I realise this is a 'how long is a piece of string' type question but a ball-park figure would be great!

I am due to give my first paper at a conference in September however completed papers must be submitted by the start of August. Also my supervisors have suggested that we should complete it by the start of July due to holidays etc. In the abstract we submitted, we said we intend to do this, this and this in order to develop this. The problem is we haven't been able to do anything concrete yet due to the inevitable delays involved with setting up experiments so it is likely to be at least another couple of months before we have any results. So I guess what I'm asking is how quickly can it be done?

Cheers,
EV

it depends on how long you have as a slot, and how much you can use info you already have to start it off - and how you are going to present the work. I've got one to do for a few weeks time, and I'm planning on a day to get the bare bones down, plans, basic info, and diagrams etc, and a day to add the meat - quotes, etc. (i've also got to persuade one of my techs to get an experiment ready for me to take along, but that's another story entirely). I have done one in an evening though, but I knew exactly what I needed to put in, so it was just a question of putting it together. you might be able to get some of it done and then slot in the results when you have them.

Thanks Joyce. I don't know how long a slot I have yet as the line-up hasn't yet been posted. But I will certainly keep what you have said in mind.

Incidentally, does anyone care to comment on the importance placed on conference publications? I mean I know that they are not as highly regarded as journal publications but they surely they count for something right? (ps I am in the sciences if that has any bearing on matters)