ROW80-3 check in 8/05 - Alice and Curiosity
August 05, 2012
My focus the last few days was on my course. I finished doing my five evaluations by the Thursday noon deadline and handed them in. It was a good learning experience, we were to write 30-150 words on Form (use of language) and Content (the thesis). That same afternoon I got my three best assessments back from my reviewers. My average was 4 out of 6, which was good. Of the assessments' actual feedback, one was helpful, one was OK, one was in Spanish. What's with that? The course content, including the books, is all in English, and you're told to use English, yet - there it was. My concern was that if his/her English level is poor, how will they be able to understand my essay? I ran it through Google translate. Confusing. Then asked someone in the forum that was Spanish, she told me the original was just as confusing. Some people even got Spanish submissions sent to them - what a waste.
Next book was Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. A I'd mentioned I have a hard cover copy from the 60's of the annotated version, done by Martin Gardner, that was a delight to read. Done now, and have an essay idea drafted out.
I also did another Flash Fiction for Terrible Minds. This one asked us to write half from the perspective of the antagonist, and half from the perspective. I wasn't sure which was which when I finished but was fun.
Next few days? Essay for course, and another two stories for Wednesday. Plus, I need to think about submitting some more of my older ones to some places for cash. First step I guess is to list and see how many need more work to fine tune them. Or that could be added to now that I don't have the word count limits of the challenge.
And of course, Curiosity, as it lands in the wee small hours of Monday morning. Share the '7 minutes of hell' with Mission Control as they wait for the final landing. Here's a link to the NASA TV site.
Just for reference, my overall objectives for this ROW (which I never expect to meet all at the same time):
- Writer (8) - writing for fun, but also working to become a better writer. Writing every day, editing. Reading about writing, books and blogs, as well as networking.
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- Editing (1) - this will be a fixed early task. 2 hrs ?? 10 pages/day
- Due North. First pass pencil edit done. Now do online. Approx 315 double-spaced pages, starting at page 81.
- Due North 2 - sequel. About 260 pages. TBD – cleanup scenes synopsis and notes, print, revise, type in.
- Writing (1) - Flash Fiction stories. 2/wk, 3 hrs each, so an hour.
- Publishing (1/2) -nothing like rejection/acceptance to hone your skills
- Short Stories (1/4) – Flash fiction. New, or edit existing. Take from blog while submitting. Use market survey from Flash Fiction Chronicles, aim to send in one a week.
- Fairy Tale Folk (1/4)- pull them together into collection. Start with a spreadsheet – story, characters, their traits, their development, good for ongoing stories too. Edit if time. Not a high priority this round.
- Editing (1) - this will be a fixed early task. 2 hrs ?? 10 pages/day
- Learning/sharing (5 1/2)
- Blogs (1) - maybe too many subscriptions. Track them all for a week and rate them.
- Facebook (1) - ROW80 group, Ottawa Writers, Creative Writing Circle, and NaNoWriMo Ottawa.
- Podcasts (.5) - have set up a few, mostly on writing. Can follow these while walking or cooking.
- Reading (1) - non-fiction, to entertain and learn.
- Reading (0) - fiction, to entertain and learn (part of course now).
- Course –(2) Fantasy and Science Fiction. Reading, writing, critiques, videos
- Health (2 1/2) - not a lot of time, but needs to be a main item.
- Walking (1) - can be an evening activity too. With podcasts. Will aim for 10,000 steps.
- Exercise/sports (1/2) -Short morning yoga session. Floor exercises? Bike?
- Diet – Better food, less alcohol (healthier and cheaper).
- Schedule - hopefully this will be healthy addition too.
- Friends and family (1) - just to make sure don't get stuck inside doing all these tasks
- Chores (2) - the boring stuff. Cleaning, laundry, shopping. And taxes.
- TV (1)
- Total 13.5
I've always wondered how those courses work, Mike, but like you I had not anticipated foreign language as an issue. Nonetheless, the reading for the course sounds strong.
As you have said, your goals are quite "flexible" but there does seem a connectivity as well, a necessity, I think, for a writing life together. It's always interesting stopping by your blog. Best to you in this round.
Karen
Posted by: Kmhubersblog | August 07, 2012 at 01:48 PM