OK, so this is write up time, after a few months of dreamingly jotting down notes and preparing publications, it is time to finish this thing and get on with life.
The plan is simple enough on paper- 500-1000 word per day in strictly two hours of pomodoro session. That means about 150000-20000 words per month.
I have three chapters in rough drafts and some work that needs to be consolidated into new chapters- around 20000 words written, and the plan is to have 50000-60000 by early September.

This thread will serve as a place to whine, share successes and failures, and dispense advice. Most of all, this is a commitment to each other to get through this summer together and with something to show for it. Are you with me?

I am wondering if any of you UK PhDs have had experience with applying for american grants which require a transcript indicating your grades in your PhD course, from your university. As most UK PhD do not include taught courses, I am wondering what would qualify as a proper substitute.
The application guide said to include a letter explaining why I don't have a transcript- do they mean for me to write it, perhaps an administrator, or my supervisors. I would really appreciate your opinions if have had any contact with large grant giving foundations in the USA.

Hi all,
I am a PhD student in my second year in an English university. I am relatively older than most PhD students (34) and I am married with a 3 year old. As I am a non-resident, my studentship covers only some of the fees and a partial stipend, which forces to work part time while I write my PhD. My work is going ok, and I have presented in two major conferences so far with some success, as well as winning a nice additional scholarship to cover the rest of my tuition. However, I now need to submit my "upgrade" or transfer document which is basically a few chapters in their final drafts, and this is proving extremly difficult and much longer than I expected.
This is causing me some stress, especially as my wife and I are planning, or really hoping, to return to our country of origin next year in what will be my final year in the studentship.
I have discussed our plan with my two of my supervisors, but not with my director of studies. While they were open to the idea and were supportive of my reason, I have a feeling the director of studies might show some nervousness with my last year of PhD being abroad. I have to say that I think it return to my country of origin might support my PhD and could very well be helpful in its completion. Some of my empirical work has to with the place I come from.
I would love to hear from anyone who relocated during their PhD- how should I approach this, as I am getting to the point where I need to sell this to my director of studies, and would also appreciate any thoughts on that.
Thanks!
PhilofEd80

Hi CharlieBrown,

Thanks for replying. I am actually feeling a bit better too, and maybe it was the weather down here in London that gave me some energy. Luckily for me, our daughter is in full time daycare which means I have the whole morning and noon time. I have started to limit my time in front of the computer, which seemed to become less productive the more time I spent trying to write. Now I would decide in advance that I am giving it two hours, and stick to those hours, with the rest of the time spent on useful procrastination (cooking, cleaning, going to the gym). I've found that the two hours a day rule is helpful right now, especially for my mental preparation. I am much less anxious and have a more positive outlook. The two things I wish I manage to do more is read (I am writing is a philosophical field, so there is always more to read...but it is damn hard reading...) and be able to do some studying in the evenings after the little jewel has gone to sleep. Do you manage to to do that at all? any suggestions?

Goals for today- finish preparing presentation for tomorrow's departmental conference and get 400 words into the next chapter.

Hi all, Thanks for this thread.
I don't know how far along any of you are, I am finishing my first year of PhD, which was quite hectic juggling several part time jobs and a family (I am responsible for my young daughter in the afternoons, till my wife gets back from work).
Since I work as a lecturer in higher education, I was hoping to get some intensive work done over the summer while I have time off. Now I can't really concentrate most of the day and get random work done on the days I do schlepp myself to the university library. I do have some impending deadlines, as I have gotten accepted to two major conferences in my field, one in Sept. and one in Oct.-in one respect this is really good new, as now I will have to write up the papers that were accepted on the basis of abstracts, but I keep feeling like I have to do more research and it is sooo hard to just write it up...I hope its ok I just went on this rant, I would really like to have done my upgrade document (3 full chapters, according to my SV) by the end of Sept. I just don't feel productive and I wonder what you guys do when you feel like you've let go for a while?