finish my dissertation

Will turn in Chapter 3 of 4 within the next week. I can see the light at the end of tunnel

About a month ago, my diss director said he wanted a “polished” version of chapter one, which he would approve or reject as-is. This made me very nervous. I said I’d get it to him in a week, but I didn’t, and, tonight, a month later, I emailed it to him. What a relief! I ended up combining chaps 1 and 2, editing it down to one 35 page chapter. I am relieved, excited and nervous all at the same time. I think I deserve a drink.

but surely. I am working much more slowly than I would like, but I am making progress. Since last update, I have written a few thousand words, and rearranged chaps 1 and 2 a little. I am not really finished with either of these chapters, but I am really close on each. In fact, if I really work hard, I could probably finish drafts of them both by the end of next weekend. Am I really going to do that? I don’t know. About to write some more.

I told myself that if I get some writing done this morning, I could go to the beach this afternoon if its nice, or see Pirates of the Caribbean otherwise. So there.

I hate when I think I am repeating myself, or I get these weird moments where I am not sure what I am writing actually fits, or if the project itself will hold together. Whenever I start writing regularly, these thoughts creep in, but this time I am going to move right through them and keep going. The mindmap helps.

I wrote another 600 or so words today, mostly on Chap 2, although some will go in Chapter 1. I am not as confident about this stuff, although I think there’s a kernel or two of good material here. I want to write 1000 words a day, on a regular morning schedule, but that’s just not happening right now. It is so hard to wake up in time. So, 600 words after 5 or 6 days is well short of my goal, but it’s something, and I’ll take it.

I wrote about 1100 words today. Rough, but not bad. Going to read some, make some notes, and start over tomorrow.

Well, I remapped it in mindmap fashion, and have written a few pages today. So far to go, but if I just chip away at it every day, and keep in mind the big picture, it will be done in no time.