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Yeah, I do. (Had the same problem with my Ph.D. dissertation.) You Write Anyway, is what it comes down to <wry g>--but what I did was to start keeping a journal. Not Deep Thoughts and Emotions, let alone poetry--just a bald account of What I Did during the day. I found that https://twitter.com/Anitaishere/status/1354559559008985088
if I had to write, "Did nothing but read Nero Wolfe novels all day," I felt bad, but if I could write, "Did the data analysis for Fig. 23-A", I felt a small glow of achievement and encouragement. And eventually, I found that I would make myself do work...
for the pleasure of being able to note that achievement in my journal. So, the takeaway (in advice terms) here:
1. Break down what you have to do into the smallest possible pieces. (If "Write Introduction" seems daunting, make the goal, "Write conclusion of Introduction"
1. Break down what you have to do into the smallest possible pieces. (If "Write Introduction" seems daunting, make the goal, "Write conclusion of Introduction"
Conclusions are LOTS easier to write than openings. ("Methodology" sections are the easiest part of a thesis--a science thesis, at least--because all you're doing is explaining clearly what you did. It's like giving someone directions to your house. When I (much later) wrote
freelance software reviews, I'd always start them with the section that described what the software did.)
2) Do _one_ of the small/tiny blocks. Writing an Introduction to a thesis is huge and laborious; writing one paragraph is not. Write the paragraph and go have a glass
2) Do _one_ of the small/tiny blocks. Writing an Introduction to a thesis is huge and laborious; writing one paragraph is not. Write the paragraph and go have a glass
of wine to celebrate. You did something! You're not stuck anymore!
3) Do it again. By the time you've done this for a week, you'll have seven paragraphs, which means you likely have two whole pages of your thesis that you didn't have before. Go out for ice cream!
3) Do it again. By the time you've done this for a week, you'll have seven paragraphs, which means you likely have two whole pages of your thesis that you didn't have before. Go out for ice cream!
By this time, you're probably moving under your own speed and finding it difficult to _stop_ after the prescribed paragraph (or whatever-sized chunk you picked to work on). But you can always go back to this technique, anytime you feel overwhelmed. Good Luck!