Monday, September 1, 2008

The numbering system starts over (Day 30)

As the post title says, I've started my dissertation clock again. I did not get the entire dissertation finished by the end of August -- and I knew I would probably not make that ambitious deadline -- so I'm starting over. This time around, though, I only have one chapter to write. This chapter is the "analysis" chapter, and I've probably got 30 pages of drafty notes ready to be shaped into something useful (and sort of linear). My advisor said to start planning for a November defense.

Damn. I had not written that before, and it sure looks (and feels) good. November. By November I'll be done with this. In the next 30 days, I will be done writing. The committee will read and offer suggestions for changes . . . and in November, I'll defend.

But today I have tried to write, but nothing much is coming. I'm worried ... but not about writing . . . about my daughter who now lives in Louisiana. I am reminded today that for most of us working through the process of a Ph.D. (course work and exams) then through the ordeal of a dissertation, we have lives that continue to spin and turn and change all around us, and sometimes we have to attend to that life. Sometimes, the dissertation has to wait.

6 comments:

Abby said...

You're right Billie, the non-dissertation life keeps spinning, and sometimes it takes priority. I seem to remember you telling other DBCers exactly that. Cut yourself a little slack. You get to be worried, and that worry might interfere with writing for a day or two. But you'll get back on track. You always do.

My best to both you and the Bundle.

Anonymous said...

Of course you are worried about your daughter. I worry about my sons, when they are having a hard time finding jobs or stressing about a roommate. Nothing even remotely dangerous or life threatening.

And I so like your idea saying, "OK, I didn't hit that ambitious deadline. I'll restart the count and I feel good about it!" Rather than feeling like you didn't achieve somethinag, you are looking at what you did accomplish and looking ahead to what you get done in the next few months. Way to go, I admire you.

Bionic-Woman said...

I hope your daughter is well now. As far as falling off the wagon goes, I decided to step off too after some unavoiable events that made me think I needed some breathing room. So I'm back...let's support each other through jumping on it again and plan to get it done in the next few weeks. Whatcha say to that?

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