*** Note: This blog post may be of interest mainly to PG students in the writing-up stages ***
OK, the countdown now is to the next deadline, 18th Sept, when I have to submit the final draft of the thesis with all the issues fixed and within 60,000 words (currently it's 70,000 words long).
I have some mixed feelings. I feel good about some chapters (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) not so good about others (1, 8). And I'm exhausted from having to cut down so much.
But weird things have been going in this last stretch. Somehow I struggle to find the motivation. I get distracted easily and procrastinate. But having cut down 10,000 words in the last two weeks feels good. A little boost.
I really want to try and submit this earlier than expected. That would really give me confidence. Let's try.
My plan is to continue summarising the thesis and chopping. When I get to the end I want to rewrite the conclusions chapter and, hopefully, I'll have managed to reach the desired 60,000 words.
Step by step, though. Today, let's go back to the fight against the huge chapter 5, analysis. I managed to bring it down from 40,000 to 30,000 but I'd like to cut further to 20,000 if possible.
PS Today I felt dizzy in the morning again after a long spell not having this low pressure problem. Yesterday was a particularly stressful day. I put it down to that. But I must resume exercise, reading and socialising to improve generally.
Final draft: Day 1/15
*** Note: This blog post may be of interest mainly to PG students in the writing-up stages ***
OK, the countdown now is to the next deadline, 18th Sept, when I have to submit the final draft of the thesis with all the issues fixed and within 60,000 words (currently it's 70,000 words long).
I have some mixed feelings. I feel good about some chapters (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) not so good about others (1, 8). And I'm exhausted from having to cut down so much.
But weird things have been going in this last stretch. Somehow I struggle to find the motivation. I get distracted easily and procrastinate. But having cut down 10,000 words in the last two weeks feels good. A little boost.
I really want to try and submit this earlier than expected. That would really give me confidence. Let's try.
My plan is to continue summarising the thesis and chopping. When I get to the end I want to rewrite the conclusions chapter and, hopefully, I'll have managed to reach the desired 60,000 words.
Step by step, though. Today, let's go back to the fight against the huge chapter 5, analysis. I managed to bring it down from 40,000 to 30,000 but I'd like to cut further to 20,000 if possible.
PS Today I felt dizzy in the morning again after a long spell not having this low pressure problem. Yesterday was a particularly stressful day. I put it down to that. But I must resume exercise, reading and socialising to improve generally.