You sit down at the keyboard, ready to write up your research. But the harder you try, the worse you seem to feel.

Today we ask a vexing question: what makes thesis-writing so mentally and emotionally taxing? 

We talk to two former grad students about their struggles with self-doubt, anxiety and loneliness in the writing process. We also gain insights from University of Toronto writing scholar Rachael Cayley.

Music credits: 

Licensed from soundstripe.com: "Shaken and Stirred" by Dreamland (theme song); “Boo Instrumental” by Dresden the Flamingo; “Beyond All Time” by Moments; “Transporter” by Falls; “Causality” by Shimmer; “Unexpected Turn” by Moments; “Pages” by Shimmer; “What You Are Here For” by Moments; “Crescendo” by Featherland.