Let the Thesis do the Organising

A tip from my Sup.

He emailed me back and has basically told me that I am writing too much!  Apparently I don't really need a methods section and only a para on ethics, in the intro!  And apparently I don't need a lit review either, just about 3000 words in the intro...  I have managed to write 10,000 words!  i sweated over those words

My heart sank into my boots because although this is obviously fantastic news as it means I have practically finished and am sweating the small stuff too much, it also means that if I followed his advice mty thesis would only be 60,000 words long!  Where would I make up the rest?  I desperately don't want to revise my contentions chapters as they are all written, re-written and re-written again and, as far as I am concerned, need never be changed :( 

So I emailed back about this and said that I wanted to keep the theory section I had written, and said why and said actually I wanted the methods bit to be longer than a small bit of the intro and explained why, as my methods are really integral to the theory and my arguments.  And he emailed back and said that I should let the thesis do the organising, but to keep the methods bit shorter rather than longer.  This is interesting, letting the thesis organise me, because that is actually really important and lends a sort of instinctive element to the work.  I feel that the methods bit has to go in, whether i like it or not, because it is important to the thesis. 

I like that I am not needed to labour under it though :)  Hurrah, less work to worry about when I get back!  Holidays here I come!

x J

ps I can't believe I have been told I work too much!

 

Time for Hollibobs :)

Sod work, am off :) :) :) :)

I have gone through the chapter and written a big note to myself outlining the structure as I have it so far (is grand) and what each section needs writing in it, so when I come back and can't see through my tears or think through my post-holiday blues I can start with some help :)

I have reminded myself to only do 10 mins, and then float about being stupid, then another ten mins...  or else I will not work at all! 

I have also reminded myself to eat a lot of crisps and chocolate while I am working :)

Should be fine.  I also emailed my Sup to show off about finishing the theory chapter and being halfway through another one.  I lied and said I was tkaing work on holiday with me; I can say I am definitely NOT.  Not even a laptop, but I have worked my socks off to get to a stage were this can happen, so hurray for having a motivating deadline.

Have fun times peeps, will be back to work on Sunday 30 September, weeping, weeping.

x J

And Calm...

I did take last night off and I slept and slept for hours!

Today I feel much calmer, more objective and back in control of the work :)  Instead of just typing and typing I need to slow down and be more careful about what I am saying and why.  I hve got the basic structure there which is what al the typing was about, now I need to flesh it out, linking my methods to my theory.

This is pleasing, but time consuming!  Not as satisfying as a flurry of typing the obvious.  I shall work intermittently until 2.30 when I have the drs appt I cancelled yesterday to work.  I have to pack a bit here and there but will aim to have the work in a good place to come back to (is it possible I am dreading coming back to it already?!) and copious notes about where I am going with it and how to do it, if necessary, so I don't come back after two weeks off confused.  I will be very de-motivated and cross and sad so would like to make it as soft a blow as I can!

x J

Calling it a Day

I have reached saturation point!  I can't work any more today!

I have done really well, sorted out a first draft of a whole new chapter ready for editing and am over halfway through the next one, is all structured and just needs to be added to.  I know where the notes are is just a case of plodding on and filling in the gaps.

But I am knackered!  And I can't write ANY MORE!  What I am writing is getting pretty rubbish too.  I am on day four of five of blasting through this before going on holiday so leaving now (all of half an hour early) is a good idea to give my brain time to refresh.  I won't work tonight, will just come back tomorrow hopefully with renewed vigour for a last go at it before going away.  It won't be finished but it won't be too horrible to come back to, and tbh I should just be really pleased with what I have achieved in two weeks :)

Righty, till tomorrow then.

x J

It *Is* Two Chapters

Yep.  The methodology is two chapters now, one for the theory and one for the practical 'how I did it' and why gumf.

Wonderfully the theory one is now all done; although it needs some serious editing everything should be there.  It is 8000 words long :)  And I have written half of its sibling chapter, so 4000 words on the methods, ethics and analysis.  I have to make sure I am always linking these to the theory.  It is boring graft but is coming along.  When these two chapters are done my word total should be about 75, 000, so with the intro I should comfortably ease into the requisite 80,000 words.  Phew!

Cancelled doc until tomorrow as this time tomorrow I think I will have called it a day and swanned off to pack for holiday while Bean is not around to unpack everything :)  And I will just be in a fine excitable mood!  so will go to drs and then come back and do packing etc but today it means I can just carry on working (or begrudingly 'plodding') without interruption.  If I don't do any more it wouldn't be the end of the world, I will have time to do it when I come back just would be nice not to have to!

Anyway, still got one and a half hours to keep plodding away.

For some reason I feel like I just got a chapter for free.  How strange!

x J 

Ploughing On

Bloody hell, I have got my head stuck up my arse today.

I cannot work for love nor money.  I have worked though, but it is like trying to think through treacle.

I have also had the unpleasant realisation (that I do with all chapters) that this chapter is not quite as simple any more :(  Boo hoo.  I am also pretty sure I won't have a draft done for before I go on holiday but we shall see.

I am working very hard to get it done but I have a slow bit now where I have to go through my old notes and get out quotes and ting to help explain my choice of methods.  Boring, time consuming and bla bla bla. 

I am off for luncheon. 

x J

Difficult Day Today

Today is going to be challenging.

For a start I am hungry but the shitty bread I buy from co-op as gone off already.  Grrr.  And I can't go out and buy more because I am waiting in for a parcel for my holiday with a swimsuit and lovely flip flops in :)  I have a drs appt at 3pm which is no big deal but drs is always a bit nervewracking. 

And on top of that I am edgy about needing to get organised for the holiday and needing to finish this chapter!  'Needing' to finish it is freaking me out and making it difficult to work.  I want to run away!  So I must stick to my ten mins efforts today and try not to freak out and get writer's block.

I am also completely shattered as I didn't sleep much; the adrenaline of needing to get organised for holiday, get the house ready for two weeks of us away and finish work got to me last night!  My mind was whirring around!

So, first ten mins...  Then I shall rummage for some food.

x J