Week 1

We had the introductory week of the course. Met lots of nice people and felt better. It was all a bit like the scene in Good Fellas when they have the wedding and it is all a bit of a blur. One because first days are scary. Two because theres lots to take in and people to meet and three because I had a bit of a cold and was a bit spaced out.

After we found out about the course, we went to listen to Howard Jacobson talking about Kalooki Nights for the Guardian Bookclub. He was really entertaining and interesting. If you fancy listening to it apparantly there's a pod cast.

I have read Madame Bovary and I have done some writing. I didn't volunteer my work for the first critique but the other brave souls that did will be getting their work critisised on Monday by the group. Looking forward to this course now.

I've registered for my MA, had all the information now so will be officially starting in 3 weeks. I've been doing a bit of writing but need to get into the everyday habit again.

I have been watching 'tales of the unexpected', why isn't there anything like that on t.v. now? Don't say because its pants. There are loads of good short stories out there, waiting for someone to turn them into a t.v. series. Dah dah dahhhh de de de dahhhhhhh dahhhh de de dah de de de dahhhh dahhhh.

Sad news that Beryl Bainbridge has died today. I have only read 'Master Georgie', I would like to read 'Harriet Said'. I guess a lot of people will be re visiting her work now.

Our England flags were handmade by an eager bright eyed five year old. He coloured them in with his new felt tip pens and hung them lovingly in our living room. They are now scrunched up in the bin. Feel bad, feel very bad. Boooo.

Rest

It is starting to feel summery (ok so this is Tatton Park but lets pretend it is sunny Stockport). I was feeling bad because I haven't been writing a great deal, I've been reading and thinking instead. The last short story I wrote I wasn't very happy with but I think on reflection all I needed was to change one of the characters and it might save it. I feel interested in it again now, I think it just needed to rest on the hard drive for a while, it is ready to be woken up again.

Anyway as the flowers have started to bloom and the sun to shine I have taken up the pen again and started to write some things down. I have had a few more ideas lately and once you start writing them down you just seem to get more and more. I think it is about opening your mind up and seeing the world again. When I'm painting I start to look at things and see colours and shapes there. Writing is simular, once you are doing it you see things that would have passed you by before. Hopefully I will get a few more stories finished, I've got some new ideas anyway which is always exciting.

Here is some blue sky in an attempt to ward off the snow. No thanks, move along, more sun please.

I have enjoyed the sensory aspects to Brixton Beach by Roma Tearne. I noticed an appreciation of colour in her writing. I was not surprised to read that she was also a painter. The use of sensory aspects can elevate a story to a new level.

Just finished reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafron. Aspects of it reminded me of Great Expectations. I wonder whether this was intentional. It reminded me how everything around us subconsciously influences us in some way.

I have got a place on the Creative Writing MA starting in September. All I can say is yeah and yikes.