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[distantstar]

Am between academic gigs--
I can't bear the thought of sitting alone and being isolated while working on revising this manuscript today --no friends or fun social groups to fall back on but I have have time, and a great work space. 

I need about a week at most to finish the chapter --which I didn't finish before leaving on vacation...
Now I need a deadline and a fun reward --advice for setting a deadline that is self-imposed?

[obprof]

Instead of having one big deadline (with one big reward) I would recommend a series of smaller, daily, deadlines.

[lurkingfear]

Instead of having one big deadline (with one big reward) I would recommend a series of smaller, daily, deadlines.

This. When something like a paper has to get done, but I only have one day in a week to work on it, I resolve to write one or two pages, without going to Web of Science every five minutes to look up references. For a 20 page article, this results in it getting done in relatively short order. I like editing papers much more than writing them from a blank document, so once I have the bones in place, I don't have any problem sitting down and tinkering with phrasing and arguments, finding appropriate references, etc.

[oldfullprof]

Writing is different places can be liberating.  I use our local library, coffee shops, home office, etc.  You can meld in conversations with others, etc.

[pats12]

I like going to different college libraries.  There is something about the academic atmosphere but you have less chance of seeing someone you know.

[distantstar]

Thanks --these are all good suggestions. But I gave up my laptop recently for a better desktop computer so I am now less mobile. Have you ever used a timer --the 25 minute method --and what do you think?

I am revising old work that began as a dissertation, and am thoroughly demoralized that I didn't get it out for publication earlier and that a dynamic gratifying academic life doesn't seem within reach ---any similar experiences and advice?

[melba_frilkins]

Thanks --these are all good suggestions. But I gave up my laptop recently for a better desktop computer so I am now less mobile. Have you ever used a timer --the 25 minute method --and what do you think?

I am revising old work that began as a dissertation, and am thoroughly demoralized that I didn't get it out for publication earlier and that a dynamic gratifying academic life doesn't seem within reach ---any similar experiences and advice?

Yeah. My dissertation. I should have worked it up for publication 15 years ago. But I got into a non-research career path and let it go. It's a shame that I didn't share my work with the research community. First a few months went by, then a year, a few more years, etc. I wish at some point I'd said, ok, a few years have gone by but I still need to do this.

You should be proud of yourself that you finally realized, yeah, I gotta do this and do it now!

[fiona]

Write by hand while sitting on the toilet. Everything will move faster.

The Fiona