As you may know, if you've been paying attention, I'm spending this month in Alva, thanks to my awesome friend Paige who loaned me her flat while she's away, so that I can (hopefully) get a complete full entire first draft done. Of the thesis. All of it.
At least, that's the plan.
So what does that mean for me in the big picture? Here's a little update from the past few months.
As most of you probably remember, my supervisor was in the States on sabbatical last year. He and his family got back in July (which is doubly great, because Steph is also one of my book club friends. And their kids are great fun!). It is good having them back, both academically and personally. I missed them.
Anyway. Since Brian's been back, we've met a few times. I have a pretty accurate outline/layout for my thesis, including the bits that hadn't actually been written yet (although I have all the research done). I wasn't sure about it, but Brian told me it made sense and flowed well and all that good stuff, so I'm going with it. I know it'll probably be tweaked here and there, but I felt much better having A Plan.
So now, I am working on writing the last little bit (which has been all researched and organised and thought through and been floating around in my head for ages, and which I just haven't been able to muster up the motivation and focus to get it done. Bad year.) and doing some editing of the rest to make it flow. I am such a perfectionist that it's hard for me to think of a very rough draft, but that's really what I need at this point: just get everything down, and then work on it in the coming months to get it perfectly edited and revised and all that jazz.
The hope is that I'll have this draft done by the end of January. Then I'll spend a couple of months on the editing and cleaning up bit, and then submit! Yay! My current student extension from the uni runs out the end of May, but my visa runs out the end of April. So if I want to be able to apply for an educated worker's visa (or whatever they call it now), I'd have to at least submit before the end of April. So that's my goal, my hope, and my prayer.
Mostly my prayer, because I know there is absolutely no way I am able to do this except with God's help.
4 comments:
On the perfecting bit, you and Brian could keep that going for ever - just ask him about the mess I submitted and you'll see what you can get away with. (does that count as 'reverse inspiration'?) Shall be praying for you,
ha! andy, that does help, actually. i have trouble letting go, i'm too big a perfectionist. thanks. =)
With God, all things are possible! So keep up the hard work. I'm proud of you for devoting this month to your project. I can't wait to read your post saying you've submitted. :)
So excited for you! I know you can do it. Can't wait to call you Dr. Vaughan.
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