Dissertation

  • Chapter 4 Complete

    This chapter will be flying in a holding pattern until I submit it after I get chapter 3 back in the next week or so. Until then, chapter 5, here I come.

    Continue Reading…

  • 30/30 Timer – My New Favorite iPhone Productivity App

    30/30 Timer AppWhen I started my dissertation, I knew that it would be hard to keep myself productive and motivated on a year-long, self-planned schedule. What I didn’t realize until recently was that the key to keeping myself on that schedule was not to plan monthly deadlines, but to manage my hourly productivity each time I sat down to work. I’d sit down for an afternoon of research or writing, hit a block (obstacles are everywhere in a dissertation!), and spend 2-3 hours chasing bad leads, looking for distraction, or just staring and waiting for inspiration. Apparently, even a 4 hour block of time is too long for me to be left unsupervised! Enter 30/30.

    Continue Reading…

  • Chapter 1 Approved

    Both my initial committee members have approved Chapter 1! Hopefully I can finish Chapter 2 within the next week or so.

    Continue Reading…

  • Chapter 1 Submitted

    What a relief! I just submitted Chapter 1: “The Official Development of the Imperial Cult in Rome.” It ended up being almost 7500 words (10% of the minimum requirement).

    Continue Reading…

  • Flexibility and Deadlines

    You know that feeling of starting a new project, having no idea how much time it’s going to take, but still needing to set some deadlines? Starting a dissertation fits that description precisely.

    Continue Reading…

  • Fighting for Progress: Quick Wins

    After spending two days on a single book (a very detailed, very relevant single book!), I decided to aim for momentum today. I’ve got another two volumes of two-day reading (and two or three more in the library loan shipping system), but before getting back into the “good stuff,” I knocked out several shorter, less pertinent sources this morning.

    Continue Reading…

  • My Dissertation Workflow & Tools

    I’ve just started dissertating (barely 6% of the way through…) but I’ve already been asked a few times about my dissertation workflow and tools. I spent a while planning this before starting. Honestly, I was terrified of the thought of getting 35% finished and realizing that my workflow was slowing me down or that I needed to change tools. Here are the tools I’m using to write my dissertation:

    Continue Reading…

  • Dissertation Calendar

    Thanks for your interest in my dissertation! I invite your feedback and accountability as I hit the deadlines listed below. Please subscribe to whatever calendar format you prefer and give me some gracious prodding if you notice that I miss a deadline.

    Continue Reading…