29/05/2011 by admin.

Finished the second of four analyses - well, ‘finished’ in as much as I don’t need to rewrite it just yet.  I know I have mentioned this before, but I will again, just to make the point - I have rewritten most of my work several times over… adding, deleting or reworking paragraphs.  My sups have made their own comments which have prompted clarification, or rewording, but most of the writing has been as a result of moving things around to make a more logical and readable order.  In doing so, weaknesses in the writing become apparent and so needs a bit more attention.

Despite declaring I had about 30k words several months ago, my current total of about 40k just doesn’t reflect the sheer amount I have written since that time as some of it will go into the appendices (and therefore not contribute to the overall wordcount) and some of it replaces bits I became unhappy with etc etc.  So an additional 10k words after four months, is actually not too bad.  And hey… I have 40k words and am on track to complete!

I met a colleague from the Ed.D scheme on Friday, in circumstances where we couldn’t really talk at length.  She told me she had been forced to let her Ed.D candidacy go as her work had become too intense.  What a shame!  Despite the fact she was about four years (technically) behind me, she was streets ahead in terms of subject knowledge and contacts… I had previously approached her for advice.

I thought about this and started out by reflecting on motivation and barriers to learning…  I considered whether it was a matter of luck or motivation?  I think I am very lucky in having time to write, but then again I make time to write - I don’t have any kind of social-life anymore and my other interests now take a back-seat.  I came to the conclusion it is not so much a case of being single-minded when it comes to study, rather it is a case of being bloody-minded in not allowing anything else to prevent it. And there is so much to prevent it!  I respect her for her knowledge, skills and for being a decent and approachable person and I hope she finds time to return to her studies.  I guess the Ed.D (or any other Doctorate) needs to take an equal (if not higher) rank alongside everything else in life - it won’t be something that gets done in your spare time.

Ach well, onwards - analysis 3 to work on now.

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24/05/2011 by admin.

Well, ok maybe a bit of an exaggeration.  I have quite a lot of editing to do, but Chapters 1, 2 and 3 are pretty much complete now.  I am still working on the second of four analyses, but mainly because I have spent time on getting the first three chapters into a coherent whole.

Finding time for writing is, as ever, a matter of being organised… I get up at 5.30am every morning now in order to get a couple of hours of writing in before I have to start work.  This has made a real difference, partly because I have acquired 14hrs extra every week, but also because  I am thinking about the thesis every day, rather than just on the days I get time to write.  I have become pretty obsessed about finishing - I now tend to avoid things like thick, well written, books because they demand attention that I just am not willing to give.  Come to think of it, I can see paralleles with my children here too…

Of course, being organised is only an ‘enabler’ to writing, meaning that it won’t prevent life intruding.  This past fortnight has been a bit of a nightmare for real-life getting in the way of research as my Mum has been diagnosed with cancer and my (well-loved btw) mother-in-law has had a series of falls.  Obviously, they have priority and I am not complaining - this is merely a recognition of the practicalities and difficulties of finding time to write.

Right… back to work then!

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