Why Traditional Advice For Dissertation Writing Doesn’t Work
I had a dollar for every time someone had told me to “glue my butt to the chair” until I got a certain word count in my Dissertation, I would be flying on a private jet to Fiji right now!
The sad reality was that gluing my butt to my chair only made me more resistant to writing. It’s not that I wrote my Dissertation standing up, but the idea of forcing myself to sit and write drove me absolutely crazy. I just couldn’t do it. And the truth is that most of my students couldn’t do it either.
In the end, you will need to do some form of “sitting down and writing” to finish your PhD. You could literally sit and write, or you could have a standing desk, or you could dictate your Dissertation.
Do you want to know why the advice to “glue your butt to the chair” doesn’t work by itself? I have a one-word answer: Overwhelm
Sure, it’s easy to sit down and type words on a page. Even a small child can do that!
But to pull together years of research into a cohesive document by “just sitting down to write”? That will not work for most people. Or if it does work to some extent, it will be a lot more stressful than it needs to be. I am guessing you are stressed enough already and could use all the help you can get to cross that PhD finish line.
Today I want to introduce you to a super-simple tool that will help you to get the most words possible on the page even if you only have 15 minutes to write, or even if you have experienced Writer’s Block in the past – and let’s be honest, who hasn’t?
This tool was born out of sheer desperation, when I felt too overwhelmed by my research to even think straight. I remember thinking that if I could get just one thing done that day I would have a sense of accomplishment.
So, here is what I did: I wrote down a few super simple tasks that I could do in a few minutes and I decided to pick just one of them to do that day. I forget the exact task that I picked, but it was along the lines of “editing one paragraph” or “write one sentence in the Introduction.” You get the point, it was super, super simple.
Interestingly, once I did that simple task, I was motivated to do one more simple task and then another. I continued this pattern for a few days until I had some momentum with my writing. Of course, I still fell off the wagon all the time, but going back to the idea of a checklist stuck with me.
Now, I know you didn’t come this far just to read about the idea of a checklist. So, I will give you a template for a “Daily Dissertation Writing Checklist” that has worked literally wonders for my students. When I say wonders here is what I mean: imagine not being able to write anything for a month, and then getting a decent draft out in just 3 hours after using this checklist. That seems like a near-miracle. But, in reality it just comes down to the #1 reason thatstudents don’t write: overwhelm.
So, let’s dive into the Daily Dissertation Writing Checklist and how you can use it to get 500+ words on a page daily.
The 3-Part Daily Dissertation Writing Checklist to Get 500+ Words on a Page Daily
The checklist template I created below has come a long way since the day I wrote down a few unrelated tasks just to help me get my momentum going. I have incorporated other elements into it that not help you to start writing, but to keep writing until you finish what you’re working on.
Wondering why a simple tool such as a daily writing checklist makes such a big difference? If you just sit down to write without a plan, you are just swimming in a sea of ideas. Should I start with this or that? Should I eat now or later? Should I work on this or should I work on something else?
Self-doubt will creep in as you start working on anything. A checklist will help you to stay focused and on track. I am not a neuroscientist, but I heard that you get a little dopamine release every time you check something off your list, motivating you to keep going. Even without hard scientific evidence, I have experienced this personally, as have my students who have used this checklist.
One more thing before you get started with the Daily Dissertation Writing Checklist.
I would like you to choose the next deadline you want to meet for your Dissertation. Does it sound scary to choose a deadline? Trust me when I say that setting a deadline will make all the difference! It can be super-simple such as “Complete 5 pages by the end of next week” or “Submit a draft of my chapter to my supervisor by the 15th of next month.” The deadline needs to have 2 parts: 1) a specific, measurable task and 2) a specific date you want to complete it by.
Use this deadline for the first bullet point in the checklist and keep it in the forefront of your mind as you apply this checklist for the weeks or months to come. I know if you are consistent about using this checklist you will see more words on the page!
Notice the daily writing checklist starts the day before writing. This is intentional!
Just a few minutes of planning the day before you write can mean the difference between an unproductive writing day and highly productive writing day. Sounds like a great investment of a few minutes to me!
Your 3-Part Dissertation Writing Checklist
Part #1
PREPARATION (DAY BEFORE WRITING)
- What is the next deadline you want to reach?
- Decide what you would like to finish writing by the end of the following day
- Block out time in your calendar dedicated to writing (at least 15 minutes)
- Set specific goals for each time block (e.g. number of words, sections/figures completed
- Arrange for extra help if needed (child care, meals etc.)
If you’re narrowing your eyes at the third bullet about blocking off just 15 minutes and expecting to write anything, I have surprising news for you. When you are clear on what you want to write about, words can flow fast enough to get to 500 in just 15 minutes. But even if you only get to 200 words, that’s still very impressive for a 15 min block. And if you could do it once a day, you can probably squeeze in another 15 minutes some other time day during the day and get another 200-300 words out.
Part #2:
TIPS TO GET A LOT OF WRITING DONE THE DAY OF: STAYING FOCUSED
- Set up a timer for your break schedule. Be sure to honor your breaks!
- Decide what is a doable writing goal for your current time-block
- When timer rings STOP and get your body in motion away from desk
- If you write in multiple sessions during the day, decide at the end of each writing session what you will write at the next session
- At the end of the day set a writing goal for tomorrow and block out time in your calendar
In the first bullet I talk about a break schedule. This is more relevant if you are writing for large blocks of time over 1 hour. My recommendation is to take a break at least every 45 minutes and walk around. I have to enforce my breaks with a timer otherwise I don’t take them! The other game-changer for my students was to decide on a writing goal during each writing session. It can be a number of words, and it can even be to finish a section. If you want to maximize the probability that you get around to writing, block out time in your calendar for your writing sessions to make them real!
Part #3
TIPS TO WRITE A LOT ON THE LONG-RUN: KEEP THE MOMENTUM
- Set up specific results for next day at the end of your writing
- Decide whether the next deadline you set for yourself is realistic
- What worked well today? (keep that habit)
- What didn’t work as well, and how could you change it?
- Reward yourself for writing – it can be a walk, cup of coffee, play with your pet or anything that you would look forward to while writing.
As you can see, the first bullet point in part #3 is about setting up goals for your next writing day. This ensures that you have continuity between writing sessions. It’s disheartening to work for hours one day and then completely forget your train of thought by the next writing session. This can even happen when you write on consecutive days. Also, it’s very helpful to evaluate what worked and what didn’t and what you can change in your routine to make it work better for you. Finally, remember to reward yourself regularly. It doesn’t need to take a lot of time or money to celebrate. A few minutes of playing with your dog or finally brewing your favorite cup of hot cocoa will do the trick to keep you motivated and writing.