Dissertation writing tips can seem trivial and impersonal, or at least they did to me. Therefore, my goal with this post is to take the advice I was given, base it on my dissertation writing experience and give you tips that are realistic and achievable.
Dissertation Topic
The sooner you come up with an idea for your dissertation, the better. As my dissertation was due at the end of the first semester, I was told to start planning it the summer before. While I'd already had an idea for it way before then, I didn't start any research or reading until my supervision began. I do not recommend that. I realised then that I had no idea of how to format it, what narration technique to choose (my dissertation was creative nonfiction) and what a critical essay should look like. As great as it is to have a dissertation idea early, make sure you also start reading on the topic as early as you can.
Use Your Supervisions
I had the best supervisor I could have asked for. He was supportive, gave me a huge list for reading, and challenged me on what could be improved without crushing my spirit. The only thing I had to do was come prepared. Looking back, there were a few areas where I knew exactly what kind of improvements were needed but I brushed it off, focusing on getting feedback on the rest of it. Hindsight is 20/20 and I can now see that had I improved the areas I was aware of, the result could have been even better.
Plan Your Dissertation Writing Time
I always had to send my supervisor work a week before our meeting. I won't tell you you have to start working on it two or three weeks in advance. Set a goal that is realistic to you. How much time do you need to make sure you submit quality work that can be further improved? For me, it's important to actually write out my work schedule in a planner or a calendar. That way I physically need to tick a box to say to myself that I've done it. Remember that your supervisor is there to help you with your dissertation, not tell you off for not doing enough work.
Don't Procrastinate
This may be the hardest dissertation writing tip to achieve. The process is gruesome, but keep reminding yourself that it will be over soon, and your time to achieve the best result possible is limited and depends solely on your effort. When December came and I had a pile of assignments to go through, instead of sending my final questions to my supervisor before the Christmas break, I did it on his first day of annual leave. I had to wait for the beginning of January, a week before my due date, to see his feedback. I still managed to have my dissertation done a day early, but having more time to use that feedback would have helped.
I hope you find these tips helpful in your dissertation writing progress. Let me know if you have any questions or perhaps some tips you could share!
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