Dissertation, Reading and Writing

Posted on December 5, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

A quick update this week. I received my proposal for my Dissertation which is worth 12.5% of the final grade. Had some very good feedback and graded at A-. Cannot believe that. Was hoping for a C. It is completely beyond my expectations. After having to change it near enough last minute, I still can’t believe I did well. 

I’ve read The Hunting of the Snark for tomorrow’s Victorian Wonders module. Enjoyed it. I haven’t read much of Lewis Carroll but so far everything I have read has been the good kind of strange and I like the good kind of strange. 

I now have to go and quickly write something about walking through a door for Fiction. I have 5 words in my head so far. Hopefully more will follow. 

Thanks for reading, 

Ashley. 

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One Year Later

Posted on November 28, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

It’s been 1 year to the day that I started this website. I feel like I’ve been doing it for a lot longer than that, but that’s because I enjoy it so much. I was working on a short story to upload today but I also have an exam tomorrow. I’m focusing on that, but the short story will be uploaded by the end of the week. It’s the next part to New Beginnings. I don’t know if it would take place immediately after the previous part, but it’s set shortly afterwards. I’m still not sure whether to put more time into the piece or not. 

Thank you everyone who has been on here, followed me and left feedback. I appreciate it all. I’ve learnt a lot about writing through this website and hope to learn a lot more. It has been more amazing than I could ever have imagined. Thank you.

Today also marks the release date of Infinity #6. The final part to the main arc of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers story line. I was not disappointed. It felt epic and read really well. With most superhero comics you know the good guys will win the end but that doesn’t matter when the journey is brilliant. The latest issues of Hawkeye and Saga didn’t fail to impress either. Those are my favourite comics of last year and I’m glad to see they are still as strong as ever. 

University has been quite this week. Much of the same, apart from having a dissertation meeting yesterday. Just a little reminder that we have deadlines and should be working towards them.

The Day of the Doctor was more than I could have hoped for. Good story that brought the 3 doctors together without making it seemed forced or stupid. Really celebrated 50 years. Loved how all of the doctors were there to save Gallifrey. The Christmas special looks very good as well. I have high hopes for a good final episode for Matt Smith.

Thanks for reading,

Ashley. 

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Finding Old Stuff

Posted on November 25, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

Over the weekend me and my brother wanted to play Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo. One of the first games either of us ever played. I found out the old shoe box that contained it all and we set it up. It’s been at least 10 years since we actually played this seriously. Both of us at some point has played the first couple of levels, but never got that far. This time was different. We had a goal. So far we have gotten quite a bit through the game. Nearly at the end. (We haven’t done that many secret levels. Just the main ones.) I’m enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. It really is a great game. 

While I was looking for the old shoe box I found a note book from about 5/6 years ago. Green cover, thin A4 pages, scribbled notes in the first 20-30 pages. Something I thought I lost a long time ago. It was a story I started writing years ago, but it still keeps on coming back to me. I always assumed the note book was gone, and intended on one day writing it again. It was a real shock that it has been under my bed for so long. I used to write one page a day, in very small and nearly unreadable writing. As with many of my writing attempts I didn’t get that far with it, but unlike many of my writing attempts I’ve never forgotten about it. (It’s really weird finding something from 5-6 years ago and thinking “Did I write this?” I have always wanted to write. For as long as I can remember I’ve had some kind of project going. I have a chest full of paper with stories scribbled all over them. Most of them are copies of things I was reading or watching at the time.)

The story I found was about 3 sibblings (one girl and two boys) who decide to go out into the sea to follow the trail their dad left a couple of years before, when he went missing. I haven’t read it all back yet, but I will do over the next couple of days. I’m thinking about writing it up and putting bits of it on here. We’ll see when the time comes. 

Thanks for reading, 

Ashley. 

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Picasso Place by Reece Chambers

Posted on November 23, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

A good friend is writing a short story that he is uploading in several parts onto his website. I would appreciate it if you would have a look. 

Part 1.1  

Part 1.2

If you have any feedback you can leave it there, or here and I will give it to him.  

Many thanks, 

Ashley. 

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Progress

Posted on November 20, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

For the first time in quite a while I feel like I’m doing well with my writing. With over 1000 words a day I’m getting through the book quickly. I know the rest of the plot and the start of the next one. I don’t know when I will finish this one, but It’s not that far away.

I’m reading Through the Looking Glass for the Victorian Wonders module at uni. I’ve read adaptations and seen various films but never read the original book. It’s weirder than I could have ever guessed but I’m enjoying it. I like weird things. There is a sense of logic to everything. I will read Alice in Wonderland afterwards, probably over Christmas. 

Jake Bugg’s new album came out on Monday. I’ve listened to it a couple of times. First impression is quite good. Not sure if it’s better than his first album, but I really like it. Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones put their album, Foreverly on Amazon to stream for free. It’s a rerecording of Songs Our Daddy Taught Us by The Everly Brothers. It’s surprisingly good. I’ve only listened to it once, and will again soon. It’s a nice little album. 

I’ve reread and caught up with Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers comic run in time for the end of Infinity next week. It’s so much better on the second reading when I know whats coming and can see it being set up. I find that most of Hickman’s writing is better on the second reading. 

I’m really looking forward to the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. Everything has been leading to this. The mini episode they put on youtube last week was great. It’s good to see Paul McGann back. I hope he gets to do more episodes in some way. Either online or appear in full episodes. I think the episode at the weekend will be even better. The trailer looks great and at any rate it will be good to see David Tennant back. 

I’m off to try and write about entering a city/town for fiction. I’m not expecting it to go that well, but oh well. 

Thanks for reading,

Ashley. 

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