Monday, April 23, 2007

Easter Holidays - a time for relaxation and writing.

Well here I am, finally getting round to writing about my Easter Holidays. The two weeks were rather interesting for a variety of reasons. I wanted to go away, even just for a night, to get away from everything normal and be able to chill out and relax but I didn't get the chance. I did however do many things that was quite good. Firstly I've been driving. It is a little bit scary but also fun and will provide with me so much freedom once/ if I manage to learn everything and pass my test although I don't expect it will happen for quite a little while yet lol. Other things I have done include going to a random pond to sit and relax, going canoeing, going to Littlehampton, going to the Isle of Wight (Alum bay/needles = gorgeous views, almost tropical - clear sea, awesome cliffs lol). Also went to a party although that can't be counted under the list of relaxing things lol but it was fun. My bf did however go away for a week and leave me, however that turned out okay as it gave me some time to attempt to find myself again and try to arrange/make sense of my thoughts which probably makes no sense or sounds daft but there you go I probably am lol. I did some reminiscing about younger me whilst listening to Alistair Griffin's album which I hadn't listened to in quite a while which was fun and a bit sad at the same time for various reasons. I also realised how much I have changed in different ways over the last few years.

I have also been occupying myself by means of writing a book. It's a semi-biographical story with Beth being the main character. Towards the beginning, it is very much based on true events however details and characters have been altered/exaggerated/imagined along the way, As the story goes on, partly because it will reach a point at which I currently am so will have to, events will begin to be completely made up however Beth is very much me in many ways and her feelings and opinions for the most part will most likely be my own. So far I have about 115 pages (although it is a small book - which happens to be made of black fabric for the cover and oldy looking cream pages inside which attracted me lol) but I am adding to it almost every day. Having read it back to myself I have wondered if it is indeed too personal and if anyone whom the event concerned at the time read it they may realise which may not necessarily be bad but I'm not sure. The story really is a love story, describing a girl's journey through love and life (starting at college age), showing the temptations and disappointments as well as the good things that life often brings. I decided not to include too much technology in my story as I think books should be an escape from those things which is why I love Harry Potter as in the wizarding world they do not really encounter a lot of technology, and to me that benefits them and the story itself. I also love Jane Austen (mainly Pride and Prejudice) and the time period in which her books are set as I love their way of life and their language usage, because of this the way in which I tell my story, in parts has the feel of such books. I have tried to replace more modern things in my book with more old fashioned things although the story is still rally set in the present. Perhaps in a village where old traditions are still adhered to and technology and all such things associated with modern times are not as evident or important. I do kind of have ideas as to where my story is going and how it will end although there are a lot of areas in which I am still unsure, I don't have a title for it either yet, that may not be properly decided upon until the book is finished. After I have written it, if indeed I do finish it, which I hope I do, depending on how long it ends up being I don't know what I'll do with it or if I will let many people read it. Not without cutting bits out or changing things anyway. So far only my bf has read all of it and even then I wonder if I reveal too much of myself inside the words. I guess that is what sometimes makes a good book though, when you get to see inside of somebody else, spend a bit of time in their mind and get an idea of what they are like. Then again to most people who do not know me it will just be a character.

Now though, it is back to college and preparing for the slightly worringly fast, approaching exams which I'm sure you will probably all hear about at some point. I actually sometimes enjoy exams which probably makes me sound rather nerdy indeed, and well partly, I am but these I am not so as I didn't do as well as I'd hoped in the January ones so have re-sits as well as the May/June ones which is going to be added stress and revision and confusion so I worry I will not be able to do any better although hopefully if I get myself into gear and start revising and concentrating on college and the exams I might do. Talking of that, concentrating on college is a rather tricky thing to do when there are HP and POTC films coming out very soon. There is also this little thing of the LAST Harry Potter book being released, and although that is not until after my exams are finished, I would rather be re-reading books 1 -6 and participating in much theorising while I still can that revising for exams but oh well I guess I'll have to attempt some good time organisation/revision planning (hmmmm yea not a strong point, I like making plans/lists as I am that sort of person but sticking to the plans rarely proves to be so easy) and multi-tasking. I do ofcourse have my bf to keep me smiling through the stresses and upset (if Harry dies, which he won't do, hopefully) that may occur. So let the fun begin... :)

2 comments:

Corinne said...

"I wonder if I reveal too much of myself inside the words".

I think it's a worry lots of writers have; I've come to accept that some of my best writing comes at those moments when I'm willing to splash myself across a page and reveal all those things I wouldn't dare reveal face to face. And that's probably thrilling and terrifying in equal measures (I have never felt as naked as I did the first time I heard a group of strangers read my words). The writers who I love, whose words I return to again and again, are like friends precisely because I feel they allow me a peak into their world and the person they might be. The challenge is to balance the honesty and truth of the writing with a story that stands up on its own, away from you.

Jenny said...

Thanks for that reply, really interesting :) I think my problem is that I not only put myself and feelings into the story but I am the main character, for the beginning atleast, it is more like a diary, which if I was ever to take the book further I would probably change but for the purpose the book currently has, one just to amuse myself by writing and perhaps in a way accepting and moving on from some of the things that I have written about, then it does not matter too much that it is practically an overly descriptive diary in parts, aslong as, that is, I only let a few people read it.