Taking Note of Deadlines
Image from Toothpaste for Dinner
I’ve been avoiding my dissertation advisor.
We were supposed to meet a month ago, and then she rescheduled. Then I caught the flu. Then I fell behind on grading for the class I’m TAing. And then I never followed up to re-schedule. Of course, in my mind I thought: she rescheduled first so I’m off the hook for rescheduling, forever! Writing a dissertation as a human being makes for crazy thought-having times, let me tell you. Anyway, it’s been two months since our last meeting, and I haven’t produced what I think I should have produced in the time since we last met.
Here are my stats: Total time worked: 6 months Total written: 39,700 words Functional prose: 5,100 words
Yep, you’re reading that right. I’ve written almost 40,000 words, most of which is notes, quotes, journal asides, repetition, and potentially useful miscellany. At this rate, if I want to reach my goal of 250 pages (roughly, 75,000 words) I’ll be finished with my dissertation in 2018.
I understand that this will get easier and go faster, and the average dissertation is written in 9 months once the writing gets going, but I just can’t see it.
I avoid my advisor all the time. And every time I bear down and force myself to meet her, I SWEAR I’ll never do that again.
And then I do.
So I know how it feels, though I know not how to solve it.
love the comic! i’m about to start a humanities phd this september, so the D-word is pretty distant for me. but i remember how hard it was for me to get to the seriously productive (writing-wise) portion of my undergrad thesis, which is muffins compared to what you’re doing… so just wanted to leave some words of encouragement. i really appreciate that you’re blogging about the process (found you via your FYD tumblr). i’ll be back, and often : )
Thanks for your kind words and congratulations on starting a PhD in the Fall!
[…] magical authority and I have a hard time returning to my typed notes. Hence, I have over 40,000 words and not a chapter to […]