Both Michelle Boyd (Becoming the Writer You Already Are) & Helen Sword (Writing with Pleasure) talk abt the usefulness of having your own writing metaphor. When I first read Boyd, I decided mine was hiking. But overall hiking is enjoyable and currently, writing is a slog. So a new metaphor to tide me over:

1/3

#writing #AcademicChatter #PhDLife #gradschool #dissertating

Every year I have to relearn that my work pace in the summer won't be the same as the school year. I think I'm getting the hang of it this week (half day in the office, half day outside).

#AcademicMastodon #AcademicChatter #SummerWriting #Hiking #WildLife #AcademicSummer #AmWriting #dissertating #phd #Bloomscrolling

Finally breaking my writer's block by getting angry enough at a methodological question raised during my candidacy exam that I want to prove my point.

I really think we underestimate spite as a motivator for graduate students.

#PhDLife #GradSchool #PhDCandidate #Dissertating #PhD #WritersBlock #Methodology

I use memos a lot in data analysis, but an unintended benefit I only just recognized today is a psychological one.

Memos feel way more low stakes than adding paragraphs to my dissertation chapter drafts. I'll probably cut and paste today's memo directly into my dissertation, but I wrote it with none of pressure I'd normally feel to "get it right."

#AmWriting #dissertating #gradchat #QualitativeMethods #QualitativeResearch #PhDChat #DissertationProgress #AcademicChatter

Transcribing interviews has me measuring time in pages.

"Wow we talked (about X) for 8 pages!"

"Oh they only had a half a page to say on Y?"

#dissertating #InterviewResearch #transcription #DissertationThoughts #DissertationProgress

I may have scheduled too many interviews this week. Not sure my interviewing stamina is back where it needs to be yet.

But today's first interview was a no-show. This might be fine. 🤷🏻‍♀️

#DissertationThoughts #dissertating #phdlife #InterviewResearch

Resumed interviews again this week. Relieved and pleased to report that they are still a blast. Maybe this is why I haven't abandoned academia.

#DissertationThoughts #dissertating

I'm having a hard time getting back into things this semester, so I thought I might start doing consistent #DissertationThoughts posts as form of accountability, venting, & processing ideas.

#phd #dissertating #AmWriting

Well now I'll be paying extra close attention to when/how my multiracial participants talk about blondes 👀🍿

#AcademicChatter #race #blond #blonde #AcademicMastodon #sociology #dissertating #interviewing

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/19/opinion/the-enduring-invisible-power-of-blond.html?unlocked_article_code=z9osTdG5cH3tdxOQPb82egQY9TTNO7Bas1gqT3W7cg6yAEsm9_6EOWSSfZuFsL3WUL9_DSmh3RJc-rS_ZMu_7JtHM5N-TIO46dWqqqAIuCQCi7BCE3oioy7pDm5qBEVt4SzpJLyWSUfWhmdfI_jDbFbtkr5ut_3_SxDoBAQu3ke-vAMb_YYeM4tQu8yDvt5ufX0Fr0Kp2meKp4INLVjSuOvHQOfQs4Pr1D-YLmG2YhvNXLeM3m7R8ieSjIXqCB0aleE8RRWDzS0JNMmPXdUrlox3AtCYVffBGQe5hDUgS0ndvjizEz_harTR-HtKa_yuW3z9wzU_GDm0DyaY7WGgMw4oYIs9UiGdt1jCwR7ukyY&smid=share-url