Writing a dissertation is the hardest thing most students will do in their academic career. And most doctoral students will need help at some point in the process. When that time comes, check these 5 places:
Most every university has a writing center that is staffed with tutors that can help with most steps of your dissertation research and writing process. From researching the background information or literature review of your paper, to outlining and organizing your paper, to using proper citations, to editing your final paper. University writing services are a very valuable free resource because they tailor help to you and your project.
Especially at the doctoral level, your fellow students are a great place to look for help with your project. They can be part of your program, or someone you know from another program. Either way, they’ll probably be happy to take a break from their own project. And, if you trade your help for theirs, they’ll benefit too.
If you are looking for assistance toward the end of your dissertation process with editing, freelance copy editors can be a huge help. They don’t need to be an expect in your area of research, but they should at least be familiar with working within its academic context. For instance, if you are working on a biology project, you probably wouldn’t want to hire someone who specializes in literature copy editing, as they’ll be used to working with very different writing styles. There are many freelance writing websites where you can find copy editors and negotiate rates with.
There are professional associations for practically every academic disciplines. Many of them host conferences, publish academic journals, or provide professional training. If you can find a professional association that is relevant to your project, try to find an unofficial dissertation advisor there that can offer you advice on practically every step of the process, and will already be an expert in your research area.
Online forums and listserves can be a bit more hit or miss when it comes to finding the help you need. However, some are very active with professionals and fellow students from your area of study. And they can be a great way to access help from other universities around the world.