9,000 words by monday...can it be done!? damn straight. where's my diet coke!!!!????

Twank

hey skig, i've never had todo this. is it particular to the journal? or to your field?? if it's that journal, you could contact the editor and ask :)

i see a lot of people getting that way too, but i actually enjoy the lifestyle- i get to do what i want in terms of directing my own work towards my interests. i keep a little notepad for other ideas when im not in work mode- but generally i do leave my work alone when im away from it. having another outlet or two helps- music and comedy shows for me, personally. extra money too. you dont have to be an uptight or stressy head-melter to get on well as long as your work makes sense. all this is my own experience i guess. horses for courses!!

sensational. congratulations!!!!!!!!!

unless i win the lottery or get offered a foreign correspondent job- i'm finishing this phd!!! once i committed more than a month to it, i decided im going to do whatever it takes. i hope u can get through it and get ur phd!

luckily im funded through thw northern irish government. having said that i pursue a fairly fulltime career as a stand up comedian and comedy writer at the bbc here so things can be hectic, plus teaching and writing for local papers and media. so im fairly busy.

hopefully get some shitty marking out of the way today and start adding theory analysis to a rough paper on libya and press coverage of the conflict (to be done this weekend). Enjoying my new kindle far too much and also freaking out about the premier league games on sunday!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhh come on united!!!

that is frustrating- still, all's wel; that ends well...at least they want to push you!

i've been writing throughout so far which, for anyone else reading this who is starting, works!!
however, as i am a writer in general (aside from phd) i totally understand the lack of motivation- it comes about in spells for me. often, i find the best way to do it is give myself a finite holiday (like three days of doing absolutely nothing but eating and xbox and maybe the gym...then i sit down and start something...as with delta, i agree, once u see the first few hundred or thousand words mounting up, u'l start to feel much better

thanks natassia!!!

thanks folks!!

hi guys, not many univeristies make you do a mini confirmation viva after 100 days of study (its actually about four or five months in), but mine does and just wanted to say i had mine yesterday and passed with flying colours. they couldnt fault my working-structure and they seemed genuinely interested in the topic itself as its fresh. got some good suggestions for stuff to read too. think it was a good thing that, due to an admin error, my super had me complete the stuff which isnt due until june already so im well ahead of schedule. great

good question

academically, i have always excelled. to be honest, i cruised right through school and my undergrad. my first masters was the first really challenging, back-to-the-wall course i encountered and i had to work harder than ever before. that's not to sound fat-headed, thats the way it was. i absolutely hated school though.

ive known for a few years i wanted to get my phd, though this changed from a classics one to journalism when i made a career change and did another masters a few years ago. going great now. love the lifestyle and love research

hiya mate,

i'm arts as well- journalism, specifically.

my thesis is structured to have a traditional front end: introduction, broad chapters surveying history and themes of my topic.
then i have three case studies- all about 9000 words each, one of which i have completed and will be giving as a paper at a couple of research seminars this term.

i think if you share your worries with your super, u'll feel better. i think this structure wroks. the open ended bits are dealt with in the opening chapters, then the case studies are self-contained studies. i hope this helps some. i'm happy to chat more

i would definitely tell them you have it done, then justify why it isnt there. you still have it, i'm sure, so it shouldnt be that much of a pain to get it in, considering that the bulk of the pain is now behind you. in any case, good luck in your viva...really hope you pass!!!