ROW80 - Check in 2

This weeks been pretty much a wash out but there's always today and tomorrow.

I've fine tuned my goals a bit more:

Monday: Poetry Night
To join crit group
Sub 3 poems to market
Write one new poem
Read/work through a section of a poetry reference book (Either Stephen Fry's one or another one which I can't remember the title of)
Rewrite a poem
Read and analyse one poem for sound, structure and meaning.

If any of the above don't get done they'll roll forward to the following Monday

Study wise:

Tuesday: 1.5 hours of studying with 30 minutes reserved for supplementary actives such as journalling and freewriting.

Wednesday: As above

Thursday: As above

Friday: Night off

Saturday 3 hours studying with time for typing up work and updating learning log

Sunday: As above

ROW80 - Check in

Well, I don't have much to report. Something I was supposed to do today had to be done yesterday so I still haven't joined that crit group. Plus I was knackered on Tuesday night as I'd just come down with a cold and it was easier and less mentally challenging to flip through my knitting books and decide on all my hobbyist projects.

I'm still ironing out my goals, I think I'm going to make my studying goals time based. An hour and half from 8pm on week nights except Monday nights. With Friday night being my night off. I can't really base them on actual things to be done as each part is broken down into projects and exercises and some will take me twenty minutes to do and others could take me hours to do. But I want my degree before I hit 40.

At least 6 hours studying on weekends unless I'm out at an art/photography exhibition. Although this weekend is going to be hit and miss as I completely forgot we have friends staying.

I'm designating Monday nights my night for poetry activities so the first thing to do here is sub some poems out and decide whether I make time to write new poems or work with one of my reference books for a refresher course in the mechanics of poetry.

Rejoining ROW80

Way back in the floating mists of time I only meant to miss one round of ROW80 but there was an epic derailment. My focus and goals have changed since I last took part. Not entirely sure what my goals are at the moment but they'll be study related and poetry related for the immediate future.

 I did meet one goal though which was to rejoin the challenge today after Ryan King's prodding on twitter. :)

My goals for Wednesday's checkin: To join a poetry crit group and figure out the rest of my goals.

How's everyone getting on?

Website Updates and Blog Updates

It's been a while since I did one of these.

On the main website:
Writing prompts updated
New issue of Dark Metre available


Recent blog posts you may have missed:
Stitched Up on Tuesdays Week 2
Stitched Up on Tuesdays
3 Horror Lunes

Stitched Up On Tuesdays Week 2

Every Tuesday I share my progress on my current cross stitch project.

I'm currently working on Dimensions Quiet Beach Moments. The design size is 14 by 10 inches on 14 count aida fabric. Which I think is around 25000 stitches in total.

It's deceptively tricky for a beginner like me, I'd only done one bookmark prior to starting this piece, lots of back-stitching where the lines run diagonally and lots of half stitch. Also, plenty of colour changing every few stitches. I actually got a bit fed up with changing colours so much and stitched the entire white line down the left hand side. It's the point where the sand starts to change to sea.

I decided to add the back stitching in as I go along, there's not much definition in the picture without it.

In other news, I signed up for a beginners course in knitting with Citylit starting end of next month and am considering one of their novel workshops but assessing the extra workload on top of my existing degree as I'll be preparing for assessment for my current module around the same time.

What are you all up to?

Last weeks Stitched Up on Tuesdays

Stitched Up on Tuesdays

Oh wow, I've been gone for ages. Before I introduce a new feature I'll bring you up to speed, went on holiday to Norfolk recently, lovely weather, lovely coastline and whilst there I received the happy news that I'd passed my poetry module. So, I'm still studying and halfway through my second module.

I'm sure someone's hit the fast forward button on time.

As writing has been designated as serious I needed a new hobby and while away in Norfolk I decided to make my own bookmarks using a cross stitch kit by textile heritage. The lack of internet access meant there were a few cock ups as I had no access to reference sites or hints and tips but it came out ok.

I started a new kit depicting 2 deck chairs on a beach and it is slow going, loads of colour changes and all the detail on the design is brought out by back stitch so I felt like I was getting no where for ages but thankfully there are no fractionals or french knots. I took a photo and then took another photo a week later for a visual chart of progress (if only writing were so easy to track):

Last Tuesday night

Tonights progress

My stitching tip for today:

Pincushions are essential for not losing needles every time you need to put one down.

3 Horror Lunes

To make up for the lack of activity on this blog as of late I'm reprinting 3 of my short horror poems here. They originally appeared on Microcosms, June 2011.


River of Life

Flowing Southwards, intestines
meander through a decaying earth
mourning the sea.

The Tree

Wriggling roots seek
the cow barn. Hot bodies
quench its thirst.

Maniac

Blue eyes reflect
the red spillage. Laughter freezes
his victims mind.

Website updates and Blog updates

Apologies for the lack of activity on this blog, I had to shift my focus over to my learning blog and studies as I'm getting ready for my end of module assessment.

Website updates:
Issue 13 of Dark Metre now live
Writing prompts updated

Recent blog posts:
Book Review - Broadmoor Revealed by Mark Stevens
Book Review - Virgina Woolf, A Writer's Diary