The fact that they won't employ me on a permanent contract
part of the problem is that I haven't got around to doing my PhD.

But most of my job involves teaching in a classroom, not research. The qualifications and experience I already have mean that I do a bloody good job. A PhD would not add to that in any way. As far as publications are concerned I also have a fuller list than some of my colleagues who do have a precious doctorate.

All that said, I adore my job. It's like doing stand up but I don't have to be funny all the time. I also get the time to do my own thing too. It would just be nice if I had pay all the year round.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 14 Apr 2011, 14:45, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

Are you at least trying with the PhD
or things are too complicated to do it?
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Thu 14 Apr 2011, 14:48, Reply)

At the moment things are too complicated
Added to which I can't afford to do a PhD. A paid one came up recently...in Leicester. I can't drop things and move to Leicester. Unfortunately the areas I'm interested in are both quite new and unusual so there aren't many Profs around who would be able to supervise me.
For now I'm back to plugging away with the novel I began years ago - if I finish it and get it published I'd be employed permanently on that basis as it's the equivalent to a PhD for quite a few departments.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 14 Apr 2011, 14:52, Reply)

And I do the same job as others who already have PhDs....
We do exactly the same stuff...but they get paid more.

Ah well, we'll all get the sack before long - no one will be going to Uni anymore.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 14 Apr 2011, 14:56, Reply)

Good luck with the novel then
I didn't know it'd count as a PhD for you, but seems much better than 3 years doing research and a VIVA.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Thu 14 Apr 2011, 15:01, Reply)

I've already worked for two years on it
I know of other members of staff who don't have PhDs but are HoD and have a reasonable publishing history behind them. My pub history is a bit half-arsed imo.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 14 Apr 2011, 15:05, Reply)

I can improve your pub history!
What about next Sat?

Seriously, I hope you get the time to do it and that it gets published.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Thu 14 Apr 2011, 15:07, Reply)

The only difference between published and unpublished writers is
perseverance.

Honestly.
How else do we explain Jeffrey Archer?
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 14 Apr 2011, 15:10, Reply)

Hahaha!
No idea who he is, but I bet he's bad :)

Then, there you are, go on for it!
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Thu 14 Apr 2011, 15:18, Reply)

http://www.jeffreyarcher.co.uk/site/
It's bad. Really bad.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 14 Apr 2011, 15:32, Reply)

Well, that's good
that means you can publish too.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Thu 14 Apr 2011, 15:41, Reply)

These days anyone can be published
Getting a good publisher is a different matter - a lot is to do with being in the right place at the right time and proper research. Sending a ms to someone who matches what you do, for example.
But first I need to finish writing the bloody thing. I'm about 40,000 words in. 20k has been redrafted again and again but now I've expanded it it'll all need redoing.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 14 Apr 2011, 15:53, Reply)

Does it make a difference
for your work which publisher you choose? What's the book about?
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Thu 14 Apr 2011, 16:05, Reply)

Oh god yes!
No point sending a thriller to someone who only publishes academic text books, for example.
The book is...dare I say it...literary fiction.
*ponces*
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 14 Apr 2011, 16:07, Reply)

Assuming you teach in a University?
whether it's right or not, them's the regs. Mostly because you can't supervise or examine PhDs unless you have one yourself.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 14 Apr 2011, 15:57, Reply)

Yes...I know
It still irritates the hell out of me that I do all the other stuff.
*vents*
*rages impotently*
And it's a good rule to have - that makes me even more cross! How dare I be WRONG!!!
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 14 Apr 2011, 16:03, Reply)

I'm not sure whether it's a good rule or not
it has to be there for examining PhDs, absolutely. Otherwise that would be like getting a driving test from an examiner that can't drive. But, for other stuff... I dunno.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 14 Apr 2011, 16:22, Reply)