Writing

Writing, writing.

Do it as you go along! Tis the only thing I can say. I asked around a bit today because I am now on chapter #2 and loooking to have another down for when I go away. My Sup is really pleased with this and says I will be too when I come back from fieldwork and start 'writing up' for real. But then today I thought - is this actually for good, or am I just wasting time writing what will be changed so much later anyway? Will the fieldwork mean everything I am thinking will be erased?

I think it is a good thing. I am writing all my ideas down for these discrete segments of the PhD. I am not doing it in a linear sense and have little interest in writing a lit review yet - I will plan it and am saving references as I go along, so when I come to do it I have a head start. But other than that, the intro and lit review must wait because these would change radically. I am working on primary analysis chapters really. Then I will have my methodology written before I go out. This will be for my own personal reference and also, if I know it - why not write it down? Why wait until next year when I am all fuzzy and can't remember the key terms/jargon?

I could never wait until next year to start writing. Where would you start?! How daunting. Much better to have some chapters to mess around with - even if at the end of the day they only serve as a template any more - much MUCH better than a gazillion notes and blank piece of paper. And also, after your first one it does seem to get easier.

Yep, writing as you go along is the best bet.

x J