Classes are kinda meh...

So, I just attended all of my classes and it was really not as exciting as I thought it would be. I really enjoyed the fact that my James Bond class wont have any essays or written work, but I also don't like that we have to read so many damn books. Over all, I probably will have to read over 15 books, not including short stories. Any ways for those who care to know below you will see the varying books that I get to read for the class:

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
The castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Dawn by Kevin Brooks
The uglies by Scott Westerfield
Flight by Sherman Alexie
An Island Like You by Judith Ortiz Cofer
Witness by Karen Hesse
Grl2grl: Short Fictions by Julie Ann Peters
Visions: 19 short stories by Donald Gallo
Speak by Laurie Anderson
The Prisoner's Wife By Asha Bandele
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
Couldn't Keep It To Myself by Wally Lamb
Exit, Civilian by Idra Novey
Wall Tappings by Judith Scheffler
Assata by Assata Shakur
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
Dr No. by Ian Fleming
For Your Eyes Only by Ian Fleming
From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming
Goldfinger by Ian Fleming
Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming
Octopussy and The Living Daylights by Ian Fleming
On Her Majesty's Secret Service by Ian Fleming

GoldenEye by John Gardner

 I will try to make a detailed review of all the books, so if anyone is interested in knowing what the books are about I will have it on this site. I know that most people probably don't read all of their required text for class, but I really want to make it a point to do that this term. My previous modus operandi was more along the lines of reading the first and last chapter, and flipping through the book looking for major changes. LOL, I wouldn't recommend this practice, because you really don't get to experience the story this way.

 

Now on to my writing, I can't seem to write more than 500 words a day and I feel bad about this. I just joined an online group that proposes writing 1000 words a day, and for me that really isn't realistic. For me, writing on average 1000 words a day is better than 1000 everyday. I really wish that I could be prolific. I try really hard not to judge my work or fiddle with it too much but I feel like I am lacking a lot of substance in my writing. When I write, I feel more like I am telling and not showing, but I really don't know how to show. It is really hard, but the funny thing is it's hard in a different sort of way that is unlike any other. I am not drained or tired, I just don't know where else to go and it frustrates me. This makes me want to abandon the story, but I usually realize if I continue, I am fine. If I start writing in the morning and come upon a block, I will stop writing and come back later on, then all of a sudden I have a solution to the problem.

 

So, I think I will try a little bit harder when it comes to making my 1000 words a day. I think the key is to not be afraid to look at an empty page of paper. Also, take a walk or do something unrelated to the task but still productive, like reading, this will help you generate some ideas.

I guess the moral of this story is I need to kill my ego and keep writing at all cost.

 

 

I leave you with this quote:

"Abandon the idea that you are ever going to finish. Lose track of the 400 pages and write just one page a day, it helps. Then when it gets finished, you are always surprised."  -- John Steinbeck

 

What a writer needs.

I have gone clothes shopping and I have also purchased some items that I think are probably pretty important if you want to write for a living or get in the habit of writing as a hobby. Now before I get into any of that I would just like to say that I really don't write, as a hobby or for a living. I have just got it into my head that for some odd reason, I'd like to write. I have always been curious about the art, but the more I want to well just write that more I feel it is the hardest thing in life to do.
So, be under no impression that I really know what I am talking about, but for the most part when it comes to suppling yourself with the right tools, I think I have some really good choice items to consider:
*Index card

*Wide barrel pens

*Agenda ( to keep on track)

*Clear removable notes (to correct mistakes without a mess)

*Highlighter

*Laptop (if you writer better with one)

*Composition book

*Thesaurus (they come in mini)

*Music (personal preference)

*Silence (limit distraction)

*File system (digital or non-digital)

I think that's it. To be quite honest with you I focused a lot on the low tech tools of the trade. There are so many information on things that you will need that is usually some software or other. I believe when you really want to write, it would be best to start with the pen and paper, you will know if it is for you or not right away. After that, you can advance to a more technical route. That's it for now. I hope you like the list and can make good use of it.


"Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you're doomed." -- Ray Bradbury