Monday 27 August 2012

Editing Woes

Been editing like mad in the last few days, trying to get on with it and it has been going well. I keep finding little notes I've put to myself, however, written at times when I couldn't do that particuar thing, but knew I should think about it. Now I'm left with things like 'extend this chapter' or 'split into two chapters and extend'. And I'm like, huuuuh? Would extending this chapter actually make it better, or would it just be a load of extra waffle? How do I actually extend this chapter? And then I sit here for a little longer, before deciding to leave that particualar problem for the day. Which isn't so productive.

Does anyone else have those sort of editing problems? Or is that just me?

On another note however, I am feeling productive today, unlike yesterday when I just felt so lack lustre and restless, I couldn't settle to anything. Today I might actually get something productive done!

Yay!

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Editing a short story and I have no idea if I like this ending or not. Part of me does. But I don't know if it works or not. Infuriating!

Fountain Pens, Drafts and Modules


Yesterday I wrote 'The End' across another handwritten draft. I love writing by hand, and especially with fountain pen. My Dad treated me to a new fountain pen yesterday as my old one was dropped and slightly damanged (although the woman in the shop told me that it was fine and I simply needed to hold my pen properly....). Anyway, we were persuaded to a lamy, which I've never had before and I did feel like I'm betraying Parker. But the truth is, I love it. It's 'aubergine' coloured apparently, so sort of purpley, and it has a lovely grip, which I suppose sort of forces me to hold it better. I love the design too. Lots of people had them at school and I remember always thinking they were really cool and being a little bit jealous. I also love that you can get really awesome coloured inks for lamy as well. I've got my usual black at the moment, but I'm definitely going to invest in some turquoise and violet inks I think, although when I will find a use for these colours I don't know! Anyway, as you might have guessed I'm a little obsessed with fountain pens!

Back to this draft. It's more of a skeleton draft. I know there are things I need to pad out and develop, things that need to go further and all that, but it's good to have the outline of the story. Now that I've done that however, I know I need to get on with properly editing my other story and a short story I wrote recently. There are no excuses now!!

I've also got to try and choose my modules for next year, which is why I'm sat here writing this now. There is a choice of two for next term, and both of them will mean a deviation from what I'm used to. One involves writing poetry, which I'm not a fan of, but involves creating images and shapes. The other involves creating plots and writing a plot treatment (very film based, and I'm not the world's biggest film fan). I have dallied with writing scripts before, so that appeals, more than the poetry I think because creating plots is what I do really right? But what sort of challenge do I want?

Help!

I'm going to go with the plot one aren't I?

That's the one I thought I would go with, but I'm unsure.

Arggggh.

Saturday 11 August 2012

August Madness

The Olympics have absoutely flown by; I can't believe it's the last day tomorrow! I have got so into it, I have become totally absorbed by it all and have loved every minute, particuarly the tennis, sailing, swimming, diving... and so much more! So over the moon that Murray won a gold, and a silver. That was amazing!

And it's August, how did that happen? The last few weeks seem to have gone incredibly quickly, and I haven't been blogging as much as I would have liked. Oh well, life happens. I have been busy reading, writing and making lots of braclets (fantastic while watching olympics). Writing has been going well; I wrote most of a short story yesterday, which I was pleased with, and most of a chapter of something else. I really need to do some editing however, and I am clearly putting that off. I will get down to it. I will.

I am also trying to sort out all the details for my MA starting next month (next month?! That's awful scary really). I need to choose my modules and everything, and I'm also beginning to work out when to move back and all of that stuff. Where did the last few weeks go?

I'm excited, but things are becoming very real and I'm relucant to let go of the summer yet. I know I still have a month or so to go but still.

Also, over the summer I have been making lots of bracelets and I'm thinking of trying to sell them. Any ideas/tips?