Shift of Tow

I’m having trouble finishing my dissertation. I really hate writing. What are your suggestions for finishing this large project?

If you haven’t already, start by breaking the whole big thing down into bite-sized pieces. You should do that in whatever way seems most logical. If you have several chapters to go, figure out what you need to do to get those chapters done and make a to-do list. It should have things like “write introduction about x” and “finish analysis on y” and “insert figures 1.1 through 2.5” and “make sure margins are [whatever].” If you look through the list and see a way to break something down further, break it down. Put the list on your wall. If you are daunted by the list, take a few tasks each week and put them on a separate list that you’ll keep on your desk. Work from that. Set aside a certain amount of non-negotiable time each day that you’re going to work on those tasks. Then do it.

Here’s the thing: With something like this, your big choice is to get it done, or to not get your PhD. It is kind of easy to sit in limbo between those two choices—sometimes without even realizing that’s what you’re doing—for years and years. It is also, forgive me, lame. I am allowed to say that because I have been similarly lame about lesser projects more times than you can probably fathom, being someone who is about to get a PhD. This kind of procrastination is you putting off living your life.

I am sorry that you hate writing, and that to do this awesome thing you have to do something you hate. I am completely sympathetic, because I have trouble getting shit done all the time, and every time I’m having trouble I can give you a laundry list of reasons why. But in the end the only choices here are: Get it done, or don’t get your degree. If you are set on getting your PhD—and I assume that you are—you just have to do it. Sulk, listen to the Cure, drink yourself to sleep, cry while you’re writing, whatever — just sit down and work at it, one bit at a time, until it’s finished.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 11th, 2008 at 8:08 pm and is filed under Ask Shift of Tow. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.