1. Things I wish I knew before…… how to survive writing! Emer Morgan, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences.

2. Thesis Writing Tips  Be organized!  Have a plan! Break it into bite size manageable chunks.  Create deadlines – REASONABLE DEADLINES.  Decide on chapters early.  Just write, refine later.  When you are writing arrange your papers by paragraph.

3. Thesis Writing Tips continued…..  The first chapter is the hardest.  Write as you go, not all at the end.  Update your data sheets/excel sheets again as you go.  Decide on the formatting and make a template.  If you really don’t feel like writing do some formatting, the reference list, or the table of contents.

4. If it all goes wrong…….  Talk to your supervisor, even an email.  Don’t beat yourself up, things always do go wrong.  Don’t worry everything is fixable/salvageable.  Cut your losses and move on.  Or can write a chapter on the uncertainties of methodologies.

5. Things I wish I knew……..  Reward yourself for hitting targets, and take breaks!

6. Things I wish I knew continued……  Motivation and a plan are key – do your title page.  Nothing is perfect - you may keep making changes but not make the chapter any better.  Everything takes longer than you think it will so build in some contingency time.  When you are tired and stressed nothing is simple.  Rope in a friend or family member to proof read.  Most importantly……..

7. Ask for help if you need it – there are lots of people who want you to do well.

8. Useful links  http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/articles/10.1038/n j7354-129a http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/articles/10.1038/n j7354-129a  http://3monththesis.com/top-10-tips-for-fast-thesis-writing/ http://3monththesis.com/top-10-tips-for-fast-thesis-writing/  http://sites.tufts.edu/gradmatters/2012/04/24/cant-miss-tips- for-writing-a-thesis-or-dissertation/ http://sites.tufts.edu/gradmatters/2012/04/24/cant-miss-tips- for-writing-a-thesis-or-dissertation/  http://www.ucc.ie/en/studentcounselling// http://www.ucc.ie/en/studentcounselling//