Thanks so much again for the supportive replies. In fact the issue is not so much with the examiners now, it's my supervisor who keeps saying "not enough depth." I honestly try and try to get enough depth, I have umpteen books on how to write critically and I have tried following the 'format' of why is this critical work important/relevant etc, but nothing's working. Part of the problem may be that the academic part of a Creative Writing PhD is only 30,000 words and this problem introductory chp can only be around 18,000 words max.
I did take a break over the Easter weekend but now I am panicking!
Does anyone know, if you are given 12 months for revisions, whether it's possible to extend that period? I daren't ask my supervisor at this stage as I'm certain she will tell me try try to get it done, and then I may hand in a lot of rubbish.
Also - and I know this is a huge ask - anyone who supervises PhDs willing to take a look at a chunk of my writing? And be honest? I know this is a bit of a cheek as we all have so much work on. I fear my peers at my own university will be too nice, or that is my experience in the past. Would be massively grateful if anyone says yes to this plea.

HI

I've just re-read the post where there amy be some support available for the writing - seriously? How do I go about this? I would do anything for this!!

Hi everyone
Thanks so much for the supportive replies, I am really very grateful.
Re. the problem chapter, this is what happened:
Pre-viva, I tried several times to write an overview/introductory chapter of my chosen field of children's literature. My supervisor kept saying it wasn't quite working, although the three case study chapters were fine.
So in the end we cut it down to a Preface plus the case studies, which my supervisor thought worked well.
But the examiners said it was too perfunctory and basically said I should go back and try to write this overview chp as an introduction, which needs to trace the history of this genre. It needs to include the usual literature review and methodology. I've tried several different approaches and can't seem to get the "depth" right (my supervisor says) - only I've read other similar chaps from other PhDs and I can't see what is different. I think this is because I'm panicking and can't see the woods for the trees, but no one seems to be able to explain it to me. At the last attempt I tried so hard and when it came back as still not good enough I spent days in tears - more out of bewilderment than anything else. I am beginning to wonder if I am just not bright enough. But then I think: before the viva everyone thought I would pass - two supervisors and my peers who did the mock-viva. It felt like I was 'nearly there.' Now I feel like I will never get there.
I will try to get some wellbeing support as suggested but I don't know whether a break is allowed at this stage - I was given 12 months for the revisions, of which 6 months have already gone.
Does anyone know?
Thanks again.

Hi
I last posted after a very traumatic viva after which I was given 12 months to do corrections. This came as a surprise to my supervisors who both expected a pass. Here I am after 6 months and am hardly any further forward. One problem has been the lack of supervisory support, but I also sweated blood and tears over a revised chapter only to be told my writing has regressed and basically it was rubbish. Now I'm at the end of my tether. New ways of re-writing the same material are eluding me. I keep being told it doesn't quite have the required depth, although my other chps do and I cannot see what I am doing that is different. I am petrified of failing. I gave up a professional career (no, I can't go back to it) to finish the PhD with the hope of getting an academic job - and I'm not all that young - so I basically staked everything on it and now I'm so scared that I will fail and all that work and money will have been for nothing. If I fail I don't think I could even leave the house again or face anyone. But I'm getting nowhere. Can anyone suggest anything? Where can I get some new support, as I think my supervisors feel they've done their bit pre-viva and I'm getting nothing from them?

Hello Guy, how are you doing now? Have you got the report? I really feel for you - I came across your post when Googling "lost my confidence after viva," as this is exactly what's just happened to me!
My viva was last week. It's a Creative Writing PhD, which involves a novel and thesis. The novel was shortlisted for a prestigious national award and my supervisors expected no problems with this part - but the examiners pulled it to shreds. They also had problems with the thesis which surprised my supervisor too.
The viva itself was worse than I'd expected - I'd been told they were not aggressive or confrontational, but this certainly was. I rarely got the chance to complete a full sentence before the examiners interrupted and around the mid-way point I was convinced they were going to fail me, so I think my performance really crumbled.
So now I'm waiting for a report too. I also have revisions with a 12-month timescale. I feel utterly destroyed, in spite of all the consoling messages - the worst thing is that I've lost confidence in my creative writing, which I love so much.
I think it's a crazy, unfair, subjective process.
Let me know where things are with you now.
Best wishes
BarbaraH