Research Methods Module Week 1

I figured seeing as I haven't used this blog page in ages, I would use it as a log/journal for my uni work this semester. So here goes.

Plans for week 1

Reading

• Read and take notes on at least two chapters of Writing Children's Fiction

• Finish reading Un Lun Dun, and add any notes.

Writing

• Finish Carla's character chart 

• Work on Jack's character chart

Work to come soon: 

Chapter Two plot points 
Freddie character chart
Read Writing and Responsibility
Read The Maze Runner

Some Poems

The grand Art of Procrastination

 

It’s half past eight, time to create

Lie in my bed, thinking in my head.

Pick up my phone

Play a game all alone

Look on Facebook,

Photos are ace-look!

Read a blog, pin for a while

So many things that can make a girl smile

But you must write

You must fight

Against laziness and procrastination

It won’t write itself

Won’t climb up on a shelf

At the WhSmiths at the station.

A little kick up the butt a.k.a ‘the beginning’

Practice every day

In any little way

Something is better than nothing, we say.

Find the time, write a rhyme

Or a short funny ditty,

No one is judging or cares if it’s shitty.

That Paper

Money makes the world go round

That paper on the floor he found

Gives life, takes life

Without it is strife

He had nothing, he was nothing

But now....

So happy, delirious

‘A fifty- are you serious?!’

He doesn’t care now, he’s fearless.

Fly to the moon, he’s on a rocket

Skip in his step, dough in his pocket.

Weed or ciggs, a beer and food

Maybe a prossy, ‘Nah, I ain’t in the mood.’

While it lasts life’s a blast

Then way too soon it’s in the past

A memory of a life that could be

If he had that paper in his hand.

Life would be grand.

But in the blink of an eye it’s gone,

So fast.

The dream

A shiny castle, happily ever after

Your prince will come,

Bringing joy and laughter.

The rainbow sweeps across the sky, making dreams come true

All you have to do is wish

Someday he’ll come to you.

Bright lights

Flying kites

This is a civilized place, please- no fights!

3D glasses for the big screen,

dinner a movie and after ice cream

We’re living that dream, that hope and a prayer.

But-caution!-don’t scratch away at the top layer

The glamour, the money, good job and house

Just keep working hard for that money

Don’t question, don’t worry

The elation of Saturday- it’s here, grab a beer!

Slouch back in your chair, with crisps and no cares

Which young kid’s dream of fame

Will be shattered to pain

For the nation to see?

‘It’s not for the money

I love it, it’s me.

I want to be singin’, see my name in lights

Perform at Wembley.

*sobs it’s my dream, see.’

We laugh and we cry

‘Simon Cowell don’t deny

that young talent a chance,

He can sing, he can dance!’

But we don’t really care

It’s quite funny, actually.

We get technology, entertainment

A trade off,

For a small payment

In return for iphones and Kardashians

Is our silence, good behaviour

They’re doing us a favour!

They perform, we conform

That’s the deal. 

Read, Write and Be Patient

On my return from holiday I've read an excellently inspiring blog post on The Write Practice about not being disheartened if you don't make it on your first try. The author Gorbett points out that actually it's silly to expect to get it right without lots of practice. Using pilots as an example, he says that they have to clock up 3000 hours of airtime before even being considered for a commercial plane. So why should you expect to be perfect at writing without practicing? He also says you should read a lot and use your favourite authors and styles to help you write.
You can read the blog post here.

And now for the writing practice-
Write about someone who expects to be a master at an art, task, or profession although they have little experience. Be sure to include the frustration that ensues.


I ordered the ukulele on amazon. That's half the battle isn't it- actually buying one? I've been watching some tutorials online and I have to say it looks pretty easy. There're only four strings after all, and I saw this you tube video of an eight year old girl playing mmm bop, so seriously how hard can it be? I'm excited, I think I'm gonna be a hit around the campfire and at family bbqs. knocking out classic after classic.

It arrived! So far I've learnt some of the simple chords; C, F, G. It turns out you can play tons of things with just those three notes! I started to play and sing along but then after half an hour the tips of the fingers on my left hand were hurting. You have to press down hard and I got these intents on the ends of my fingers which I'm not sure will ever actually go away. I'll practice again tomorrow.

Now that I've learnt how to play some basic three chord songs I want to move on. There are so many videos of people plucking the tune out of their ukuleles rather than just strumming like me. It sounds amazing and I want to be able to do it. I practiced the intro to 'I'll be there for you' from Friends, but it was really hard and after ages I still hadn't got it. Every time I thought I had it, I'd slip up and play the wrong string or the right string in the wrong fret. It's so annoying. And now after a break I've gone back to play it and I can't even remember how it starts! They make it look so easy and actually it really isn't. I wonder if I've even got it in me to ever be that good or if I should just give up. Clearly I haven't got the knack.

 OK so that was more like ten minutes than fifteen. It's amazing how much you can do in such a small space of time.

Small Islands Treasure Map

I wanted to try something more minimalistic, as I usually cram my maps full of stuff. I also found a picture to inspire me in a new kind of pirate ship.

Here's the map when it was first coloured in:

Then I thought I'd play around with it like I used to with maps when I was a kid.

Cue tea bag and FIRE!

I'm rather out of practice and wasn't much pleased with the result. Its seems there is actually an art to burning stuff...
I ended up accidentally losing half a piranha.

Dug up from deep under the mud!

Which map do you prefer?

Tiny Writing Treasure Map

I'm using this map template in one of my classes next week. I think the kids will have fun creating their own island. I for one really enjoyed doing it!
Something I love about teaching kids of this age (7-8) is that they're really easily pleased. They were mega impressed by my drawings here and have made me promise to impart my wisdom on how to make such a great castle. Ha ha.

 

It's taken about two months but I've finally finished draft six of my story. Now I have to face the mammoth task of typing up the changes, which will inevitably involve a lot of trying to decipher tiny sentences scrawled round the margins in pencil and being annoyed at not being able to read my own handwriting. But such is life.

It's probably also time to revisit Jack and Carla at the Lake of Colours. Although they've probably starved to death or died of boredom by now, poor things.

Have you been working on any kind-of-pointless-and-totally-time-consuming-but-fun-nonetheless projects recently?  

On Writing

 

 It's time to redraft my novel called Potion,

A process that often seems it's in slow motion.

The words are changing a lot for draft six,

Some bad dialogue and continuity errors fixed.

Map Mysteries on hold, while poor Carla and Jack

Wait patiently at the Lake of Colours for me to come back.

But alas, two projects is much harder than one,

They might have to wait till redrafting is done.

In other news, I've applied to finish my MA in writing,

Wont you agree that's pretty exciting?

Nonsense Verse

I've been sorting through old stuff at home, and have been reading lots of my old writing. Mainly diaries, which are incredibly painful and cringey to read, but there were also some other things. I particularly liked this poem, reminiscent of Lewis Carroll:

 

A man got up when he was tired

And ate till he was hungry.

He danced all night while he sat still,

 Then flew a plane to Monday.

I got some Dr. Seuss books for Christmas, which probably means I'll soon be in the mood to create more nonsense!