Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day

by Joan Bolker

Expert writing advice from the editor of the Boston Globe best-seller, The Writer's Home Companion

Dissertation writers need strong, practical advice, as well as someone to assure them that their struggles aren't unique. Joan Bolker, midwife to more than one hundred dissertations and co-founder of the Harvard Writing Center, offers invaluable suggestions for the graduate-student writer. Using positive reinforcement, she begins by reminding thesis writers that being able to devote themselves to a project that truly interests them can be a pleasurable adventure. She encourages them to pay close attention to their writing method in order to discover their individual work strategies that promote productivity; to stop feeling fearful that they may disappoint their advisors or family members; and to tailor their theses to their own writing style and personality needs. Using field-tested strategies she assists the student through the entire thesis-writing process, offering advice on choosing a topic and an advisor, on disciplining one's self to work at least fifteen minutes each day; setting short-term deadlines, on revising and defing the thesis, and on life and publication after the dissertation. Bolker makes writing the dissertation an enjoyable challenge.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Academic, Academia, Research, Reference, Self Help

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Nard · Rating 5 out of 5]

lol. haaalp

It worked. I'm duuun

[AK · Rating 4 out of 5]

No, of course you can't write your dissertation in only 15 minutes a day, but there are some days where you want to pretend that your writing project doesn't exist and that you are actually a skilled woodworker (or is that just me), and yet you must/should spend at least 15 minutes working on it, every day, without exception.

I am not at the dissertation stage yet, but it approaches, and I've found the writing process to be increasingly terrifying as I progress through graduate school. This book was very helpful in ameliorating that, especially in suggestion various types of writing practices suited to different types of people. What Bolker emphasizes more than anything is the importance of have *a* writing practice, whatever its structure, in lieu of just freaking out everyday.

A quick read, but worth the hour or so it will cost you, especially if and yes, the appendix on computers is out-of-date, but she also writes "If you should happen to be prone to wasting time, the computer is your field of dreams," which really even more applicable now than it was in 1997.

[Kessia Reyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short read (150 pages) that gives some sound advice on the writing process. Bolker acts almost like a writing psychologist, providing helpful, proven tips for getting over that most insidious of dissertation ailments: writer's block. It's a little aged (there is, for instance, an appendix discussing the pros and cons of using computers), but some of the principles are timeless. One tip I've personally found to be helpful is what she calls "parking on the downhill slope": "sketching out in writing what your next step is likely to be, what ideas you want to develop, or follow, or explore when you pick up the writing again the next day." Before I leave my thesis work on any given day, I make sure that I know the very next step when I come back to it-- it prevents a lot of remembering and floundering and distraction; much easier to just get up and go. Bolker also emphasis behavioral psychology principles, which applied in this context basically boil down to: practice freewriting, give yourself room for a "zero draft," write every day, and "write first."

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author admits quite soon that the title is just a bait - the book does not discuss a 15 minute a day writing programme too much. It's a general guide on how to approach writing a thesis, with tips to deal with writer's block, advisors and life beyond the thesis.

It's very outdated (discussing writing a thesis by hand..), but quite forward thinking for the time it was written. The author emphasizes often that it's also women and people with families trying to get PhDs, for example.

Short and to the point, if you look past the old-timey talk there is some solid advice on how to become a (better) writer.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book for individuals interested in a realistic approach to beginning the daunting process of dissertation writing. Obviously, as the author points out, there's no way to literally write only 15 minutes a day and still finish in a reasonable time. That said, this book centers upon building a writing habit that is supposed to keep you from drowning when you feel stuck.
Bolker's approach is humorous and realistic, with a lot of tips that can be put to good use. There are instances where, in an effort to make the book useful for all disciplines, it becomes pretty much useless. Overall though, I appreciated her attempt to give varying examples across disciplines and acknowledge differing experiences.
Some of this was a bit "too little too late" for me at this stage in the game - picking an advisor, for example, which many students do prior to entering a program. Even so, it was easy to read these sections and get little tidbits of helpful information from them.
The worst of it was the dated references to technology, bordering on useless (though some advice should be taken to heart - save backups!!!)
So this book is not a miracle worker. It doesn't write your dissertation for you. It doesn't even promise what the title suggests it might. But it is honest, sometimes funny, and often inspiring - which is pretty good for a book on writing nonfiction.

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the annoying title and some dated advice (including whether or not to write on a computer), this book offers some useful guidance on the psychology of writing. These tips include setting realizable goals that are rewarded, writing as the process of thinking about a project, writing first, dealing with outside distractions, and my favorite "pay close attention to who you are, not who you might like to be" (76). On the other hand, this book ignores the research process and contributes to the fallacy that writing and research can be though of separate but interrelated processes. While that might not be a problem for humanities based dissertations, my experience suggests that it can be quite detrimental in social science.

[Charmy]

This gave me the psychological enforcement I think I needed to push forward with the process. The book does leave me with structural questions which i set out to answer. But the guidence was more than beneficial because as the author summarizes it just requires us to put in the work. The physical work, mental work and social work.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

outdated and boring but i did indeed finish by using some tips

[Themi Katsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up at a church sale and honestly, I wish I had found it sooner. It’s not gonna write your thesis for you. Really got me started with actually writing the damn thing though. Demystifying, humorous and relatable. 100% recommendation and I will reread chapters again.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!! I read through the entire book in one sitting, though I will surely re-read most of it many times over the next year. This book is a one-size-fits-all guide to disciplined writing, but only in the sense that it acknowledges that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all guide to writing. Instead it prescribes some techniques for writing, staying on task, and making progress, but also encourages the reader to be a "researcher" of her own working style in order to develop her own prescriptions for writing. I can't wait to try it!

[Rachel McCready-Flora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, the title is a bit misleading and the appendix on working with computers is terribly outdated, but this is a fantastic read for anyone doing scholarly writing, whether it's a thesis (like I'm attempting), a dissertation, or a piece for a conference and/or publication.

The basic rule is: Write every day, for at least 10-15 minutes (to start), and during that time, never stop writing, even for a moment.

I have high hopes that this writing technique (and the rest of her advice) will help move me forward; I've been stuck for too long in the same spot in my research.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Joan Bolker has a million fans I’m one of them. If she has one fan it’s me, if she has no fans I’m dead.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a mix of good and bad advice and assumptions. I liked Bolker's systematic approach to free-writing (including free-writing to articulate 'what is my problem with this chapter'), and her advice to take stock and get organized again midway through the writing process. I hated the outdated assumptions about computers (for her, all writing is by hand) and the equally outdated assumptions that women might be questioning whether finishing their dissertation made them unacceptable to their partners or families (!!) that were voiced at one point (in order to be refuted, but still...does anybody think like that anymore?). Bolker often will say things that seem to indicate she believes that dissertation writing at some point depends on focusing on writing to the exclusion of all else—cooking, family, socializing. I sympathize to a degree, and sometimes it is helpful to have somebody say that in our age of being able to do it all, but overall I'd disagree. The dissertation is a marathon not a sprint, and asceticism doesn't sound too sustainable. As Bolker says elsewhere, don't set yourself up to fail, whatever you do, so essentially, create the circumstances you need to succeed. It's a quick read.

[Bookshark · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some really helpful insights and tips in this book, but I'm not sure there's enough content here to warrant a full-length book (although it is a very quick read). Many of the strategies the author recommends are things I was already doing. I appreciated that the author was conscious of the fact that there are many routes to the same end which will each be best-suited to different types of people. I also thought it was nice that she acknowledged that some people may encounter difficult external circumstances or serious adviser problems, even though I'm fortunately not in that position personally. Overall, an engaging and quick read with some good material. I'd recommend it to people who are early on in the dissertation process, especially those who are having trouble getting started with dissertation writing.

[Nasreddine EL Guezar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I probably wouldn't have struggled to finish my MA thesis had I read this book before. While the process of my Ph.D. seems gravely tedious, slow-moving, and pointless, this book liberates me from such and so many other psychological barriers I tend to put between me and my dissertation writing. I wouldn't feel that the book is aged as the content of the book covers, in a brief, frank, and thorough way, all you need to know on your doctoral and writing journey.

Some of the key ideas I took from the book:

Write to think, don't think to write.
Balance your relationship with your advisor.
Write a zero draft, not a first draft. (Make mess before you clean it up)
Write first thing in the morning.
Seek to be clear and clearer, to yourself and to your audience.

[Zoe Brittain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the first few chapters incredibly helpful (although I am not sure if they only stood out to be as I am in the beginning of my thesis). Made a significant difference to my ability to produce work and I recommend to anyone struggling with their academic writing.

[Madara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. There was much to think about and much to convert into a practice. But the best thing is that they were all said in a kind tone. You don't feel alone when reading this. Also carries a chapter for the supervisor/advisor on how to help the PhD student.

[Andrew Copolov · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great. Super readable, approachable and consise. Obviously for a pretty specific audience, but if you are in the process of or about to begin writing a thesis, this will certainly help you to frame your approach to the task.

[Leila Braun]

I was legitimately disappointed that Bolker doesn't actually discuss how to write one's dissertation in fifteen minutes a day! Nonetheless, she offers some good axioms to write by: writing is a form of thinking, embrace the messy "zero draft," and "write first."

[Andy Cyca · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.75/5] The premise of this book is to present a way to find out your own personal working rhythm, program and style so that you can finish an academic document (thesis /dissertation). Although Bolker does deliver on this promise, the book sometimes feels a bit useless, but not because it's actually bad. I believe that this book is best read twice: once as a regular book, and once more throughout the writing process itself, so that the otherwise excellent advice gets to your attention right when it's needed.

In general, there are many good things to come out of this book, and it's a good (and short enough) read for anyone looking forward to write a thesis. However, as the author says, it's not a magical formula and will require some elbow grease just to figure out what works best for every one. To be read in parts, through your dissertation writing process.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful and readable.

[Liz Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t finish the book, but I did finish my dissertation. 😂

[Aayush Kucheria · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the books that guided me during thesis writing. It’s quite good

[Enrico La Vina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the most helpful of all the "how to write a dissertation" guides that I've ever read.

[mrv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in 1997, this is a bit outdated book (it has an appendix titled “How the Computer Revolution Affects You and Your Dissertation” which discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using a computer and whether you should use this revolutionary device). However, I can say that I’ve found some parts to be interesting and helpful. Nothing breakthrough, still useful in reminding of some basic strategies we tend to overlook.

Writing a dissertation in fifteen minutes a day of course sounds a bit unrealistic and the author doesn’t disagree with this either. She says:

“I’ve given this book the title Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day because I thought it would get your attention; but it’s also true that if you begin by working on your thesis fifteen minutes every day, you’ll dramatically increase the odds that you’ll finish it. So one of the most important pieces of advice in this book is Do some work on your thesis every day, even if it’s only for fifteen minutes. (‘Every day’ is more important than how much time you spend, or how many pages you produce or what quality of work you produce on any particular day)”

So what she says is start writing small chunks every day and when it turns into a habit, slowly increase your pace: Simple but effective. There are also some other ideas like free-writing first, making your thoughts overflow and then turning these into the first, second or last draft which I think can help me in general. These make it easier to ignore the parts about floppy discs.

[Ela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just started the writing phase of my PhD. This book gives me incentives on how to go about it and gives me a positive attitude. I definitely will keep it on my desk for the coming months.
I read it parallel to "Creativity in Research" by Ulibarri, Craven's, Nabergoj, Kernbach and Royalty (2019). The latter is a more recent and practical handbook with a lot of useful inputs on how to do your research. The authors pick up on the same principles as Bolker, often framing these in our current context - I must say, I found Booker more pleasant to read though. I find it helpful to have the two works on my writing desk as companions.

One downside: "Writing your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day" it's outdated when it comes to using computers and software.

[Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful, practical advice on the dissertation writing progress. Some of the lessons I appreciated:
- Keep writing. Keep putting words down even if you feel they're not perfect
- REASONABLE GOALS. Don't force impossible deadlines on yourself
- Find people in the same boat to keep you company in a difficult period
- If you feel bad (beyond what is to be expected), find professional help

Because it was written in the 90s, some parts of this book have become obsolete. Especially the chapter on whether or not to use a computer has aged badly. The rest is grounded in behavioral psychology, and is useful without being condescending.

[Argum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title is mostly a hook not actual advice. Main idea is to get the job done you need to write every day probably by setting up a page goal every day. That is not to say this isn't a useful book as a pep talk on how to start and keep writing, but it could just as easily be how to write a novel in 15 minutes a day. Some nuggets, but not super advice. It is an engaging book on a dry subject lots of fun terms for things and lots of blast from the past including diskettes and CDROM as a luxury item. Worth reading from the library probably not purchasing

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the UW bookstore because, I'm horribly, inexcusably behind on writing my dissertation and oh yes hahaha, surely 15 mins a day will do the trick. Clearly, the title is somewhat misleading--as Bolker admits--but the book does contain practical advice to help keep Scaredy Squirrels like me on track when we're too embarrassed to call up our committees for a little extra hand-holding.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, most of it seems to be common sense, and yes, if you have any kind of decent writing practice in place and/or a reasonably sane advisor there will not be much that's new here. But it's a great little book to have around for those moments (and they are many) when you do think your dissertation is trying to kill you.