Monday 29 August 2011

Ideas are such fun!

Well, first I lob into the blogosphere thoughts about the nature of truth and untruth, and then it becomes something outside me, a discussion topic.  As well as the comments on this blog, I had emails, conversations with friends and family. Ideas on the nature of truth in fiction, history, even photography, as well as my original thoughts on memoir, all became part of the story. What fun! (If anyone has no clue what I'm talking about, click here to see what all the fuss is about.)

This is why I like ideas. They come out to play when you least expect it. You can throw them up in the air, see them tossed about and come down in a slightly different shape. They have become something different, reorganised, evolved.

Which is partly why I'm beginning and MA in Creative Writing this September.  Well, only partly.  It's mainly because it's what I feel like doing next.  But I couldn't write that on my personal statement (yes, I had to write a personal statement on my application form.  That was creative writing in the raw).  So I waffled about wanting my writing to improve, to 'get better' - whatever that means.  But basically I know I love it, want to do it, talk about it, think about it - and maybe even have something to show for myself at the end of it.

And yes, I'll be blogging about it.  But not about individuals, nor course grumbles, nor my thoughts on any one else's work.  Rather, it will be my reflections on my own efforts, and whether it is as exciting as I think it will be.  All those ideas to toss around - and who knows what shape my writing will be at the end of it. But that's the excitement, the joy of not-knowing.

And you - what would you do, if you could?  What unlikely course would you study, country you'd visit, remains you would excavate, scientific corner you'd - do whatever people do in scientific corners?  Okay, I know it's often not possible, but surely dreaming is fine.

(And yes, I know I'm self-publishing a book at the same time.  You don't need to remind me.  Thinking is in full spate in the self-publishing department.)

So, I now have student union card, and a bus pass.  Now, which will get me a better deal getting into the cinema . . .

13 comments:

  1. I'd learn to play the saxophone and study geology. Now why not!

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  2. Why not indeed. A house full of music and fossils - sounds fun to me.

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  3. I've long wanted to go back and work on a masters, but alas, it's not in the cards (for now). Keep up the excitement, run with it and have a blast and this will be an amazing experience. And good luck on the indie publishing thing. It's fun, excitement and terror all rolled into one!

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  4. Thanks, Heather - and don't give up on the masters' dream. Opportunities can creep up when you least expect them, so it's always worth having a few dreams up your sleeve for those surprise-days.

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  5. I would love to study Art History and travel to South Africa! Yes, I know the two don't go together! :)

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  6. Probably going to sound like a bore, but I'm doing the two things I've always dreamed of doing -- writing and taking horse-riding lessons. But I'd also love to go on safari (holding hubby to that one!) and study music.
    Good luck with your course! And I'd put my money on the student union card ;o)

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  7. Talli - no reason why you can't study Art History in South Africa (though you might need a detour to Italy)

    Joy - good for you, writing and horse-riding. What fun. And then music on Safari - that makes two of you heading for Africa. (pause for fantasy of writers trying to scribble in notebooks with binoculars trained on the elephants . . .)

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  8. Hi Jo,
    Wishing you good luck on your creative writing course!

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  9. Northern Lights.....

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  10. I would so love to do a masters in creative writing. One day, maybe. Best of luck with your course, I'm looking forward to hearing more about it.

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  11. Oh Elinor - I'm with your on the Northern Lights.

    Sarah - I hope you get to do one sometime. Learning is such fun. And I'll blog about it loads - so you are welcome to join in by proxy.

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  12. I want to travel the world, telling people about social anxiety, and having lots of fun. Good luck with the course.

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  13. Miriam - good for you. Hope you get to travel - it's just the best thing ever!

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