Update.

Well I'm a little behind in keeping my blog up-to-date. The last month has been an odd combination of creative endeavours. I spent four very busy days working on a submission for an innovative form magazine. It involved a lot of illustrating in a short space of time.

Sadly the submission was rejected, but I wasn't surprised. The piece is nigh on un-publishable, as the form is so very different from the norm, and the single piece was longer than their magazine!
I pushed to complete it more for the act of finishing and submitting a piece of work. Needless to say it was nice to experience the act of submission properly, and it's my first rejection! Probably the first of many, but at least that means I'm writing.

Since then I have been spinning my wheels a little. I can't decide what to work on next. I have been reading a lot of books to find some inspiration, but am struggling. I have instead focused my attention on physical creative exploits. I have started a project to modify my computer hardware into a 'Steampunk' or 'Vicmod' style to better suit my writing desk. I have invested in the majority of materials needed to rebuild my monitor, but need to wait for next month's pay to finish buying them. I have converted an old kerosene lamp to electric, which sits by my bed with a flickering candle bulb inside. Not a lot of light, but a nice addition in the evening.
The modifications are challenging, and I'm learning a lot more about electronics and working in metal. They are also expensive in time and money, and I'm a little worried I'm putting too much time into them.

I have it in my head to finish and submit another piece of fiction in the next month or so. I have a more conventional piece of writing from my Mres that could be tweaked and redone with only a week's work.

I just can't seem to focus myself at the moment. The dreaded 'What is it I'm trying to achieve?' question has reared itself in my head again. The sensible part of my brain is telling me to get a full-time job, finish my savings, and move back to the seaside. Certainly I would be happier (have more money, friends, maybe a girlfriend) on a day to day basis, but wouldn't have the time to write. If I am serious about being a writer, it makes sense to stick it out here...

I think I'm just struggling to blow into my own sails at the moment. It can be hard to push forward when you have no help, and moving back to the coast  seems so very appealing. Truthfully it's not worth running away. I need to tough it out and see what I can get done.

This post seems to have turned more into a stream of conciousness moan. Not quite what I had intended. I shall wrap it up on the resolution to get the next piece of fiction written and submitted. I will endeavour to blog more regularly on how it's going.

Book Reviews.

I have a new review up on the UBG for My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher.

I haven't posted for a few weeks as I have been  busy reading and researching. I have been trying to get a better idea of the medical science behind exercise, to help me approach the fit for 30 challenge in a better fashion. I will post more on the BBE blog.

On the arts and writing side there is some news. It looks like my book reviews are going to change venue. Without wanting to go into details, the UBG stuff may be coming to an end. This poses an interesting question. I can shift my reviewing to Waterstones, and indeed I am signed up for proofs through the company. I have two sitting on my shelf waiting to be read and reviewed. However, to my mind, hosting them all through work seems to lack a certain artistic credibility.
I endeavour to keep a healthy distance between my work at the big W, and my writing. Although the two are somewhat entwined, I try not to bring my artistic endeavours through the front door.

This leaves me wondering if I should find another review site to host my scribbles. I could always stop writing anything but the work related reviews, but that seems a waste. The third option is that I could push this blog into a review blog. I admit that this option is tempting, but troublesome in its own ways. I would have carte blanche to review anything, but would have to foster strong relationships with the publishers, which is a lot of work. It's not impossible, but would take up all of my free time outside of work; leaving no time for writing.

I don't think it's wise to lose the writing time, even if I'm not yet committed to a new project yet. Ultimately that is where my career, life, etc lie. It makes the most sense to ask around and find a new reviewing venue.

Reading

I have been reading from the Oxford Journals today. It's dense, complicated theory that is rooted in many different academic fields. I possess nowhere near enough cultural critical or philosophy theory experience to fully appreciate the multidisciplinary nature of the work. I'm working on broadening my theory base, although it will be years before I can think on the same level as Dr Greg Garrard. It has suggested several new titles which I have added to the reading list. Ecocritical theory specific works that should be read.

I can't make my mind up whether it is comforting or infuriating to know that It will take me so many years of hard study to be near as good as these theorists. I'm a smart guy, with a 1st class research masters, but the sheer scope of some of the multidisciplinary research is near stupefying. I'm wading through the high end academia while reading from the bottom up too, with the hope that in a few years I will hit a happy medium where I can treat at something approximating the same rigour.

It leaves me arguing with myself on how far do I want to follow this route. Am I aiming to be a creative writing lecturer, or do I have my sights set on being a critical theorist? A blend of both is probably the healthiest choice. An area of expertise alongside the act of writing. Perhaps having been away from university for a handful of years is the reason for this feeling of stupidity. Like I'm wading through intellectual molasses. I shall persevere and push through. One laden step after another.

On a different note, I had some success with a new character, writing several brief sketches of exploration. I shall make sure to keep up with the practice alongside revisiting all elements of the writer's tool kit. It felt good to work on something new. A comfort to know I'm still capable, adept even, at drawing deeper connotation in simple prose.

It would seem I am right on track.

Back to basics: Character Construction.

I have spent a lot of time working on illustrations, and testing formats for rewriting my research dissertation and intend to keep chipping away at the project, however I feel that I'm ignoring working on new pieces of writing. It will be great to get the dissertation rewritten, but if it's at the cost of any new works then it's not beneficial at all.

To rectify this I have spent the last week looking at my old works, and deciding on the element I miss most in my writing. I have come to the conclusion that I need to work on characterisation.

My previous work has always stemmed from and revolved around a particular or singular theory. Most commonly psychological literary theory. The characters I have created have always been designed to service and further the exploration of these ideas. In and of itself this isn't necessarily a bad focus, however if it leaves me incapable of creating dynamic realistic characters outside of a narrative focus, then it leaves me lacking.

I have dug up the old character construction check lists that I used to use, and will be spending a few weeks exploring the ways of creating characters, and the important aspects to be included. I'm hoping this will organically lead to some small character driven pieces of fiction or poetry.

While I'm working on the various forms of research I have tabled to complete, I see no reason why not, in fact it seems healthier to, re-familiarise myself with the core base of any narrative; that is the people within.

Time to put my head back into my university readers, and the Creative Writing Coursebook.

Day to day work.

It has been a productive day or so far. I am working on compiling reading lists for ecocritical studies. If I want to do my Phd, and take it down that route, I need to start my research now. I have compiled a cursory list to start. It should grow as I find differing routes to search. The texts are not all strictly critical theory, with some standard non-fiction fare to push my general interest in the area further.

I am also working on the format tests for the illustrated portions of my reworked dissertation. I will post up an example once I'm done.

New illustration added.

I have finally finished the last of the new Oxford images I wanted to create. I shall play around with formatting for the pages that are completed using the new illustrations. If I'm pleased with the results I shall post something of them up here.

I'm getting into a better routine now that my part-time job is stable. I'm spending a lot of time working on The Big Body Edit, but I shall be putting more of my time into getting creative projects furthered. I have been sourcing some new research materials for the next project (not Phd based) that I want to tackle after my dissertation is reworked. I have also found some very interesting bases for altering the format of the prose for portions of the dissertation. The City and the City by China Mieville has given me a lot of ideas. My aim is to spend some time over the next few weeks seeing how this can apply to my work.

I'm feeling excited about the next few weeks. I must remember to take the time to read my next book for review too. It's amazing how time flies.

The Big Body Edit.

Sorry it has been a couple days since my last post. I have created a new side blog called The Big Body Edit. Its purpose is to chart my progress on my own 'Fit for 30' campaign. Many thanks to David at Oppose/Edit for giving me the idea. I intend to well and truly entangle my creative endeavours with my health and fitness activities, as I feel that a healthy body leads to a healthy more creative mind. I hope that if you choose to check it out that you find it interesting.