that is so interesting! i was determined to start writing at the beginning (Ch 1), but it was like trying to write the introduction first -- none of the theoretical stuff i wanted to say made sense without the context of the later readings. my advisor was the one who told me to give it up and start with one of the middle chapters, and that the order didn't matter. so while within each chapter i write beginning-to-end, the chs. i've drafted so far are labeled 2, 4, 5. (which is great bc it also allows me to change the order of chs if necessary.)

(oh dear god. i've become that person who talks about nothing other than dissertation. i'm so sorry.)