Look at any books by 'David Silverman' (he's easy to read/understand, and is cited frequently by others ... also, you can use his texts to spin out to others - he gives suggestions in 'summary' sections).

Hope that helps.

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They do say ...

"If you're bored than you're boring" (that especially applies if you are living in London ... there's LOADS of things to do/places to visit that don't cost a fortune/are free).

Most PhD students experience what you are feeling at some point, HOWEVER ... if you are really unhappy/don't feel it's the right thing for you than leave now!

Leaving now wouldn't work against you (dropping out after 3 years/not finishing would have bigger implications).

Remember: Worse things have happened at sea!!!

Just a thought, but ...

Have you tried thinking 'themes' rather than 'chronology' (this might even give you a more fruitful structure).

How about this ...

The sooner you start, the sooner the PhD will be over!!!

GET ON WITH IT!

Just because you have a PhD it doesn't make you an 'academic expert' ... 'experts' are people who have made a significant contribution to the field they are working within. So, if you think of it that way, when you get your PhD you are only on the bottom rung of the ladder!!!

Is nobody fessing up to watching 'To Buy Or Not To Buy', 'Homes Under the Hammer', 'Escape to the Country' or '60 Minute Makeover'??? I would have gone potty if I didn't have them to 'fall back on' when I was writing up (i.e. opportunity for me to 'shut my brain off').

Professor Noob ... "Lecturers flirting with students" - unfortunatley I know plenty who have done a whole heap more! Urgh and very wrong, wrong, wrong!

Quick point ... It's important to remember that the PhD is a 'process', so everyone (regardless of discipline) experiences pretty much the same things (i.e. ups and downs) although these may occur at slightly varying times.

I vote supervisor/project over uni too!

"Too journalistic" means too personal (i.e. not enough academic engagement/rigour). NOT what you want to be doing when writing your PhD!

Ask your supervisor for an approx word count to work to (they'll probably say somewhere between 5,000 - 10,000 for each lit review chapter). This won't be the first time they've had this question asked!

Mmm - I suspect 'delay tactics' are at work here (we've all been there) ... just write!!!

Is there anyone (i.e. your potential new supervisor) at the uni you want to attend that you could talk to ... or are they already aware of this situation? They might be able to advise you on this matter ... and will give you a clearer picture of what your possible options are (i.e. they might say you can start the PhD even if the M.Phil doesn't materialise immediately).

I always think that you should write in a style so anybody (i.e. an adult) can pick up your thesis and understand what your work is going on about (or be able to follow the general gist if they aren't used to reading academic texts). Some might disagree, but ... I think it's far more of an art (and difficult) to be able to explain complex theories SIMPLY (without losing the essense of the arguments) rather than using lots of terminology that no-one understands (and don't assume your examiners will understand all the terminology/theories that come up in your work).

Just write ... and your supervisor should advise you accordingly.