Rory's Story Cubes

Okay, everyone - I have a confession to make. I am obsessed with Rory's Story Cubes. I've only had them a few days, but I am addicted.

I've been aware of these for a long time, and always been tempted to get some. Then, I attended a workshop with the wonderful Liz Kessler back in May and she used them, and I was even more determined to get some because I thought they were awesome. Yet, I've only just actually purchased some, after seeing them once again in Waterstones, on a whim and a kind of well, I've finished all my studying now...

In case you don't know what they are, Story Cubes are a game designed to spark imagination and stories. There are nine dice in the original set, and each side of the dice contains a different image. The dice must be shaken and then a story constructed by connecting the images. There are no rules except for the story to begin with 'once upon a time...'. Of course, even this rule is flexible and the cubes can be used in all sorts of ways, not only to spark children's imaginations, but for writers and writing exercises.

I have found that using these really wakes up my brain and makes me think in a different way about things. I like being able to scribble down a little story about aliens, fairies and torches. There is hundreds of combinations of images and stories to create.

There is not only the original set, but expansions too - including actions and voyages, and smaller sets enchanted, pre-historic, and clues, all of which can be mixed in to any of the sets. I got enchanted with my original ones, thanks to a special deal. It's great to be able to mix the cubes up and get all sorts of quirky stories.

I can't recommend these highly enough - they're transportable, fun, can be used as a game with lots of people, by yourself, simply as a writing exercise, or to break a writer's block. They're great to get thoughts flowing and a way of just writing. 

You can buy these cubes on Amazon, in Waterstones and here, as well as lots of other places. Does anyone else use these?!

"I still got sand in my shoes...."

I don't know why I have that in my head - probably because I do, quite literally, still have sand in my shoes. It occured to me earlier that I haven't blogged in a while, and I apologise. What a few weeks it's been!

Anyway, going back to the sand. Last week, I went on a last minute trip down to Fowey (my favourite place in the world, if you hadn't gathered already), and it was amazing.


This post has been a little derailed (see previous post), but it still seems astonishing how quickly time is flying by. A week ago, I was in Fowey having a wonderful time. Sigh. I can't believe it really.

There was sand, sun, walking, coffee, books, writing, a range of interesting people, wonderful food and just being in my favourite place was so wonderful <3 I love Fowey.

As Daphne du Maurier wrote:

"All I want is to be at Fowey. This now is my life. This and no one else."

 That's from memory, so it might be wrong, but that's the general idea.

Oh I miss it. I feel so at home there.

I made lots of writing notes as well while I was there. Writing wise, I'm working on so many things I'm driving myself crazy. I don't want to complain, becasue I need writing and I rely on writing and it's my everything, but oh man, sometimes I shouldn't let my brain take over as much as it does!

Anyway, I'm still editing (again) Treading Water, writing my first draft of the strange spy story, also working on my dissertation idea (a children's story, eeep -which seems like it's going to be funny, ah!), and also my script for this current module - of which I only have ONE seminar left, EVER! Crazy. Like I say, where is time going? And then there's all the other ideas my head keeps throwing at me, and i keep trying to put off, but it's tough. Sigh. So lots and lots of writing going on - although the amount of different things does mean that sometimes I get NOTHING done because I'm wondering what on earth to work on!

Spring seems to have finally arrived as well, and that makes me very happy!

Reading YA and Editing

This past week (or is two now?! it's crazy!), as I've been fangirling and squealing over John Green and riding high on a cloud of love and happiness, I started to think about how I came to openly love reading YA novels and not be ashamed. Because there is this thing around them. That they're for teenagers and they're a lower sort of literature and not as good, and all this RUBBISH that is perpetuated. I know this has been blogged about countless times, but I just felt like I wanted to add to it.

And yes, there have been times when I've felt embarrassed to be out and about reading some because of their awful cheesy titles and I just want to scream it's really well written! Leave me be!

Somehow with John Green it's okay.

I've been rereading them all, and carrying them around, and as I sit reading, hoped many a time that someone would come over and say 'Hey I love John Green', or 'DFTBA'. 

But I don't care so much anymore about what people think when they see me reading any sort of YA. Because I know it's good. I love it, and why should I be embarrassed about what I know is good and what I enjoy reading?

So thank you John Green, for reminding me that YA is cool.

And there's my brief thoughts on that.

A quick writing update; I am editing again. I think I mentioned before that my wonderful CP, Laura gave me amazing feedback on my story and so I have been obsessively editing it. It has been great to be able to see it with a fresh perspective. I was so stuck in the thought that 'meh, it'll do', that I just couldn't be bothered. Now somehow I have a whole new energy for it, and have been excitedly editing. Yes, I am actually ENJOYING editing. I did one edit through, with Laura's suggestions and my own careful rereading of it all, and now I am going through it again, reading it out loud, which is SO painful but so worth it. It's mad how many silly things you pick up on once you start reading it out. I always put it off because of the sore throat that happens, but it's so worth it. So I'm working through it like that at the minute, obsessively making sure every sentence reads well. Phew. I needed to do this. I'm delighted (at the minute) with how things are going. Yay!

Writing weekly exercises for class too, which is challenging, because developing a new story and characters in a few days is difficult. This week I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and have written a 29 year old male character as the MC for the exercise. And I actually like it. What a crazy world!

In other news, things are busy at the minute, this term is always crazy, but this year there are added things (my own fault) but I like being busy. And it makes me more organised!

Family are down this weekend to celebrate my birthday early (as it's half term) so I better go get ready!

Frustrated

Guuuuuys.  I have to go out in about twenty minutes, I've been in all day, I'm not ready to go, and it's now I decide I NEED to do this. Of course. Typical.

Anyway. Had my first fiction seminar last Wednesday, which was good. It's certainly different from the poetry module and will be much more work, but I'm looking forward to it. I think it'll will be good. Except we've been set an exercise to do this week, and I seem to have frozen. I guess because I have to step out of my usual style a bit, and do something I'm not used to. Create a host of characters, that you dont' have to do in poetry in quite the same way. And it's frustrating me. I can't get this story right. It's just so irritating. I'm hoping to crack it tomorrow; but I guess part of the problem is I've got other things I want to work on! We have to email it round as well, and so I want to get it right I guess.

We have to keep a notebook too - which I've done before and I do that anyway, I was expecting that anyway, but I've started a new notebook with a bit to go in my other way to keep everything together and that upsets me. And I haven't really been writing anything in it yet. Mainly because I've been editing Love-All and doing other things, and I feel like they don't really fit. But that will all come together I'm sure. Excuse my babbling - only a short post, but I just wanted to get my frustrations off my chest. I better go get ready!

Edits are going well though - quite a lot to still do and lots of plot detail to be added and worked out, but I think it's going alright. Went through and worked out which chapters still need lots of work and it's quite reassuring to see it all laid out like that. Need to do some brainstorming though!

RIGHT. Better go!

Cinquains

Yesterday in our poetry class one of the things we looked at was a form called a cinquain, which is a short five line stanza with a syllable pattern that goes 2,4,6,8,2 - so really very short!

Our tutor went through what sort of thing each line should contain -
2 an image/thing
4 describes/qualifies
6 action
8 feeling
2 concludes/refers back

I have found that these are really great fun to write and have been obsessively counting syllables on my fingers. I even woke up this morning thinking 'that's a good idea' (I rarely do that for poetry...). Cinquains were originally invented by someone called Adelaide Crapsley (seriously, go check out cinquain.org for more info) and are really fun.

Here's the one I wrote in class yesterday, we had to start with a place and the person next to us had to give us a last line.

Outhouse
Impossibly cold
Forgotten and abandoned
Walls falling in and the door
Locked up.

Off to write some more cinquains now...

Writing, planning, typing....

I came across a blog which has inspired me to be drastic and change the beginning of the children's novel I have been editing recently. Or was over the summer. I have just finished typing up something that I wrote over the summer, which was great to get typed up - especially before NaNo begins.

It isn't as long as I anticipated, but I know there are so many places I can add to, and things that need to change. So I'm glad to know those things. I've got lots of things jotted down, and changes to make, but I'm going to let it rest and stew in my mind for a bit while I focus on other things. It's a good feeling just to get a draft typed onto the computer!

Anyway, back to the poetry for now - seem to have started a series of poems about the smokers I see in the car park we overlook, by mistake. Oh well. Also getting very arty and creative - pictures coming soon!

Create, Shine, Blossom

This is going to be a bit of a long winded post, but I'll try to say what I mean. Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about creativity and something that one of the glow girls talked about in a glow blog post, about creating something every day. Here is what she said: 

‘Create for the sake of getting your hands dirty, create cause it makes YOU smile.

Put a poem, or a drawing, or a story on a piece of paper... if only to fill in the empty blank space.

Create a [SOMETHING] everyday... No matter how big or small.’

(Jaime Lyn Beatty) I really like this. The idea of creating just BECAUSE. So many things that these girls say are wondeful and inspirational. I really need to save them all in the same place because I always lose those quotes I love. Anyway, I try to create every day. I try to write every day, because I need to and it just makes me feel so much better.

But I find myself experimenting with other ways of creating too. Like over the summer I told you all that I got into bracelet making - both friendship bracelets and beads and I LOVE doing that. I also like drawing, and baking, and recently I've started to get back into little sewing projects because I used to do that a lot when I was little, and also photography because I have a groovy amazing new camera. And I have learnt to knit! I have also, very very recently started something that I've wanted to play around with for ages and finally because of an amazing blog I found (Daisy Yellow) have started. And that is art journalling. The idea of creating a notebook/sketchbook full of just paint and sticking things on and words and all that sort of stuff has always fascinated me, but I have been too scared to 'do' art. Having read a few things, plucked up the courage to join art soc, and started helping with this kids art group I have finally got round to doing it. And so far it is so much fun. I think in a way it is freeing to know that NO ONE has to see this. I know it's the same with other stuff, but I don't know, sometimes you just have to do something for you, and it's nice to do something really new. Especially when it's raining so much and I daren't take my camera out :( And doing other stuff like that gives me new writing inspiration, and especially as I am doing a creative writing MA I think it is important.  It kind of extends the whole drawing thing too.

Do some of you find that? You have to experiment with other creative stuff, which influences/recharges your writing?

Anyway I'm really excited about this new 'venture' of sorts.

So I said this was going to be longwinded. The other thing I wanted to write about, connects up with all this creating and creativity and glow.  I think a while ago I wrote about Glow* and how awesome and inspirational it was? (Glow) and of course I started this post with them. Well anyway, a post on the site inspired a group of us to get together and create a forum space that allowed one another to create and support one another, and help one another grow in confidence with their work, and in sharing it. We chose to name this project shine, because creating should make you shine and blossom. The website is now live here, with a link there for the forum so do check it out, and as many of you are writers it may appeal. It is all still being tested and worked out, so this is still a work in progress! At the moment the community is built around those who have come from glow*, a very safe sharing community, but we would love to welcome more people who love to create ANYTHING!

Phew.

Thanks if you read that far.

Poetry Fun!

Had my first poetry seminar/workshop today and it was really awesome! Am part of a really nice, enthuastic and talented group and I enjoyed the poetry way more than I thought I would. It's an exciting challenge after all.

Now I have to imerse myself in poetry and poetic forms and stuff. It'll be good. It's something different, and it'll all help with the fiction. I like having something to work towards anyway. So glad I'm doing this, and I'm excited about the next few weeks!

Right, off to find some new poets to read and write some poetry!

Which reminds me, can anyone recommend any good contemporary poets I could try reading? Need to try and find some new ones! Thanks!

First Day

You know how anxious I was about the MA and stuff? Well we had a college day today, where we found stuff out, and got to meet the other people on the course. It almost felt like first day back to school! I met some really lovely, and saw some familar faces too, people on the general English course, and got to hang out with some cool people (including my wonderful friends who are doing this with me) and also to meet the few people on the Creative Writing MA. Which was awesome. Everyone was really nice and they were all awesome. The tutor, who I had come across, but he had never taught me, was awesome too and so encouraging. I'm so excited to start it now! And so glad I get to do it with awesome, friendly people.

It was weird because before today I hadn't really realised that I would be a postgraduate, a master's student, and it was weird when it hit. A postgraduate. Me! Ha! It seems crazy. I never thought I would be, and yet here I am.

It's hard to describe just how I feel about it, and how excited I am and enthuastic about this. I can't quite explain, I'm sorry! I hope you get what I mean from this babble.

Anyway, I'm even more excited about getting started. I don't even mind that I'm doing poetry now. Although I may start moaning in a few weeks... I'm so glad I'm doing this though. It seems so right.

And I got to finish off the day by doing some awesome arty screen printing with some cool kids.

A new term awaits.

I've now been back nearly a week and I don't really know where it has gone. Having done my exam and handed everything in (finally!) I turned to sorting everything out which I had abandoned over the last few weeks, whilst I did everything else. As soon as my exam was over however, I felt like there were tonnes of other things that I needed to be doing. Luckily handing everything in yesterday (my story and my essay) relived some of that tension, but I still feel like there's lots to be done, although I've done all my reading for next week, it's catching up on other reading which I didn't do for my dissertation over Christmas, and getting back into the swing of that again. I now feel like it's time for a nice Christmas break.. oh wait...

It feels strange to think that the new term is around the corner, it doesn't really feel like we've stopped, yet at the same time, seeing everyone again and everything, it all seems rather far away... It's also odd to think that when the next holiday comes round I will have done this term, and my dissertation will be getting near ready to hand in. I feel like there should be another break in the middle of all of that. This term is certainly going to be busy - what with my dissertation (looking forward to getting going again!), my children's literature module (which I am SO excited to do, really would like to get going now, but I think that's what's odd about the last few days, it feels so... uncertain and like we're waiting for something. Anyway), the infamous MethAng Musical (again, EXCITED) and my birthday, and all the other stuff that generally happens in a term. Oh, and the usual family crisis just round the corner...

Having finished this short story I had to hand in this week, today I finally turned back to some of the longer pieces I have been working on which I neglected. Of course this short story wasn't the only reason I neglected these projects - I was beginning to work on other things and I wanted to get some time and space from them, so that when I went back it was with fresh eyes and I wasn't so attached, which I think definitely helps. One project, which I wrote a very rough first draft for last summer, is one which I'm looking at again and trying to be a lot more brutal and vicious with. I love the story so much, but it needs so much work and I'm determined to do that. However, it's always a bit of a surprise to be reading through and get to a chapter that just reads: 'chapter (number): to write'. Oh so encouraging... It's the same with something else I did a lot of work on over the summer. It still needs lots of work. I also opened up my NaNo novel from this year. I was uncertain what I was going to do with this. I actually quite liked what I wrote this year and it came easy-ish, unlike some years, so there's hope. I wanted to leave it for a while thought, and I reckon a month and a bit is an alright time. I've been so caught up with other stuff I've forgotten it really, and I suppose it won't hurt to just have a look at it - even if I put it away again for a few months!! I'm looking forward to getting back on track with all of them. Though of course that doesn't eliminate the itch to just write something... anything...

One last thing I want to mention, because it's been on my mind, before I end this rather long and rambling post, is a book I read last night. Or rather I want to RAVE about it. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. This book came out on Tuesday, with an impressive amount of online hype which I got sucked up into, despite only having read one of his novels before (Paper Towns and I really enjoyed it. Been wanting to read others for months!). I didn't order it however and when I was finally released back into the world on Thursday (seriously, I've been so trapped inside the last few weeks, partly because Christmas makes everyone hibernate away anyway, but also because of all this work. I'm not complaining, but I did start to get restless being back here and trapped inside. It's different at home, in the middle of nowhere) I made a trip to Waterstones and got myself a copy. It was lovely; they had a whole little table display with them on. Anyway, I'd read a bit of the first chapter on an online preview but that still didn't prepare me for it. I don't want to spoil it, but this book was beautiful and heart wrenching and oh so wonderful. I adore it. It made me cry. It made me laugh. It made me stay up late last night just to finish it. I couldn't put it down. It is such a wonderful book; I really couldn't recommend it enough. Such a powerful book. And on that note, over and out.

Back in Exeter

I mean to post last week something, but somehow the week escaped me, and here I am now, back in Exeter, having survived the train journey back, and somehow made it! It feels very strange to be back, but am beginning to adjust again. It's always strange to go from one place to another.

Last week was crazy busy, with lots of revision, essay writing, and story writing. I got quite a lot done which I was glad about. Quite productive really.

Trying to edit my story and get it just how I want it before I hand it in, which is always challenging, but hopefully once this exam is over I can really concentrate on it all.

Anway just a quick hello, nothing much to say!

Violets

Well I've spent the last half hour or so looking up what violets are meant to smell like and how they work in cakes because I'm writing a baking scene with violet - sort of - cakes. Other than that this short story is going well. I sent it to a friend, also doing the same assignment, and she sent back some wonderful feedback which is very useful. It's so easy to think 'oh that's fine, I'm sure it works'. It takes someone else to really point out those little things to let you know what doesn't work, or what does work. Of course there is constant editing and changing of the little things like the odd word, but sometimes you just need someone else to point it out to you. So I am very grateful for that, and all on fire again which is good.

Revision not so; but I suppose it is New Year's Day!

Christmas Eve (Eve)

Well it's Christmas Eve tomorrow, and I don't think I've blogged since I got back. The last few days have been a whirlwind of activity - dentist appointments, preparations for Christmas, and seeing friends again. It's been great to see everyone again and catch up, and though it's weird to be home, it's been so busy getting everything ready for Christmas. I have been busy tidying and making mince pies (over 150!!!) and sorting everything out, and it's looking good now. I think we have everything just about ready.

Although, unfortuantely, it means that my work and writing has been abandoned. I haven't even been getting online much!! This afternoon I have the house to myself so I am sitting at the kitchen table and am going to attack it (after I've procrasinated a bit, checking twitter, tumblr, blogs... and you know... they'll probably come back any minute now...). Here we go....

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Well, I don't know if it is really, but I only have one more seminar left this term (which is tomorrow) and then I have to pack and everything, and it all feels rather sad. I know it's geeky, but I'm really sad about my seminars ending this term. I have enjoyed them, especially creative writing, and it's sad to be at the end now. It sort of feels like Christmas, and sort of doesn't. We are having a 'house' christmas tonight, which should be good fun, and I have lots of Christmas cards, and have said lots of goodbyes, and been to carol services and all of that. I have wrapped presents, and just about done my Christmas shopping, nearly, and made mince pies and been Christmassy, and watched the Glee Christmas special (which was wonderfull awesome with lots of Blaine and Kurt), watched Christmas films, listened to Christmas music... maybe it will feel more like Christmas when I get home. Although I have so much to do when I get there... I just can't believe how close it is to Christmas!

This term has absoutely disappeared by. But it has been good, as I've already said, so I won't go into that again.

In other news, I have been working on a short story, and started another one, some of which will hopefully become my creative writing portfolio. I hope so anyway. I got my proposal back today too, which made me happy, because it went well! All good things...

reflecting.

Doing this more regularly makes me think abouthow much time I waste doing silly things, like messing around on twitter/tumblr/blogs etc, and how much time it is possible to spend youtubing Darren Criss and Starkid.

There are times when I'm so busy, with so much work to do that I think 'if only I had time to do some writing' and then when I have the time, I sit and mess around, or keep thinking 'I will do some soon... I will...' and then I get distracted by food or the internet or people or coffee or books or Darren Criss... and the list goes on... So many distractions! But that is my fault really I suppose... That's why i enjoy doing NaNoWriMo, because I feel compelled to write something every day and reach my target. And while at the minute, I feel there is writing I should do for creative writing, the deadline still feels a way off yet... Yet I've got to write a 4,000 word short story/words of short story, and edit it, and all that malarky, that I really need to start. I've been playing around with ideas. I've started revising for my other module. I've started thinking about rereading the texts I next to read for my disssertation over Christmas. I know what I have to do. It's getting down to doing it. I don't really know where this is going. Today I haven't done much work. I had a lecture, then a trip (one we had to go on for our creative writing fieldtrip... I'm not complaining, a trip to the beach is always welcome) and I'm aware that it is the end of term, and it's good to spend time with everyone, because the week is already going so quickly and I'll regret it otherwise, but I haven't stopped yet, and its nearly Christmas! I keep swinging from one mood to another, and well, this blog post is all one big excuse to procrasinate. I think I'm just trying to organise myself...

It's been a good term though. Of course it's had its ups and downs, and hasn't always been so cheery, but I have enjoyed my course and have spent some wonderful times with my friends. I've loved doing Creative Writing, more than I hoped, and love our class, and I also love my class for my other module, although I haven't always enjoyed that so much. I have loved getting on with dissertation ideas, and getting all that together, and talking to other people who are excited and enthuastic too, and I can't wait to write it. I have loved this place, as much as I ever do, and I have loved my friends, and everything I've done with them - all the lunches, and coffees and suppers, and times in the pub. It's been a good term really. Although, of course, it's still not over, and there's still much to be done... although, no more deadlines for this term, just a lot to get started with... And of course, the end of term means Christmas and going home, and I have mixed feeligns about all of that, as anyone who knows me would know. It's all crept up on me very quickly...

And now, I'm going to go and do some writing.

Whilst rewatching some Monarch of the Glen. *

*we were watching 'Balmoral' and it made me nostalgic... and it's nearly the end of term.... **

** I've also been doing loads of reading, but more of that later...

Outlining.

So I did what I usually do: started writing, and then realised that actually I need to write a better outline than just 'chapter one' 'chapter two'. So, having got some words down, and a start, which I like, and also a voice which I like, I sat down to write a better outline and really plan this, so I had some idea of how to get everything in and make it go how I want it to go. Harder than it sounds.

Although, I did do this with Love Actually on in the background, so no wonder I was easily distracted. But I needed some Christmas cheer. Anyway, having seemed to have wasted the whole day* - I suppose I've done THINKING, and thinking is good, and an important part in writing I have realised, I dont' always have to be writing, but sometimes I just want to be. And at the minute I want to come up with some short stories for my CW portfolio. PLEASE INSPIRATION GODS.

So, as I say, usually I start writing and then realise I haven't thought enough/planned enough - apart from NaNo of course where I have to wait, and it's probably quite a good thing, having a deadline like that, although I find it hard to set one for myself, because I always think, well no, why don't I just start now? THIS IS WHY. I am learning. Anyway. It gets me the voice and the way I want it to sound. And it definitely helps to start. Otherwise I am a little stuck, vaguely knowing what I want the story to be and not sure how to tell it. But now I know. More anyway. Sort of. I think I'm going to type it up now and then stop staring at my computer screen....


*Although I have been doing general LIVING, which is always good.... I had breakfast with a friend, did some Christmas shopping, some reading, some messing about online, had a friend over for tea, more reading, looked through a file of academic work.... but it still doesn't feel very productive. At that loose stage of having handed in everything for this term, and its the last week and a bit, and I know I have work to start doing and I constantly feel like there is something I should be doing, but I don't know it, because I'm not entirely sure what IT is. I'll be freaking out in a few weeks, about the amount I have to do, I know I will. I also think, ahh I have the whole afternoon/evening to write. But I don't get as much done as I hoped. **

**That was rather long and irelevant. Sorry.

Happy December!

So it is now December. I can't believe it really, and with that only a couple of weeks until the end of term - this time in two weeks I will be heading home. Strange.
It has been a busy few days, with Christmas parties, Arthur Christmas, Christingles, Carol Services.. all very festive, and as such I have no done much writing. I have thought about writing. I have been reading loads however. I went to the town library and got very excited in the teenage section and came away with: The Scorpio Races (Maggie Stiefvater), If I stay (Gayle Forman), Lament (also Maggie), Paranormalcy (Kierstein White) and Paper Towns (John Green) - many of which were books that I'd been interested in for a while and never expected the library to have. So a successful trip. I managed to race through them, and went back again yesterday and came away with: Ballad, the sequel to Lament, Shiver, and three Terry Prachett's. How very exciting. I love libraries, especially when you find lots of things you want to read. And clearly I am really getting into YA. Well, so far, I adore it. And why not? It's great fun and it counts as 'research' (ha... yeah). My housemates keep picking up whatever I'm reading and are like 'Faeries?' 'Vampires?' 'Werewolves?' Really? It seems I have swayed over to the paranormal stuff, just for a bit... I love both contemporary and paranormal and other stuff. It's just great writing.
Writing wise, I have been doing a lot of thinking about my next idea, and am very excited to start. I may just start and see what happens, becuase there's only so much initial thinking you can do, and I'm beginning to get restless, it being so long (well it seems it) since NaNo finished. But I am fully concious I need to come up with some good short story ideas soon, for my module and to be handed in in January. Although there's a holiday inbetween, my exam and deadlines aren't actually all that far away, which is oh so very exciting.
I also have a lot of editing to do.
But it's all fun.
Although, what with all the reading I've been doing and everything else, I am beginning to get that feeling that I NEED to write something...

Finished!

So I have completed NaNoWriMo for the year. YAY! I had 5,000 left this morning and decided to just go for it and finish it, which left me with an aching hand and also a feeling of guilt at the work I should have been doing, but I did feel good to finish it. I have to say I think I've finished earlier than usual, which is impressive, and although I did rush the last 5,000 and am definitely not as happy with them as I am with the rest of what I wrote I suppose that's a part of NaNo and it was going to happen. It definitely needs a lot of work, but I did it. I thought also that I would have enough story to take me way beyond the 50,000 mark, it turned out I didn't and struggled to get there in the last few hundred words - maybe that was psychological, I don't know, but it was rather annoying. It was probably becuase I was rushing to finish and although I kenw what I wanted to happen, didn't think about it enough. But why am I complaining? I have managed to write 50,000 words in 21 days, which is pretty impressive and I enjoy being able ot do that.
I have definitely improved so much since my first NaNo which was a pile of nonsense, and I actually (sort of) had enough story to get me to the end without throwing in a ridiculous plot.
Oddly, I didn't feel quite as happy and relieved as I should have done to finish. Maybe becuase I rushed it to get to the end, that feeling didn't come.
Oh well.
I still like my idea. I'm not sick of it. Good? Bad?
But at the same time I'm looking forward to getting back to editing my other project, and starting to plan my next one whilst giving this one a rest before I look at it again.
Also, the story changed completely from what I expected it to be, but that was quite exciitng, and the way I like it to be - where I vaguely know what I want to happen, but there's so much space for other stuff to happen that its exciting and not a stressful thing when you realise that will work better.
I have been enjoying Maureen Johnson's NaNo advice each day on her tumblr, it is very useful and I want to copy it and keep it all as inspiration. Really, go read it. So helpful.
In other news, I handed in a story today for CW that I really wasn't that happy with, but it had to do. My essay is nearly finished too. Yay!
My wrist is killing now, need to get off the computer, and go have supper.

Ideas and Dreams

I have a dream the other night which was so bizarre, but I kept remembering it and yesterday I suddenly thought of an AWESOME idea for a story which will be really interesting and exciting to write, and I'm already really excited about it.

Unfortuantely, it doesn't fit into my 500 word proposal I have to write, nor the story on the royal family I have to write (this is surprisingly hard - I always used to write about real people (fanfic) but writing it for something that has to be handed in is difficult). It doesn't fit into my NaNo story, nor my essay on Shakespeare (what a surprise there). Nor do I want to write it as a short story for my course.

So I'm just going to make lots of notes and keep thinking about it, and have something to look forward to writing when November is over....

Eleven days into November and I have already hit 30,000 words. I don't know where this burst of energy has come from, but I'm not complaining. I'm really not. It obviously means I like the story and I'm into it and it works. I suppose I have had more practice at writing this many words and it doesn't seem so much of a challenge anymore.
But it's still great to have a deadline and something to work towards doing.
All in all, it seems to be going well. So happy to be writing something huge again. Although lack of short story ideas for short fiction module is a little bit worrying...