mos dan
fact music
As requested by Pangaea (http://dissensus.com/showthread.php?p=118560#post118560). I had a lot of these at uni. Sadly I still do, except now they're called deadlines. I am fundamentally a lazy person, but always respond to a deadline - always at the last minute. The essay crisis mentality is just ingrained in me, but I almost don't mind it now. I'm still frequently up at 4am with tea and a j (no fags anymore).
I don't really have any grand technique. The other week I had four articles to write in a night (don't ask), which somehow I managed, and did fine - I think, and my editor seems to agree.
I would say, if you're going to use caffeine, don't overdo it - you don't want a stomach ache. Water is better for hours sat in front of a computer screen. Go for a walk. Eat some nice food. Sit down again. Consider turning down invites out in the evening - if you can feel self-pitying and martyrish for missing a night in the pub with your mates it can help motivate you into at least getting something out of a crappy friday night. Especially if said mates roll in to your flat drunk when the pub closes.
In terms of the writing, I think detailed essay plans really do help. Make them as detailed as you like, it all helps if you feel like you're behind schedule - gives you a conception of what the *end* of the bloody thing might look like, and in doing so stops the task seem like an unscalable peak.
Anyway that's just me. I'm issuing a blanket disclaimer for all the above just in case that makes you even more screwed
I don't really have any grand technique. The other week I had four articles to write in a night (don't ask), which somehow I managed, and did fine - I think, and my editor seems to agree.
I would say, if you're going to use caffeine, don't overdo it - you don't want a stomach ache. Water is better for hours sat in front of a computer screen. Go for a walk. Eat some nice food. Sit down again. Consider turning down invites out in the evening - if you can feel self-pitying and martyrish for missing a night in the pub with your mates it can help motivate you into at least getting something out of a crappy friday night. Especially if said mates roll in to your flat drunk when the pub closes.
In terms of the writing, I think detailed essay plans really do help. Make them as detailed as you like, it all helps if you feel like you're behind schedule - gives you a conception of what the *end* of the bloody thing might look like, and in doing so stops the task seem like an unscalable peak.
Anyway that's just me. I'm issuing a blanket disclaimer for all the above just in case that makes you even more screwed