Sixteen Top Dissertation Writing Tips

If you are struggling to get your dissertation finished follow our top tips to success!

1. Before you start work review previous student’s dissertations to get a feel for what the committee reviewing your work expects. Ask them often what kinds of expectations they have, how they like work to be laid out etc.. When the structure is familiar to the reader, the message you’re communicating will come through clearer.
2. Make use of the support offered to you. Getting advice at the ideas, rough draft and editing stages of the process will ensure you can correct your direction as you go, no one wants to face a major rewrite just before the last hurdle.
3. Write an outline, this won’t work for everyone, but give it a try. It can be the first set to getting your ideas in order, discarding those interesting but not useful ideas and helping you see the wood for the trees.
4. Your first draft should be ‘brain dump’ get all your ideas down. This might look like a bubble drawing of interconnecting ideas, or be a structured outline of headings and subheadings with key facts under each, or it might be a collection of paragraphs to get you started. Don’t edit it, just write it, this is about getting the ideas out, starting to give your dissertation its shape and noting the gaps in your research.
5. Set deadlines. Goals are important for sustaining motivation, but be flexible, your end date is set in stone, but the amount of time you spend doing each task along the way can be adjusted as necessary.
6. Remember the optimal time for continuous writing is 45 minutes – buy in lots of biscuits and take breaks!
7. Work in as uncluttered an environment as possible, a clutter space equals a cluttered mind.
8. End each day by running through what you want to do the next day, it will make you more productive and focused when you get up.
9. Do not judge your progress by that of your friends, quantity is not the same thing as quality, and they may be embellishing their answer to appear on top of it all or anticipating what they think you have done.
10. When you hit a block don’t panic and ditch your whole thesis, trust it will pass and you will get your mojo back. 
11. Accept that you will be consumed by your dissertation. But try to build breaks in, guilt-free days when you will put down the pen, even if you feel you shouldn’t. These breaks will do you the world of good. You will return refreshed, energised and with everything back in perspective.
12. When the ironing looks appealing ask yourself if you are just looking for reasons not to get back to it. 
13. Buy reams and reams of paper, you will need it – printing all that research takes up a surprising amount of paper.
14. Stock up on dried and canned foods – this is not the time to take up Thai cooking or to apply for Bake Off.
15. Appreciate each baby step you make. Breaking your task down into smaller goals will help you maintain your motivation – this is a marathon not a sprint, celebrate each mile you pass.
16. Remember you are not alone, if it suits your personality, form a support group, meeting regularly for a coffee and chat will help you feel normal and less isolated. They will be going through the same trials and tribulations as you!

Remember - you can do it!