I had a meeting with my supervisors a few days ago which didn't go well at all. I sent them what I have been working on for quite some time now and they tore it apart completely. What made it worse was that I thought it was quite good. I was lacking all sorts of things and the structure was all wrong. I am in my second year and still don't seem to be writing up to scratch. I am feeling rubbish and feeling like I wish I had never started this PhD. Finding it difficult to look at the document again to make the improvements (basically a rewrite) they suggested. Does anyone have any advice how to get back into it after such a slating. Just want to know I'm not the only one who comes out of meetings feeling like I have been beaten up :(

Hi Sarahlouise,

I get that all the time from my supervisor. Actually, the best comment I have received on my written stuff is 'it's not as bad as last time'. You have to reach a point of detachment from the written work, it is not you. Easier said than done. I usually read though the comments once, so I can ask questions or make counter-comments (where appropriate). Then I put it down for a day or two and work on something else, then jump back at the writing. Just have to have view the writing as something that is on paper/the screen. It is hard to get there, but it is the only way you are going to get through it at all.
Yes, this is a bit 'pick yourself up by the bootstraps' but that is just my personality too. Good luck as it is never fun to get comments back on work that you really thought was ace.

Hey Sarahlouise! I understand how you feel- my supervisor can be quite insensitive in her feedback, although I'm sure she is trying to be constructive. It's really hard to take when you've slaved away on something. Personally, when I have feedback I read through it, then if it's particularly negative I leave it for a week or so before coming back to it. It's easy to be overwhelmed by it when you're all emotional and I find that it helps to just take a step back, wait until you're calmer, and look at it then. Often when you're feeling a bit more objective it's easier to look at things with a realisation that you can make the changes required and improve your work. Don't stress- most people find writing at this level hard work and you'll get there eventually if you keep working at it! Good luck with it, KB

Remember--you are not your writing. And writing is a learned skill, not an innate trait. Some might find it easier than others, but when it is all said and done, its just something you learn to do. Much like riding a bike! Hard and scary in the beginning, easier ( hopefully) and more pleasant after some practice!

I recommend the Bryan Garner, Legal Writing in Plain English, for any kind of academic or professional writing. Don't let the title put you off. The book is full of practical skill building information, that walks you what to edit and how, stages of planning your writing, and that difficult thing--how to structure! It talks about effective use of quotes, clear sentence structure, clear organisation to build flow throughout the document. And the best thing is, you can just immediately put all of this to work--no need to wade through pages and pages of something--just find the particular section of the book you need and then off you go.

Cheap used copies all the time on Amazon for around £4 or £5.

I think one problem is that no one ever gives us ways to write better, and just expect us to "figure it out".

I recommend the Garner book---I recommend it to lots of people--students, colleagues, practicing lawyers, and no one has yet said it was not helpful for them!

It can give you a how to plan and rebuilt confidence in your writing, and a way to deal with supervisor's comments.

It is tough. I went through a really bad phase with writing. My supervisor was 500 miles away by then, and was giving me feedback in writing which was saying my work wasn't up to scratch and he was really surprised, given past stuff. But he pointed out the deficiencies, even in writing feedback, and gave me constructive feedback that I could work on to move forward and improve things. Once I was over the initial shock I found I could move forward and do the rewrites.

It's easier said than done, but you have to become detached, and just get on with it, as others have said. The advice to leave it for a while after you look through the feedback initially is really good. That initial feedback can be the hardest to take, by far. So give yourself a breather before you even think about tackling it. If your supervisors have highlighted clearly the areas that you need to improve then that is really good, and will help you a lot. It's much harder if they give vague "oh it's not good!" feedback. It sounds as though you have constructive feedback though, even if it was very difficult to take.

You are also going to have to face this a lot through your PhD. It can be particularly hard at the closing stages, near the submission deadline, as they give you cutting feedback (speaking from personal experience here). But if you knuckle down, try to distance yourself from it, it's ok.

Good luck!