I started my PhD about a year ago, and have been writing a paper since then. It has had several reincarnations and data sets, and I am probably on about the 15th draft. Recently, I have just started writing another paper which will be published in an academic 'magazine' for want of a better word (i.e. not peer reviewed) which has to be submitted at the end of september. The problem is that I am expected to write these papers, come up with the ideas, do the analysis...which is fine. I submit a draft to both my supervisors...who then give contradicting advice. My main superisor wants me to include more complicated statistics and theory, the other wants me to simplify the paper and make it more 'interesting'!

I am absolutely crap at writing, completely dire. It is really starting to get to me that I am so bad at writing papers...these papers take me so long to draft and don't seem to be coming to anything, also there not really related to my PhD in a very strong way. I feel like I'm wasting valuable time that i could do with using on my PhD. I am behind on my lit review and have a lot of work to make up in time for my upgrade.

I just feel like bursting into tears right here in my office. I don't know if i want to continue with this phd it is making me so unhappy. I don't know what to do!

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Oh dear, I'm sorry you are feeling so low!

First of all, take a deep breath. Let's get some perspective on this. You sound like you are in a situation that I know all too well. I am feeling like I am wasting valuable PhD time on other things (non or barely related academic stuff, procrastinating) all the time. You are not alone!

Next, what really helps me in those situations, is to sit down and make a list of all the various things I need to do. Break them up into small bits. That will make the list longer but also more manageable. Set deadlines for each individual task, and set a priority level, too. Those things with the highest priority you must keep the deadline. Those with lower priority are more flexible on the deadline. That way you don't just break huge tasks into small, manageable bits, but you also get a feeling for what is really important and what is "just" urgent.

When you feel comfortable with your list, summarise it into a shorter list where the tasks are not broken down into little bits anymore, but you keep the priority levels. Take this list to your next supervisor meeting and discuss it there. That way your sups will see that you are busy, that you are prioritising your PhD work, and they will most likely stop making you put time into things that they agree with you not to be of high priority.

I think/hope that perhaps simply by doing this you will start feeling more confident. When you are more confident, your writing will get easier, too. Writing multiple (and not just 3 or so, really multiple multiple) drafts for a paper is completely normal. Very few exceptional people can just sit down and write a perfect, printable piece at the first go. Believe me, you'll get there! And your final paper will be all the better for all the work you have put into it!

Good luck!

Im not sure how getting someone else to do the work for you would help you to learn anything. I certainly wouldnt find it academically acceptable - learning to produce well written work is part of the PhD process.

I would be interested to know how many people on this forum find writing the easy part of research!! I found quite difficult myself, But at the same time I have read plenty of PhD dissertations from very reputable institutions and Ive always been amazed at how simple the writing is! My main peace of advice is to read as many PhD thesis/ transfer reports as you can get your hands on. This will give you a good flavor of the appropriate structure, style and depth your writing should contain. You would be surprised at how many PhD thesis you will come across if you search for them in Google.

In addition, consider that there are quite a few very decent books out there which can help improve your writing. One thing that springs to mind is " the elements of style " which is a fairly seminal book on writing in general.

If you are that worried about your writing and your supervisor isn't being much help, then maybe there is someone else in your department who can give you advice and feedback? I think a lot of departments are required to give some kind of training on academic writing as well. correct me if I'm wrong.

Hi Sillybilly,

sorry to hear about your troubles.

I agree with most of the advice given above.

I think if you are talking about publications that it is very important to get an idea how the journal wants you to write the article. Most have specific instructions on their website. I think one should follow these instructions to the letter. That will provide you with a structure.
Then try and fill in this structure with what you have found in your research. What is your conclusion based on your research, write in the method and result part how you have come to that conclusion. In the introduction provide info regarding what you are going to write about and why this is important.
Keep it simple!

Hope this help, you can do it!

:-)

All his posts seem to have been in a similar vein... they have a whiff of spam about them, though I may be wrong.

Me too, I wish I hadn't given him a star now...mods can i take it back!?!

Thanks for all your help guys! Panic over, my sups are being a bit more reasonable now, and am hoping to get at least one paper finished!

Am going to look at some books on writing and see if i can get me on a writing a paper course!

Let me clarify my posting once and for all. You find yourself struggling through your assignments and you get someone who really understand the challenges you are facing and is competent to provide you with academic advice you. Now this is help! and this is what the service I suggested offers. There is not spam and all that said is rubbish. When you get stuck and you get help it does not mean that you become dependent on someone or that you don't learn. After all I only share my experience and I really don't want to create false impressions for anyone. Confidence comes from learning and learning is an outcome of guidance!

Thanks!
J

James, all your posts sent people off to a commercial MBA site! PhDs are not MBAs and paying other people to write one's 'assignments' would not be the way to complete a PhD successfully. It is original, self-directed research and is training for a career in research or academia, not just an exam or a qualification. It is learning by doing, there is no other way. The most valuable advice on this forum is from others in the same situation who have had the same experiences. This advice is offered out of goodwill, contains no unsolicited advertising and it seems to do the job very well indeed, hence any mistrust of your posts.

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Rubyw, first of all this is a discussion forum and this means that people are allowed to freely express their views and experiences. It is NOT a discussion forum where 'prescribed' ideas need to be discussed. So accept it and live with it. Secondly, the point of our disagreement is not what you are referring to in your post. I have a PhD myself from Durham University, UK. In most UK universities and part of the first year of a PhD student's commitments is to write assignments. So assignments are part of the PhD student's experience if you want to take it this way. Thirdly I don't know what stage of your PhD you are in but I know PhD students who lost more than they gained with supervisors that did not make the effort to understand them and communicate with them. This is not only about wasting money but also the emotional effort that cannot be replaced. I agree with your point about the self-learning but this is not something that I am disagreing with. The issue of guidance is a big issue. Finally and more importantly I don't feel at all the need to defend the position in supporting that I am NOT advertising or promote a service. You can believe whatever you want to believe about my intentions - it is really of no importance to me at all. What I did say was sharing my personal experience and whether someone finds my experience and comment as useful or not is up to them. Thanks. J.

James, I think you're digging a hole for yourself here. Your first post did nothing more than quote an MBA site that offers customised essays. How can you say you're not advertising or promoting your services, when blatantly all you did was post a link to a commercial site. It's difficult to accept that you are not directly connected to the site.

I don't really want to lurch into this discussion, but you mention 'assignments' are part of a PhD student's first year commitment...this is just not the case. Most first year PhD students are working directly on their thesis, not writing 'assignments'. In fact, the term 'assignment' does not find common usage in British universities.
Further, you say the people on this site are competent to help PhD students, but the site is clearly directed at MBA students!

Also, for someone with a PhD from Durham, your grasp of the English language (whether being your first or second language) is questionable.

Yes, I know it's a discussion forum! I don't understand what I'm supposed to 'accept and live with' either, though it doesn't sound very polite on your part. If you look at the rules of the forum, you'll notice that you're not allowed to post adverts. If you read your own posts, you'll notice that you've been edited by the moderators for advertising, not by me or anyone else who's misunderstood you! Anyway, I really don't think there's anything else to say on the subject.

Misspacey, if you want to confirm whether doing assignments is part a PhD student's first year then you only have to check a couple of UK universities and their course information. Very easy to trace and I sugget you do. There is nothing further to comment on this. Now, if you think that I am connected with the site in someway I really don't care as I feel it is a waste of time to even go back to this point. As for you comment about my PhD and grasp of the language the only thing I can say is that it only shows your reasoning incompetence to make connection between two premises.