I came across this book on Amazon:Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day . I thought others might be interested. Tom Nixon
I read it. I didn't find it particularly helpful. But the message is a good one: keep writing every damn day. When I was writing my dissertation, I kept my laptop with me at all times. I wrote during meals, on buses and the subway, when waiting for any reason, etc. That way, writing was a normal part of my everyday activities, instead of this big deal I had to gear up for (or, as the King of ProcrastiNATION, put off). Drafted the final three chapters (and updated the first two) in 5 months, including conducting the research.
I agree with Rich. I spend just under 2 hours writing my dissertation every day (Tilburg University/ Netherlands). I go to the local Starbucks each morning around 6 or 6:15 a.m. and leave t 8:15, after my laptop battery dies. Sometimes I'll write all weeken, but not recently due to some time constraints. Those early morning 2 hours are the most exciting part of my day, plus most of the Starbucks patrons know what I'm doing, so there is frequently support coming my way. Recently, I turned in my work to the profs, They had it for twomonths. And what did I do during that time? I began writing a book on politics and cutbacks to local community social services. Earon
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha=ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Would that be the clients or the underpaid social service workers who had their contracts ripped up by the BC Liberals in January 2002? I'm still laughing. No... I'm crying.. Earon
Thanks tom. I can't help but to feel fustrated, though - I am still up in the air about my dissertation topic and I still don't know which way to go. I am split on writing about Autism and its effects on the family system ( a subject I really know well) or end-of life issues with patients and their families (go figure the diversity in subjects). Maybe I am just impatient and tired, and by having some free time from school will help. I just finished the semester of my second year in the doctoral program and now I have to study for the Comp exams that are being given in the summer. My school is in the process of converting my program from a DSW to a PhD in Social Work, so things are a little confusing lately. (See my earlier threads on this subject).