Don't know if this is the right place to be posting considering most are writing up (as was I!) but I have my viva in a fortnight and am increasingly sick with worry. Overall I think there are good moments in my thesis and some good clear writing but largely it's clumsy. My nerves when writing were just too much. Really so scared and worried.

Hi all, well as usual, progress not quite as much as I had anticipated. Chapter 1 looks good, have had really positive feedback and am sending it to my 2nd supervisor over Xmas break so another pair of eyes can read it. My Chapter 1 is the board from which chapters 2-5 spring from, so it's vital that it is absolutely strong. Really happy with it, re-reading and think it's the best I can be.

I'm meeting my supervisor on Monday which will motivate me to finish the edits to Chapter 2 by the end of December. This chapter has evolved a lot from my drafts and think my command of language is so much better.

2015 goals are:

Have Chapter 5 written by the end of January. Once I have Chapters 1, 2 and 5 drafted, I am going to put in my intention to submit. This means my expected submission date will be May 2nd, 2015. I feel that I really can't go on any further than this date. Living at home and working in a banal PT job has taken a lot out of me. I'm ready to hand in and move on.

Because Chapters 1, 2 and 5 are my three "big" chapters of approx 60k altogether, my Chapters 3 and 4 are only around 10k each. I think having February for Chapter 3 and March for Chapter 4 will suffice. And April will just be writing the Intro, Conclusion, ensuring footnotes are correct, getting abstract done, etc.

Just need to keep it together for 4.5 more months. Think regular supervisory meetings will be essential so going to ask my supervisor if we can meet once a month from now until the end.

It will be a quiet Christmas for me but I'm happy to just keep working on.

Hi . You are spamming the forum with so many posts that are so specific to you, no one can comment or reply. Can you please keep all of your posts in one thread as the incessant postings are a bit annoying tbqh.

Happy to try and motivate each other RLD.

Things have been going on ok with me. Sending Chapter 1 to supervisor on Sunday. Have completely re-written it since the last draft and am really really pleased with it.

Chapter 2 still requires work, but I am going to plunge straight into it and hopefully get it sent to supervisor this coming Thursday.

After that, Chapter 5 dawns. And if I could get it done by Christmas (giving myself a lot of time here) I would be so proud of myself. The three "big" chapters done by Christmas means I will hand in by end of March.

I can do this.

Hi all. So much for my big plans last year. Life got in the way unfortunately.

I'm finishing my second draft of chapters 1 & 2 at the moment, sending them to supervisor Friday week. After that I have to hammer out chapter 3, which is about 20k. Should take me til end of November, maybe Christmas at latest.

After that, my two "sliver" chapters of about 8k words each should take about 6 weeks, so late January/early Feb. Leaving me six weeks to go over everything, write the Intro and Conclusion, submitting a week after my 30th birthday at end of March.

I figure if I can get these 3 "big" chapters out of the way before Christmas, I will do up my intention to submit in and around that time in order to give myself the final push I need.

Personally speaking I am drowning a bit. Living at home with parents who do not understand/get the pressures of a phd and treat me like a child. Also balancing a PT job of 16hrs a week. So if I'm not £££ I'm type-type-type. Looking for the light at end of tunnel. Hopefully by Christmas it will be clearer.

Hi guys - I'm doing a PhD in Literature, just at the end of my 4th year. I had 8 months during my second year without supervision which set me back a lot time-wise. I got a funding extension for the full 4th year because of the supervisory problems and moved back home to really concentrate on writing up.

Things were starting to come together work-wise and then 2014 just brought a series of bereavements that I struggled with and I spent the bulk of the year just kind of living life instead of working thoroughly on the phd. Now it's the end of my 4th year and while I definitely do feel like I'm back "to myself" again (whatever that is), it feels like this Phd will never end.

Uni have been understanding and my fees have been waived until the end of January. Right now I'm currently re-writing my Chapter 1, have Chapter 2 almost complete and 3, 4 and 5 planned out. It took me a long time to get comfortable in the Phd and I read my Chapter 1 and I know I'm writing the best I ever have. This chapter is very strong and it's good. I will have Chps 1 & 2 done by mid-Oct, leaving:

Chapter 3: 18k
Chapter 4: 10k
Chapter 5: 10k

My question is, is it beyond the realms of possibility to have these last three chapters written up by the end of December? They are all planned out, I know what I have to say. I just feel like I'm writing so slowly.

I would like to hear "been there, done that" stories. Three months to write approx 40k. Can I do it? Motivational tips are much appreciated. I work two days a week in an office job and the rest is Phd. I don't have a social life anymore. But I spent way too long labouring on sentences.

Thanks guys :-)

Hi Pixie -

Just wanted to say I'm in the same boat as you. 4th year, currently finishing my second chapter, with one more "big" chapter (approx 20k) and two "small" chapters (8k each) to go by end of October. Find keeping motivated/writer's block very difficult and would generally do about 3/4 good days work a week. The rest is procrastination, beating myself up and sleeping.

I think we just have to keep chipping away. I too spend a lot of time worrying about how others are finishing up in 3 years and I am struggling to do so in 4 but as you say, each project is different. For example, my original supervisor went off ill for 8 months during my first year, and then finally left, so I didn't have much supervision for approx one year. That has held me back. I consider myself a good student with a great c.v. and am just trying to positively reinforce this every day.

We have gotten this far, we can do it. Just got to keep chipping away.

Good luck! xx

Feeling the exact same. Absolutely no motivation, have 2 chapters due next Monday... can't even sit at my desk I'm so tired, lethargic and uninterested. I'm going to try early morning starts for the next few days. Work from 7 - 12 and try and harness the morning 'buzz'.

Definitely in the same boat as you. Once I have these two chapters done, I need to write my third by early August and then two small chapters (7k each) by early September, with hopeful submission at end of Oct. Is this possible?! Who knows!! xx

Hi guys - I too cannot wait for my full draft.

I had a personal upset that interrupted my chapter writing schedule and had to finish a book chapter for an edited collection so am way off the schedule I had planned in January. But glad to have the publication under my belt and personal grief cannot be helped.

Chapter 1 is done and done well.
Chapter 2 is due this coming Tuesday.
Chapter 3 by June 16th.
Chapter 4 and 5 by July 20th (these chapters are v. short - thinking of making one big chp out of them but unsure yet).

Then Aug/Sept for Intro / Conclusions with hopeful submission by October, at latest. I've been lucky in that I have a part time job and no fees to pay as my Uni recognised my supervisor problems from 2nd year and gave me a 1 year fee waiver, so just motoring along and trying to make it the best it can be. The next three months are going to be heavy going but I'll never have to do this again so just need to get my head down.

Good luck to everyone else writing up xox

Hello all, just an update. Handing in Chapter 2 next Monday so just trying to bang out the words and get it done. Got distracted reading an excellent phd thesis on the author I'm also writing about (I'm a literature phd student), which was unnerving. But when re-reading my own work and I think I am on the same level, I hope.

All going well I'd hope to have a full draft by May. Got all my funding sorted out and won't be paying fees until after July, if needs be. Thinking of booking a holiday for the last week of August to give myself a motivational kick but will see how I get on getting a draft together.

Hope you are all getting on ok!

Hi everyone, thought I'd update.

Lonelystar, we are in the same boat! I did two "good" days of work over the Xmas break but was ill with flu for about 6 days and then went out and had some fun so not as far on with Chapter 2 as I'd want to be.

However, had great feedback from my supervisor regarding Chapter 1 - she said it was "outstanding", so I'm really thrilled because that Chapter basically sets the scene for Chapters 2-5.

New aim is to get Chapter 2 and my book chapter (a side task I've been offered) done by end of January, leaving Feb-April to do Chps 3-5 (one chapter of which is partially written already) and hopefully submit June/July/August time. Had my late submission fees waived as well, owing to supervisor issues in my 1/2nd years. Feeling on top of things!

I also got a PT job so haven't done any thesis work bar mild reading this week. Just settling into the routine and dealing with post work tiredness this wek. But still feeling ok!

Good luck everyone.

Just wanted to chime in with an update - I submitted my Chapter 1 yesterday and am currently enjoying a day of guilt-free relaxation. My next mini-deadline is to have Chapter 2 sent off by the end of December. I'm hoping to do a bit of work on the 24th, and full days from 26-31st Dec. It would be an unbelievable lifeline to have Chapters 1 and 2 done by end of December/early January.

Lonelystar - Like you, I would hope for a May/June/July 2014 submission.

Guys, this thread has been a little lifeline for me so now I'm feeling especially unmotivated I thought I'd chip in.

Currently finishing edits to the first draft of chp1. Really pleased with this chp as it's the most tricky one and think that when I come back to go over it, there won't be too much work to do.

Basically giving myself one month from now until February to drag everything else together in chps 2 - 5.

My chps 2 and 5 are drafted and while they'll need definite re-writes, if I can get my head down, two weeks should cover it. Just allowing a month time-wise in case something bad crops up.

Chps 3 and 4 will be written in Jan and February. Notes all collected - just a matter of articulating the points.

I had wanted to submit at end of February, but think it will probably be a May 1st submission for me. My Uni allows us free leeway until Feb 1st, but then a fee for three extra months. All going well, having all chapters drafted by end of February will give me March and April to tidy up, introduce and conclude.

Writing it all down does make it sound like I might manage to complete this thing! Just have to stop beating myself up about a "late" submission... I'm my own worst enemy when it comes to those types of thoughts.

Good luck everyone else! :-)

Hi HazyJane, I think you're right. I need to re-frame my perceptions. I spend so much time worrying about other people's finish dates and why I'm not finishing up (hence, feeling like I've failed/been "left behind"), it's impeding my actual work.

Writing about it on here and taking a break over the weekend has been good though. Thanks again.

Thanks so much everyone, for all your replies. It has been so good to know I'm not the only one who has gone past the three-year mark. I just have to drill it into my mind that I'm not writing from an "already failed" place. It's difficult but I'll try to keep spirits up.

In a way, all this failure does feel akin to a break up. I feel unusually emotional, vulnerable etc. But so appreciative that you guys took the time to reply to me. Good luck everyone! :)