OK so I am locking myself in my apartment all weekend so that I will actually write. First thing to do is set some deadlines. I have to meet my supervisor first week in Sept and I must finish the chapter she has commented on. At least. I have been reading about the Pomodoro Technique to help with time management and have downloaded a software timer until I am allowed out again whereby I can buy a real tomato timer.

I will now post daily to encourage my writing. So today's goal:
1. Set clear deadlines and stick to them
2. Start rewriting chapter that supervisor has commented on.

OK am starting now. Any encouraging thoughts appreciated. (up)

Hey Good luck! You should use this website it is great for the Pomodoro tech http://mytomatoes.com/

Pleaseeee, for heaven sake, why can’t you create and write all these things in your own blog page. Kindly think of others for there are better means of using this good forum. Give a thought to it and if you are still ignorance, carry on, what else I could say. Happy researching folks;)

There are a host of other similar threads of individuals writing up, setting goals, doing this, all of which are currently running now, and all of which have been received well. Have a look at the top two pages and you will find them. They are perfectly Ok ways of using a forum. I am sure the forum is just that a 'forum' - and does not need policing of this sort above!

Thanks PhD Bug for your support. I thought I was using this forum in a correct manner!

Thanks PhD Bug for your support. I thought I was using this forum in a correct manner!

Does anyone have any examples of timetables they are willing to share? I am now on countdown until I meet my supervisor and so therefore need to monitor my work on a daily basis. Thanks

Please no hard feelings and same time I don't want to hijack Pamelaspage's thread, I think forum is a place where you get/give help without making it personalized. for example, if this thread was about 'need help/encouragement in writing a chapter' then most of the forum members would have shared their experience. phdbug, there are similar threads on this forum and receiving good feedback; but if everybody start their own 'goal' thread, then what you will think of this forum?

Everybody does not start one of these 'personalised' pages, some do. Those that do can usually be accommodated happily. If this is a general point you wish to make it would refer to the other writing up thread, accountability thread, goal setting threads, viva preparation threads, submission threads as well - all of which are recently/currently ongoing here, none of which I think are problematic, or against forum values, and all of which are instructive and enjoyable.

NB: Experience sharing does not always need to happen in one set generic form of 'tips needed for writing' or similar. One person's journey is as instructive for sharing experiences, gaining insights as five other people's are. Beyond this, I think if people feel these personal threads are problematic, do start a thread on it and ask what the mods/othrs think, instead of hijacking the thread itself.

thanks for your post itsmardan. Maybe I should have put a similar title as per your suggestion but of course do want people to comment and share experiences. Thanks

I'm writing up but I don't have a daily timetable. I try and set goals for each day but I've found sometimes you have good days and sometimes you'll have bad ones so having a definate daily timetable can be a bit depressing. I've just stuck to a timetable of hand in dates I agreed with my supervisor. It gives me something to work towards and because I know my supervisor is expecting things to be handed in on certain dates I know someone is going to hold me accountable for it all.

Mine was and is, after meeting my supervisor mid june:

Chapters 1 and 2 *Jun 25th*
Chapers 2, 4 and 5 *Jul 2nd*
Chapters 6 & 7 *Jul 7th*

Corrections on 1 and 2 *Jul 12th*
Corrections on 2,4,5,6 & 7 *Jul 19th*
Abstract, Overview & General discussion *Jul 25th*

Corrections and complete draft *Jul 30th*


But differently people need different write up times I guess. Different subjects too. I'm in psychology and I'm confident of getting it done. I had bits of procedure and results already written up before I started this june and I don't expect to go beyond 60k words. Other subjects though have different details and expectations I guess.

And it depends alot on your supervisor getting back to you in time for the next bit too. I mean I'm still waiting for complete feedback on certain bits. Whether I get it or not determines whether I'll carry on and still be on time.

Thanks Peljam - really useful. My challenge is my studies are officially on hold as I took up a consultancy post so I have no-one to hold me accountable. That's why I decided to set up this thread. But I am still writing after work and at weekends. Do you have a detailed breakdown of each chapter before you start writing? That is what I am working on now. Like you say it's difficult to set a fixed date for each piece of work on a daily basis - best to set daily goals.

Yup, I did a big plan. So each chapter was broken down into sections, and then each section had a few brief notes on what I needed to include so

Chapter 1
1.1 The background to X
- X theory
- Key study
- Important impications of theory for future work

1.2 Alternate theory Y
- Y Theory
- Key study
- Implications and contrasts with X

1.3 Modern Influences on X and Y debate
- etc

and so on. For my first two chapters anyway. My other chapters are experiments so the breakdown on those is a lot more standard (Intro, design, procedure, results). I'm writing up another outline for my general discussion though along the same lines.

sre292, I decided to double check my understanding of what a forum is: 'c. A medium for open discussion or voicing of ideas, such as a newspaper, a radio or television program, or a website.' Give a thought to it and if you are still ignorance, carry on, what else I could say. Happy researching;) And as has already been suggested, if you see a thread that has 'writing up' in it's title, don't bother reading it.

Nice one Walminski!:p