one of my lecturers really got me down this past week. she said that most students publish in their last year of the phd - students who try to publish early don't produce good work. i already have working papers and i just began my phd. advice. did any of you publish earlier?

Well- which field are you in?

I wouldnt worry - if ur supervisor is co-writing they will make sure its of a sufficient standard. Remember papers will not be accepted for publication if theyre not good - so you will soon find out!! Everyones first couple papers arent amazing!!

I was told on the first day that I should be ready to publish within 6 months of starting. I know what I'm capable of and don't need a supervisor to tell me I need a couple of years before I'm ready to produce quality work. I'm capable of quality right now and appreciate that my supervisor's recognise that.

Surely it will depend on multiple factors? Someone starting their PhD straight after their first degree has less research experience than someone who has done relevant work for several years before starting a PhD. Also it will depend on the project, some projects don't produce results until the end. As Anon German has suggested, it will also depend on the field.