Category Archives: #am writing (and all things writing related)
Insecure Writer’s Support Group Jan 2014 #IWSG
The theme of my very first IWSG post is – Is this mine? Did I write this?
The other day I was going through the notes app on my iPad to tidy it up and I found the poem below (which I’ve tweaked a bit since finding it). My problem or insecurity this month is not remembering writing it. Did I? Did I see it somewhere and make a copy? I’ve Googled it and came up with nothing. I think it’s mine but what if it isn’t?
Is it just me who writes things and doesn’t remember writing it?
I think this little foible of mine does make it hard to write longer pieces and keep them coherent. I think that’s why something like NaNoWriMo works for me – having that concentrated and dedicated time to work on things. Now to create that feeling year round.
Anyway please enjoy this poem – and if it’s actually yours do let me know!
How to inspire a love of reading:
Make books like chocolate!
Don’t dictate what children should read,
instead place them in a library and
let them look, nibble, sniff out their favourites,
sampling from the entire range.
Some they will spit out, because they don’t like nuts
but others they will savour, not wanting it to end
reading again to re-taste the experience.
Let them write about why they devoured something
and when they didn’t love its flavour.
Let them explore everything to do with that world
beyond the words on the page;
often there’s another layer hidden beneath
and for each person that layer is unique,
based on their taste buds,
which mature over time,
coming back to old favourites
and trying the one spat out at five,
to discover it tastes different at thirty.
If you want to sign up – here’s the link.
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2014 – what have you planned for me?
I know I said this would be up over the weekend but because I finished it today I might as well release it. I’ve added the Do Not Dos to stop me doing stuff too. The need to find a better balance is important to me.
Most anticipated:
LeakyCon in Orlando and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter/Universal/Disney
The Divergent Movie – especially Theo James as Four
The Fault in Our Stars Movie
Mockingjay Part 1 Movie
Geek Girl 3: Picture Perfect [Holly Smale]
Echoes of Us (The Hybrid Chronicles book 3) [Kat Zhang]
Wicked/The Bodyguard/Seven Brides for Seven Brothers/Rent Concert/Miranda Hart/War Horse/Sarah Millican/West Side Story (in a box)/Wicked (yes I know it’s on here twice).
Tempted by the UK YA convention, film and comicon in July.
Challenges:
Complete book reviews from last year by end Jan
Finish HOL homework (sign up for less classes next time)
Reading Challenge of 52 books whilst keeping on top of reviews.
Join the Insecure Writer’s Blogging Challenge (1 blog post 1st Wed of each month)
Complete Full First Draft of Tetrana
Complete Full First Draft of Training Time
Add to Training Time 2 as possible
NaNoWriMo Nov 2014 (time/PhD progress dependent)
Face your Boggart
Write a New Beginnings story
Write a couple of poems across the year
Work/OT:
PhD Ethics, recruitment and data collection
Complete at least 1 publication
OTalk research
Home and Health:
Complete house sort and tidy
Keep on top of receipts
Keep meal planning and batch cooking – eat breakfast and take lunch to work!
Healthy and Happy – exercise – inc – parkrun, eat better and make a note of things that make me happy
Do Not Do (Would love to do but really don’t have the time):
A Daily Challenge – just read the word a day calendar!!
Jan Mindful Challenge
100k in 100 days
April A-Z Blogging Challenge
Camp NaNo
What else should I add to my anticipated list?
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2013 Happiness Jar Review
Just been reviewing the Happiness Jar (only officially did it Jan- Apr) and 2013 was the year of:
Harry Potter – and consisted of a:
Full re-read of all seven books
Movie Marathon themed weekend inc travelling by floo powder, homemade Butterbeer and all eight films. Even sleep was had.
Dressing up in Robes for World Book Day at work (for an hour)
LeakyCon inc Starkid, Wizard Rock concerts – Alex Carpenter, Whomping Willows, Lauren Fairweather, Hank Green and Harry and the Potters melted us.
Another two studio tour visits – one included snow.
Seeing Daniel Radcliffe in the Cripple of Inishmaan
Joining HOL virtual Hogwarts. Resorted into Hufflepuff. Taking classes.
Starting HPA Chapter – Phoenix Rising and helping Hope for Food as our first activity.
Getting Dumbledore’s (The Elder) wand for Xmas.
2013 was Potterific but here are some more highlights.
Geek Girl by Holly Smale – “You need to stop caring what people who don’t matter think of you. Be who you are and let everyone else be who they are. Differences are a good thing.” (Also got to go to my first blogger event and meet Holly who got eaten by a chair!).
Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace – “As a writer if you took away my paper I would write on my heart. If you took away my ink I would write on the wind…It wouldn’t be an ideal way to work!! (Need to get this into my PhD).
Kirigami – Clarissa I never did make an origami nappy like Miranda.
1970s Turmeric!!!
Failing miserably and entertainingly at Laser Quest with Cas.
Moving back on the chair rather than moving the chair back (and other hilarious haircut adventures).
The fun and giggles while making up a very special gift package. OTGeeks!
Attending and Presenting at Conferences:
Narrative Day
COT
Auto/biography Barcelona
Occupational Science in Cork
Learning:
Cupcake decorating
Oil painting
Driving challenge – lots of new vehicles
Musicals – top of the bill Matilda
Reading and achieving my reading challenge to read 52 books (I managed a few more too).
“We lose ourselves in books, we find ourselves there too.”
Winning NaNoWriMo for the second time and finishing a whole 0.5 draft (i.e. needs editing and additing but the story’s all there) of Tetrana.
Lots of my happy memories revolve around family (especially spending time with my sister) and friends (both bestie school chums and online geeks) so thanks to you all for the happy moments of 2013.
It was also a very sad time because it was the year I lost my Taidy. But I hope my sister and I did him proud by reading a piece for him at his funeral. He is still missed.
What were your happiest memories of 2013?
Plan to think a little more about what I want from 2014 – post to follow at the weekend.
kirstyes 