Managed to get uni funded place without being in that uni but had connections with research teams. From what I know if you are the right person for the place then they will definitely choose you, this is the same in industry and normal jobs-people from inside as well as outside apply for posts and its the match between the job specification and the person that will count.
NEVER, guess these things and regret of not applying.

You SHOULD write as you go. Since I'm in write-up, wish I could have done more but it was difficult with data collection being so tiresome :-s. You can always start by lit.review and methods sections. doesn't matter if they need revising at the end but having something on paper is so so important. At least on note form or rough sections of things you have done.:-)

Keep up the good work!! not long to go now. putting a bow on the binder might be a bit OTT, but hey, its your work and it should deserve more than that :-)
I'm also in editing phase but I still have some writing to do also, plan to finish a good first draft in dec.

Thanks Hazyjane! This is in a journal article and they have specified a way to cite this article but the problem is- that way I won't be citing the actual paper but only the main paper which includes the one I'm writing about -
too confusing to even write now..:-p I'm going to ask my super next time we meet,,although this seems a minute thing in the whole writing scene

I'm supposed to finish my writing by the end of this year and think about submission. But same as you, my results are not clear cut and still don't have a good line going through the writing.
What am I doing? Just keep on writing one thing at a time so it doesn't feel as a waste of time. Just one section or one article summary etc. and coming to forums like this to get some encouragement. Its a tall order and sometimes feel its not worth the effort but there is a tiny part of me somewhere that keep telling me how good it would be to get this over and get the PhD for all my hard work over the years.

Where are u in terms of writing? as sometimes when you write down the results or etc. it will make sense. You are so near the end so keep pushing and don't give up this far down the way!(up)

Looks like nobody is interested in helping me to clear the confusion :-(
So, this is what I will be doing incase if anyone wants to comment. I'm going to reference this as a book chapter as it is within a journal aritcle and has editors

I'm in the middle of writing a chapter & this conference paper reference is giving me a headache abt how to do that. This is how it goes..

The conference paper is published inside an article which has a heading of 'Communications to the Annual conference of...' There are few papers put together in this journal article with each authors name.

My question is ..whether to reference this as
a) conference paper (but there is a journal year, volume & page no)
b) conference proceeding
c) journal article ? (but then this has editors)

:-s :-s

Hi Pineapple, I'm on the same boat as you on being bored as well as trying to finish a first draft of thesis by sep. The outlook is not good as it doesn't look like I'm going to make it or maybe just about. BUT I want to get this over with and move on with my life so I keep telling myself-'I need to do this' every minute. The strategy I will use is dividing tasks into smaller tasks so I wont feel overwhelmed. Just doing few pages editing or writing at least a page on a day. I will update on how things go and keep in mind that sooner its done the better your life will be.(up)

Thank you so much for all three replies. It helps to read others experience as its a motivating factor for me. I actually made a list with dates but its too tight so need to give myself a bit more time. Hopefully I will revisit some of the things I've written today and that will make me keep going and encourage me to start writing also. My sup is OK but since she was not entirely happy with this leave but supported me (felt that as she had to do it) I dont feel that comfortable taking to him about these things.
Thanks again and I'm going to get on with things right now.;-)

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I had to take time off from my PhD work and now I'm finding it hard get back to work, mostly concentration problems. Any tips from people who had similar problems and any success stories?;-)

Its Double spacing- as far as I know that's the standard way. I use single spacing sometimes to get an overview of the chapters I'm writing so at the very end I just do double spacing before printing or sending for comments

Its Double spacing- as far as I know that's the standard way. I use single spacing sometimes to get an overview of the chapters I'm writing so at the very end I just do double spacing before printing or sending for comments

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Congratulations :-) (up) (& celebrations which you have had a lot judging by your comments). When you feel better just write some tips and reflections on the viva process and how you prepared, what helped, what didn't etc as it might be a great help for all our suffering souls who will face the music sooner or later!;-)

Oh so true! They want people on books registering for PhD's and to pay the d** fees. That's where it ends, I have not directly experienced the two face cowardliness but have a strong suspicion about my super's intentions and some of their comments, when I know I haven't done well (not to underestimate myself, but I do look at my work objectively and realistically).
The politics of academia is no different to any other occupation, work environment- if you have backing from the highest 'entity' then you have a chance of surviving and if not then its 'all work and no reward (lot of disappointments).

Don't lose heart, find a way through this you are better than them and aim to achieve your PhD with perseverance! I'm afraid life is not fair, although you can get what you want with lot of determination.

Thanks Eska. I just finished watching this and people who are at the beginning should watch this. The end half was not relevant to PhD writing in my opinion but the first half had really good tips which comes up again and again when you talk to writers, or read writing guides. Thought it might be helpful to someone the following notes I jotted down while watching it.

From Alan Macfarlen's you tube video -
"1. Do not write more than 12,000 words for a chapter, try to make them readable and shorter between 10-12,000

2. Do not write the introduction first as you never know what you will end up until the end.
-beginning should be a gripping story or interesting point to grab your reader
-at the end of that introduction you should have a outline of thesis which you can only write after you finish

3. Start with the most interesting or your best material
  -should be like starting a fire, you need best things that will burn first like things that will make you want to write.
  - then put twigs into the fire to make it burn similar to adding other parts or chapters to it, otherwise it will be like grinding stones together making it a   
    harder 
4. Data organising
-sketch first a rough plan
-ideas should lead to the data rather than the other way
-WRITE FIRST-THINK LATER! (I think its so true, should be a PhD writing prayer:-x) he quoted the person who said this but didnt catch it.

5. raise the level of theory after each draft, when you read back you will know what theories could be added

6. roughly a productive 3 hour writing after the preparations should produce about 2000 words

7. Do read other books, novels and carry on with your life but keep a note book to write what comes to mind at the other times. There should be intellectually alone times to write and sociable other times-get the balance right

8. Never finish off a piece of writing at the end of a writing session. leave few notes and come back to read them when you start next. It will help you to avoid looking at a blank page with a heading at the beginning of a writing session.

Writing should not be a burden but still an effort should be made! "

Happy writing to all of you!  ;-)