How's the Writing Going?

"How's the writing going?"

That's a question I've heard a lot lately, often with the most innocent of intentions spoken by somebody who cares, yet I don't want to answer. When my dissertation is a complete work that I can sit back and be proud of, I'll let you know. Until then, don't ask. It's safer for everyone that way.

So, I'll do what I do best--divert from that question and instead provide lots of other information that's only tangentially related.

First, I've found that I'm not the only one who struggles with the dissertation writing process. I envy those people who somehow stick to their deadlines and finish writing assignments ahead of time. My personality is opposite. If I by some weird stroke of fate finish writing anything early, it just means that I'll go back and edit more often until the real deadline finally hits. Part of that perfectionistic tendency that I need to avoid. Often I end up waiting until the last minute because a) pressure motivates me and b) if it's all written at the last minute then there is no time left for editing repeatedly.

This is a bad idea. Don't do what I do. I hit panic mode last week when I realized I had one week left to revise and edit prior to the 14-day-advance deadline to give my written work to my committee.

Because so many people struggle with theses and dissertations, there thankfully are lots of folks out there seeking to offer support. Last week when I felt really overwhelmed, I visited PhinisheD where I found a supportive community with some motivational posts. This was a welcome procrastination break.

On a more proactive note, I also discovered some simple tips online from Study Hacks authors. They interviewed several non-fiction writers and found that many of them have to force themselves to write and most of them do it first thing in the morning in isolation. Thus the basis for me getting up earlier to get the writing juices going in the mornings. I've always been more productive in the morning. As the afternoon wears on, I seek out distractions as I lose my ability to focus (note that this blog post occurred on one such afternoon).

As everyone will tell you, the hardest part is forcing yourself to sit down and get it done. Break the big mountain up into small pebbles. At first you might feel as though you're using a spoon instead of dynamite, but one morning you will wake up and see the other side! Set small manageable goals. Reward yourself often with breaks and don't beat yourself up in the shoulda-woulda-coulda game. If you fall behind, don't stress. Just take a deep breath and keep plugging away. It will get done.

I am so excited for the day when I can say I'm Phinally Done! PhinsheD. Piling it higher and Deeper.

That goal is keeping me going. Stick with it.