Another magical trip to the Harry Potter studios!

This week I returned once again to London, but this time for CHRISTMAS AT HOGWARTS! Christmas at Hogwarts is the current special feature that the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter are running, which showcases - well, you guessed it, Christmas at Hogwarts!

Warning: this will contain spoilers for the tour and the Christmas special, so don't read on if you don't want to know! 

Looking back at 2013

Wow. What a year. I realised the other day I hadn't posted in nearly a month, and although I meant to write a Christmas post, it seems to have passed me by and so instead I'll write a looking back post. When I first started to look back on the year, I thought, in many ways, well that sucked. But then, after reading the lovely Laura's post, and really thinking about this year, I began to think, well actually, a hell of a lot happened and SO much of it was good. I've had a wonderful year really.

In the more immediate past though, Christmas was certainly different this year. We woke up on Christmas Eve morning to find we had no power, and remained this way until Boxing Day evening. Luckily we have the wonderful AGA and we had a small generator so we weren't completely in the dark, but it certainly created tensions. I've never been more grateful for power.

But now heading back to the beginning of this year, there have been many wonderful things:

In Februrary, I met John and Hank Green, and my lovely wonderful CP Laura in London (FINALLY!!).

In March, I met JK Rowling (!) and joined SCBWI, which has been an awesome experience. There was another wonderful trip to Fowey too.

May, I saw Mcfly, ventured down to Fowey by myself for a camping trip and visit to the Fowey Festival, and tried Windsurfing. I also met Emilya Hall and other lovely authors at the festival. I also started Treading Water.

June, I saw Neil Gaiman talk about his new book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

July, Murray won Wimbledon, and I found out that one of my short stories, Tide, was going to be published in an ebook by Mardibooks and IdeasTap. It was also a wonderfully hot, perfect summer. Did a windsurfing course.

September, I spent a week in Fowey, which was perfect. I also went to Mcfly's 10th Anniversary Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

October, I joined the MuggleNet team as a News Intern.

December, I was promoted to a full staff member and News Writer (!), which has been one of the best and most awesome experiences I've ever had. I love it and am so grateful to be there! I also had a lovely day trip to Fowey.

I have also been very lucky to read lots of wonderful drafts by my amazing writer friends, and I've managed to write plenty of drafts and words myself.

I'm sure I've missed something out, but it's been an amazing year!

I never really like New Year - it always makes me nostalgic and strange, but this year I think I have plenty of good things to look back on! Bring on 2014.

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

I'm sure I've used that title before, but somehow it seemed right again today. I can't believe it's nearly the end of NOVEMBER! I haven't posted since the beginning of the month, I'm sorry - it seems to have FLOWN by, so quickly. In fact, I can't believe that it's only two weeks until the end of term now, and under a month until Christmas itself. Where have the weeks gone?

It's noticeably winter now though, here in the UK. It's cold, and all the layers have come out. The cold just makes me miserable and grumpy, like a bear trying to hibernate, and I already miss the summer like crazy. The summer and Fowey. Of course there are high points of winter (grimaced as I typed that) - I mean sure, I love Christmas and when things are all magical and Christmassy, and I love Christmassy things, but it's the cold I hate. I miss wearing shorts and flipflops and tshirts. And suncream. I miss suncream. That's kind of weird I know.

But I suppose got to look positively at everything, and right now I'm beginning to look forward to Christmas. It's always a slightly stressful time, but ultimately enjoyable. Just a lot to do beforehand! Things have got kind of crazy recently, with lots of academic work to do, as well as other things. I've been busy working, writing, volunteering, and windsurfing among other things. Yes, still windsurfing even in this weather - I think the fact that I'm able to get out and do that (in my winter wetsuit, gloves and shoes) is helping me get through the horribleness of winter. It's nice having something outside to do regularly. I'm still swimming too, and that's helping to stop me be so miserable.

Otherwise, I've been busy writing, and trying to keep on top of several different projects. As I told you before, I haven't done NaNo this month (and it's felt very freeing. I haven't missed it at all. Not one minute. That's kind of telling I guess!), but I've been busy writing. I finished that draft I was half way through when NaNo started, and I've put it aside for now so I can come back to it with fresh eyes. It's a mess, but I think there's a story in there somewhere and I'm looking forward to editing it and teasing it out. Fingers crossed it will work, because it's a story that could be very important to me. Treading Water is still being edited, although it's taken a back seat. I'm hoping to start querying it sometime next year. I started something new too, because the story crept up on me and grabbed me, and made me want to start writing it, so I'm ten chapters into that and loving it. It's more NA I think than YA because the characters are older, but I'm just going with it and seeing where it takes me. For my course at the moment I've got to write a film treatment, so I'm also engrossed in that, trying to keep all the elements of the different stories separate - phew! Confusing at times. Luckily the stories are quite different enough. I'm also lucky enough to have been picked to be a MuggleNet Intern, writing news stories, so I've been busy with that too, and it's been tremendous fun. As I mentioned before, I've been taking part in PiBoIdMo too, so I've been scribbling down lots of ideas and it's been very productive, just for coming up with ideas. So that's me all caught up, sort of, for now!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends - I'm going to a Thanksgiving dinner tonight and I'm VERY excited about it! I was asked to make Cornbread for it, something I've never made or tasted before, so I hope I've made it right. Fingers crossed!

Books I'm looking forward to in 2013

2013 (nearly). Wow. Already?! How did that happen? How did it get to the end of December?!

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. I meant to sit down and write my essay now, but instead I'm doing this. Whoops. Anyway.

I got a HUGE stack of books for christmas, which was awesome - loads that I'd asked for and the entire shortlist of the Man Booker prize, which was pretty cool! Already working my way through my books, of course... just finished Days of Blood and Starlight by Lani Taylor, which was awesome. Christmas I always find is a great time for doing lots of reading!  

There are plenty of books I'm looking forward to in 2013!

Here are some:

1. The next Gallagher Girls and Heist Society novels by Ally Carter
2. The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson
3. Legacy by C J Daughterly
4. Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher
5. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
6. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins (hopefully!)
7. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
8. Requiem by Lauren Oliver
9. The Summer I became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller
10. Rules of Summer by Joanna Philba
11. Riptide by Lindsey Scheibe

And no doubt many many many more....

Home For Christmas!

Home again for Christmas - and I can't believe how quickly the last few days have already gone. So much to do before Christmas, although I think we're getting there, the tree is all decorated, things are more sorted out and organised. I can't believe Christmas is on Tuesday! TUESDAY!

Oh man.

So soon.

I'm excited to see all my friends who are just getting back, although the novelty of being home is definitely wearing off. Oh, family politics. So frustrating.

Trying to settle down to write my essay and get on with some work and some poetry, but it's hard. Trying to make lots of time to do edits too, but that's hard around this time of year with so much other stuff to do!

Very exciting news though - yesterday they announced John Green's UK book tour... and guess who's going?! I am UNBELIEVABLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS!! And Hank Green will be there too... I never thought I would be able to see these two, EVER! It was all rather sudden really, so I guess it hasn't really sunk in yet. But oh man, I cannot WAIT!!

Eeek!

End of Term

I can't believe it's the end of term and Christmas is rolling around again!

In fact it's under two weeks until Christmas day (seriously? That seems crazy!) and today is 12/12/12. Yes. Such fun. (I cannot wait for Miranda to start again).

Things have got busy here, they always are at the end of term, yet at the same time, it feels like things are slowing down, if you know what I mean? It's always weird,s aying goodbye to people, saying see you in the New Year, when you've seen them every week for months. And Christmas is a strange time. I'm excited, but not really any more.

I've moved into a stage again where I'm mainly editing. Editing poems, editing my story... and I miss just writing. I know editing is just a stage, a form of, and some people love it, and I don't mind it, I'm growing to love it, but sometimes you just want to write something. Just because. You know?

So you know in my last post I said I was feeling Christmassy and excited for Christmas? HA! I've had a funny couple of weeks, with some strange news and my brain seems to have shut down and won't let me write anything. I've had this happen before, and it scares me, that that period might last longer than last time, or I don't know. I've barely written any poetry since, I've struggled in our classes -which we've now had our last one of, which is very sad :( Bleurgh. I'm sure it'll come back. It's just this season I guess. And it's so COLD.

Anyway, we're having a House Christmas today which should be lovely, so I should go do something useful....

December Time!

Christmas is coming!

I can't believe it's December already -where has this year gone? Seriously, it has rushed by so quickly - so much has happened, and so much has changed.

I'm feeling particularly Christmassy this year. I normally resist it - or I have for the last few years, but this year I'm very much into the festive spirit, actually (on the whole anyway) looking forward to Christmas, and listening to lots of Christmas music (there's a whole radio station dedicated to Christmas music I was informed and this is amazing!), writing Christmas cards and things (which this year I've made... very exciting!). I even made mince pies on Sunday with a friend! It's hard to believe that there are only two weeks left of term - in just over two weeks I will be at home. There's lots coming up and it's going to be fun to be so busy with Carol services, and Christmas meals and all sorts of fun Christmassy stuff. I can't help but feel like I'm not as busy as I might have been last year (believe me I'll probably take back those words next week) but this weekend has been very quiet, with both my housemates away or working.

I can't believe how quickly this term has gone. It still feels like we're going to settle into it sometime, only thing is that it's nearly over! which is just insane really. 

Walking to work this morning I suddenly fancied a nice warming casserole tonight like my Mum used to make (it's got so cold here in the last couple of days. Now it's stopped flooding you know). So I made that this evening and it was delicious. Now having a nice evening doing some editing, and tyring to make myself do productive stuff, or work out what i need to do. I'm putting together my end of term poetry  portfolio for my module this term, which is exciting and good fun, I just have to work out the critical essay bit! I started editing the story I wrote in the summer too today, and I'm glad to get into that. I am alternating between editing the two stories, and sad as I do feel to not have my NaNo novel open every day, it is actually quite nice to be doing something else! And it gives my hands a little bit of a break.

Post NaNo: Other Projects and Editing

Post NaNo now, and glad but also sad to be away from that story. I mean it's weird not to have it open all the time anymore and I do feel like I suddenly have tonnes more time on my hands. Which means I'm back to the story I was working on before and have been editing for ages now, on and off. Even started redrafting query letters today, something I started a few months ago, before NaNo etc happened. That's kind of terrifying in itself. Feeling my way through that one.

Looking over the story (my children's story, and the one I'm back to focusing the most on now that NaNo is over) again, and at that point where I think if I read these chapters and these words again, I might... well, I'm at that point where I can't see anything wrong with it anymore, although I know there is much that is still wrong.Argh. So frustrating. Guess I need to try and find someone to have a look for me sometime!

The familiar panic is rising though - what do I work on? I want to work on this, but I can't spend all my time doing it, and then there's the other project I typed up before NaNo and am eager to get editing - although I'm making myself wait until at least December. I dont' want to burn out. Too much. And so I keep skipping around, looking at one thing and then another, unable to settle. Typical!

In other news, Christmas is coming! I made mince pies with a friend on Sunday which was very exciting, and today we settled down to Love Actually and The Holiday, which made us even more festive.

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.

last post of 2011.

The last week has absoutely flown by, and I can't believe that now it's the last day of 2011. I always get rather miserable and nostalgic about the New Year and I do hate it, especially the seemingly required expectation to have fun. Which I never do... Anyway. Christmas has absoutely whizzed by, and has been full of ups and downs, but it's over now, as is this year. It's gone by so quickly, as have the last few months have gone. It all feels just like yesterday. Trying to think back on the last year and what I've done and what has happened. I don't want to get all reflective and nostalgic here, but I thought I would post and well, I don't really know what I wanted to say. I suppose it's that want to post something to acknowledge Christmas and the New Year.

The last week as always has whizzed by - it's that strange week in between Christmas and New Year where you eat a lot, hide inside, and in my case start reading all the hundreds of wondeful books I got for Christmas (which also meant I neglected twitter etc, not necessarily a bad thing, it was nice to have a break really). I also was able to enjoy the Doctor Who and Downton Abbey Christmas specials, which I thought were absoutely brilliant and marvellous. Good old Christmas TV. I saw friends which was lovely as wonderful and drank tonnes of tea (also usual). I started work again though a couple of days ago (after a sudden panic that I had an exam in two weeks) and wrote the first draft of the story I need to hand in which made me happy and feel like I have begun to achieved something. I think I can be quite harsh on myself... I can't say that I'm feeling all that refreshed but I have read some books I've been looking forward to reading for a while which made me very happy and excited. I also received a kindle for Christmas, and I am very excited to start using that properly (although there is no way I'm abandoning real books, but it's nice to have both options, and it means less books to carry around all the time... well, maybe....). I'm hoping next year will bring plenty more wonderful books to read and lots and lots of writing, among other things. I also hope to keep this blog going, and I wanted to say a hello to any new readers... I hope you stick with me, as I hope I stick with this!

I feel like there are lots of things I want to and should say but I can't quite at this moment put them into words so before I start babbling on anymore, I think I should say a belated Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. I hope the next year is wonderful for everyone. Goodbye 2011; hello 2012.

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....

the end of term.

So seminars are all finished, most of my housemates have gone, and I am sort of packed, the house is sort of tidied... it's the end of term.

The last couple of days have been busy with last seminars and watching films and doing Christmassy things and saying goodbye to people, which is always sad. It still doesn't feel like the end of term though. It all feels very strange, and I can't believe Christmas is in just over a week! Crazy. Am currently waiting for my family to arrive, and catching up with some strictly Harry excitment for the final tonight(which I will miss :( ) Have done a little bit of writing the last couple of days, which is good.

Just a short post this, but I also want to say a hello to everyone reading and following... thank you! Means a lot. Keep reading (I hope it's all interesting enough for you!) And do feel free to leave comments! :)

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...

How quickly time goes...

I had some vague ideas for short stories a couple of days ago, which made me very happy - and I actually managed to write a 1,000 word short story yesterday which made me VERY happy indeed. *happy dance*. Oddly, revision seems to spark ideas, but I'm not complaining.

Feeling at the same time absoutely organised, but also swamped under and stressed out. What a wonderful feeling... But I have been seeing lots of wonderful friends and have been sociable, enjoying the last couple of weeks of term. I can't believe there's only one week left of this term! In a week I will be on my way home. Wow. Scary. But until then I've got annoying mundane things to do, and those sort of things which I should really sort out, but I don't really want to.

Still loving the title I came up with the other day, although I haven't worked any more on it, which is probably a good thing, to let it all rest the other day.

Anyway, better run now.

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...