By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: I’m burned out but don’t feel I can take a break. Help!
— Written Out
A: Like this writer, have you lost your dissertation fervor? Even mild enthusiasm? Do you long to regain that old rush of excitement (or at least a little)? Maybe, like companies that close temporarily for renovation or universities on a holiday break, you need to close your writing shop for some needed rejuvenation.
By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: I’m at the point of choosing a dissertation topic—and panicked. How do I pick the right one?
—Top(ic)less
A: No need to panic, but it is a big decision. And with more implications than you might think.
By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: I just graduated and feel a ridiculous void! What should I do?
— Destitute Without Dissertation
A: A well-known motivational truism proclaims that the most dangerous time is when you’ve reached a goal. This maxim may explain why many doctoral candidates experience Post-Parting Depression (PPD).
By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: It’s time for me to find a dissertation chair. I’m panicked. How?
—Chairless
A: You’re right to have at least a little trepidation. Here’s what a new “doctor” said in a study of how the choice and behavior of chairs affect doctoral students’ satisfactions:
By Dr. Noelle Sterne,
Q: Whenever I start writing, all kinds of ideas start swirling around. How do I corral them?
— Creatively Dizzy
A: I’ve experienced the same, often. Whether I’ve scribbled a handful of notes in a frenzy of inspiration or actually made an outline, once I start to write that same itchy, unsteady, slightly nauseous feeling pervades. Not exactly illness or indigestion, it’s more of a nervous disquiet I can only describe as “creative limbo.” Doesn’t matter how often I’ve felt it or how many pieces I’ve started and completed. It rears up, and the ideas threaten to overtake me.
By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: What do you do if you missed a deadline you created for yourself? How do you get through the feelings of guilt and set another deadline in a way that you can hold yourself to it?
— M. Culpa
A: I empathize with you! It’s hard to miss your self-imposed deadline. As a fellow deadline-misser, I’ve arrived at several methods that make myself easier to live with.
