writing again!

For a last few months, I've promised myself that, post exams, I would start writing again by Christmas.

Well, I've done it! An idea I've been playing with over the last 12 months or so suddenly started to fall into place in my head as I drifted off to sleep last night (how inconvenient!) and I've just finished putting it all into a word document. I was rather pleased to see I've got nearly 11,000 words already! They aren't entirely new words because a lot of what came to me was how some stuff I'd already written thinking they were different stories were all actually part of this one story that I need to write. I'd always intended to call it No Maternal Bones but the working title is actually The Baby Connection.

I've got a list of characters, I know what motivates the heroine and I know the point of the story but there's still a lot of blanks to fill in.

Some what annoyingly, another story idea is also grabbing me right now! I know much less about this story and only have 137 words written but it was something that I was fired up to write earlier this year but didn't because I realised I needed to focus on my studies.

So, now my exams are over and I have two stories demanding to be written! I'm hoping that is a sign that 2008 is going to be a fantastic writing year!

Sadly, I have to put the writing to one side for the rest of the day because I have other things I need to achieve before I go to bed: like making sure I've got work clothes sorted because I'm going back to work tomorrow after a two week break, like keeping an eye on the roast slowly cooking in the oven, like catching up with some reading. But, boy does it feel good to be writing again!

they think it's all over. it is now!

Exams are over!!! I sat the last one yesterday. After two and a half years of studying constantly, I got up this morning and said "I've got nothing to do". What did I used to do with all my free time before I started studying for this qualification? Oh, that's right, I used to write!

Right now, I'm exhausted but give me another day of lounging around and I'll be back on top of things. Just as well as I'm due back at work on Monday.

Of course, I don't get my final results until February so technically I'm not fully qualified until then, and there's always a chance that I didn't do as well as I hope I did, but I'm not going to think about that. As far as I am concerned, I'm done. I'm qualified.

So, now it's onto the next thing. When I say I'm finished studying, that's not quite true. I am doing an Open University course but it doesn't involve exams and so far is proving enjoyable. It's more for my own benefit than work. I got my first assignment back on Thursday: 94% - so you can see why I might be feeling happy at the moment, what with exams being out of the way and all!

Now that I'm qualified, I need to decide what I want next out of my career. I have two choices. I can go on and do a Masters or I can go down the management course route. I have given myself next year to decide as I want to see how a few things pan out.

In the meantime, I have dozens of unread books to read that I've bought over the last two and a half years but haven't found the time to read, more books that I want to buy, and a new book to get writing!

I also have another roast to cook and yet another chocolate pudding to eat (all in the name of trying to find a chocolate pudding like the ones I remember from when I was little!).

And did I mention that it is freezing out? All I really want to do is curl up in bed!

podcasting

I don't post for nearly a month and then, just like London buses, two come along at once! I'm excited! The roast is nearly done (just minutes away) and I did mean to use the cooking time to do my nearly final run through of my case study notes (tomorrow is the final run through) but instead I have spent it downloading podcasting software Juice and then searching the internet for podcasts! So far I have the Harlequin Author Spotlights, Chequered Flag Formula 1, Tiesto's club life, and Downing Street! I appreciate that some people's eyes may be glazing over and that some many have no idea what I am talking about but believe me, I am excited! I think I've turned into a tech geek! How did I miss podcasting? OK, I didn't miss it. My dh has been listening to podcasts for what seems like forever, but it just never grabbed me until today. No idea why. Oh, I know, study diversion! So, when exams are over, I have dozens of books to read and podcasts to listen to. Oh, and I'm going to start work on my next manuscript before Christmas plus I have another writing related project on the go that's super exciting!

Nine minutes until the roast is ready.

Did I mention that I have chocolate sponge pudding? The dh likes Christmas puddings, which I hate. Somehow we have at least eight Christmas puddings in the kitchen. So, being the grown up that I am, for each Christmas pudding in the trolley, I added a chocolate sponge just for me. So far, I have yet to find a chocolate pudding that tastes anything like the self saucing chocolate puddings I remember from my childhood. It's tough, but I'll keep trying.

Seven minutes...

yikes!

I didn't realise I hadn't blogged in nearly a month! My only excuse is that I've had my head down, studying. Yeah, exams are looming. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon. But the good news is that these are the last set of exams (touch wood) so once they are over, they are over. And boy do I plan to celebrate at the weekend!

So, I've been studying. Test me. I know all about advanced project management (gnatt charts, business cases, project life cycles, six sigma, Prince2, networks, work breakdown stuctures), legal aspects (contract law, vitiating factors, alternative dispute resolution, the Sale of Goods Act, the Supply of Goods and Services Act, EU procurement directives, confidentiality, Freedom of Information Act) and I've done the analysis for the case study exam (PESTLE, SWOT, Porter, stakeholders) and, well, OK, I don't know it all but hopefully I know enough to pass! I won't feel bad if I don't pass because I know I have put in the work.

I've also been doing lots of other stuff like waiting. The US agent has had my ms for three weeks now and I've also had a partial at M&B in Richmond since the end of June.

I'll worry about them next week.

Today, I have cleaned like a mad woman. It's something I do when I'm meant to be studying! The only thing that surprised me about today's cleaning is that I've been home for 10 days and this is the first day I've used cleaning as a study diversion! So, the place is clean, there's a roast in the oven and I've only got a little bit of study scheduled to complete today because I figure it's a good idea to take it easy today and tomorrow.

The other thing I've been doing today is obssessively checking the internet for updates on the release of Amazon's Kindle, an e-booker reader which I desperately want! Sadly, it's only available in the US, as is the Sony PRS-505. No idea when the Kindle is being released in the UK yet but there are rumours the Sony one is being launched at the London Book Fair next year. I don't know if the general public can attend the book fair but if they can and the Sony PRS-505 is being launched there, I do everything in my power to ensure I am there.

Right now, I'm telling myself that I will buy either a Sony PRS-505 or Kindle next year as my present to myself for passing these exams and therefore being fully qualified. Results are due in early February. But I'm also toying with the idea of buying something else.

I have sooooo many books to read once my exams are over! I can't wait!