Perspectives

'What I am' is a question that everyone should stop and ask themselves once in a while. Literally, drop everything (as long as it's not a baby you're holding) and observe your life. What is it about your life which seems to follow you in the form of shadows? Is it a feeling, or is it a person?

Having sat through three or four Autobiography lectures on Virginia Woolf (her 'Moments of Being'), I have to look at my life and wonder whether it's worth living? My life is a jumbled-up mess of ups and downs. There seems to be no correlation from one week to the next. One week I'm happy, the next I'm sad.

Something that's just happened, and the main reason for my blog transforming from work-exhibition into a personal thoughts showcase, is the one-year anniversary of my grandma's death. It was on 19 April 2012 that she left this life and embarked on another, and sometimes I sort of know that she's in the room with me, that she's always there whenever I need her... in my heart.

CK.

Scriptwriting: 'Shadows Lurk' (My Script)

Recently I was writing a script as part of my essay, and went to an arts lecture where a writer came in to talk about islands as prisons. I left the lecture feeling inspired by one of his stories, which led me to write a back-story for the script of a Film Noir thriller, including a murder and a string of conspiracies that leads the detective to a harrowing truth.

Not only did I end up writing a script that I was happy with, but I had the chance to speak to a real author about storylines and plot directions, which in itself made me a better writer. His advice led me away from many of the amateurish mistakes I could have made, such as over-complicating the plot. I also had the chance to speak with a local theatre company regarding my script, and learnt about the responsibility of the playwright to the actors, and vice versa. Without taking on board the advice from the author, the theatre, and most importantly my lecturer, and then redrafting my script, I probably would have made a huge error that would have resulted in a fail.

IP1zine- poetry review

Just had the most exciting news of my life so far: after posting one of my poems online at IP1zine.com, a local Ipswich arts magazine, the editors have been in contact with me to ask if I'd be okay with a review of my poem 'My Pen Is My Guardian'. I didn't hesistate and said yes, although I did check their website to match their names to the names in the email as a safeguard and to check the authenticity of the email (which appeared in my inbox in basic font 'Courier New').

UPDATE: I picked up a copy of the latest issue today; the review of my poem is on page 33. Here is a link to download a free PDF version of the same issue:
http://ip1zine.com/magazine/issue/issue-44
http://ip1zine.com/files/magazine/ip1_issue44.pdf

and here is a link to the original poem, just so you can read it too! If you want to comment on it, use either the comments box below or the comments box on the webpage:
http://ip1zine.com/showoff/media/6701

Professional Writing Practice: NWT placement agreed

I had a chat with Andrew Clarke of the E.A.D.T. but sadly it seems, and due mainly to the recent economic disasters of late, the newspaper may not be able to offer me a placement. Never mind...

UPDATE: However, thanks to my father who has been working/volunteering at the New Wolsey Theatre for the past few years, I now have a placement at the New Wolsey Theatre. My 'contact' is the same person who oversaw my progress over the reviews on the theatre's plays. She is very welcoming and wants to help me in any way she and the theatre can, as I have left a good impression on her as an enthusiastic theatre-goer.

Hopefully, once all the paperwork has been done, and details agreed, I'll be able to start work at my placement in January 2013, shortly after Christmas 2012 and also after a couple of essay deadlines...

Sleeping Beauty- Review for New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

There was an opportunity available for me to review a couple of theatre shows in a joint programme between the UCS English Literature department and the New Wolsey Theatre. I already reviewed their highly successful Mods and Rox play, and having am about to review their Sleeping Beauty rock 'n' roll pantomime tonight. I shall submit it tomorrow for publishing on their website.

Below is a link to the webpage where you'll find my review for Mods and Rox:

http://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/4168/mods-and-rox/review-project-with-university-campus-suffolk.html

Professional Writing Practice: getting a placement

According to my tutor, I'm supposed to go out there and get myself a placement in a professional workplace. Apparently, this could be anything, from working at a farm to working in a hotel or at a magazine; whatever my choice, the most important element of work that it must include is writing. Therefore, as long as I'm doing something related to my literature degree, literature and/or writing, I can apply anywhere I like. I'm hoping that I can get a placement at the East Anglian Daily Times; I already know the Arts & Culture editor, Andrew Clarke, and have an opportunity to meet with him soon. Here's hoping...

3rd day, but my choice of things to do...

As it was pretty much the end of inductions and introductions after Monday & Tuesday, Wednesday was comprised of three workshops to enhance our 'English' skills - Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Writers' Board (Q-&-A with 3 visiting writers). I chose Flash Fiction, as I was aware that Poetry was one of our first semester modules.

I learned that 'Flash Fiction' is actually another name for 'short short story', basically a tale no longer than or just over one side of A4 paper. We were given examples from past years, and were given a series of artistically-captured photographs from a photography book to help inspire us with imaginative ideas that we could gather by looking at the photographs. I have provided you with my Flash Fiction story below, "The Misty Sight" (sorry about the formatting issues). I hope you like it, whoever is out there reading this:

__________________________________________________

Close your eyes. Close them! Don’t peep! Read once, close eyes. Read again, close eyes.

2007

A red mist. Splattered on your window, burning your eyes, lava-orange, almost white centre, black where it cannot reach. A destructive range of colours.

Your eyes are half open, half closed; half not bothered, half intrigued. The black gives way to orange, orange to yellow. The white walls that surround you remind you of your fall twenty years after now. How cold it must’ve been for your daughter. Travelling, like so many others, waiting in queues, wondering if she’ll be there in time for…

…She sleeps off her grief, anger, frustration, hurt

feelings. Plane from Hawaii,

to New York,

to London.

When she’d arrived at her hotel in Hawaii, beautiful sun-lit room.

When leaving, room felt empty. Distinguished. Green neon lights shining in, not a nice feeling. Cold, sick, Devil Doesn’t Care.

Beach was tranquil.

Peaceful.

Empty.

Bright.

Hot, arid, sky-blues, sea-blue see-through, yellowy-white sands.

Left behind for other treading feet.

How could you, you think. But it’s too late now. Too late to change the Future, your Past, their Childhood.

Their Moon, Your Sun. The dusts, the rubble: your resting place.

An ending.

A beginning.

Dark city. Plane lands… Too late… The sun has shone its last for you.

You’re stupid, stupid woman!!

The blood pump halted,

Your...

…heart

…rests…

Your last breath stops…

You’re Stupid. Stupid Woman!