The Following, Vampires and noisy neighbours

Posted on February 12, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

I haven’t done any writing relevant to my stories this week. Just been a lazy week, although I plan on getting on with some now. I reached that part in the novel where I have to really force myself to carry on writing. Soon enough the story will take over and it will practically finish itself. It’s just getting through this bit.

I finally got some decent sleep last night. After 4 weeks of constant noise next week they seem to have knocked themselves out. Either that or they’ve moved into that tent which has popped up outside. They have a tiny front garden, which has a tree and a wrecked car in it. Overnight last Wednesday a tent popped up. It wasn’t there at around 11 but was there after a very noisy night. They’ve put the car in it. I’m guessing that is where they go to make noise.

Is anyone else watching The Following with Kevin Bacon? It’s actually really good and is becoming a highlight of TV each week. My only worry is that it becomes a generic moster-of-the-week show with nothing separating it from everything else. It is looking like it is going down that route, but I hope it doesn’t. Either way it is a very good show at the moment, and I’m enjoying it.

I watched House at the End of the Street recently. I was expecting a good horror story that would be a bit jumpy and have a good plot. The fact that Jennifer Lawrence was in it made me expect more. I was disappointed beyond belief. The film is awful. It’s beyond bad. Full of clichés, bad acting and a bad plot it is surely one of the worst high-budget films of last year. The only redeeming factor was that some of it was so bad I laughed. Maybe I was expecting too much. Even so borrowing plots from every other horror going is not a good way to make a film. Sinister came out this week and I was planning on getting it. Not sure now. Maybe I’ll just wait for Silent Hill Revelations before being disappointed again. I’ve been looking forward to that since the last one, and am really disappointed at the reviews. I will still get it though.

At uni this week we have started the Vampire section of the Gothic module. I’ve been looking forward to this. Carmilla was this week, followed by Dracula. I’ve heard of Carmilla, but I’ve never read it. I sat down on Sunday and read it cover to cover (Not hard considering it is 80 pages). It’s a really good book, but maybe I’m biased. I love 19th century books, especially the Gothic ones. I know I’m going to love Dracula, I’ve read that more times than I can count. I will read it again though. I did Dracula for A-level and used to finish it in my free periods and then start it again a minute later. I don’t care about weird looks from friends, or that the cover has nearly fallen off, its the only book I can do that too and I’m looking forward to read it again. It would be weird if I hated it this time. And I hope the lecture doesn’t ruin it for me. My opinions been changed because of lectures before.

Thanks for reading,

Ashley.

On another subject I am currently looking for some writers to help me review things for a side-project. A website called Geeks of the Round Table, which reviews everything from books to games. Click here for more details. I look forward to here from you.

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Sylvia Plath

Posted on February 11, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

Morning Song by Sylvia Plath

Love set you going like a fat gold watch.
The midwife slapped your footsoles, and your bald cry
Took its place among the elements.

Our voices echo, magnifying your arrival. New statue.
In a drafty museum, your nakedness
Shadows our safety. We stand round blankly as walls.

I’m no more your mother
Than the cloud that distills a mirror to reflect its own slow
Effacement at the wind’s hand.

All night your moth-breath
Flickers among the flat pink roses. I wake to listen:
A far sea moves in my ear.

One cry, and I stumble from bed, cow-heavy and floral
In my Victorian nightgown.
Your mouth opens clean as a cat’s. The window square

Whitens and swallows its dull stars. And now you try
Your handful of notes;
The clear vowels rise like balloons.

1961

 

50 years ago today Sylvia Plath took her own life. She was one of the best writers of the 20th century with very popular poetry and one novel. Her novel, The Bell Jar, is one of my favourite things ever written. It’s hard to imagine that something written over half a century ago is still relevant and emotionally provoking as that novel is. This book shouldn’t be saved for University students it should be taught at GCSE level. This is a book that I think everyone should read.

Plath had a troubled life, with a failing marriage and a sense of abandonment with her father. He died very early in her life. The first thing that many people think about on the subject of Plath is her suicide. It shouldn’t be. What people should think about is her work. Her collections of poetry, her novel and her short stories. They should jump to the front of our minds. 

Plath is one of the best writers of all time, with The Bell Jar needing little revision, and is the closest to perfect I’ve ever come across in a novel. She is also one of the most significant writers of the last century who has continued to influence writers 50 years after her life ended.

Sylvia Plath – 27/10/32 – 11/02/63

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Done. And Nicolas Cage.

Posted on February 6, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

I’ve done it. Finished my report on Virginia Woolf and have submitted it. With less than an hour to spare. Relief. It’s a few weeks not until my next assignment so I’m going to finish reading Shiverton Hall and Beautiful Creatures before even thinking about them.

I was just sent this video which really made me laugh, especially the last one. Nicolas Cage is a bit of a joke at the moment, and things like that don’t really help. Even though I’m sure he made them years ago. I also don’t mean he’s a bad joke, but his last couple of films have been… Well I can’t describe them. BUT DO NOT WATCH THEM.

All is finished now and I will go and read some comics and hopefully get some sleep.

Thanks for reading,

Ashley.

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Chapter One

Posted on February 5, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

I don’t remember why, but I snapped his neck as if it was a pencil. There was a bit of resistance, but nothing that could hold against me. I let go of his body and let him slump to the floor. I turned away from the body and started walking. A man walked passed me and towards the body. I reached a suitable distance and turned to watch him. He scooped down and picked up one of his arms. In a matter of seconds he successfully ripped the body to shreds and threw most of it over the edge of the cliff.

“Why did you do that?” I asked.

“Got to let my anger out.” He answered as he walked passed me again.

A second later I was sitting up in bed, with sweet dripping all over me. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, and I could see that I was back in my bedroom.

* * *

Click here to carry on reading the first chapter of my first novel, To The Other.

It’s been a hectic couple of days. I’ve been writing as report on Virginia Woolf’s essay Modern Fiction. Which isn’t a difficult task, but is very tedious. I’ve also been beating my record of how long I can lay in bed and stay awake. I reached 4 in the morning last night. Woke up at 8 to go to uni and felt really tired. It was a struggle to go in, but I did.

I would really appreciate feedback on the first chapter. Thanks in advance. I’m on target to release the book in June. The cover will be revealed by May, I think. I’ve also got a couple of ideas for short stories related to the novel, which I could upload if people are interested.

I’m also happy to hear that Fall Out Boy have reformed. I really like their new single, and look forward to the album.

Thanks for reading,

Ashley.

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Liebster Award!

Posted on January 31, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

Image

I would like to thank Andi O’Conner for nominating me. Thank you. You can check out her blog here. Andioconner.com

 

Here are the rules:

  • When you receive the award, you post 11 random facts about yourself and answer the 11 questions asked by the person who nominated you.
  • Pass the award on to 11 other blogs (while making sure you notify the bloggers that you nominated them!)
  • You write up 11 NEW questions directed towards YOUR nominees.
  • You are not allowed to nominate the blogger who nominated your blog!
  • You paste the award picture into your blog. (You can Google the image; there are plenty of them!)

11 Facts About Me.

  1. I’m currently studying English/Creative Writing at the University of Northampton. I am in my second year.
  2. I’ve been teaching myself to play guitar for the last couple of years.
  3. My 5 favourite bands are The Beatles, Green Day, The Smashing Pumpkins, My Chemical Romance and Foo Fighters.
  4. My Favourite Authors are Darren Shan, Stephen King, Lemony Snicket and Harlan Coben.
  5. I have long hair because I don’t want to pay to have it cut.
  6. My favourite colour is green.
  7. My favourite films are Scott Pillgrim, Drive, Shaun of the Dead and the Resident Evil series.
  8. I’m partially blind in my right eye.
  9. I love Marmite
  10. I have watched the entire friends series from start to finish 5 times. I love it. Along with Community, arrested Development and Big Bang Theory it is one of my favorite shows.
  11. I’m a vegetarian.

Questions From Andi. 

  1. What food could you not live without? – Marmite
  2. What is your favorite book? – Dracula by Bram Stoker
  3. E-book or printed book? – Both. I will read digital but get my favourites in print.
  4. If you were to get a tattoo, what would it be? – Don’t know. Something weird.
  5. What is one thing you wish you could do? – Do presentations without getting nervous.
  6. If you could read only one more book before you die, which one would it be? – War and Peace. I will make it last.
  7. What is your favorite restaurant? – Don’t have one. Wherever I can get marmite toast
  8. Why did the chicken cross the road? – Because that’s exactly what we expect him to do.
  9. If you could only take one more vacation, where would it be? Scarborough
  10. PC or MAC? – PC.
  11. If you could be any fictional character, who would you be and why? – Spider-man. Because he is awesome.

Questions for my Nominations

  1. What is your favourite book? 
  2. What is the worst book you’ve ever read?
  3. Do you think Crash Bandicoot is awesome?
  4. What is your favourite genre?
  5. Do you have any hobbies?
  6. Do you like Poetry?
  7. PS3 or Xbox?
  8. Do you still buy CDs?
  9. Which is better –  A purple dog with an apple on it’s head or a cow with a giraffe’s neck?
  10. Have you, or do you want to read Uylsses and why?
  11. Do you find it as hard to write 11 random questions?

My Nominations

Thanks for reading,

Ashley

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