So as you know, my A230 Reading and Studying Literature course materials have arrived and when they did, I couldn't have been happier. I already have all the set books I need on my kindle and have read a few already. So I'm dying to actually get stuck in.
But now I have all that, I think I'm suffering from a bit of The Grass Is Greener Syndrome - all I can think is: "how the hell am I going to make time for this?"
Throughout the whole summer I kept thinking: "I wish I was studying. I can't wait to go back to uni. I can't wait to analyze books again." And now it seems like the hardest thing on earth.
My workload hasn't chained since the summer - it just somehow felt more manageable back then.
Does anyone else get this?
I didn't get it for my A215 Creative Writing course, but I think that's because I was so excited. All that writing was exactly what I wanted and truth be told - I find Creative Writing quite easy! Except poetry.
Anyway. I refuse to be beaten by what is clearly just a mental block. I must break down this wall and plough on ahead.
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Ummm. How long has it been?
Oh yes, that's right. About a bazillion days.
Apologies for disappearing like that. I was on A215 Creative Writing and was loving the course and then, lo and behold, I get a promotion at work. And what happens? A nightmare. Work gets intense. Busier and busier. Day after day. Until suddenly I think "Wait a second. My course is over. I need to enrol on a new one. And I haven't touched my blog in forever."
I know you're out there reading this, because I thankfully had the foresight a while ago to install Google Analytics (quite frankly one of the best free pieces of software out there - but I digress).
So I made a pledge to myself (and to you) that when my new OU books for my new course arrived. I would log on and tell you.
So here they are!
My new books for my new course - A230: Reading and Studying Literature. The Course website opens in just a few weeks (September 21st) and I am raring to go.
Anyway that's it for now. I'm still here. I'm still breathing. And I'm still studying.
Apologies for disappearing like that. I was on A215 Creative Writing and was loving the course and then, lo and behold, I get a promotion at work. And what happens? A nightmare. Work gets intense. Busier and busier. Day after day. Until suddenly I think "Wait a second. My course is over. I need to enrol on a new one. And I haven't touched my blog in forever."
I know you're out there reading this, because I thankfully had the foresight a while ago to install Google Analytics (quite frankly one of the best free pieces of software out there - but I digress).
So I made a pledge to myself (and to you) that when my new OU books for my new course arrived. I would log on and tell you.
So here they are!
My new books for my new course - A230: Reading and Studying Literature. The Course website opens in just a few weeks (September 21st) and I am raring to go.
Anyway that's it for now. I'm still here. I'm still breathing. And I'm still studying.
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
one day left...
Okay so tonight us my final night as an A215 Creative Writing student. Sadly I can't celebrate though as I have another 700 words to write plus my report.
This is all for my ECA and it's frustrating because I have to print it out and post it rather than e-mail it. This means that even though my deadline is Friday, I have to have it finished tonight to post in the morning.
Very vexing.
This is all for my ECA and it's frustrating because I have to print it out and post it rather than e-mail it. This means that even though my deadline is Friday, I have to have it finished tonight to post in the morning.
Very vexing.
Friday, 30 April 2010
Monday, 15 March 2010
Monday, 25 January 2010
Struggling with poetry
Okay so the next section of the course is on poetry. And I am NOT enjoying it. I'm three weeks in an it's really really tough.
I'm still trying to get my head round some of this drafting crapola. But I have a night in scheduled for tonight so I'm going to just go for it.
Still loving my haikus though.
Drafting hurts my head
Notebook's full of useless notes
Poetry's too hard
I'm still trying to get my head round some of this drafting crapola. But I have a night in scheduled for tonight so I'm going to just go for it.
Still loving my haikus though.
Drafting hurts my head
Notebook's full of useless notes
Poetry's too hard
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Got my TMA02 result
Got my TMA02 result today! It's a much bigger improvement than the previous one.
Friday, 18 December 2009
Great quote
Found this brilliant quote: "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." - Benjamin Franklin
Monday, 9 November 2009
Struggling with setting
Meant to have moved onto setting this week but I'm having too much fun with character creation.
The setting exercises started out really easy but now they're all long and complicated.
I might try again tomorrow...
The setting exercises started out really easy but now they're all long and complicated.
I might try again tomorrow...
Thursday, 5 November 2009
TMA01 Result
I got my TMA01 result today - I got 56. Even though it's 14 marks above the pass mark, I'm pretty disappointed with it.
I know I should have focussed more on this one and I'm definitely going to do better in the next ones.
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Chapter Five: Character creation
Starting chapter five this week. I've been really looking forward to this one. I always like making up characters and stories around them. I've had a look ahead and there's loads of cool exercises like "write a character based on one of the following stereotypes" or "Create a new character using the checklist".
Looking forward to this one!
Looking forward to this one!
Friday, 30 October 2009
TMA 01 - All handed in!
Took me ages to put it together and unfortunately I probably haven't done as well as I could do, but I'm glad I've got it sent off. Promise, I'll get it in before the deadline next time... (famous last words!)
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Bought myself a new toy...
A colour dictionary! It's better than it sounds I promise. There's thousands of different colours, different ways of saying 'yellow', 'blue' etc. and they're all organised really well. It's over 500 pages long, so you can't miss the colour you're looking for!
It's a complete fountain of interesting facts, discoveries and anomalies on colour. There is a listing of colour words and definitions where many many entries are just great reading. There is also a list of colour phrases and lists of every colour there is, and believe me there's an awful lot.
I read some reviews on it about why there weren't any swatches for each colour - are you kidding me? Can you imagine that? It would be ridiculous! If you wanna see an example, google it!
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Stanislavsky's character development method
Stanislavsky said that there are three stages to building a realistic and life-like character the reader can relate to. We covered this is our Day School earlier this month and it was really, really interesting. This is one of the things I love about writing - character development. The investigating of a person that may or may not exist and getting them down on paper, making them very real indeed.
The first stage is called The given circumstances. These re things such as age, sex, where they live, what job they do, their likes and dislikes, their marital status etc. This build up a character's facts - irrefutable information about the person. It may also cover the character's purpose before, during and after the story.
The second stage delves deeper into the character's thoughts and soul. This is called The Role On The Wall. This covers two areas: external and internal information. The external are the physical attributes of the character, like eye colour, hair, strength, clothing etc. The internal is much deeper. This includes thoughts, feelings, memories, hopes, dreams and motivations.
The final stage is called What If? This is a change in circumstances. This can be used to either test the character or to develop the plot. For example: what if my character up and left the city? What if my character won the lottery? What if my character was killed?
I find the whole process fascinating and over the next week I'm going to try and incorporate it into my writing time.
The first stage is called The given circumstances. These re things such as age, sex, where they live, what job they do, their likes and dislikes, their marital status etc. This build up a character's facts - irrefutable information about the person. It may also cover the character's purpose before, during and after the story.
The second stage delves deeper into the character's thoughts and soul. This is called The Role On The Wall. This covers two areas: external and internal information. The external are the physical attributes of the character, like eye colour, hair, strength, clothing etc. The internal is much deeper. This includes thoughts, feelings, memories, hopes, dreams and motivations.
The final stage is called What If? This is a change in circumstances. This can be used to either test the character or to develop the plot. For example: what if my character up and left the city? What if my character won the lottery? What if my character was killed?
I find the whole process fascinating and over the next week I'm going to try and incorporate it into my writing time.
Monday, 26 October 2009
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Haikus: Clocks going back
The clocks have gone back
The nights are getting longer
Darkness falls early
Only half past five
First day of Greenwich Mean Time
Dark out already
The nights are getting longer
Darkness falls early
Only half past five
First day of Greenwich Mean Time
Dark out already
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Morning pages: Attempt two
So other than my attempt earlier this week, I haven't managed to write anymore morning pages. I want to but I haven't been well recently and everytime I wake up I feel like death - and not in the mood to focus on a sheet of paper or a pen.
I need to get better, get my head in a better place in the mornings and have another stab at it.
I need to get better, get my head in a better place in the mornings and have another stab at it.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Keeping a record of reading
Sooooo.... My lovely big red book has another suggestion - to keep a record of my reading.
I think this is a really good idea. I kind of do this already. But recently I haven't read a lot of books. I did start The Host by Stephenie Meyer the other week an I was really enjoying it but I've barely picked it up since, It's bad really because it isn't my book. I borrowed it from my boss. It's okay though - she likes me.
Not that long ago I read The Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer. And like every other girl in the english-speaking world - I fell in love. I'd already seen the movie when I read the first book but it was still fabulous.
Other than that I've read hundreds of books over the years. My favourite have to include the Noughts and Crosses Trilogy by Malorie Blackman, The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien, The His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman, the Wicca series by Cate Tiernan and The Wind on Fire Trilogy by William Nicholson.
I do like other books and authors too. I love Tomorrow When The War Began by James Marsden and The Eight by Katherine Neville. I still enjoy Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl and the Alex Rider books by Anthony Horowitz.
I think this is a really good idea. I kind of do this already. But recently I haven't read a lot of books. I did start The Host by Stephenie Meyer the other week an I was really enjoying it but I've barely picked it up since, It's bad really because it isn't my book. I borrowed it from my boss. It's okay though - she likes me.
Not that long ago I read The Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer. And like every other girl in the english-speaking world - I fell in love. I'd already seen the movie when I read the first book but it was still fabulous.
Other than that I've read hundreds of books over the years. My favourite have to include the Noughts and Crosses Trilogy by Malorie Blackman, The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien, The His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman, the Wicca series by Cate Tiernan and The Wind on Fire Trilogy by William Nicholson.
I do like other books and authors too. I love Tomorrow When The War Began by James Marsden and The Eight by Katherine Neville. I still enjoy Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl and the Alex Rider books by Anthony Horowitz.
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