My Thesis Completion Schedule

Heading into the final year of my PhD, it seems that things are coming together. Three chapters have been completed, two to a decent level, and, as I explained in a tweet yesterday, it "finally feels as though I've tipped the train over the hill and we're all ready to pick up some speed!". Which is good. I'm not denying it's good. Terrifying, too, but mostly good. However, when I stop to think about what's still to be done I freeze and panic. A few months ago I came up with a schedule for completion. Perhaps writing it down here will banish the bogeyman who seems to be following me around lately. One good thing about this is that the original number one (write chapter three by the end of August) has been ticked off on schedule. So, here we go...

1. August - October: Research and write chapter four. I'm on with the research for this but it's quite a bitty chapter involving close reading of several Yates and Collins novels followed by the collation of a hell of a lot of secondary material. A month and a half to finish this when I'm taking a holiday during that time too? Hmm...
2. November - December: Restructure and rewrite chapter one. This needs a fair bit of work as the chapter structure I implemented in chapters two and three is completely absent in the first chapter. However, all the information is there so it is just a case of reworking the jigsaw. I hope that I've been optimistic in giving myself two whole months to do this.
3. January: Fine-tune chapters two, three and four. Two and three are already up to a decent standard and I have notes to explain precisely what needs to be changed. As for four... Ha, ha ha. 
4. February: Write thesis introduction. Theoretically, this should be quite easy because I've utilised much of what needs to go in the introduction elsewhere in my thesis. Bit of chopping and changing should work well. Aside from the critical stuff, though, I need to introduce Edmund Yates without really introducing Edmund Yates. Hmm...
5. March: Write overall conclusion. Least said about this one, the better.
6. April: Reread and revise where necessary. Basically, ensure it flows, makes sense and doesn't repeat itself. Simples.
7. May: Check bibliography/references. Self-explanatory.

One thing that isn't in this list is compiling the appendix which I've discussed with my supervisor. We thought that explaining who the characters are in relation to the complex plots of sensation novels may work better in an appendix to stop the chapters getting bogged down in explanatory segues throughout. This is something I'm going to work on as and when I can. Which means, naturally, that it'll end up being a last-minute rush job. Oh, the fun. 

This feels like a very appropriate video for this moment. And it's also fantastic. The John Wilson Orchestra having a crack at Tom and Jerry - watch out for the plates!