Showing posts with label ECA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ECA. Show all posts

Friday, 28 May 2010

ECA finally gone


Oh, well, it's gone now, it's probably good enough for a 2 and is within a chance of a distinction, which would be my very first ever. Would make a nice starting point for a BA too! The Open University is a bit addictive - we should just have holidays like normal people...

Onwards and upwards to A363. Apparently we are going to learn more about: ways of writing (looking at writing for readers); Writing drama (for which we have to adapt a piece of writing for a dramatic medium like film or radio); and developing style, to create more interesting writing. That's the intro sorted, now I just need to get on with the actual writing and reading exercises. there is less guidance in this course, so I might spend more time on the exercises and TMAs that I otherwise might have. The plan is to get this (smaller) book done by September with drafts of TMA's on fiction, drama and poetry sorted. Then I can maybe sort out something for the other TMAs when the actual assignment book comes (9th September, apparently). Then I won't feel so stressed, I suspect.

Daughter has had end of year exams at uni, and with the ECA I seem to have picked up a bit too much adrenaline, I think I need a few days in a darkened room. Pretty unlikely to happen, though - the kids have their Chaucer project on Sunday and I have things to sort out for the trip to Winchester. I shall breathe more easily when we have found somewhere to live.

In the meantime, I have fiction to go off and short stories to edit. What I would like to do is to start a few first drafts, something to work with for the course(s) coming up . maybe next week!

Tuesday, 18 May 2010

Coursework done, only the ECA to go...


TMA05 came back with a good mark - in fact all my marks have been within 10% and the average puts me in the distinction range. However, the ECA is harder and I think is marked more critically, so I have to review and review my pieces carefully. I have a piece of lifewriting but I'm not happy with it - it seems too emotional to me, and needs less 'story' and more writing. I've got a small scene in the middle I can cut out completely, to give me a bit of room for some settings and descriptions. Having got this far I want the distinction if I can get it. I am, however, very happy with the short story but the last TMA came back with one main complaint - no real 'hook' at the beginning. So I just need to make sure there's enough to draw in the reader. Back to my notes.

I'm feeling refreshed after some time off to make a quilt - I'll finish the top today - then I can get back to writing. The next book does beckon, it's some weeks now since I did any 'coursework' and I'm missing it. I now have to take the quotes down from my own work that I will send off in the ECA so I don't get caught 'plagiarising' my own work. I will miss A215, and I'm looking forward to A363.