Long Time No Writing!

Wow, I can't believe it was November when I last wrote on here! That's so not like me and I can't say that the reason behind it is because I've been writing on my new blog, because that's not true. I think my MA work has been taking up all my time. Right now I should be doing my 4000 word essay on writer's websites and I'll be getting back to it as soon as I'm done here. Though clearly I need to be writing alot more to keep my Internet profile up to date! So yeah, should have added that to my New Year Resolutions! Right now, I've actually just updated my other blog on wordpress. but yeah once I've got a few spare minutes I shall be back on here!

Pasta Bake

I've a pasta bake in the oven right now, so this is going to be a short post. I'll write more on my Musing Page later, I've a good topic for today!

Anyway, I should be writing my first essay for my MA today. It's on the research methods that writers use when writing their novels etc. That is not as easy as it sounds actually. I've chosen to write about Ern Malley because he interested me more. Here's the story for the people who don't know. Malley is an Austrian poet, but actually he and his poetry were a hoax and they were invented by two Austrian poets during the Second World War. The idea behind it was to get back at the editor of a journal. Things didn't go to plan and the editor was put on trail for publishing what was seen as harmful material.

Peter Carey wrote his novel My Life As A Fake based on the hoax. So for my essay I must look at where Carey got his information form and how/why he made the choices during writing his novel about how much fiction and fact went into his writing. I must also look at why he choice the form of his novel, because he must have done some reseach into that as well. Some how I've to write all of this in just 2,000 words! I've no breathing room and it all must be spot on, so my task is even harder now.

That pasta smells good....I forget about the simple things like eating when I'm writing. I get too caught up. I think it might be a bit late to start my essay now, but I'm eager to do some writing. I can feel it in my fingers. I don't know about other writers, but when I need to get my writing fix, my fingers get twitchy and my brain becomes programed on plotlines and characters of whatever it is I've choicen to write. I feel the strange urge to pick up my postmodern novel again. Though I need to read a few chapters before hand to get back into it. I like trying different ways to write novels. This one uses the method of only thinking about it whilst I'm writing it. Thus I'm creating the distant that needs to surrond the novel.

Okay, need to see that pasta bake now!

It's Halloween!!!!!!

Hey everyone, It's Halloween! :) and this is my choice of pumpkin design this year. 'The Headless Horseman Rides Again!' :) pretty awesome, hey? I love Halloween its my fav day. I know there are many reasons behind this and it links to the traditions and history of the actually event and day. To go and look them up in books or the internet though gives mix results. So to link with my love for Halloween, I thought I'd write this post about what it means to me and include some of the stuff I know.
On Halloween night at Midnight it's believed that the veils between this world and the spirit world reach there thinnest. This means that lots of spirits can pass between the two different plains some good and bad. So ghost activity is said to be at its highest during this time. So the traditions of pumpkins? In Britain it use to be other squash vegetables and then pumpkins came over from the USA and they were easier to carve. The idea behind carving and making a scare face is actually to ward off the bad spirits from entering your house. You place the pumpkin outside or in a front window in order to do this. The pumpkin is then light up by a candle and it is this light that attracts family and friends who have passed on back to visit you. Of course now a days, people don't just carve scary faces, the idea of carving different things has taken off in a big way specially in the States, where they do go all out for Halloween, much more then we do in Britain! Though you still find that many pumpkins get carved with subjects that link to Halloween.

This is the second pumpkin I carved - Grim Fright Night It's a grim reaper in a graveyard. Oh, it's midnight! Let's see if anything creepy happens! So why is a carved pumpkin called a Jack O' Lantern? This cames from an Irish legend about a man called Jack, who couldn't get into Heaven or Hell, so instead he had to walk around with just a lantern till judgment day arrives.
Okay, next is the dressing up part, people started to believe that by wearing masks and dressing up they could pertained to be spirit whilst going about their business at night, thus no harm would come to them. The idea of Trick or Treating came about because of another event which was celebrate close to Halloween and that was Souling. Where people went around asking for soul cakes and in return they would pray for the departed relatives. This is also connected with Mischief Night, which has kinda merged with Halloween now. Boys would go out and cause Mischief, but they would also knock on door and ask for treats in order to behave, so that's where the whole Trick Or Treat thing has come from possibly.

Me and my 3 best friends dressed up.

One of the games that is traditional played is Apple Bobbing. Apples are placed into a large bowl filled with water and just using your teeth you have to grab an apple. It is said that this came about because of the Roman tradition of celebrating one of their Gods who was connected to apples about this time. In fact it seems lots of religions and countries celebrated simlaire events about the same time, most of these had to do with remembering the dead like the Roman Catholic All Saints' Day and All Souls day, (Which got the name of All Hallow's Eve which then become Hallow'een) Mexico and their Day Of The Dead. There has also been links to Celt and Pagan festivals. So yeah, Halloween has no clear beginnings.

So that's something of a history then. :) I always stay up past midnight on Halloween, just because its something I have always been drawn to do. It's like I'm waiting to see if any ghost come for a visit. Nothing has happened so far, though I got sticky stuff on my keyboard thanks to a midnight snack attack! Anyways that's all for tonight and I'll be back tomorrow.

Your Favourite Book Needs You! -World Book Night 2012

Hi readers,

My title and the theme shall be in both my blogs today, but afterwards I'm going to write some different things. so go to http://hayleyhardman.wordpress.com/ to check that out once your done here!

So yeah, what's going on then? Well, this year saw the launch of World Book Night 2011. I did write a blog post about it on my uni blog so here's what it said;

2011/03/05

At 9.30am, I was on a train heading for London and it took two hours to get there. Strangely, we part followed the canal which, last year I had a holiday on a narrow boat sailing up. When we arrived in London, we went on the Underground and to Piccadilly Circus. The Underground was scary and the train was fast moving and the doors shut quick, but I made it!

We went to Trafalgar square and wondered there and the streets near by. We then meet with other Book Givers and talked to them. Then we had to queue up to get back into Trafalgar square and we sit on the edge of the fountain and waited for things to kick off. It was really cold, but at least we weren't standing up for two hours.

The event started with the guy who came up with it and then Graham Norton was hoisting it! On the stage they had some people who were giving out books to charities and were founding members. They also had authors and other famous people reading form their books or different books. I saw Philip Pullman, Sarah Waters and the front man from MAD. It was really good to hear these people reading and I doubt I'll get another chance to do that again!

Afterwards people started giving out their books, but we had not brought ours and I still need to put in the special numbers. That's my next task for today now. We were really cold so we went for food and then to Waterstones- brought lots of books! Then after going to StarBucks for hot chocolate, we caught the Underground back to the train stations and from there had 2 hours and half on a train back home. It was about 1am, when we arrived back and I was so tried I went to bed straight away.

I had a good day though and London is pretty cool! Now I just have to give out my books.

*

That sound good? Well guess what? You can now apply to be a World Book Giver for 2012! Go to the website and choice your fav book from the list and maybe you could be in London next year supporting your book!

http://www.worldbooknight.org/index.php

I've already done mine, but I'm not going to say what I choice. I've so much more to write about, but I know people like reading short posts, so I'll save my musings for my other blog. :)

The Changing Word - hey, let's keep the bats though!

(Halloween pumpkin, 2008, made by my dad.)

For people who might be reading this for the first time;

 I am a horror writer. Mostly, I write vampire novels. I've yet to have any of my novels published, though I've had poetry published online and in magzines. Being a poet isn't me though! So I'm trying to make my dream of being a novelist come true.

I graduated from Edge Hill Uni, with a 2.1 BA Hons in Creative Writing joint English Lit course. I'm now back to my uni, taking a Masters in Creative Writing. I've been called foolish for deciding to do this so soon after spending 3 years getting  my degree. I don't think I am though! If you want something, then you should always go for it. Doing my Masters, just seemed the right move to me. I'm loving it right now! I get to read and write all the time and since that is something I love doing, its a perfect fit!

I know that I've not written a post for this blog in ages. I think this is because the one I wrote for my uni sort of took over and then I found that I was repeating myself acrosss the two of them. The idea of pasting and coping stuff on both blogs also didn't last long. So I think that's why this blog has fallen. I'm back now, because I can no longer write my uni blog and have had to find another source for my blog writing.

Instead of creating a whole new blog, I just thought of updating this one. Now my only problem is I can't seem to change my background. I know one of the key things about someone's blog is what they decided to display behind the words they write. I think though, if I did get rid of the bats, then I'd have gone for books or more halloween/dark things. So maybe, it's wise to just stick with them! I know some people might not like them or thing my page is too dark. I can prove that they do fit in though!

To contuine, my current jobs are a writer and a student guide for my uni. At the minute I'm looking for another job, having need of the money and I'm thinking of doing some online freelance work. I also work in my local RSPCA chairty shop. I voleenter there two mornings a week. It gets me out of bed, in a different envioment and meeting new people. I also get to buy a lot of books!

I found this book today- just with a different cover- stuffed in the back room. I couldn't believe it! I've fallen in love with Marakami's writing. I've read Norweigen Wood and Sputinik Sweetheart now. This book and Hard-Boiled Eggs, were on my list to buy. So I got lucky finding it when I did. It's actually a large book, so I'm thinking of making it a summer read, no doubt that won't happen though! I read the first two pages before and was hooked!

I've lost count of the number of people, I've told to go and read Marakami now. The style of his writing is like poetry, because it flows so well, but it is also very simple langauge and highly effective. You get drawn into this world of Japan that he creates and his characters are very real to life. Though his writing style is so simple, tht themes he deals with are not. They come across on many different levels and I'm always pondering over them. So, yeah, if you've not read Marakami go and do so now!

I've to be off now to walk my dogs.

At Home for the summer!

I’m back at home now! I had forgotten how difficult it can be to settle back into my old bedroom and family life. I’ve not been doing much since I moved out of my student room. Mostly it has been sorting out my stuff and deciding where to put it. I’ve to become more radical with my bedroom though! My room is a box and there’s no way all my stuff from my uni can fit back in. So I’m going to have to get rid of a lot of things!

I’ve also started playing Bioshock 1 again. I’m not one for 1 person shooter games normally. I’ve been known to be ‘another player’ when needed, but it’s not been since DOOM back in the ’90′s that I’ve been known to play shooter games by myself. There’s just something about Bioshock though and I think its got to do with the plot and the actually backgrounds to the game. My creative and imaginative sides seem to like the idea of a future that is actually set in the past under the sea. The world of Rapture was designed to give people freedom from the constraints of normal life. What happens though is it goes to every one’s heads and the Utopia is destroyed. So if you’ve not had a chance to play this game yet I’d recommended it! The 3rd one is coming out in Autumn and the movie next year.

Moving on again, I’m currently trying to apply for my Masters in creative writing at EHU. I’m having some trouble getting references right now. So annoying! But references are highly important because they show from another person that you are able to do tasks, you have the skills, right attitude and a good background also. So choosing who to ask is also important so that person can give you the best possible reference to get that place you’re applying for!

I so have the urge to bake cookies now…..think I’m getting all homely. It looks like its going to rain though. I don’t think it has been doing much else since I got home. I hope the weather changes soon though, I go on holiday in about 2 weeks. No where special really, just down the south of England. Looking forward to that, a nice break and a recharge is needed. I’ve not been working on my novels for a while now. I’ve forced myself to take a break, but now getting back into writing is proofing to be a little difficult! There’s lots of techniques to try out though and one of them is just writing whatever comes into your head and not thinking about. Or else, like I’m going to do, just pick up where you left off writing and just let it roll on.

I could do with starting to look at summer jobs too now. Gosh there’s so much to do!

Moving On

Hi readers,

Sorry I didn’t blog early this week! I’ve been busy with a few things and the days are just flying by. I now have only 3 weeks left in my uni house and then I’m moving out and back home! I can’t believe how fast this year has gone, nor the last 3 year. You just get so caught up in student life that for awhile it does feel like an endless streach of time. Like you could be a student for the rest of your life because time is moving far too slowly. Other times though, (like now!) you wonder where the time has gone too and maybe you lost a night partying or maybe redoing an essay? Or like now when uni is ending and it’s offically the last time.

I keep thinking back to all my memories I’ve of my time at uni. I’m still shocked I’ve made it this far really. I’m dysleix, but I’ve a degree in Creative Writing and English Lit now! I’ve not failed or had to redo anything and somehow it looks like I’ll get a 2.1 over all. It just goes to show though, if you love and want to do something so badly, you can over come all of those obsticals life decides to throw at you to get there in the end. Picking yourself up after a fall is often bad and I’ve had a few of them-espically this year- but I’ve pulled throw with the help of my amazing family and friends. There’s no way I’d be the person I’m today without those people! Plus the really good times equal out the bad ones and I’ve had a lot of good times- mostly nights out and trips to Liverpool. Random conversation in the LRC when we had work to do, but chatting was more important. My favourites though are all the times late at night and the small hours of the morning when I’d be up with my housemates just talking. I’m going to miss the 3/4 of us standing in the upstairs hallway outside our rooms just having a laugh. I’ll miss sitting down to watch movies with them and talking through most of it as well! Or singing along to some great songs and knowing that stuff just didn’t matter any more, because we were having a moment together. Yeah, I’m going to miss student life….not the essays though! Not going to miss them!

So, to catch up on what I’ve been up to then…..I’ve been out twice last week-first time random drinks with my housemate and the second time was the last time in the SU/The Venue and Alpine. That was lots of fun and I do have some pics, but since I put the ones of Chester Zoo my friends have rebelled against me. So, I’ll have to sneak them on soon! Also I’ve been reading this;



I’ve be come addicted and I’m gettting through Quinn’s story very fast. I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t more of Lestat’s story, but he’s still making his presence felt. I do love the way Rice writes-she makes this whole world come to life and the characters are so rememberable. I hope my novels will one day capture people the way Rice’s does. I’ve been busy working on mine. Second drafting it and thinking about the way I’m writing. Though I was sadden to hear last week that my tutor who helped me start this work on my novel had passed way. So, I put her name in my dedication, because I’m not going to forget all the help she give me.

I had other things I wanted to write about today, but it loooks I’l have to come back. My housemate is offically leaving and I want to spend a few minutes with him saying goodbye. I hate that stuff has to come to an end. It bugs me! But hopefully a new chapter will be starting soon