Journal Entries
I did better than I expected
Posted Jun 25, 2014
Got a 2:2 on my degree (social science), not as bad as I had expected. Best comment was on my dissertation (which I wrote in 5 days), "clearly you have put a lot of effort into this, for which you shall be commended". Snigger. :D
Still, I can happily put that result on my CV, and claim I work well to deadlines :P And as the course leader pointed out, I can claim that my degree comes from the 10th best uni in the UK. While I studied at Blackburn University Centre, the degree is validated by Lancaster. So technically it's true :P
Quite pleased with that, need to email a few people and let them know, but for now, a few games of Dota 2 and relaxing. Going to collect my copy of dissertation tomorrow morning (need to print out a copy and bind it to swap it with). Then I'll be heading home (woo, trains).
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Latest reply: Jun 25, 2014
Inspired by the role model thread...
Posted Jun 12, 2014
This journal entry doesn't really have a point to it, just thinking out loud. It's a lot better than talking to myself, I don't worry I'm going mad when I post these...
I was originally going to post this in the role model thread but it would either derail it or just not fit, so I'm sticking it in here.
It got me thinking about the people I look up to/admire/whatever. Not sure whether they'd be role models though. I'm not really sure I think of people in that way.
Just some idle thoughts here, but people I look up to and respect.
Tom Francis - Games journalist turned games developer, podcaster
Chris Thursten - games journalist, podcaster
Philippa Warr - games journalist, podcaster
and break for thinking
Alan Rusbridger
Stephen Fry
more thinking
Ben Allen, friend of mine on skype
Cjros - blogger I talk to
Rhianna Pratchett - games writer, journalist, author etc
more thinking and checking twitter
David Mitchell
Victoria Coren-Mitchell
more thinking
Tim Edwards - games journalist, runs PCGamesN
more thinking
Hugh Jackman
Charles Dance
Ian McKellen
Patrick Stewart
Tom Hiddleston
J.K. Rowling
Okay, so I'm definitely missing some that should be on here so I'll add them whenever I think of them.
Some I know better than others, but one thing that holds true for all of them is that I've not met anyone from the list. There's a few people I am more likely to meet than others, and would really like to one day. It's interesting how you come to find people and why you look up to them though. Also interesting is that the list is mainly white males, although whether that balances out as I remember more people will be something to watch for.
I know that I used to like some of those people because they were people who were gay and doing well in life. These days it's not so important to me, more that the person is a decent individual. I'm fairly sure that everyone on the list couldn't really care one way or the other, it's just not a big deal to them.
Stephen Fry and Ian McKellen are obviously gay, but it's not the sole reason I look up to them, they also do all manner of works that help a variety of different people. Obviously it helps that there are successful people out there of any sexuality, it gives people the evidence that it doesn't matter who you want to toss into bed and have fun with. :P
But that rolls onto the next bit of thinking, most people on that list are white (and male). The exception is cjros who is Chinese (and also gay). He lives in Canada. It's a topic on which he has blogged before and made for an interesting read about his feelings and so on. So why are there less people of varying ethnicities on there? I don't think that there are less role model of other ethnicities, that'd be mad. Have I just not come across them, for whatever reason? Or as I mentioned above, will I remember more later? It's a similar pattern with females as well, the list is mainly male.
I think part of the answer is where I draw the line for inclusion on here, it's utterly based on gut feeling and that's based on how much I know about them. It could be that I find out information about someone on the list and I rethink it, it's happened before. I could find out information about others I know that suddenly makes me think them worthy of inclusion.
Anyway, it's interesting how you come to know people and you get to see them. I guess that's my final thought (for now) in this mess of an entry. Let's hope I didn't say anything stupid or insensitive.
Discuss this Journal entry [13]
Latest reply: Jun 12, 2014
This chapter of my book sucks (the rest aren't great either tbf)
Posted Jun 8, 2014
I know, I know. But it's true, considering what happens in it (which I won't post here) it's bloody awful, just doesn't seem to have any impact whatsoever. I've never really been one to cry/get emotional and books/films, and of course being the one writing it will mean I see it in a different light as well, but it's still not so great.
Still, there are plenty more revisions that I know are needed for the whole book, nevermind that chapter. Then the feedback from proof-reader etc will be invaluable in letting me know what does/doesn't work. That's just for the story, not the horrendous grammar crimes and so on that I've committed.
Ah well, I am exhausted and sort of tired of it now. A break for the rest of today, I have a date with some pizza's and probably should go for a walk as well.
And of course writing program is being an arse. Ah well, maybe after a restart it will co-operate.
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Latest reply: Jun 8, 2014
I'd kill for a way to more easily record my thoughts...
Posted Jun 2, 2014
...or maybe the problem is that I'm still thinking stuff over, at the time when I think I want to be writing it down.
I quite like bouncing ideas off people, but sometimes I feel that if you write something down, people suddenly believe that is what you think; regardless of whether it was speculation, or an idea thrown out to play with. Really have to make sure that people know what you actually think, and what thoughts you are playing with to try and get a different view on situations/people.
Anyway, I dunno where this blog post came from. Or even if it makes any sense. If it doesn't, I blame the distraction of ice-cream, the cute guy who posted pictures of himself in sexy clothes on tumblr, and the fact it's nearly 2am and I was just out for a walk.
Discuss this Journal entry [4]
Latest reply: Jun 2, 2014
Book/Kickstarter
Posted May 25, 2014
I've mentioned these briefly on here in other journal entries, so now I shall explain them.
Yes I am trying to write a book. Trying being the operative word! I've got several drafts of it finished and it's about 90k words long, I'm still editing and tweaking it though. There's a link to the prologue and first chapter of my book here. http://menthol-penguin.tumblr.com/post/83746920010/first-chapter-of-my-book
The kickstarter is an attempt to see if anyone would be interested in backing it so that I can work on the book full time and get it published. Kickstarter isn't live yet but I am hoping to submit it today. If you would like to provide feedback on it, you can view it here! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/577800829/459079737?token=8afc9534
As a side note. I both love and hate editing my own work. I also keep flitting between where I prefer to edit or not, on my pc, or print it off and scribble notes on it to type up.
I think I might end up trying it with it printed off, to see how it lies on the page, and then editing it on PC. Paper's great for scribbling ideas around on, which my computer so great for.
Discuss this Journal entry [9]
Latest reply: May 25, 2014
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