Different from traditional dissertation writing books, Challenges in Writing Your Dissertation: Coping With the Emotional, Interpersonal, and Spiritual Struggles addresses doctoral students' often overlooked but crucial issues that can delay dissertation completion. In a straightforward, colloquial style, Dr. Sterne offers discussions, anecdotes, questions, exercises, checklists, role play scripts, and affirmative spiritual statements. In Part One, Sneaking Up on the Dissertation, Dr. Sterne directs readers to explore their academic dreams. In Part Two, Really Doing It, Dr. Sterne assists students to set priorities, begin actually writing, and access many avenues of support. In Part Three, Your Near, Dear, and Despairing Significant Others, Dr. Sterne shows readers how to handle nonsupportive family and friends with strategies to recover their allegiance. In Part Four, Good University Cops and Bad, Dr. Sterne advises students how to choose and live with chairs and committees and utilize other university associates. In Part Five, Graduation: It's Only a Walk Away, Dr. Sterne counsels almost-doctors to take all necessary steps to graduation and helps them re-enter life ABD-After and Beyond the Dissertation.
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
