Editing my first chapter | PhD Vlog 5
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- Опубліковано 7 кві 2024
- Just keep writing! That's what I'm telling myself these days. How is your dissertation writing going?
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I want to reach through the screen and give you a big hug. Thank you for being so vulnerable on camera. I've been struggling a lot with finishing my Master's because everything is based on long term papers and me and my recently diagnosed ADHD aren't having the best of times. Although I'm learning a lot, it often feels like running in circles.
We are going to be okay. We will get it done. I believe in us.
Also, I have no idea how people work without virtual study buddies. 😅
Actually, two more things: Tears of the Kingdom IS objectively better than Breath of the Wild. And I love that crochet blanket - did you make it yourself?
I haven't written a PhD thesis (yet) but if there's anything I've learnt from my undergraduate degree it's that you need to trust your ability to come up with something decent and trust the writing process that has gotten you this far. Sometimes it can be really difficult to make a selection and I've had essays where the research I'd done and the thoughts I had not only didn't make it on to the page but were barely touched upon and then what I did write about I felt was bland. In hindsight I would have researched less broadly but I love those deep dives and can't resist.
Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts. You are definitely not alone in your struggles. Your experience is very valid.
My dissertation is taking me forever and i was trying to find someone to relate to. I resonate so much with how you're feeling. What really helped me is doing a ' performance anxiety trainign that my university provided and also talking to a school psychologist specifically about my thesis and the insecurity that it sparked in me. I'm still not where I want to be with my thesis, but I can feel some hope again.
Morgan, I've been away from your channel for a while and am glad to be back. At the same time, like others, I want to reach through the screen and give you a hug and remind you to BREATHE. I know that you know that slow, steady breathing is one of the best calming actions we can engage in.
Nope, I don't have a Ph.D. However, I'm in my mid-70s and have a terminal degree (MFA in writing) and have edited scholarly, trade, and literary books and magazines for a lot of decades. Like more than five. I've also published books, stories, and essays. When in doubt, pick ONE thing you know and focus on it. This also pertains to your comments about the creative versus the clear. (1) Clarity is the element you cannot do without. And that clarity only needs to happen one sentence or idea at a time. And (2) those creative anecdotes or approaches that are lead-ins likely were the *last* components to be added to a piece of writing (unless they were the first "spark," but that's not something that can be summoned; it's just serendipity--and that type often needs to be jettisoned at the end of the project anyway--where's the "hysterical laughter" emoji?).
And this is not the last thing you will ever write. A bunch of what's swirling around is probably future work.
So. Breathe. Back off (which you've been doing--bravo). You'll get there.
(And I do hope you have a good, supportive supervisor, because helping with the sort of straits you found yourself in is ideally, but unfortunately not always, part of the supervisor's role.)
I love the Ph.D. blogs. As a guy I am not super into the makeup rundown but you do you.😁
About the makeup, love it! Its an act of self care. I know nothing about makeup, but seeing you doing yours makes me want to learn more about it :)
Hi Morgan! My research is in Computer Science, so there are things you say about many theories from many different writers, and this is not something I go through. But I think everyone goes through this """block""", which is less of a block and more of a "OMG there's so much I have to do and I've done so much and never get closer to the finish line"... I'm in the beginning of my masters but I've been through that too, there are weeks that are more difficult than others. What I can say is, trust your supervisor, trust yourself and trust the process!!! You can do it girl!!!!
I don't know if you're a fan of livestreams, but if you did one I'd definitely be there to write and study with you ❤
So here's some advice that you probably know, but maybe have let slip because you're hyperfocused on your draft... I think some of your difficulty might be from seeing things in their finished form. Other people's writing becomes poetic, it doesn't start poetic. Ideas and metaphors and analogies and so forth arrive as framing devices as you write... I know you know this, but I bring it up because it also refers to how you talk about writing your introduction. I've planned to write my introduction last, instead focusing on a billion sub-chapters in my drafting, because the 'I'm going to...' stuff is never accurate until the end anyway, and it stifles creativity because things start being formulaic. My approach when getting stuck is just to forget the things that weigh the process down - sometimes that means writing creatively about the topic without the shackles of who said what and who argued what... You've read enough to make strong arguments on your own at this point and while the thesis itself will need those, the drafts where you argue passionately without those references helps to give your writing that strength which seems hard to come by, and that strength is often the passion that makes you want to write a thesis in the first place. As always, happy to have a chat or zoom a co-writing session if you need to. For now, keep up the faith - you're doing so great!
On a related note, I"m so jealous of your morning routine and your four hour working session. My ADHD has me up and down so often and I'm yet to figure out a solid morning routine.
@@SamuelWebster this is good advice, and I need to take it myself (as I have similar writing struggles in my philosophy work).
Also, I feel you on the not being able to sit for four hours. I also have adhd (combination type) and I can usually only handle 45-75 mins of deep thought work before I must physically move and switch my brain off for at least a few hours, if not until the next morning.
Better a little everyday than trying all at once. Keep faithful to an everyday task -your mind will enjoy the work
Absolutely. Its hard to develop a habit/routine, but once you have, working becomes much easier!
I love listening to your videos!
I would be lost without Merve! 😁 Wishing you the best.
Thank you so much! You’re the best!
Thank you for keeping it real! It was endearing to see the confidence you gained by the end of the Vlog. I wish you the best with your dissertation.
Your videos on note-taking have helped me a lot, so I would like to thank you for that as well!
9:44 "How does it look?"
Fscking amazing!
You have an analytic mind: you need analytic, clear, and definite things. Before accepting your writings, you need to take your mindset. Do not get down; keep strong.
Thank you 💪😊
I feel seen. I have the same struggles with my master thesis.
For thesis and article writing check out the books of Barbara Kamler and Pat Thomson absolutely brilliant ❤
Oh wow, how have I not heard of these two?! Thank you so much!
Good for you for sticking with it. It's really, really hard to edit! I have been stuck on one bit for months! I need to do it, too, but making myself do it is hard. I also love Il Makiage, and you did a great job with your makeup! That's another area I suck at, and you have taught me how to apply it with a brush, haha. Thank you!
Oh man, what do you think about the editing is making it challenging? Are you working with some tough ideas?
@@morganeua No, not really (tough), just stuck due to a lot of simultaneous life stresses. It has happened before, and I just had to wait it out. Finally making progress again now though:}
@@susanmeyer2924 Aaah, yes, I know that feeling! I personally do my best work when everything else feels stable and happy in my life. When I'm struggling, my writing is struggling!
@@morganeua@morganeua Yes, that's a perfect analogy (When I struggle, so does the thesis!)
I have confidence in you
Thanks! This reminds me of the song "I Have Confidence" in The Sound of Music, which always makes me feel more confident!!
Your insights hit home! Your focused dedication might signal a risk of burnout, and that impostor syndrome may be lurking in the shadows. Hang in there - the PhD journey is tough, but you've got this! Oh, and kudos on playing Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom at the end.
Crush it!!!
Omg!! 🤹🤹
If it’s helpful, I think Robin Bernstein’s Racial Innocence has one of the clearest/most approachable explanations of object vs thing and thing theory. Might be useful to borrow from her for your definition??
It's actually Robin Bernstein's writing that was getting me confused!! Once I was really digging into it, that is. But I think I need to just write what feels right, informed by Bernstein, and not get too in the weeds about it. If my committee needs more clarity, they'll tell me!
I’m also in academia and focusing on performing arts and writing about performers in relation to objects (with a focus on audience perception )! Wishing you patience and stamina. Even though the definitions are getting confusing, have you (or anyone else on this thread) found any particularly strong or definitive descriptions of ‘object(s)’ that you’ve been gravitating toward? I’ve been reading a lot of Graham Harman’s Object Oriented Ontology but am still very early on in the research phase.
I love Harman's writing, his definition of object in the book "Object-Oriented Ontology" is the one that appeals to me most, personally! I'm starting from Bill Brown's Thing Theory, then moving towards Harman. Have you read "Object Oriented Feminism"? It's a great anthology book that pairs OOO with art practices and a feminist lens! What university are you at, if you don't mind my asking? Have you heard of University of Toronto's Centre for Spectatorship and Audience Research? They're wonderful folks, you should totally check out their research talks sometime!
@@morganeua I haven't read OOF yet! Thank you for pointing me in that direction. My thesis chair is going to be particularly excited about that one; it's directly in her line of research too. I'm at Sam Houston State University in Texas working toward my MFA in Dance. Considering PhD tracks in the future which is how I found you.
I have my master graduation in a week and I can't wait for this to be over. Good-bye academia 😂 Never again. I'll be content just by watching other ppl work on their phd
bby you definitly should send what you have with an attached note describing what you are strugglin with and them TAKE A REST maybe for the 2 weeks straigh. You should actually take advadtage that right now actually the marcury retrograde is asking us to SLOW DOWN and take time to rethink and refeel one or two things about our actions
I can tell you need a break and theres nothing wrong with that
I have a suggestion and maybe is risky, but maybe it really would help you to start juggling again for fun
thanks a lot for the uodate
You don't need make up