it) and the questions wizzed by. So my advice is prepare, practice, appear as confident as you can and remember they are human and probably hate presenting too. Very best of luck.

Hi DJWicked, when I applied for the lecturer job I have now I had to give a 15-20 min PowerPoint pres to all members of the department followed by questions, then later that day a panel interview with the vice principle, dean, head of department etc. I was really nervous. I wrote out the presentation about a week before, fine tuned it, practised it on friends who gave advice on other things to add/change. Practiced more. Timed myself. Made sure I knew it off by heart (but took cards anyway just in case)...

Good luck on your first draft What2DoNext. Mine is due on 26th May, it seems like an impossible dream at the moment!

Unless I'm mistaken she replied yesterday to the 'last post on this thread wins' thread

Don't quit!! I often feel like doing so, and tell my boyfriend I might, but the thing that stops me is thinking how much I would regret it in years to come...and how much effort I have already put into this

Hi Keith, I currently work full time as a lecturer whilst doing my PhD. There have been a few threads on this forum already where I have moaned on about how hard it is! For me the worst part is never having free time, going home tired after a full days work and thinking 'I really should start the PhD now'. I was a full time PhD students for 2 years first and I'm not sure I would have made it without that period to collect my data etc. But there are obvious advantages such as money = nicer place to live, the contact with people a job brings which can help alleviate some of the PhD isolation.

Margaret Thatcher a great role model???!! I have to disagree with that! Yes she was a woman in a top position but in my opinion that is not sufficient to be a good role model.