The fiction of relationship - Assignment One.

I started working on 'The fiction of Relationship' - the course run via Coursera, and have to confess to finding it more in-depth than I imagined it would be. We're on week one at the moment, which is pretty an introduction to the subject (make it sound easy, don't I?), and I had to watch six introductory videos totaling around an hour in duration.

That might not sound all that taxing, but I don't like watching videos. Had I known I would need to watch videos I wouldn't have even signed up for the course. I did though, and to proceed I knew I had to watch them, but I have to say I was enthralled from the start.

The subject matter was interesting and very thought provoking. It was all about the various influences we get from different situations and people, and I found I not only enjoyed watching the videos, but I was able to engage in some discussion in the highly active forum afterwards. (Mine was the cry for help). 

So now I've completed my first assignment and have submitted three days early - this never  happens with Open University courses I can tell you. It did however help that the assignment had a word count of 150 words as opposed to the Open University's 1000+, but who am I to nitpick?

Holiday Time

My Open University courses finished mid-late May, and with the next one starting in October you'd think I've earned myself a nice little break, wouldn't you?

Well actually, no. Since finishing I've tidied up the screenplay I wrote for my second creative writing assignment and sent it off to the Bluecat Pictures Screenplay competition, and signed up for two free online courses - The fiction of Relationship with Brown University and Science Fiction and Fantasy with the University of Michighan.

So, now I have about twenty books to read over twelve weeks, and assignments to write. I'm also going to attempt to edit one of my novel drafts and have pre-reading to do for my next Open University course - (A230 Reading and Understanding Literature).

Busy, busy and loving it.
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Writing day (TMA5)

TMA5 for my advanced creative writing course required the crafting of a 2,500 word story/poem/life writing. I chose the story option of course, the writing of which was easy once I thought my idea up, it's the getting it up to a high (grade) level that's tricky.

This isn't helped by the fact I decided to change the point of view (POV) from third person to first, but I think it reads better and has a little more character than it did. I'll maybe share the two when this one's marked, which will be a huge step for me as I don't share any of my writing.

So, that was me today. Half a day to do the first two paragraphs and then I was off, although my voice appears to have disappeared and reverted to 'proper' english - a task for tomorrow when I've finished changing the POV around.
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My to do list...

With only three months left of my Open University Advanced Creative Writing, it's time to start looking ahead at what I want to do, so I figured I would do a little to do list (to work my way through).

I already have a Facebook Author Page and Twitter account, but think I should start thinking about getting an author website, or the domain at least, so that should go on my to do list.

I suppose it might help if I did a little more blogging as well, so that's another one for the list.

The most important one though, is editing. I have five unedited books, and should really start thinking about editing at least one of them. Then I can sit back and see how many rejection letters/emails I can collect (as I cling to the knowledge that many great authors didn't get accepted first/second/third etc time round).

There is of course self-publishing, but I think it would be cowardly to not at least try the traditional publishing houses, plus, there's an awful lot of self-marketing if I choose this option. You get out what you put in and all that.

I haven't quite finished with my degree though, so in the midst of all this, I still have two courses to complete with the Open University; Reading and understanding Literature (A230), and Shakespeare: Text and Performance (AA306) - both these have exams, so we'll see how I get on. If I can do them though, I will have a BA (Honours) English Literature (with the possibility of going on to do a Masters in Creative Writing, and it is a possibility if I maintain the 2.1 grade I'm so far predicted).

Anyway, back to the present. I am officially a published author. My short story, 'Sanctuary', can be read in InkPantry Publishing's Sea of Ink, so I've made a start...

Oh, and I need more followers. Two just isn't enough :)

Diary of a creative writing student

I'm not going to post anymore studying diary entries on here as I am far too busy studying - hahaha - but if you are interested in seeing how I got on in my first week than you can have a look here: Inkpantry: Diary of a Creative Writing Student

It's the first writing I've had 'published' online, and although I've contributed to the set up of Inkpantry it was lovely to be asked to do the first week's diary. As you can see I've sort of raced through three weeks of work, but that's because I love writing so much - it doesn't happen on my academic courses, trust me.

Please do have a read, especially if you're interested in studying with the Open University, which is great - and addictive.

Day 2 and 3

Obviously I am that organised I forgot to do my day 2 blog post yesterday, so I'm afraid you're getting day 2 and 3 together:

Yesterday I finished reading 'Story' by Robert McKee, and can I just say what a great book it is. I turned the first page feeling extrememly motivated and ready to start my first Hollywood blockbuster...and then I opened my A363 book and came down to earth with a bump. To say I'm struggling is putting it mildly. There doesn't seem to be much teaching in chapter one - more showing.

Still, I've enjoyed doing a couple of the activities and will return to this chapter tomorrow.

I haven't touched AA100 books yet, not have I made up a study plan, bit it's only day 3, so there's loads of time for that.
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Day One of 2012/13 Study

I was up at seven this morning, feeling very much like a kid at Christmas - why? - well, because my course sites were live today, and even before I had my first cup of tea I was logging in to see the message my A363 tutor had written and then it hit me - I'm doing a level 3 with a focus on something I've never done before in my life (screen writing), and I came to the conclusion that I'm off my head.

Cue a moment of panic as I do a virtual run to Facebook for reassurance, only to discover a lot of my fellow students feeling exactly the same way, but there's no time for this, I've a tutorial for AA100 at 11am and a ten year old who thinks he's surgically attached to the computer. I ended up rushing around the house getting him (and myself) ready.

Anyway, I made it to the bus stop at my intended time, only to get into Paisley too early, still, it gave me the opportunity to nip into the pound shop and stock up on notebook essentials.

I found the University entrance and go to the scheduled room, only to discover ten minutes later that there are two rooms with the same number, but still, I got there in the end and had a great tutorial. It was more of a get to know you tutorial than anything else, and was pleasant, as I had forgotten how less stressful level one's are - the actual reading of the course work doesn't start until next Saturday, whereas A363 (the level 3) has an immediate start. The tutor seems really nice and approachable, and I feel rather motivated.

I'm back home now, still with no books opened up but I will make a start today, once I've done a little more procrastination...