I don't think it's that unusual to have written very little by end of 1st year from my own experience and those around me - one guy in my office has literally written nothing at all and is barely past the initial proposal stage, doesn't even seem to know what his project is when I ask him, but he doesn't seem too worried, everyone goes at a different pace. I've written about 15,000 now (almost finished 1st year) Dunno how much of it I will keep but my supervisor seemed happy enough that it's a decent enough start even if it doesn't form much of the actual thesis.

I have my differentiation/transfer next week interview next week.
I submitted about 10000 words 3 weeks ago, half lit.review, half research strategy/, methodology.
My phd's in education, looking at student teachers attitudes, so it's pretty much social science.

How did others in social sciences prepare for the differentiation/transfer? My supervisor has told me to know my lit.review and be able to justify my methdology, but any other tips would be great.

Cheers

haha, na it's really alright. I did a PGCE in Biology and it was a great experience, I kninda miss teaching but my phd research is still in science educatiuon so I can always go back.
Anyway, I reckon we need more evolutionary biologists as teachers!

I've seen phds written in the 1st person in my department (education, which is basically social science). I personally think the argument over 1st/3rd person is rediculous - and writing in the 3rd person as if that automatically lends some "objectivity" to research is daft.

Evolutionary biology is sweet. You could always go into science writing/broadcast journalism if you're interested in the science communication side, but don't want to do academia any more.

You could teach as well, but maybe not your thing.

Two separate approx.4000 word pieces - one lit.review and one research strategy.

No advice, just that it's hard. Hard to concentrate, focus and get work done but it does get slightly better.
The "future" was definitely a big theme. The unstable nature of postgraduate employment (i.e. having to move away where the work is etc). We're both in different fields.
I'm still gutted a few months later but there's nothing I can do. i honestly hope you sort something out. Our circumstances were a bit different my ex already had a job elsewhere and long-distance was stressful.

The exact same thing happened to me (only a much longer relationahip, many years). I'm differentiating at the moment. My (now ex) was writing-up a few months ago. We had a break about 1 month before she submitted. About 3 weeks before her viva we split-up. Gutted.
Hope it works out better for you.

That's different from my experience. I'm only 9 months into my phd and my supervisor is pushing me to differentiate this month. In fact I was supposed to do it last month!
I guess different universities must have different timelines. We're under quite a lot of pressure to have differentiate, at the VERY latest, within 12 months.