The Journal of Lee Davis-Thalbourne

Anyone who actually wanted to read the final thesis, I've put a copy of the PDF on my webspace, so people can feel free to download and read if they feel so inclined:

http://www.wikiphilia.net/kirby1024/lmdtthesis2007.pdf

You know, I had not actually computed the enormity of the work I'd put into my thesis until I'd started to compile my master document out of all the chapter files I had around.

My thesis currently encompasses 52 pages of text. Those 52 pages of text comprise 16,119 words, organised into about 300 paragraphs. There will probably be a few extra additions to that in the next 12 hours or so before I print it off and take to be bound.

I had no idea I had it in me!

Progress time!

Chapter 1 (2000 words): Complete Draft done and sent in. Supervisor has returned feedback
Chapter 2 (5000 words): Complete Draft done and sent in.
Chapter 3 (4000 words): Draft 50-60% complete. Aimed for completion by either tonight or early tommorrow.
Chapter 4 (3000 words): Complete Draft done and sent in. Supervisor has returned feedback
Chapter 5 (2000 words): Not quite yet started (can't really conclude the piece without knowing everything I've written). Aimed for completion by the end of the weekend, preferably by Saturday night

Days to Go: 6

Assuming this holds (and I can't see much that would alter this), I will have 2-3 days to polish up and fix any niggles in any of these chapters, get formatting and stuff completed, and an extra day or so to get binding and handing-in stuff organised.

Chances are good that I will not be in a coherent state by the end of this, because I have expectations of a lot of early mornings and late nights. But by god, it will be done, and readers of this LJ will finally be able to see me write about things which are not thesis-related (it's not like thesis-unrelated things aren't happening to me, it's just that I'm spending all of my time thesis-writing).

It seems that I no longer have any of those nagging doubts about not being able to complete on time. I know I can do this. I just have to get down and actually do it. Speaking of which...

Some evil numbers which are currently causing me stress:

Prescribed word count for Thesis: 15,000-18,000
Current Thesis Word Count: 3,647
Words to go: 11,353-14,353
Days until Thesis is due: 59
Current estimate of words/day required to finish thesis on time: 200 words/day
Current estimate of words/day required to finish thesis on time and retain some semblance of sanity and/or living status: 300-350 words/day. (adding occasional days off and work commitments)

These numbers assume, on the whole, that I disappear from the universe and cease all contact with everyone until June. Maybe go out once in a while to eat food, or do stuff like that. And not get writer's block. And not get sick.

Thesis is now officially a six-letter word. Uttering this word in front of me may well cause me to flip out. I have not officially reached CRUNCH TIME on thesis. When I am done with this thesis, I am going to murderlise it in three different ways, resuscitate it, and kill it again. I am now way past the point of stress and am now living off pure hatred.

Right. I feel a whole lot better now. You know, I was expecting the word count a day to be something really horrific. Hmm. I might very well be able to work with 300 words/day, assuming I can get off my butt and actually do it. It's not quite as bad as I thought...