Challenges in Writing Your Dissertation

Noelle Sterne, Ph.D., for thirty years has assisted struggling doctoral candidates to complete their dissertations in her roles as coach, editor, motivator, cheerleader, professional friend, handholder, ego soother, thought facilitator, stressed student solution-supplier, and “academic nag.” To balance her scholarly pursuits, Dr. Sterne also regularly publishes writing craft articles, spiritual pieces, essays, and fiction in print and online periodicals and blog sites.

Permissions
Praise for Challenges in Writing Your Dissertation
Foreword: By Professor Irma M. Barron
Acknowledgments
Illustration: The Ideal Dissertation
Introduction: How I Became an Academic Nag
·Why This Book
·What’s Here
·My Methods and Techniques
·Why Me?
oI Never Left School
oFrom Professor to Typist
oTo Coach and Editor
oDisclosure: My Writing (Mostly Nonacademic)
·A Word About the Spiritual
·“Academic Nag”
PART ONE: SNEAKING UP ON THE DISSERTATION
Chapter 1. The Decision: Your Dream, Your Life
·How Is the Degree Part of Your Life’s Dream?
·What Will the Degree Do for You?
·Visualize Your Dream
·Affirmations for Strengthening Your Life Dream
·As They Say, Meditate, Don’t Medicate
2. BIG Changes
·It’s Not Just College Anymore
·How Ready Are You to Change Your Lifestyle?
oNo Structure
oNo Leisure
·It’s Your Time
·Declare and Feel Your Readiness
PART TWO: REALLY DOING IT
3. Priorities and Promises to Yourself
·Your Inner Mentor: Listening for Answers
·Rethink Your Priorities
·Find the Holes in Your Schedule
·Keep Your Promises to Yourself
·Your Later List
·Affirm Your Right Time and Timing
4. Enroll Your Higher Self
·Hello, Light Being!
·Trust the Process
·Three Puzzling and Powerful Reinforcing Laws
oThe Law of Least Effort
oThe Law of Intention and Desire
oThe Law of Detachment
·Recognize and Accept Your Power
·A Few Higher Self Affirmations
5. Starting the Work: Positive Patient Persevering
·Listen for the Topic That’s Right for You
oTopic Considerations
oRight Topic Considerations
·You’re the Scholar in Shining Armor
·Muster Your Courage for the Proposal
oWhat’s Your Problem?
oCourageous Affirmations
·You Don’t Have to Walk a Straight (Out)Line
·Tricks to Tease and Ease Yourself into It
·Writing Doesn’t Have to Be Torture: Proper Style and Semipleasant Process
·Settle In: You Deserve It
6. Sticking With It: Temptations and Tonics
·Dissertation Interruptus
·Death by Rationale
·Resisting the Extension Siren
·Getting Sick . . . of It All
·Fear of Finishing
·Discipline Is a Choice
·Continuing the Work: Your Wayward Outline
·If You’re Concerned About Your Brain
·Reasonable Breaks and Balance
oWorking Questions
oBalanced Breaks
·Affirmations for Sticking With It
PART THREE: YOUR NEAR, DEAR, AND DESPAIRING
SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
7. Orient the Important Others in Your Life
·Stranger in a Strange Graduate School Culture
·Family and Friends: Starting Off Wrong
·Starting Off Right
oSelfish?
oSaying No
·Sacrifices and Rewards: Short-Term, Mid-Term, Interminable-Term
oEducate Them
oBribe Them
8. Family: Choruses of Complaints, Songs of Support
·Partners: “I Didn’t Bargain for This” or “I Never See You Anymore”
·Kids: “We Never See You Anymore”
·Involve Them: Share What You’re Doing
oInvolving Partners
oInvolving Kids
·Special Dates With Partners and Kids
oDates With Partners
oDates With Kids
·Other Relatives: “We Never See You Anymore”
oEducate and Bribe, Again
oSabotage, Unconscious or Not
·Holiday Strategies
·Toxic Volleys and Tough Questions
oYour Neutralizing Responses
oHard Questions and Your Brilliant Answers
·Troubled Waters: Fights, Separation, Divorce
·See Them Whole
oSend Love Ahead
oSee Them Supportive
9. Friends: Are They for You or Against You?
·“Come On—It’s Only a Quick Lunch”: Just Say Not Now
·Community Involvement and Volunteer Activities: Just Say Later
·Handle Jealousies and Putdowns
·Let Go of the Crazymakers
·Those Questions Again: “Aren’t You Done Yet?”
·Assure Them You Still Love Them
·Know and Believe They Are For and With You


10. Make Peace and Time With Your Employer and Work Colleagues

·Express Your Gratitude and Explain, Explain
·Point Out How Your Degree Benefits the Company
·Negotiate What Works for Both of You
·Superior Jealousies
oRecognize Toxicity
oToxicity Antidotes
·Work Colleagues’ Envy
·Affirm, Visualize, and Project Employment Peace
PART FOUR: GOOD UNIVERSITY COPS AND BAD
11. Your Dissertation Committee: The Best/Worst Friends You’ll Ever Have /

·Are Professors Really Human?
·Excruciating or Exceptional?
·Who Can You Work With and How Do You Know?
oGather Plenty of Information
oAsk Questions About the Chair
·Listen Inside: Gut and Guidance
oAsk Questions of Yourself
oHow Do You Feel?
·Design and See Your Perfect Committee
12. Dancing With the Committee
·Whose Topic?
·Buddying Up or Keeping Too Distant
oChums
oStrangers
oThe Ideal Balance
·Playing Humble Student and Keeping Your Self-Respect
oSwallow Your Pride
oRaise Your Head
·When You’re Older Than Your Professors
·The Infinite Loop of Revisions
·Appealing to Higher Authorities
oOn the Ground
oIn Your Head
·Your Higher Self and Theirs
oPsychologically Speaking
oSpiritually Speaking
13. University Support: You’ve Got More Friends Than You Think
·Fellow Students as Mentors
·What Can You Learn From Learning Centers?
·You Can Speak to the Geeks in the Computer Lab
·Add to Your Team: Statisticians and Researchers
oStatisticians
oResearchers
·Librarians Love You, Secretaries Stand By You
oLibrarians
oSecretaries
·Consider Coaches and Editors
oCoaches
oEditors
·Old Course Professors Don’t Have to Fade Away
·Picture the Perfect University Friends You Need
PART FIVE: GRADUATION: IT’S ONLY A WALK AWAY
14. Am I Really Almost Done?
·Rehearse Your Perfect Defense
·Yet Another Faculty Review
·Master the Red Tape
·How to Enjoy Your Own Graduation
·Avoid Post-Parting Depression (PPD)
15.Waking to Your Dream
·The Most Dangerous Time . . .
·Envision Your Future, Take the Steps
·Peek at Your Long-Neglected Later List
·Reenter Your Family’s Atmosphere
·Plan Your Payoffs
oPositions
oPublications
·Celebrate Your Professional and Personal Growth With Gratitude
Conclusion: Why I’m Still an Academic Nag
References
Selected Resources
A Short Glossary of Important Acronyms
About the Author