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Nathan

Viva Survivors Select 12

Update

Cover for The Contribution Issue, dated July 2026. Background image shows a red stylised pawn on a ladder painting a large mural. A blue pawn has a ? speech bubble at the foot of the ladder

It’s release day for The Contribution Issue, the latest issue of Viva Survivors Select!

You can find The Contribution Issue on my Payhip store now. This issue is an exploration of what it means to make a significant, original contribution – what that means for a PhD candidate, how they can prepare for the viva and how they can use their contributions to help build up their confidence.

Page 1 of The Contribution Issue, titled HELLO! - an overview of the issue's contents

The Contribution Issue contains twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive as well as two original pages of viva help. For one I get a little bit reflective myself and think back on my PhD and what my understanding of my research contribution meant for my viva. I also share a daily reflection tool for building up a summary of thesis contributions. And once again I’ve done all of the art – I’m really enjoying making art a part of what I do in 2026 🙂

Page 3 of The Contribution Issue. A post titled "Contribution is Cumulative" takes up the first half followed by a black and white image showing a pawn character standing on top of a tower of blocks

Viva Survivors Select 12, The Contribution Issue, is out now for £3. If you like the blog, want more help and want to support what I do then please consider buying Viva Survivors Select. If it helps you then please pass on details of The Contribution Issue and Viva Survivors Select to anyone you know who is looking for viva help.

Thanks for reading!

Nathan

 

PS: the next collection, The Personal Issue, is due out on Wednesday 12th August 2026!

Nathan

Layering Prep

Daily Post

I’ve enjoyed learning to create digital art a lot so far this year.

(see recent issues of Viva Survivors Select for examples!)

It’s freeing to not have to worry about making mistakes while creating. The software I use allows you to add elements in layers: I can create a quick sketch, add a new layer and build on that with more detail. I can do some broad colour, add another layer and go deeper. Bringing all of these together creates a lovely composition.

(at least, I think it does!)

Consider viva prep in the same way. You’re layering pieces of work to create a beautiful effect. Layer annotation on top of spending time reading your thesis. Layer creating summaries on top of the time spent thinking while annotating. Layer a mock viva on top of a chat about your work with a friend. It all comes together to create a state of being ready.

Each layer matters but isn’t the whole picture. You need to bring things together to be well prepared.

 

PS: there are many more layers to the viva. You can find out more at this week’s 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva webinar on Wednesday 24th June 2026. There are full details for all my June and July webinars here. Registration includes a catch-up recording, follow-up email and my pdf guide 101 Steps To A Great Viva. Hope to see you there!

Nathan

Viva Survivors Select 11

Update

Cover of VSS11, The Examiners Issue, dated June 2026 and by Nathan Ryder. Two towering figures loom over a smaller figure; all are stylised as simple game pieces

It’s release day for The Examiners Issue, the latest issue of Viva Survivors Select!

You can find The Examiners Issue on my Payhip store now. This issue is a curated collection of writing from the blog and I’ve tried to cover every angle: who examiners are, what they do, how they’re selected and how you can prepare for meeting them at your viva.

Page 1 of VSS11, titled HELLO! and introducing the content of the issue

The Examiners Issue contains twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive as well as two original pages of viva help: a reflection on my own examiners and a helpful quick process for exploring who yours are. This issue continues my plan for this year’s zines to create all of the art myself. I’m very happy with the cover for this month and can’t wait to share the next cover too! (you’ll find it as the back cover teaser on this issue!)

Page 5 of VSS11, titled Citing Examiners. The top half of the page is a short article and the bottom shows a black and white illustration of a figure examining a noticeboard with various images and papers connected by strings

Viva Survivors Select 11, The Examiners Issue, is out now for £3. If you like the blog, want more help and want to support what I do then please consider buying Viva Survivors Select. If it helps you then please pass on details of The Examiners Issue and Viva Survivors Select to anyone you know who is looking for viva help.

Thanks for reading!

Nathan

 

PS: the next collection, The Contribution Issue, is due out on Wednesday 15th July 2026!

And PPS: if you’re looking for even more viva help then check out the details for my upcoming 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva webinars: you can check dates for sessions over the next six weeks at Eventbrite, and the first session is next Wednesday 17th June 2026.

Nathan

Viva Survivors Select 10

Update

Cover image for Viva Survivors Select 10, The Submission Issue, May 2026. Image shows a red game-piece looking down a dark hallway to light at the end of the tunnel

It’s release day for The Submission Issue, the latest issue of Viva Survivors Select!

You can find The Submission Issue on my Payhip store now. This is a curated collection of some of my favourite pieces from the blog all about this pivotal time of the PhD journey: approaching submission, starting prep and navigating the change from finishing the thesis to getting ready for the viva.

Opening, introductory page of Viva Survivors Select 10. Titled HELLO! and summarising the contents of the zine.

The Submission Issue contains twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive along with an original poem and a new helpful tool for reflecting back on the PhD journey. The issue also contains lots of new original art I’ve made: I’m continuing with my plan to do all of the art for this series of curated zines!

Page 7 of Viva Survivors Select 10. Writing titled "Questions For Graduates" and a cartoon image at the bottom of the page showing a candidate asking others for help.

Viva Survivors Select 10 is out now for £3. If you like the blog, want more help and want to support what I do then please take a look at and consider buying Viva Survivors Select. If it helps then please pass on details of The Submission Issue and Viva Survivors Select to anyone you know who is looking for viva help.

Thanks for reading!

Nathan

 

PS: the next Viva Survivors Select, The Examiners Issue, is due out on Wednesday 10th June 2026!

And PPS: if you’re looking for even more viva help then registration for my upcoming 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva webinars opens on Tuesday 26th May 2026 – you can check dates and set reminders at Eventbrite.

Nathan

Coming Soon!

Event, Update

Today I’m sharing a few upcoming events and resources – a few save the dates if you like! 🙂

 

Viva Survivors Select

First, the next few issues of my curated zine series, Viva Survivors Select, will be released on the following dates:

  • Wednesday 13th May 2026, The Submission Issue – next week!
  • Wednesday 10th June 2026, The Examiners Issue
  • Wednesday 15th July 2026, The Contribution Issue

If you’ve not seen it, The 2025 Issue is already out and there will be more issues from August through to November. I’ll share more about The Submission Issue when it releases next week. For now, here’s the cover:

Cover image for Viva Survivors Select 10, The Submission Issue, May 2026. Image shows a red game-piece looking down a dark hallway to light at the end of the tunnel

I’m really pleased with how the cover worked out. I’m still finding my way as an artist and love having this opportunity to make so much art regularly.

 

7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva

I have five independent viva help webinars happening in the not-too-distant future!

I regularly deliver Viva Survivor and 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva sessions for universities and programmes around the UK. However, not every university engages me to deliver sessions – and sometimes even when they do there’s limited availability.

To create opportunities for PhD candidates to access viva help sessions I’m offering a range of dates and times for my 1-hour 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva live webinar in June and July:

I’ve run an evening session before but for the first time ever I’m also offering a Saturday morning session for people who might struggle to attend during weekdays. Registration for a 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva live webinar is £20 and includes follow-up resources and access to a catch-up recording of the session.

Booking for all of these sessions will open on Tuesday 26th May 2026. I’ll share reminders when registration opens for 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva but if you follow my profile on Eventbrite then that should alert you when registration opens for all. You can also use a “remind me” button on a registration page if there’s a particular date you want a reminder for.

Thank you for reading this post and I hope that these announcements are of some help. More details and help to follow! 🙂

Nathan

Viva Survivors Select 09

Update

Cover for Viva Survivors Select 09, The 2025 Issue, April 2026 - by Nathan Ryder Cover shows a red game piece/pawn looking at a wall with twelve calendar pages with various tally marks.

Viva Survivors Select is back!

You can find The 2025 Issue on my Payhip store now: a curated collection of some of my favourite pieces of writing from 2025 covering a range of topics. I’ve brought together posts about the PhD journey, viva expectations, viva prep and building confidence. You’ll find reflections, practical posts, lists and more!

Page 1 of The 2025 Issue, an introduction page that says HELLO! at the top.

The 2025 Issue contains twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive along with two original pages of viva help. I’m particularly pleased with Keyword Prep – a helpful little game to prompt viva prep! If you’ve read previous issues of Viva Survivors Select (or even got the complete Volume 1) you’ll know that I really like making little games. I’m making more for the other seven issues of Volume 2.

If you’ve read previous issues you’ll also notice a change in the art style from this issue onwards. I relied on interesting public domain art for the first volume but from now on I’ll be creating every piece of art, including the covers. I’ve been creating digital art for the last four months – no AI, all me! – and this felt like a good way to continue learning and practising. I hope you find the illustrations a helpful part of the zines!

Page 12 of The 2025 Issue, showing a post titled The Buddy System along with an illustration of two simplified people talking.

Viva Survivors Select 09 is out now for £3. If you like the blog, want more help and want to support what I do then please take a look at and consider buying The 2025 Issue. If it helps then do please pass on details of this issue and Viva Survivors Select to anyone you know who is looking for viva help!

Thanks for reading!

Nathan

 

PS: save the date! The next Viva Survivors Select, The Submission Issue, is due out on Wednesday 13th May 2026! There’s a sneak peek of the cover on the back of The 2025 Issue 🙂

Nathan

Coming Soon: Viva Survivors Select 09

Update

Cover for Viva Survivors Select 09, The 2025 Issue, April 2026 - by Nathan Ryder Cover shows a red game piece/pawn looking at a wall with twelve calendar pages with various tally marks.

Coming Wednesday 15th April 2026!

Viva Survivors Select returns with the first issue of Volume 2, The 2025 Issue. I’ve curated twenty of my favourite Viva Survivors posts from last year, written two new pages of viva help and created original art and illustrations!

I had a lot of fun making Volume 1 last year – still available to buy as individual issues in my Payhip store or as a complete collection here – and I have all of Volume 2 planned out between now and November. I’m so excited to be sharing more of these zines soon.

If you find the Viva Survivors daily blog helpful then please take a look at Volume 1 and watch out for the upcoming issues from Volume 2. There is a lot of help in each issue, curated collections of posts from the archives plus new reflections and resources to help you get ready for the viva.

Look out for The 2025 Issue releasing on Wednesday 15th April 2026 – and please share this news with anyone who might need it!

Thanks for reading,
Nathan

Nathan

Viva Survivors Select Volume 1

Daily Post, Update

It’s my birthday! Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me and so on and so forth!

I like to do something fun on my birthday and as I’m in charge of this little kingdom on the internet I can do that 🙂

 

Last year I released eight issues of Viva Survivors Select: my curated collections of writing from the Viva Survivors blog archives on expectations, viva prep, building confidence and more. Each issue also contains several pages of new resources: reflections on the viva, my experiences and original games to help with getting ready for the viva.

Viva Survivors Select was a lot of fun to make and share and I’m looking forward to making more issues in the coming months. Today for my birthday I’m doing two fun things:

First, I’m happy to announce the release of Viva Survivors Select Volume 1, a complete collection of 2025’s eight issues in one helpful bundle. This bundle has a reduced price of £15 instead of the combined £24 for the eight individual issues of viva prep, thoughts on examiners, reflections on the PhD journey and helpful resources.

Cover image for Viva Survivors Select Volume 1: a cairn next to a river, a stack of stones carefully arranged

Second, as it’s my birthday I’m reducing the price even more until the end of January. Viva Survivors Select Volume 1 will be £12 until 31st January 2026. That makes each issue in the bundle half price. If you’re looking for viva help, thoughts about the process or ideas for what you can do to be ready for your viva this is a great bundle of help.

…oh go on, one more thing! If you buy the Viva Survivors Select Volume 1 bundle before 31st January then a little popup will offer you my Kickstarted publication 101 Steps To A Great Viva for free!

 

Anyway, it’s my birthday and I want to do something fun 🙂 If you think Viva Survivors Select Volume 1 might be helpful then take a look. If you think it might help someone you know then please share this news. And if you have questions then please get in touch.

Thanks for reading – I’m off to celebrate being halfway to 90!

Nathan

Nathan

Viva Survivors Select 08

Update

This month’s issue of Viva Survivors Select is the last of Volume 1. I’m taking a break from the zine for a few months and aim to return in April 2026 with the start of a new monthly run. It seemed appropriate that this final issue (for now!) should be The Survival Issue.

Cover of Viva Survivors Select 08, The Survival Issue. Dated November 2025 by Nathan Ryder Foreground text boxes show details of the issue title etc. Background image shows a mountain path with rails, more mountains in the distance and a blue sky with a few clouds

We tend to think of survival as life and death. This is why so many PhD candidates who hear the phrase “surviving the viva” think that it must be a terrible ordeal that they’ll barely make it through. To survive means to manage to keep going in difficult circumstances. To survive your PhD means to work and make it through the challenges you face. To survive the viva means to rise to the particular challenges after the journey you have been on.

The Survival Issue contains twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive exploring many aspects of survival. The issue is reflective, proactive and looking ahead for a candidate’s future. Surviving the viva is a topic I’ve been exploring for fifteen years in seminars, books, blog posts, discussions and pretty much every working day. It really did feel like this had to be the final issue of this volume!

I also share memories of how I survived my viva and what still stands out to me seventeen years later. Finally, I offer a simple reflective series of questions to help unpick the difficult circumstances of a PhD journey – a helpful activity for viva prep.

Viva Survivors Select 08 is out now for £3 and joins the previous seven issues in this volume. If you like the blog, want more help and want to support what I do then please take a look at and consider buying The Survival Issue.

Please do pass on details of this issue and Viva Survivors Select to anyone you know who is looking for viva help – and look out for the first issue of Volume 2, coming in April 2026!

Thanks for reading!

Nathan

Nathan

Viva Survivors Select 07

Update

It was a few years after my PhD before I started to feel confident. It took me time to find a way to build it up for myself. I didn’t find it during my PhD or ahead of my viva: I thought my thesis was pretty good but didn’t think I was a good candidate. I knew something was missing on my viva day but didn’t know what it was.

After my PhD I started to listen to podcasts, read blog posts and found books that helped me assemble a jigsaw of confidence from myself, borrowing ideas from many different places and finding what worked for me.

I’ve had the good fortune to spend my post-PhD life exploring confidence for myself and how to help other people find it for themselves. I’m glad to have the chance to share some help, encouragement and ideas in this month’s issue of Viva Survivors Select.

Cover of Viva Survivors Select 07/The Confidence Issue/Nathan Ryder. Background image shows a pair of hands holding a small plant growing in soil.

The Confidence Issue contains twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive exploring confidence in the PhD, helpful practices to try during viva prep and how to respond to questions in the viva. This is a topic I’ve explored a lot over the last fifteen years and it’s great to share a curated resource like this zine.

Every issue of Viva Survivors Select also contains new help too. This month I share my thoughts on making a playlist to help promote confidence. I love using music to prompt a shift of feelings and know I’m not alone in thinking it’s a useful nudge – and nudging confidence is the theme of my other new piece, a short game to help people getting ready for their viva.

Viva Survivors Select 07 is out now for £3 and joins six other issues in this ongoing series. If you like the blog, want more help and want to support what I do then please take a look at and consider buying The Confidence Issue.

The final issue of this volume, The Survival Issue, will be released on Wednesday 12th November. I’m also considering releasing a bundle of all eight issues of Volume 1 for a special price. Let me know if you think that’s a good idea!

Please do pass on details of this issue and Viva Survivors Select to anyone you know who is looking for viva help.

Thanks for reading!

Nathan

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