Living in a box

I submitted my final assignment for Advanced Creative Writing with just 10 minutes to spare.  It’s amazing to think how much I have learnt from this module.  At last the importance of redrafting and editing has become clear to me and I can’t wait to get back to working on my novel.

First I have to catch up with, AA100 – Arts Past and Present and move house.  We have began to pack things like the Christmas decorations but my attempts at packing the kids toys has been unsuccessful.  So far I have lost my mobile, my daughters mobile, an iPod touch,  my bank card, my favourite earrings and my mind.

4,000 words

That is all I need to finish the last A363 assignment.  I only have 3 days to do it.  I have the story, I just need to stop changing my mind.

Good luck to all my other A363′ers.  Almost there! x

 

If it’s Spring, why is it so cold?

So much has happened in the last month. 

Family Life

My father has been poorly and subsequently decided to retire.  A difficult, yet correct, decision.  His doctor & I had the same thought – ‘you have done enough.’  Most of my time is spread between my house and his.  I make excuses to pop in to remind him he is not alone.  My brother and sister check on him too so between us he is kept busy.

We are moving!  I have mixed feelings about it, and not just because we can’t take our kitties.  Jemima and Midnight, the kittens, have found a marvellous home with three children that adore them.  Harry Half-Tail is still with us for now.  It terrifies me to think he may have to go into a sanctuary. 

Our current house has been part of my soul-searching and I never thought I could get this attached.  Sadly, we need another bedroom and bathroom.  Our new home is on top of a hill with a fantastic view.  I hope I will find another piece of me there so I can continue to grow. 

The Open University

The final assignment for A363 is due in just under two weeks.  Another 60 points towards my degree and only three more years to go.

I have promised myself a book from my Amazon wish list when this one has been submitted.  What do you do to get yourself motivated?

Happy Easter

Easter has been the usual chocolate-filled mayhem of egg hunts and rain storms.  The house has been wrecked and I can’t find everything needed for school.  I’m looking forward to Monday morning with a quiet cup of tea and an empty house.  As much as I love my children, I am relieved when the holidays are over.

What I have read this week.

I love dystopian novels and have been a fan of science-fiction forever.  Therefore, reading ‘The Hunger Games’ was inevitable.  I actually found myself enjoying it and whizzed through in a few days.   The ‘Games’ themselves were exciting and it was easy to read.   

Next I plan to read ‘Catching Fire.’  Hopefully, this will be just as entertaining.  I want Katniss to change her world and to sort out her feelings for Gale and Peeta. 

What I have been doing this week.

I  bombed on my sixth assignment for A363.  It was my own fault as I submitted an assignment that was over 200 words short.  Overall, it won’t affect my final degree classification but have to set aside more time to study.

 My first assignment for AA100 did fairly well.  The marks are consistent with those achieved on my creative writing assignments, which has reassured me that I have learnt something.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I was planning to write  a review of this book, but I can never do it justice.

The reason I had never read it, was because I assumed it was a dull book about a courtroom trial (yawn).

It is not.  It is a story about innocence and faith in human nature.  The protagonist, Scout, has to deal with prejudice and rumour along with a hormonal brother and a weird neighbour. 

It also explains the origins of the band ‘The Boo Radleys’.

Next, I am reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. 

Will it be as good as it is reputed to be? 

Is it better (in my opinion) than my current dystopian favourite, Divergent by Veronica Roth? 

Is dystopia the new vampire? 

It’s far too late to answer this now.  I really should go to bed.

Marlowe Monday

It’s surprisingly tricky to juggle two courses with family life.  When I signed up, I failed to consider illness.  My two youngest have a temperature, sore throat and are generally grumpy.  The older two are just using it as an excuse to demand being waited on.  The worst part is that Monday is the only whole day I get to myself.

My new course continues to fascinate me.  The more I learn about Christopher Marlowe, the more I like him.   He embraced a life of crime and indulgence, often in trouble with the law - if we believe the accounts provided.  He was also an atheist, which is something I am tentatively investigating too.

On my writing course, I am in the final stages.  Only three more assignments to go which will be  a relief.  I can’t wait to leave behind the restrictions of the OU, but I am grateful for what I have learnt.  I will carry on with the degree but look forward to being able to write in my own style again.

In the last month I have not only learnt about writing for film, radio and stage, I have discovered Cleopatra and read Dr Faustus.  My brain is feeling like a bloated sponge.  

My next assignment for A363 is due in tomorrow (or is that now today) and I should be working on that – but I’m here instead, procrastinating.  I have 3 tutorials next week and 2 assignments due in March. 

The biggest hurdle is not my capacity to understand the material, it is finding the time to do it.  Family life is chaotic and disorganised as ever.  As all four children are home this week I get little peace in the day to read and write so I do most of it after 9pm.

I have lots of ideas for my assignment on Cleopatra.  My writers journal is littered with notes on both courses - they are mingling and influencing each other.  I love it. 

 By the way, I have finally got round to adding a photo on my ‘About Minty’ page.  I am still a bit useless at this blog malarky, but I would like to personalise the whole thing one day.  That is, if I ever get the time.