Finishing Your Thesis 2 October 2009 How to Finish the PhD Tim Kastelle

“ Oh, come on – it’s in my head. Must I go on? Are you really going to make me write it down?” David Mamet

The only good PhD…

… is a finished PhD

The greatest scientist ever… … had problems finishing

Data Collection 1831-1835

Key Insight - 1837

Master’s Thesis? - 1842

Main Work Published - 1859

Why then?

What took so long?

What is your problem?

Problem #1: I have to write a whole thesis

I have to write a whole thesis

Solution: Break it into small parts Don’t try to write perfect first drafts

Break it into small parts

Don’t try to write perfect first drafts

Problem #2 I have to read more of the literature

I have to read more of the literature

Solution: Well, actually, you don’t!

Well, actually, you don’t!

Problem #3 But I have to teach

But I have to teach

Solution: Schedule time to write – regularly Treat this like teaching time - uninterruptible! Set output goals

Schedule time to write – regularly

Treat this like teaching time - uninterruptible!

Set output goals

Problem #4 I can only write at night (in the morning, standing on my head, with my cat on my lap, etc.)

I can only write at night (in the morning, standing on my head, with my cat on my lap, etc.)

Solution: Schedule time to write – regularly Schedule it for when you’re most effective But realise that the more you write, the more you’re able to write

Schedule time to write – regularly

Schedule it for when you’re most effective

But realise that the more you write, the more you’re able to write

“ As late as 1806, I was waiting for genius to set upon me so that I might write... If I had spoken around 1795 of my plans to write, some sensible man would have told me to write every day for an hour or so. Genius or no genius. That advice would have made me use profitably ten years of my life that I wasted stupidly waiting for genius to descend.” -Stendahl

Tips Think of yourself as a writer – writers write!

Think of yourself as a writer – writers write!

Tips Think of yourself as a writer – writers write! Writing is thinking

Think of yourself as a writer – writers write!

Writing is thinking

Tips Think of yourself as a writer – writers write! Writing is thinking Write every day, right from the start of your PhD

Think of yourself as a writer – writers write!

Writing is thinking

Write every day, right from the start of your PhD

Tips Think of yourself as a writer – writers write! Writing is thinking Write every day, right from the start of your PhD Acknowledge that reading is displacement activity – and stop using it as an excuse for not writing

Think of yourself as a writer – writers write!

Writing is thinking

Write every day, right from the start of your PhD

Acknowledge that reading is displacement activity – and stop using it as an excuse for not writing

Tips Think of yourself as a writer – writers write! Writing is thinking Write every day, right from the start of your PhD Acknowledge that reading is displacement activity – and stop using it as an excuse for not writing Acknowledge that the other three problems are also excuses – and stop using them too

Think of yourself as a writer – writers write!

Writing is thinking

Write every day, right from the start of your PhD

Acknowledge that reading is displacement activity – and stop using it as an excuse for not writing

Acknowledge that the other three problems are also excuses – and stop using them too

Thank you! http://timkastelle.org