I finished what might very well be the beginnings of a analysis chapter. I wonder if writing related to the PhD can ever be thought of as finished? Anyway, cynicism aside, yip I crafted a viable analysis draft that can certainly become a chapter if it wants to. At the moment it looks like a chapter in its scope and structure but with gaps and holes that still need to be plugged.
After all my moaning, groaning, drama I finished the freaking thing and sent it off. I didn't even do a final proof read, I just sent it off. I was just too tired to subject myself to yet another proofread. It's a draft after all, so it's not meant to be perfect. I'll probably find all the mistakes tomorrow when I read it before going into supervision to discuss it.
Yet again its been proven that the process will carry you along - kicking or freaking screaming - but it will just carry you along (I'm giving the process loads of power here am I not?). But through all I this I realised that I keep forgetting all these important lessons I so carefully or haphazardly articulate in this blog, especially when I need it most like...
- nothing is meant to be perfect, your writing will never be perfect
- a draft is just that a draft
- write for yourself, not your supervisors - its your learning experience not theirs (listen to what they say of course, but if your learning demands that you do a particular thing or write in a particular way so that you can make sense of something, then that might be what you have to do)
- 'life' is more important than the PhD, the PhD is just a small part of life, never lose perspective about that
- sleep is important, family is even more important
- always talk to your friends especially about non-PhD related stuff (remember your want your family and friends to still like you when the PhD is over)
- even when the PhD makes you feel like you're stupid, you're certainly aren't and if you doubt your intellectual ability at any stage refer to everything listed above
Tonight I'm going to indulge is some movie watching to relax and maybe, just for a short moment, forget about the PhD in the absence of friends and family.
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