...have an impact on my chances of securing a post-doc post? I know that my funding will stop, but I'm putting a little aside each month to cover extra fees, just in case.
- How, how, how, how do you motivate yourself to write/work on the thesis full-time?
- Are there any websites that you've come across where people 'buddy' up online to stick to ongoing deadlines (eg compare how many words they've each written at the end of each day). I know that Nanowrimo has loads (so I'll be fine come November, for a month haha), but it struck me that there might my PhD-related ones, too.

Anyway, I've really rattled on and am asking a lot.... Apologies for the double post; for some reason my wordcount wasn't calculated until after I'd clicked 'post', so it was chopped (would have cut it down somewhat otherwise)!

Besides, I'd better get back to the lit review ;)

Thank you.

So.

I started a PhD in October of last year at a university in a new town (so relocated just prior to that) in an area that was quite different to my BA, and also to my MA, although all were/are humanities related. Having said that, I did a fair bit of reading and research before applying, and managed to get funding (hip hip hooray!). Was delighted, and as far as I was concerned all was well.

Fast-forward nearly a year, and I feel as though I'm ridiculously behind, and that my entire thesis is unfeasible. If I wasn't so proud, and so incredibly lucky to get funding, I'd seriously be considering quitting. I know how lucky I am - my supervisors have been understanding and helpful throughout, the university I'm at is great for what I'm doing, and I'm funded to do it, with no dependents/responsibilities other than my PhD. However, this year has flown by, and I feel as though I genuinely have nothing to show for it and am letting everyone down. It took forever (many months) to jump through various bureaucratic hoops in order to register (requiring reworked versions of proposals and reams of ethical clarification), and I was utterly miserable and lonely for the first six months here as there really isn't a sense of a research community at all (I ended up on antidepressants and in counselling, although haven't told my supervisor). Having said that, I'm generally chirpier and more settled now.

My first attempt at a literature review was atrocious, partly as a result of a deep-rooted fear of actually 'starting' my thesis, but predominantly because I have slowly realised that the fundamental premise of my thesis is flawed (this wasn't helped by the publication of a book with which there was a lot of overlap - a book, which, on reflection, itself has major problems). I haven't had the guts to tell my supervisors (now on holiday) that I would like to completely change my thesis title (although I secretly have an alternative working title).

So.

I suppose I would appreciate any advice going with regards to any of the following questions. Apologies for the long list - there really isn't anyone else here that I have to ask:

- Would I be shooting myself in the foot changing my thesis topic at the end of my first year (and what are the implications for funding? I've read contradictory regulations with regards to this).
- If I were to change titles, is it at all possible to write a thesis from scratch in just over two years? Much of the reading I have been doing over the last year is still relevant. Just out of interest, roughly how long do people put aside to write up a full (ie 80,000 word) arts and humanities thesis? And how long did it really take? ,)
- My first year report is (strangely, but luckily) due in after 18 months. Roughly how long did it take to pull the writing together for it? (15,000-20,000 words). I have six months, and I'm wondering how tight I've left it all.
- If a funded thesis overruns the 3-year mark, will this hav