The tyranny of the word count

I don't know if anyone else reading this blog is doing a thesis, but if you are you will be familiar with the opressive nature of the word count. I have customised my Word toolbar so I can access this function with ease. On days leading up to deadlines, it is not unusual for me to check my wordcount in an obsessive manner, hoping that a few hundred more words have magically appeared. Of course, usually staring at me accusingly is a miserly figure, hardly reflective of the blood, sweat and tears it took to produce the draft at hand. So my obsession continues.

Oh, and in case anyone is interested, my thesis is currently at 26,100. Only 73,900 to go. No sweat.

I'll just go and curl up in a foetal position right now.