Adventures in Dissertation Boot Camp

So apparently before I do this thing called graduate, I also have to do this thing called write a dissertation. (And let's not get started on the dissertation vs. thesis thing because as far as I'm concerned it's a very murky difference) My office space is huge and loud, and it's not really conducive to putting words on paper-- let alone making those words be science-y/engineer-y and make sense. So, I see an advertisement for dissertation boot camp and sign myself up.

Honestly, I spent quite a bit of time deciding if spending from 8:30-5 each day for 5 days holed up in the library (okay, the fishbowl actually has floor to ceiling windows) for 5 days. Just think of the research I could be doing! Well, let's be realistic, I likely wouldn't be very productive, and this dissertation really needs to get written... or to at least start being written. And hopefully, at the end of this week, I'll have some semblance of an idea on what EXACTLY I need to finish up research-wise to give me a nice finished project.

Today, was my first day, and I tackled my outline and intro and have both in draft form. And it's looking like this baby that I'm giving birth to through my fingers (via my brain) will be about 15 chapters long. Woof. This is going to be a long haul. But one chapter is in draft form now. And another is well on its way. So I guess, I can do this (not that I really have a choice). And maybe now I can start throwing around that "g" word, now that I'm REALLY starting to write.

If I'm sporadic or short this week, that is why. Because I'm spending many hours a day trying to make my work sound exciting (my advisor told me my proposal was "dry and uninteresting"), and it's difficult to make hundreds of pages on uranium chemistry thrilling. My creative juices will mostly be spent by the time the clock hits 4:45 each day. So, sorry.