Comments for Isabella Black http://www.isabellablack.co.uk Some ramblings and stuff Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:32:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 Comment on Another TMA result, another disappointment by Jenny Kline http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2010/03/12/another-tma-result-another-disappointment/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Jenny Kline Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:32:03 +0000 http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2010/03/12/another-tma-result-another-disappointment/#comment-172 Pack it in. You got a high mark for your fist tma because it was very good. I like your writing, not everyone likes lots of detail and swirly twirly metaphors. You are passing well above average. Forget the poems. Concenrate on your strengths, not your weaknesses. Pack it in. You got a high mark for your fist tma because it was very good. I like your writing, not everyone likes lots of detail and swirly twirly metaphors. You are passing well above average. Forget the poems. Concenrate on your strengths, not your weaknesses.

]]> Comment on TMA 02 is looming by sophie http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/29/tma-02-is-looming/comment-page-1/#comment-171 sophie Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:45:19 +0000 http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/29/tma-02-is-looming/#comment-171 Hi! I am on the A215 too and have just come across your blog - will ad you to my blog roll - more posts please (or did the poetry section wear you out? ;) Sophie Hi! I am on the A215 too and have just come across your blog – will ad you to my blog roll – more posts please (or did the poetry section wear you out? ;)

Sophie

]]> Comment on TMA 02 is looming by Rebecca Alexander http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/29/tma-02-is-looming/comment-page-1/#comment-163 Rebecca Alexander Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:16:20 +0000 http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/29/tma-02-is-looming/#comment-163 Write, write! I'm a very short writer, usually struggle to get to 1500 words, so this time I had 4 scenes, I know a bit extended for a short story, but I find I write 4 intense scenes better than 1 or 2 long, dreamy ones. If you have a story maybe you can chop it into bite size bits and go for it. Your blog is so fluent, surely your fiction is too! Good luck with move/TMA and all... Write, write! I’m a very short writer, usually struggle to get to 1500 words, so this time I had 4 scenes, I know a bit extended for a short story, but I find I write 4 intense scenes better than 1 or 2 long, dreamy ones. If you have a story maybe you can chop it into bite size bits and go for it. Your blog is so fluent, surely your fiction is too! Good luck with move/TMA and all…

]]> Comment on TMA 02 is looming by Isabella http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/29/tma-02-is-looming/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Isabella Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:36:36 +0000 http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/29/tma-02-is-looming/#comment-161 Thanks Jenny I agree it doesn't have to be a brilliant idea but it needs to be an idea that will fit into 2,200 words. Although going by previous experience, I can usually cram a story into about one hundred words; I'm not exactly an overwriter! I'm going to stick with what I've come up with so far and just see what develops. I'm assuming that the only way to actually fail the course is not to write anything at all or not stick within the guidelines? Surely no one's that bad that they could actually fail by being too crap? After struggling with the commentary for A174 (got stuck after 43 words, when 300 were called for), I found that the easiest part of TMA1. Thanks for the nagging and the offer of a crit (which I'll take you up on when I've finally got 2,200 words down). If you want me to look at yours again, send it over. Thanks Jenny

I agree it doesn’t have to be a brilliant idea but it needs to be an idea that will fit into 2,200 words. Although going by previous experience, I can usually cram a story into about one hundred words; I’m not exactly an overwriter!

I’m going to stick with what I’ve come up with so far and just see what develops. I’m assuming that the only way to actually fail the course is not to write anything at all or not stick within the guidelines? Surely no one’s that bad that they could actually fail by being too crap?

After struggling with the commentary for A174 (got stuck after 43 words, when 300 were called for), I found that the easiest part of TMA1.

Thanks for the nagging and the offer of a crit (which I’ll take you up on when I’ve finally got 2,200 words down). If you want me to look at yours again, send it over.

]]> Comment on TMA 02 is looming by Rachel Carter http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/29/tma-02-is-looming/comment-page-1/#comment-160 Rachel Carter Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:36:35 +0000 http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/29/tma-02-is-looming/#comment-160 Do it - Goddamnit! Do it – Goddamnit!

]]> Comment on TMA 02 is looming by Jenny Kline http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/29/tma-02-is-looming/comment-page-1/#comment-159 Jenny Kline Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:28:49 +0000 http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/29/tma-02-is-looming/#comment-159 Just sit down and write the god damn bloody thing. I'm happy to crit it WHEN it's done. Had a bit of a go at the commentary today but I'm a bit tired of it and want to get rid of it now! Don't worry too much about a brilliant idea, although it's more satisfying to write a brilliant story, for the purpose of the TMA you just need to include the basics so just write about anything - maybe an autobiographical experience? A twist on a story you've been told? Someone has just asked if Magical Elf should both be capitals. I'd love to know what their story is all about? Get on with it then... All the best jenny Just sit down and write the god damn bloody thing.
I’m happy to crit it WHEN it’s done.
Had a bit of a go at the commentary today but I’m a bit tired of it and want to get rid of it now!
Don’t worry too much about a brilliant idea, although it’s more satisfying to write a brilliant story, for the purpose of the TMA you just need to include the basics so just write about anything – maybe an autobiographical experience? A twist on a story you’ve been told?
Someone has just asked if Magical Elf should both be capitals. I’d love to know what their story is all about?
Get on with it then…
All the best
jenny

]]> Comment on Interrupted in the most haunted village in Britain by Isabella http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/10/26/interrupted-in-the-most-haunted-village-in-britain/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Isabella Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:02:29 +0000 http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/10/26/interrupted-in-the-most-haunted-village-in-britain/#comment-158 Hi Mary I did write her down in my notebook just after I left the graveyard. She didn't completely ruin my day, did she? She made my blog post far more interesting that it would have been otherwise. Creative licence and all that. Hi Mary

I did write her down in my notebook just after I left the graveyard. She didn’t completely ruin my day, did she? She made my blog post far more interesting that it would have been otherwise. Creative licence and all that.

]]> Comment on Interrupted in the most haunted village in Britain by Mary http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/10/26/interrupted-in-the-most-haunted-village-in-britain/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Mary Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:00:40 +0000 http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/10/26/interrupted-in-the-most-haunted-village-in-britain/#comment-154 Y'know, I wonder if you could have used the old woman in your freewrite? She must have been interesting to look at, to listen to - even if she annoyed you - and perhaps that annoyance could have worked its way into your freewriite too. What was she like? What was she wearing, what did she smell like, what was her voice like - did it remind you of anybody... etc etc etc. Instead of letting her ruin your day, she might have made your day if you'd spent some of your talent on her. Mary Y’know, I wonder if you could have used the old woman in your freewrite? She must have been interesting to look at, to listen to – even if she annoyed you – and perhaps that annoyance could have worked its way into your freewriite too. What was she like? What was she wearing, what did she smell like, what was her voice like – did it remind you of anybody… etc etc etc. Instead of letting her ruin your day, she might have made your day if you’d spent some of your talent on her. Mary

]]> Comment on Freewriting with Write or Die by Natalie E Bowers http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/07/freewriting-with-write-or-die/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Natalie E Bowers Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:38:31 +0000 http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/07/freewriting-with-write-or-die/#comment-146 Hi. :-) I read something the other day that helped me get my TMA of the ground. It said something along the lines of 'You don't just need a situation for a story, you need a complication as well.' Perhaps you could have something happen to your girl on the Vespa. Just think about her riding along and imagine what might happen to her. Does she see something that makes her crash? Does she blow a tyre? Does she spot an ex-boyfriend? Does she come across and accident and save someone's life? Or have her come out of her apartment in the morning to find her Vespa gone. Who might have taken it? Why? Where are they going? Maybe she comes out of work and finds a note from a secret admirer stuck to the bike? Or a note from an angry motorist? Or a parking ticket? Maybe the Vespa gets vandalised and she has to take the bus to work. Or maybe her mother tells her she's too old to ride a bike and should grow up and drive a car. Try throwing a spanner in the works and see where that takes you. I often find that I find out more about my characters by putting them in a scene and writing about them than I do if I just try to come up with them in isolation. Alternatively you could come up with a character checklist such as the one outlined at the top of p74 of the BRB. Hope some of this helps. :-) Hi. :-) I read something the other day that helped me get my TMA of the ground. It said something along the lines of ‘You don’t just need a situation for a story, you need a complication as well.’ Perhaps you could have something happen to your girl on the Vespa. Just think about her riding along and imagine what might happen to her. Does she see something that makes her crash? Does she blow a tyre? Does she spot an ex-boyfriend? Does she come across and accident and save someone’s life? Or have her come out of her apartment in the morning to find her Vespa gone. Who might have taken it? Why? Where are they going? Maybe she comes out of work and finds a note from a secret admirer stuck to the bike? Or a note from an angry motorist? Or a parking ticket? Maybe the Vespa gets vandalised and she has to take the bus to work. Or maybe her mother tells her she’s too old to ride a bike and should grow up and drive a car. Try throwing a spanner in the works and see where that takes you. I often find that I find out more about my characters by putting them in a scene and writing about them than I do if I just try to come up with them in isolation. Alternatively you could come up with a character checklist such as the one outlined at the top of p74 of the BRB. Hope some of this helps. :-)

]]> Comment on Freewriting with Write or Die by Rachel http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/07/freewriting-with-write-or-die/comment-page-1/#comment-145 Rachel Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:21:13 +0000 http://www.isabellablack.co.uk/2009/12/07/freewriting-with-write-or-die/#comment-145 How strange. I'm reading timjnx's reply apparently posted at 3:23 and yet it is only 3:20... How strange. I’m reading timjnx’s reply apparently posted at 3:23 and yet it is only 3:20…

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