My creative writing university course is going well, and I finished unit one of the second year in the summer of 2022. I want to share the process of how I completed it, as well as the pathways I chose for my second year. As I am one of the first students going through the second year of the course with the Open College of the Arts, I thought others would want to know what it is like. Creative Writing University Course: my chosen pathways We had applied for me to start my course in September, only to find it Read More
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Why I Loved Visiting Baddesley Clinton
Baddesley Clinton is a house that the National Trust runs, and there is a lot of history surrounding the place. If you want to visit the National Trust website to find out more, you can find it here. Baddesley Clinton is in the West Midlands, and it is a rural area. Baddesley Clinton History The house was first built in the 1400s, but very little of it survives today. The Ferrers family, particularly Edward Ferrers, constructed the manor house we see today. The moat was created in the thirteenth century. However, it was at a later period that it was Read More
Why I Love Writing Fanfiction
I have written fanfiction for years, and have accounts on several different fanfiction websites. For me, fanfiction is a safe place for me to go when I find I cannot cope. It is one of the ways I kept my stress levels down when I was at school, and even now, I find myself relying on writing fanfiction a lot. Fanfiction websites I use I use three fanfiction websites to read and upload my work: fanfiction.net, Wattpad, and Archive of Our Own (also known as A03). These days, I use Wattpad and Archive of Our Own more than fanfiction.net, but I still read work on that Read More
Why I Found Scriptwriting Difficult
While I was completing my first year at the Open College of the Arts, I had to choose two elective units; and one of these was scriptwriting. I enjoyed the other unit I completed, which was writing the first five chapters of a novel. However, I found Scriptwriting particularly difficult. I appreciated a couple of aspects of the course, but I found it more challenging than the other two units I completed for the first year. In September 2021, while I was completing my final assignment for Scriptwriting, the entire Creative Writing course changed. So, I will review the unit that I finished. Scriptwriting with the Open Read More
Special Interests: Creatable World
Creatable World is a doll line now discontinued by Mattel. These dolls are gender-neutral, making them easily customisable with different hair, clothes and accessories. While you cannot easily swap the wigs as the dolls have different hair colours and textures, it is easy to mix and match the clothes and accessories across the line. Mattel created dolls with different skin tones and hair colours, and textures. They made different types of packs, fashion packs that contain a mixture of clothes, shoes and hats. Many of these are clothes or accessories available with the deluxe packs, which also include a doll Read More
Special interests: Historical Fiction
I enjoy reading historical fiction because all of the characters and settings are mostly in place. It also shows the reader that the author can do their research. I love the feeling when the author gets something right; it shows the passion they have for their work. With any genre in fiction, it is easy not to describe things in the detail they need. Still, some authors go above and beyond to give the reader the full experience. The best authors do not focus on sight alone; but also bring in other senses, such as hearing, smell and touch. Reading Read More
Special Interests: The Sims 4
My special interest in The Sims 4 is a bit of a strange one. I enjoy playing the game and watching videos about it, but I don’t play it as often as I would like to. That reason is due to my creative writing course with The Open College of the Arts. However, I have found that The Sims 4 can help me create my characters. The Sims 4: The Base Game The base game of The Sims 4 includes three worlds; Willow Creek, Newcrest and Oasis Springs. Each of them is a different setting, so Oasis Springs is a Read More
Creative Writing for Beginners: Completing the first unit with the Open College of the Arts
Creative writing for beginners can be tricky. Some don’t know where to start, and I want to help budding writers make a decision. Now that I have completed the first unit for my Creative Writing course with the Open College of the Arts, I decided to explain my journey with the university. I enjoyed most of it, and I will use this post to cover both the parts I struggled with and the parts I enjoyed. Creative Writing for Beginners: the first unit with the Open College of the Arts The first unit of the Creative Writing course is called Read More
Special Interests: SIX the Musical
My interest in Six the Musical began soon after I finished my A-levels. Britain’s Got Talent was on, and Mum was watching it. She found out about it and showed it to me. After that, I became obsessed with it (which is the proper word for it this time). Most of the time, I would use Special Interests, but obsession seems more appropriate for my interest in SIX. SIX the Musical- Countdown to seeing the show As SIX the Musical was going on tour, Mum and I booked to view it. My interest kept growing, and for my birthday, I Read More
Special Interests: Sylvanian Families
Sylvanian families is another of my special interests as I enjoy setting up the two tables I have to make scenes with them. Starting in Japan, 1985, Sylvanian Families (known as Calico Critters in other parts of the world) recently celebrated their thirtieth anniversary. This toy is popular due to the animals used since they are adorable as well as encouraging children to use their imaginations to create new stories with them. The main reason I love Sylvanian Families is that I can make things for them. Some of the buildings I currently have on my table I made with Read More