After reading Paul J. Silvia’s “How to Write a Lot” (on Inger Mewburn’s excellent recommendation), I started tracking my writing time and gross writing output. Will write a little more this week on what has become a critical component of my workflow, but for now, here’s a snapshot of how I have been progressing in 2012:
I am nearing the 20,000 word mark, which I am quite pleased about! But obviously the last few months have been relatively quiet on the writing front. Time to get my skates on again!
Hidden Labours 
This is a brilliant idea. I’m definitely going to be doing this! I can’t wait until I’m at the 20,000 word mark! So far, I’m on 0. That really puts things into perspective.
Takes a little extra effort to log my words, but I’ve found it really helpful and inspiring – for a snapshot of what I’ve done well in the past and what I’ve still to do! Have you just recently started your PhD? I’m sure you will clock up thousands of words in no time 🙂
I start in eight weeks. At the moment I’m just doing a lot of research and starting to do some writing. But it’s very daunting! I think my total word count is 80,000 at the end. Similar to yours I would guess?
Also graphs calm me, so I think it’s a good idea from that perspective. Haha.
Awesome that you’re getting on top of things so early, even before you’ve officially started! It is very daunting, but the thing that helped keep me sane was remembering that plenty of people have been through the PhD process before me so it can’t be all that hard 😉
I’m going to be doing my thesis by publication, so my word count probably won’t be that high, but my School has yet to establish firm guidelines for theses by publication.
Graphs are great! I’m very much quantitatively-minded, so I find data comforting too 🙂 All the best with your PhD! 🙂
Thank you! …I’ve already started my graphs, haha.