Song Playlists

I started doing something today that I have never done before, but have seen other people talk about before: I started making a play list for my characters for this latest new exciting story. Maybe it was something to do with the fact that I didn't want to edit my essay anymore. There just suddenly seemed loads of songs that I thought, yes, that is that character. Which is all very exciting.

This week is a busy one; I have an essay due in, it's my birthday, and the annual MethAng musical, which means lots of last minute rehearsals and line learning! I had my family down over the weekend, which is why I didn't blog, which was lovely - although my brother said he'd somehow managed to find my blog (hey btw....) which was kinda ironic after my post about keeping worlds separate. Oh well. I both dread and look forward to this week. More look forward to I think. Last year I got ill and I've got my fingers crossed that it won't happen again... which is why I should go to bed now.

Although it's a bit of a last minute panic in some respects, I'm really looking forward to the musical - which isn't actually a musical anymore - this weekend. We seem to have taken our characters a bit too much to heart, and as we wrote the parts for ourselves, we kinda are becoming our characters. Although none of us are actors really, and we just do this every year to raise money for charity; a tradition that has been passed down through the society and never stopped, we all enjoy it and it is such good fun - when will I ever get a chance to do anything like that again? And, in a sad way, it makes me think that this is sort of what it must be like to be part of something like Team Starkid. We are all so close anyway, it's great fun, and it's brilliant to be able to be part of something so creative and fun. We did spend a few hours in the pub this evening however, basically being our characters and discussing back story and stuff..... and we keep automatically calling each other by our character names; alright until you know that they are the four horsemen of the apocalypse,and we're addressing one another as 'Death', 'War', 'Famine' and 'Conquest'... what other people must think.

Anyway, away from the point, not that I really had a point to this.

Writing wise I am still writing this new idea, although I am now feeling that I need to go back to my other projects and edit, although ideas are still swirling round my mind, there are some things I really need to sort out with that idea. Weirdly I find it easier to start and then go back and plan the rest. Or something like that anyway.

I need to finish that song play list as well....

But right now I need to sleep.

Challenge.

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count.

The inspiration/characters for this come from the new thing that I've been writing.

I was about to write 'it's really short'.. but that's kinda the point, so I won't. Here you go:

Shadows crept across the wall. Rose pulled her bedcovers up around her tightly, and watched them. She wasn’t afraid anymore.

And if they were coming for her, she was powerful enough to fight them away. Yet she knew that if they were coming, they would be coming for him, for Joseph.

She was ice cold; but she no longer noticed that. She had long grown used to the feeling that she was living within a fridge. She closed her eyes, and listened, pushing the shadows away. She could hear the wind coming nearer, roaring and whirling as it raced its way towards her, and she knew, as the shadows crept closer, and the wind grew closer, that it was nearly time.

She kept her eyes closed and concentrated harder.

He had taught her well; for the winds seemed to retreat as she concentrated and soon she was at the centre of the storm – the eye of the storm as they said, and it was nothing but a breeze swirling around her.

Rose smiled to herself, a smile full of knowledge and confidence.

It wasn’t time for him to go. Not quite yet. As she opened her eyes, the shadows recoiled.

Keeping Up...

I'm trying my best to keep up with everything; I've been completely snowed under by work, and it seems like there is so much to keep up with at the moment, with all these new blogs and campaigner challenges and everything, so I apologise if I'm not keeping up (I also apologise for all this apologising... I'm English, what do you expect?!).

I have had tonnes of work to do (but handed something in today which is a relief) but, as always, I have found the time to do some writing and started something new - which I shouldn't be doing what with all this editing I'm trying to do, but the idea grabbed me and well, I had to... - and I hit 10,000 words on that last night which makes me happy. I will start doing that editing again.... Something struck me today in my dissertation workshop. I know we have tonnes of work and reading and all of that at the moment, and I work hard, and get unnecessarily stressed out. Yet I still make time to write and read what I want to. There were people - which to be fair always happens - saying that they have no time to read anything that's not for their course, nor to do any writing, and I'm just.. well, if you want to do it, you would do it right? That's what I think anyway. But then I wonder if I'm doing something wrong, or missing out on something (maybe the complex social life, but shhh... I do do things...). There is always time to do those things. I think so anyway.

Anyway, I'm using this brief window of time to catch up and post the first challenge, from Rach Writes' campaign. Which I post seperately, because of this ramble...

online vs real life

This has been sitting in my drafts for a few days (well part of it has anyway) and I thought it was about time I finished rambling and posted, because a) it's Friday and b) I have a presentation this afternoon.

A few years ago, I had a very close group of friends I met online. We're not so close anymore, but at the time they meant so much to me, and they are all wonderful, wonderful people. I don't think they know how much they meant to me.

But it meant that I had that whole online - real life divide, which kinda merged over time, to become very confused and less clear. Although, of course, this is a little different, it feels a little bit of the same. For some reason, not even known to me, I haven't told any of my real life friends about this blog. I've had blogs before, which have sort of petered out, and I didn't want that to happen to this one. So I didn't tell anyone. And I managed to keep posting, because I knew no one was reading. And then I began to connect, via NaNoWriMo with other writers from my area and I gave out my blog details - finally people who understood were reading and following me, and I could follow them in return and connect with other people. And then came this writer's platform building campaign, and I thought great, another chance to get to know some great writers. And so it is happening again, this strange online vs offline divide - made even stranger by the fact that I have another online life, with tumblr and twitter and all of that, and people I know in real life follow me on there - I'm just about used to that. I don't know if I've made myself particuarly clear, but there we go.

Maybe one day I'll let my real life friends know about this blog.

Have a good Friday everyone; I need to go prepare for this presentation now (the one mentioned before about Ballet Shoes, I Capture the Castle, and Autumn Term. It should be fun. At least I love the books).

Eleven Questions.

Firstly, I want to apologise if I'm not keeping up with follows and comments and everything, I know I need to go and explore a lot more blogs, but this last week or so has been crazy. So, I apologise, but thank you for all the comments and follows and everything.

Secondly, I have been tagged a couple of times in this eleven questions thing, so I'm going to answer those questions here...

First, from Alyssa:

Here are my 11 questions!!

1. What is your favorite holiday?
I love going to Fowey and I have been there so many times, it is such a magical place. Itching to go again...

2. Who is your idol?
Oooh. I have many really, both literary and musical, so I'm going to cheat and name a few - Daphne du Maurier, JK Rowling, all of Mcfly, Darren Criss, David Tennant.

3. If you could visit any place in the world where would you go?
I would love to go to Australia and America. But right now I really want to go back to Fowey and Cornwall!

4. What's your favorite genre?
I love YA. All kinds, but particularly contemporary and contemporary romance. But I also love fantasy and even sci fi stuff, and.... it's impossible to pick just one!

5. What or who has inspired your writing the most?
Both Daphne du Maurier and JK Rowling, and all those authors I read when I was a kid. Mcfly as well. And my Mum. She always told me to keep going.
More recently, all those wonderful YA authors out there who inspired me to properly write YA.

6. If you could choose any superpower what would you have?
I never know what my answer would be to these kinds of questions. I guess I'm about to find out... flying would be cool. Or being invisible.

7. If you had to be a villain, who would it be? Why?
I'm struggling right now to think of villains, apart from you-know-who, and I don't want to be him. Hmm.

8. What is your favorite animal?
cats!

9.What is your favorite food?
tomatoes.

10.Who is your favorite author?
Daphne du Maurier and JK Rowling (I really need to get some new answers...) Neil Gaiman. Terry pratchett. Dodie Smith. And John Green and Stephanie Perkins.

11. What is your biggest fear?
flying. lifts. shipwrecks.


And second, from Sarah F:

1. What is your weapon of choice?
Hmm. Not a fan of weapons, but swords are cool.

2. What is the name of the first story that you wrote voluntarily?
I can't actually remember the first, but I remember one about cats. No idea what it was called.

3. What genre(s) do you write?
YA. contemporary romance. Although a bit of fantasy kind of stuff is coming into what I'm writing atm. Children's, fantasy.

4. Besides reading and writing what are at least two of your favorite pastimes?
cooking/baking, drinking tea, playing guitar (I'm not very good), swimming, tennis, people watching, drinking coffee, going to concerts

5. What is the coolest/strangest thing you've ever done?
I really can't think of anything right now... I'll think on it.

6. What is the best piece of writing advice you've heard?
It's hard to pick the best, but right now, as I'm writing this what comes to mind is 'write for yourself'.

7. What are your five most used websites?
twitter, facebook, hotmail, blogger, tumblr

8. What is your favorite book/author/movie?
It's impossible to pick one. But book I'll go for Harry Potter (cheating I know as its a series). Author, Daphne du Maurier. Film, Notting Hill.

9. If you could be invisible for one day, what would you do?
Find out what people get up to when I'm not around. Weird I know, but I'm nosy.

10. What are your hopes for your writing future?
I hope to continue writing and always love it, because it is something that I have to do. I hope that other people will be able to read what I write and will like it. I hope one day to be published.

11. Is there anything else we should know about you?
As may be evident from these answers, I can't make decisions. I become very obsessed with things. Mcfly, Daphne du Maurier, JK Rowling and Darren Criss are often answers to any questions. I have dreams and ambitions, like anyone else here right, and I'm determined to succeed, no matter what anyone says/has said to me. I want to prove everyone wrong. (although of course I do do this for myself, because I love it. And what else can I do?). AND I LOVE TEA. and radio 2.


And here are my questions,
1.When did you start writing?
2. Who are your literary heroes? (/favourite authors)
3. What is your favourite fictional character?
4. What genre(s) do you write?
5. What is your favourite book, tv show and film?
6. What is your favourite place you've visited in the world?
7. What is your favourite music?
8. Have you ever written fanfic?/Opinions on it?
9. Where is your favourite place to write?
10. Tea or Coffee?
11. Have you ever taken part in NaNoWriMo?/ Opinions on it?

And the people I'm tagging (I'm gonna randomly tag people who have recently commented on my blog!):
1. The Golden Eagle
2. Stephanie Allen @ My Personal Fairytale
3. Chandra @ Chandra Writes
4. Sara Biren @ Crow River Writer
5. Charmaine Clancy @ Wagging Tales
6. Shelly @ Writing with Shelly and Chad
7. W Chaser
8. Jenna Cooper @ Finding the Write Way
9. Gina @ This is Not Your Blog
10. Cat
11. Elodie @ CommutingGirl

Awesome. I hope I did that right.... This has taken me all day, doing it when taking a break from writing presentations and essays, so I apologise if it's all a bit disjointed!And apologies for the questions, I found it difficult to come up with them!

p.s. I have no idea where that white box has come from. I hope I posted a link on everyone's page who I tagged, and I tried to make sure no one who had just done did it again! Apologies if I got it wrong though.

ALSO; I really want to make an effort to get to know some of you better. I will try at the weekend, I promise, you all seem so wonderful!

therapy?!

I know I've posted a lot tonight, but I don't think anything can beat singing along to Darren Criss and the AVPM soundtrack... Best kind of therapy, definitely. I'm so glad my housemates are out....

Stressed Out.

In many ways, it's been an utterly overwhelming week.

I have been stressed out, tired and way too busy, feeling like I have so much to do (I really do). I phoned my dad yesterday and when he asked if I was okay I burst into tears. Okay, so not great, and I'm still feeling a little overwhelmed, and utterly unproductive, despite setting aside today for what I thought would be a good productive working day (uni work that is) wasn't exactly so. I think I try to do too much at the same time, and then feel bad when I'm not working on the other thing, and it's all a bit stressful at the minute. I got some results back yesterday, which while they were good, and I should be pleased with them, I was at the same time disappointed becasue I had put so much work in and worked so hard, and still only done alright, when other people don't bother and do so much better than I do. Life's not fair is it?

Writing wise, I have done quite a bit of productive editing in the evenings (only an hour here and there, but it all helps) and am definitely on an up again. My mood yesterday and my decision to take a couple of hours utterly unwork related, mainly because I couldn't focus on anything and my dad told me to go buy coffee (any excuse) I did some free writing, just whatever came into my head, for the first time in ages. It was nice to write something other than my wip's, and good I think to do so. Rather interesting what I ended up with. Reminds me that I need time off from everything, even if I'm not very good at doing it - tonight's another example, although I'm hoping tomorrow will be more productive, with no excuses. *fingers crossed*

Feeling a little better now, and I'm hoping that the next few weeks will be okay. They should be, there's just so much to do - dissertation reading, dissertation extract to write, children's lit essay, children's lit presentation, lines to learn, weekly reading to do... but you know what, I don't want to complain (I'm aware that's what I'm doing) and I will stop now. I'm not going to do any more work tonight.. I don't think...

It's not the end of the world anyway, a few grades and essays? It doesn't matter, as my dad reminded me. It's just hard to remember that sometimes.

One last thing, before I end this moan; I was struck rather suddenly yesterday when I went out and had my coffee and sat observing everyone, as usual, and reading/writing. There was a little girl,and what must have been her carer behind me in the queue; the little girl had a hearing aid and a stick. She must have been about five or six, yet she seemed so happy and she was chattering away. It made me feel like, really, I don't have much to worry about. What are a few grades? It certainly made me think.

Anyway, off to do something productive...

Writer's Platform Building Campaign

So I'm planning on properly blogging later as always (I like blogging on a Friday night) but just a quick one now, having been inspired by Angeline to sign up for Rachael Harrie's 'Fourth Writer's Platform Building Campaign'... phew, what a mouthful! I think I got that right anyway.... It looks really interesting, and might just be what I need to meet lots of new people and get more involved with blogging and other writers..... Just more for me to do when I'm already stressed out! But it looks like it'll be fun, and hopefully I keep up with it (although I have a feeling I may not... but we'll see).

'I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.....'

Every year, for the last few years, around this time of year (normally more like March or April... it's a very Spring like novel. Maybe because it begins in March) I tend to either come across something stating how wonderful 'I Capture the Castle is' or I just feel an urge to reread it. It is a novel I remember reading when I was young, and then a few years later I was given a copy by my godmother, so I reread and loved it. The film version however, I remember very clearly watching and for some reason, as thirteen year old girls, my friends and I found it very funny (we were on holiday and inclined to be silly), and it meant I failed to take the story seriously for quite a few years - we can still quote those lines from the film that we found funny. Sad I know. I came back to the novel quite a few years later, and thinking about it, I can't remember whether I watched the film version before I was given a copy by my godmother, this has become confused in my mind, although the copy I have is one of those with a picture from the film on, so I suppose it was after, considering it was her well loved copy (that makes it even more special). Still, it's confused in my mind. Hmm. Anyway, when I came back to it, I think towards the end of school, I rediscovered an amazing novel, which I realised I adored, and still adore. I find myself wanting to reread it about once a year. Oddly, although I still have the copy I had when I was a child, I prefer reading the version my godmother gave me, and that is the one I have with me at the minute. It is such a wonderful book, I urge anyone who hasn't read it to get their hands on a copy and read it. The narrator is great, and it has such a perfect opening line, referenced in the title of this blog post. This has turned into a rather rambling post about why I love this book, sorry! Also, one thing that people often don't realise, is that the author, Dodie Smith, also wrote 101 Dalmatians... cool, huh?

This year the novel is on my primary reading list for this week, for my classics of children's literature module I'm taking. Also on the list this week is Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild (another novel I loved when I was growing up, and having reread it, it is wonderful) and Autumn Term by Antonia Forest, a school story I had never heard of nor encountered, probably because I grew up on a diet of Enid Blyton and Malory Towers and St Clare's, and these novels have been mainly out of print; but having read it is wonderful and I would have adored it if I had read it as a child. I still thought it was brilliant. I still love school stories. So, this weeks reading is particularly good and exciting and I love it. Also, I am doing a presentation on these texts on Friday, so I have just spent the afternoon researching. As I love these books this thought of this presentation doesn't seem as bad as normal, and it will be good to get it over with. Luckily it is with someone else, and hopefully it should go okay.

winter blues

I've been a bit stressed out this week, feeling like I have tonnes of stuff to do (which I do, but it's probably not all doom and gloom like my brain is telling me) and have been feeling under the weather, exhausted and to top it all a cold has started... just what I need. But there we go. I don't mean to whine (sorry) but that seems to be exactly what I'm doing.... AND IT'S SO COLD!! I hate being cold. That probably hasn't helped at all.

Anyway, despite all that I seem to have begun to got into a regular writing/editing routine, which I love; which means that in the last few days I have managed to get at least an hour in in the evenings (if not more... I've had a lot on) and been able to get on with some editing. So far I have managed to go through my NaNo novel once, writing some notes and beginning to make some critical changes. It's hard being harsh sometimes, and the depth/way in which I do it definitely alters with my mood, but I'm getting somewhere - I hope. Also, as is so often the way, in other moments I have come up with tonnes of ideas for different stories, and they seem so tempting and wonderful and pretty..., but I have been determined to do what I can to these other stories. There's no point just starting loads of things... and ideas have to grow and become something, and I find it's definitely best to let them rest for a while. Having 'finished' an inital edit/read through/note making session for that, I'm going to go back to my other story and hope that now I like it again. I think I will, I've been thinking about it again.

But not tonight. I'm so exhausted, I'm going to get an early night and read my book, curled up with my hot water bottle, and hopefully feel better for the weekend.

p.s. happy February everyone!