In the first posting, I highlighted the rules for my dissertation diary. As I said, I will not talk much about my data or my participants, but I will share some other thoughts and things that have worked for me in hopes that they'll serve others. That's what this entry is all about. It's about making a tight-knit support network for yourself as you work on your prelims and beyond.
As I shared earlier, I had to face a really serious writer's block (its causes are well in the past and I won't spend more than a parenthetical remark about them, that's all they deserve!), whose resolution collided with the recovery from leg surgery. The main issue here is that I was too stubborn to admit that I needed serious, professional help from the moment I faced the first depressions. That was my mistake. I isolated myself too much. That's the reason why I endorse creating a support network. The dissertation, as I have learned, is a long journey. Doing it alone is like paddling up creek without a paddle. And it is fine to ask for help and advice. In fact, I encourage you to seek help (professional help even) and advice. Here are some ideas that are working for me thus far. I am not claiming they're the most novel ideas or the best ideas. I know that I may not be writing something utterly groundbreaking here. That's the dissertation's function anyway, right? I'm just claiming they work for me and I want to share them...
1. Keep a steady communication flow with your adviser and committee: If you have a good, savvy adviser, he or she will help you put together a good committee. In fact, think very carefully about whom you want to invite. A good committee will take your dissertation to a whole new level. Let's not even talk about what a bad committee can do to you. The point is, you don't have to e-mail them every week. After all, they're busy people and many of them prefer that you work with your thesis director directly. But, at least keep them updated of what you're doing.
2. Find people knowledgeable but away from your committee: One of my professors suggested this to me. I took her advice and have expanded it. Here are my two versions:
2A. Find people who JUST crossed the picket fence: One thing that has worked for me quite successfully is to talk regularly to one of our Assistant Professors in my department. This professor recently completed his Ph.D. so a lot of his issues are still recent. I meet with this professor over lunch from time to time to discuss what I'm doing and to seek advice from a young colleague. We talk about general issues regarding data, writing a lit review, etc. We're in very different fields, but that's beside the point. My meetings with him are to share knowledge. Some of the things I'm doing are interesting to him and vice-versa. Plus, he wrote his dissertation already! He also knows the path! So his ideas are valuable.
Although I seek advice from my committee and other faculty and listen to it intently, talking to a recent Ph.D. has its perks, particularly regarding the time when we're writing the dissertations. A fresh perspective on the dissertation research is useful.
2B. Find people related to your field to discuss related issues. I have a lot of musings regarding my theoretical framework. Some I discuss them with my committee (after all, they are foremost experts in my field), but there are a few things here and there where I like to talk to a knowledgeable colleague. Finding this one is not too difficult if you've done a decent job of networking in graduate school: It can someone you took classes with, someone you know through research groups, etc. Since these people are also conducting research, they may have suggestions for you that you haven't thought of. In fact, you don't even need to talk about your dissertation! Just talking about your field of interest may be useful and refreshing.
3. Join (or create) a writing group: Here are two facts about dissertating I've learned so far: (a) I'm not the only one dissertating; (b) sometimes it looks like I am the only one because I have no clue who else is doing that. Some universities have very active communities where writing groups have existed since the place was chartered. In some cases, you need to open the spaces yourself. My approach has been twofold: I have searched for AND created the group. Since going solo didn't even work for Han (after all, he DID have Chewbacca as sidekick... and yes, I have inserted a Star Wars reference... I told you, this is Gonzo 2.0's little brother... some family habits die hard!), I realized that I needed a writing group. Here's how you can work it out:
- Whether you want to join a group or create one, talk to your adviser/thesis director first. They may give you some pointers of how to work it out and at least they know you're writing!
- To avoid too many small efforts, first check with your committee members. Sometimes advisers have writing groups for their graduate students. If they have critical mass to create one, chances are they'll invite you to join it.
I have clumped Prelim and Dissertation writers as one group. Why, you wonder? Because Prelims and Dissertation are closely related (sure, in a well-designed process, Quals beget Prelims and Prelims beget Dissertation... but as I said before, the demands of the processes are very different). There's also a trickle effect to this configuration. Remember what I said about talking to recently graduated faculty? It's the same effect. Dissertators can give fresh ideas to prelim writers and they can be great cheerleaders also! I suggest having people working on prelims, collecting data, and writing the final chapters as a group. This configuration allows you to talk about the process with a sense of renewed novelty (final stages) or familiarity (prelims) that you can't get otherwise.
4. Accountability, accountability, accountability! One of my biggest faults was not to push myself to create strong accountability strategies. I waited too long to talk about my progress (or in some cases, lack thereof) with my former adviser (not her fault, it was I who didn't seek her help!). I've learned from that mistake, however, and I'm working toward making a stronger network. If I miss a meeting, I don't make excuses but I propose a plan to make up for the missing time. That way, I can also hold others accountable with sufficient moral authority.
These are some ideas that I'm setting in motion as I keep writing. If you think they can be useful, please take them. Just let me know so that can put a smile on my face :).
I'll see you around, hoping our paths will cross again!
Raúl A.
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