Week 12

Finally managed to finish ireflect proposal, a tale about a young lady named Snow. It's not how I originally visioned it to end, but I think/hope I have done it some small justice. I really liked Snows inner dialogue, she is youthful, witty and clearly selfish. 

I wasn't on the books to have Prince enter but I thought Snow's chapter ended on a high note. She has come tot he conclusion that she has fallen in love with Prince, and I had intended to have a chapter where she goes about 'fixing' the minor details of her image i.e. wearing proper female attire, and I thought about her inner struggle to deal with the foreign feelings in a comedic clumsy manner.

Prince's dialogue seemed a little more appealing as he introduces himself as someone who has quite snobbish mannerisms. So to counteract Snows fluffy dialogue, I wanted Prince's to be a bipolar of her later inner dialogue where she realizes her true feelings. Prince appears normal at first, but then he turns and his inner dialogue becomes darker, with an evil twist and cruel intentions in mind.

This final entry for ireflect has been particularly hard, because I can see why I have had minimal feedback from peers. My work produced thus far plays no bearing on what I know I can do. I am just really disappointed because I know I can do better, I will just have to try harder next year. I've managed to place feedback on a few proposals though. Thanks to Farish and Shay I've fixed minor errors and as for Farish wanting to know the outcome of Snow, I have left the ending unfinished for his own interpretation of an ending.

 

Week 10-11

So the last couple of blogs (7-9) have been my thoughts about this paper and how I've struggled to keep up with everything. The saying goes, "everything happens for a reason". Well sometimes you really have to question WHY everything happens for a reason. Couldn't it be because it's lifes way of turning everything upside down once in a while just to see if your going to sink or float? Sink and your completely incapable of a little change, or if your one of the fortunate who float then life is just peachy for you isn't it? 

Right about now, I'm saying to myself "Belinda, you've become somewhat cynical or jaded in the past couple of months", and maybe I have. I could blame it on the aging process OR I can buck up, shut up and persevere. I'll take the later please.

When I first thought of a topic for this Brief, I didn't take into account the amount of time I needed to allocate myself to be able to complete it successfully. There are a few things that I will need to tidy up before submitting i.e. I will need to go back and do a brief summary of Oscar Wilde and complete the definition of genres, and it shouldn't take too long. If I had done this earlier in the semester, I wouldn't find myself in the predicament I do now.

Initially the idea was to write a short story every week, and focus on different genres, but in hindsight I have clearly overcompensated myself to this task. I didn't take into account how much thought was needed in planning a piece, or that I would need to do some research (although small a task it was) on various authors. It obviously didn't pan out the way I thought it would. However, I did receive back some positive feedback from a couple of students who enjoyed my story and advised that I should perhaps continue with the one I have posted for week 6. So, I've decided to heed their advice and continue with Snow. Thankyou for the advice guys :))

I was told by one of my friends that we have until end of week 13 to complete our briefs. This alleviates some of the pressure, but not the disappointment I feel in knowing that I could've done so much better. Final blog post in a few days upon completion and submission of Brief 2.

Week 7-9

Well, after a pretty much crappy start to 2011, it didn't seem to improve at the start of Sem 2. I quite often ask myself if should have thought about taking some time off to deal with what was happening in my personal life. But that's all in the past, and i've struggled to keep up with a couple of papers, and unfortunately this was one of them. Perseverance Belinda! Onwards and upwards, so they say.

Week 6

This week I'll be taking a small glimpse into the life of Oscar Wilde as per my proposal.

I really enjoyed the thought and writing process that went into this weeks short story, and  it didn't take as long as I thought it would to pen down, but at the same time I feel slightly  apprehensive about the product. I tried to create something slightly delightful keeping things light with Snows inner dialogue.

It's a modern take on the Snow White fairy tale but it still maintains the tradition of girl meets Prince charming with those modern elements. I have a 9 year old niece who is an AMAZING writer. Her stories are comedic, some are dark, and a couple have such strong opening paragraphs that at times it's hard to believe that a 9 year old child possesses an amazingly articulate vocabulary. She is the inspiration and main drive behind this particular story. A true believer in love at first sight, this is for her. I hope I've done it some small justice, and I am really anticipating constructive feedback from other members in the forum.

Looking forward to week 7's installment.

Week 5

Week 5, the beginning of my digital asset proposal. I thought I would start off with the rather uncomplicated task of doing a brief definition of the following genres that I will be featuring in my short stories

• Comedy
• Drama
• Horror
• Romance
• Fantasy
• Periodical

I have also managed to post a short summary of the short story for week 6, as well as a draft.

For week 6 I'll be writing a short story named Snow, and for the most part it's a parody on fairy tales.

Week 4

At this point we are in week 4, and I am struggling to choose between 2 topics for a proposal for Brief 2 which is required to be submitted by this coming Friday. I have skimmed through example topics that Frank has posted online from previous ireflect students, and am at this point contemplating English: creative writing - original story vs English: movie reviews.

The later is second choice because I enjoy watching movies with a well executed plot line. I appreciate a movie that is riveting and compelling enough to move an audience to have the desire to attend another viewing. In our household, movie night tends to turn into a debate over everyones critical analysis of the movie, followed by a quick debate before another is thrown into the player for more verbal whalloping that is sure to follow.

As for my first choice, I have been told I have a vivid imagination when it comes to story time with my nieces and nephews, so perhaps I feel obligated to write an original piece in the hopes of achieving their approval. They may be in their early pre-teens but they really enjoy a good story just as much as I do. IF I decide to run with this topic, I will not produce a watered down insipid story about a spectacle wearing boy wizard nor shall it be a piece about a typical formulaic plot structured romantic story of unrequited love. They would never forgive me.

I've finally had some free time to work on part 1 of brief 1which is defining an e-portfolios; it's functions and purposes. There were so many resources online, that finding one appropriate that had not been used was not so difficult a task if not time consuming.

TBC Friday

Week 4 - Cntd

So this week I was pressed for time. Everybody seemed to have the same information in terms of defining e-portfolios and reflective practises so there was no way to get around that other than to post what everyone else had. It was good to have Nia join the forum I had created for those of us doing creative writing. Yet another being to bounce ideas off and get critical feedback. Likewise I will ofcourse return the favour.

After submitting my views to Frank Sunday night, I thought of an interesting idea for a plotline which, I will go into more detail in Brief 2 view. It centers around the inner narrative of a fairytale character and an unfortunate meeting with a chap for whom she has an extreme dislike for. I couldn't wait so I started a draft which I shall post week 5. Week 6 I will post the finished story.

Week 3

I have never read so much in my entire life (small fib). Once upon a time I actually enjoyed picking up a novel and have the text laid out before me like a meal, my mind ingesting every tasty morsel. Now all I see are "what is an e-portfolio" .
Having said that, I have come to the conclusion that my frustration is born out of disatisfaction of my own time management. Or lack of.
I shall endeavour to persevere and complete Brief 1 by Friday Aug 12th. mahara has finally decided to make sense, we now speak the same jargon.

Week 1-2

mahara is definitely interesting in terms of being user friendly. Remaining positive about the confusing NON user friendly functions of mahara is fast becoming a thinly veiled mask of patience. Argh!