Wow. You guys are INCREDIBLE.
So many lovely messages and emails.
I miss you guys and you’ve certainly got me thinking. I too miss blogging about me and The Teenager. Believe me, he’s not getting any easier:
‘You DON’T understand me.’
‘HOW can I function on any less than five yoghurts a day? And FYI I don’t like prune’
‘WHY is there no junk food in the fridge? What’s with the green stuff?’
Anyway, I have been inspired by you to apply for a Creative Writing MA. No, really. Me, who said they would never, not never take another exam not never again.
And here’s the crux. Should I learn the saxaphone or take the MA? You decide…..
Bxxx
Cxxx (Christopher, otherwise known as the Insanely Stroppy Teenager)
And Dora (mouse-killer extraordinaire) X
Why not do both!?
Hey, I could!!! You’re absolutely right.
I could become a jazz-playing playwright. Or an author in a garret?
I just know I would like to keep writing, even if I can’t keep writing this blog…
x
Both, then if the teenager disturbs your writing, wait till football is on TV then play the saxophone x
Hmmm. Very true. I have a telly in my bedroom he watches the ‘Lasagna’ matches on. I call it that as it sounds like that. Although apparently it is ‘The Champions’, and not ‘The Lasagna’.
I can quite see myself playing the sax blues…
x
No hesitation here – both!!! – the MA most definitely and as for the sax – do it for us all 🙂
Arrrghhh! But actually, can see myself on a street corner (somewhere urban) playing the sax and reading, um, poetry? Or a
soliloquay? A very nice jazz song…x
I can only say this now, with intent; coulda, shoulda, woulda, doesn’t have to be, as these barriers are only constructed by you, your own walls that put you in a ‘safe’, ‘shielded’ place. that really prevents you from living. You will learn time; and remember; there is no such things as “mistakes” nor “faults” are such but building blocks to make you who you are or can be. I’m tired now, hafta eat and rest. I love all of you!
Absolutely spot on!
X
What a lovely surprise, I had missed you stumbling into my inbox!
Well, the MA is a must, the sax I don’t know, I had a few guitar lessons and a few piano lessons and it seems to me that you have to really really want it if you are going to be successful at playing an instrument, and I found that I didn’t manage enough practice time. So maybe you should try it and see, or you will never know. x
Thank you! I’ve missed writing!
Would love to learn both. Am at that weird stage. Mid life crisis??? Noooooo!
X
Why an MA? What are you going to do with it? Will you hang the award up in the loo?
Just go for it and get work as a copy writer, the BLOG is your CV. Its a leap of faith but it’s up to you
Learning to play the Sax and be a creative writer – what’s stopping you?
You’re right. It could end up in the loo.
Not really where I envisioned my future. But then MS was not in the plan either!
X
None of us planned to get MS. I never saw myself running aid4disabled.com.
Life sometimes takes an unplanned turn. The skill is recognising these as opportunities. Keep up the blog, that is a given, and be a creative writer.
Some of us would love you to do some creative writing for us – are you up for the challenge?
Hi!
Will see how it goes with blog – it felt like the right time to end but had to post about the MA as it wouldn’t have happened without the feedback and support from you guys!
Am intrigued about the challenge?!
X
Hi, you must do the MA, it would be such a waste of your talent if you didn’t. Heidie x
Thank you Heidie!!
That means such a lot to me.
X
So nice to see your blog again – was feeling bereft – so looked forward to your wise and witty words every few days! Creative writing course without a doubt and why not sax too! You can do anything you want. Good luck
Hi Val!
This is why I miss blogging! You are all so encouraging and supportive.
X
Whichever you choose I hope you will start blogging again…it was great to see you pop up in my inbox today….I’ve missed you!
Thank you!
I’ve missed it and wanted to let you guys know how much you had inspired me to take the writing further. Without your support, I wouldn’t even have thought about it…
X
I think you should do whatever you can to keep writing and developing your considerable writing talents, and if the structure and feedback of an MA course is what you feel you need…? I guess it depends on the program. I’d definitely vote for yes to the MA if you know they would be supportive to someone who who might have the occasional ‘off’ day due to MS. (I hate to bring it up, but it is a consideration.) Master’s programs vary widely on the nice-to-nasty spectrum.
Whatever you decide, I hope you keep writing! You are very good at it, and, ultimately, whatever you feel it will take to continue to develop yourself as a writer, you should go for it!
Thanks Ellen!
That’s what I was thinking – having the structure to develop different ways to write. The course looks really good. Huge commitment though!
X
both! 😀 if the sax turns out to be to hard there are a lot of simpilier instruments to play 🙂
and yay! a blog post
oh and if you do end up doing the MA, remember to talk to support at the place you go, even if it is a place like the open university. you can get help with exams if you need it (extra time, a scribe if you cant really write or type etc…)
Very true. It’s a Uni just up the road from me. Might need extra time for assignments if MS plays up. But hopefully it will behave itself!
X
Both! You are really good writer – I wish more of the stuff I edit was as tight and to the point as your work. You express one or two points very clearly and with real feeling – in a short word count – and I come away feeling that I’ve got something new to think about. Have you looked into writing for magazines, or commercial blogs? Also, maybe look at the Writers Guide to Editors, Publishers and Literary Editors, if you haven’t already. I wish you the very best of luck xx
Thank you so much! And for the advice. Excellent.
Part of me thinks I’m crazy to take on more studying but hopefully as it’s a subject I really enjoy it will feel more like a hobby than hard work. The professor I spoke to said I could take it module by module which takes the pressure off a bit.
Nervous but excited!
X
Ooooh, creative writing gets my vote! You are, as many have already said, an excellent writer, and very funny. Speaking as a failed guitar player, my advice is to not spread yourself too thin. Playing an instrument can be quite discouraging at first; it takes a LOT of willpower to keep practicing when everything you produce sounds horrendous. But! Your writing is already really, really good. Let us know!! So nice to see a blog post from you!
Hiya!
Thank you so much! I know what you mean, don’t think I can do both. Just applied this morning for the course and already getting excited about buying lots of new notebooks and pens lol.
I must be mad but I always like a challenge!
X
Teenagers? Have you had the “i never ASKED to be born!” one yet? Or I’m a lesbian. I’m a vegetarian.
your not the boss of ME………..ooh these are just the ones i remember…
I frequently have ‘you don’t UNDERSTAND’ and ‘why won’t you shop at Iceland?’. As well as various mumbles, slammed doors, a growing accumulation of bowls and plates in his bedroom. Sigh.
x
Hey
Missed your blog. So nice to see you back. Please keep blogging and the MA definitely as well as the music. Xxx
Hi!
Thank you – just got an unconditional offer yesterday. Scary!! Would love to blog again but just taking a break and leaving that part of my life as it is and concentrating on the next. Could be interesting to restart, covering this next phase?
Can’t tell you how much blogging and the comments I had helped me through such a difficult time. Really amazing.
X