When the days blurrrrrrr
into one.
And everything fades
to obscurity,
the world makes the
most sense
in the dark.
Related Posts:
New Chance – Shape Poem | Poetry
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Blurring | Poetry
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New Chance – Shape Poem | Poetry
New chance
given once,
taken away
at every bump
every corner
every inch of skin
a fresh chance
to take your
dreams away.
4 Years On WordPress | Best Bits
Well, well, well, Happy 4th Birthday to my WordPress account! *pops party popper*. When I started these blogs a few years ago, I never imagined they would lead to such amazing opportunities.
Let’s throwback to some of our best bits in the wonderful world of WordPress…
Milestones:
Four years is a huge commitment to one blog for me, admittedly I do have several WordPress blogs, but all on the same platform. I love that I have been able to link them and easily switch between the four of them, so thanks for that!
Earlier this year we hit another amazing milestone, which was 500 WordPress followers, and you guys are from all over the world! Thank you, everyone, for your support, and putting up with my erratic posting schedule.
Books:
WordPress was and always will be a huge part of my creative process, particularly when it comes to writing books. I published my first novella, The Snow Killer, originally as a series of blog posts, which transformed into a twisted serial killer fiction novel. I loved every minute of it, as it launched my dreams as an author as set me on a path to novel writing.
I originally started my life as a blogger on BlogSpot, (which I rediscovered and was hit with a wave of nostalgia whilst researching this post) [my BlogSpot page] but after I was introduced to WordPress, I have never turned back.
Since then, I have self-published several e-books, with the help of WordPress as a blogging and promotional tool, and met many of my close author friends through the website – as well as some amazing book reviewers and bloggers.
Articles:
In 2016 I wrote an article about my transition from loathing to loving John Green, and its current view total is 6,153! (Correct of 29.11.17) Read the article here… It ended up being read by Hank Green (also famous and very creative brother of the author, and was shared all over WordPress and Tumblr.)
That article made me realize the true power of books, and that the time taken to be passionate and involved in your work, is far more important than dishing out half-finished books in order to hit a deadline.
***
I’d just like to say thank you again for all of your wonderful support, and here’s to an amazing 2018 with WordPress!
Audiobook Review and Reflect: Talking As Fast As I Can – Lauren Graham
I’ve just had that ‘staring-at-the-wall-with-a-fresh-book-shaped-whole-in-my-heart’ moment. Loralie Gilmore (I mean, Lauren Graham) just spent four hours reading me a book.
I was in the city today, so I’ve been on a lot of trains and tubes. It was a new experience to listen to someone talk to me as I tapped in at London Bridge Station, or raced down the stairs to catch the next Northern Line tube. Her soothing voice filling my head. She had me in fits of laughter, followed by bursts of sadness or melancholy. I suspect I looked slightly deranged on public transport today.
In the background, as I absorb and write this review, There She Goes – The La’s, plays quietly through my headphones. I felt the need to listen to The Gilmore Girls soundtrack; stopping Stars Hollow from leaving me straight away. There’s a warmth in my fingertips that I only get when I need to write. It’s late, so I’ve got a hot chocolate sat, steaming in my chilly office space, waiting to be sipped.
It is strange, listening to her voice. I can picture her, sat with her legs curled up on a comfy sofa, coffee cupped between her hands. She’s telling me her story, her life. But it’s like hearing a familiar tale with a whole new character. I know it, and yet I don’t.
Loralie Gilmore raised me. I was Rory. Luke was my step-dad. Books made me safe. I’m back in Stars Hollow, however now it has that dewy glaze of a warm memory. That’s what it’s like listening to Lauren Graham read Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore To Gilmore.
Talking As Fast As I Can is a charming, delightful book, and makes for an interesting audiobook on Audible. Graham takes us on a journey from Kindergarten to the end of filming Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life.
She shares a lot, the usual witty anecdotes, but also some deep, personal information that anyone may have left out. Lauren Graham’s attention to detail is also someone quite wonderful to observe. She goes on a tangent about a blue coat from The Gilmore Girls set for several paragraphs, which is simply enchanting to read.
Lauren Graham makes every single word seem and sound magic. Speaking in particular for the audiobook, hearing her read the book herself gives it an added layer of intimacy which is missing from some audiobooks. You can hear the laughter in her voice when she recalls a conversation with a beloved friend. Her tone carries the weight of the time they found of Gilmore Girls was over. She sounds… affected. It is beautiful to listen to.
I realize this is more of a Lauren Graham worship than a review of her book as a format, or as a piece of writing. Perhaps I have been influenced because I listened to it rather than read it. But all I know for sure is, Loralie Gilmore just told me a story, and I loved every minute of it.
If you are a fan of Gilmore Girls, of Parenthood or just of the wonderful Lauren Graham as a human being, I strongly urge you to read or listen to this book. It’s life-affirming, charming and downright enjoyable to consume.
Gilmore Girls Spotify Playlist:
A New Autumn | Poetry
Today felt like a new
Autumn
Brisk and intrigued
A crisp, fresh breeze
A whisper of
Winter in the air
That chill, the dew
Pursed on my lips
That promise of
Crunched leaves underfoot
Today felt like a new
Autumn
An autumn with a new
Golden path to begin upon.
writing, happening |poetry
head, pounding
screen, glaring
glasses, sliding
fingers, typing
words, appearing
backspace, clicking
pauses, lengthening
blood, bumping
breath, holding
why?
writing, happening.
Goals Changed For The Better | A New Chapter
We all have a plan for our lives, whether it’s short term; ‘lose five pounds’, or long term; ‘I want to have a career in XYZ by the time I’m 30’. We all also know, that life likes to get in the way of our plans.
#goals graphic, created with Fotor by @melissaholden94
My original life plan (at 16) was as follows:
- Do A-Levels
- Get a job and earn money
- Go on lots of holidays
- Get married
- Get a Husky called Jeff
- Learn to drive
- Get a big house
…And that was effectively all I wanted from life.
Then, at 18, this was my plan:
- Go to university
- Get a degree
- Get a part-time job
- Save loads of money
- Write my first book
- Go travelling
- Rent a house with friends
- Get a tattoo
I did well on some points, and not so well on others.
At 20, my plan looked a little like this:
- Get a temp job in home town
- Go do my Master’s in October 2015
- Graduate
- Rent a house with Ashleigh
- Go travelling
- Pay off my overdraft
- Save money
- Learn to drive
- Write more books
20-year-old Me was ambitious and didn’t plan for other people to affect her life plan. I had to move back home to be close to an ill family member. I had to leave all my uni friends behind and get a job in Bluewater.
What I also didn’t expect, was to have graduated my Bachelor’s degree, moved back to the home town I hate, and fall in love with my new ‘supposed-to-be-for-six-months’ job. I ended up with a good, stable job in optics, and didn’t follow the plan. I didn’t start my Master’s degree in October. Instead, I was doing training at work to improve my skill set.
I ended up with a good, stable job in optics, and didn’t follow the plan. I didn’t start my Master’s degree in October. Instead, I was doing training at work to improve my skill set. I also, 2 years in, ended up being promoted to a Team Leader position, and am loving it.
I also didn’t move in with my best friend, because she moved back home to be close to her family, and to look after herself – cannot argue with that, really.
Now, at 22 (nearly 23), my plan looks more like this:
- Save my Student Loans and pay off my overdraft
- Start my Master’s in October 2017
- Graduate in June 2018
- Finish writing Finding Jennifer
- Move out to my own place
- Start looking for ‘love’
- Spend more time with my friends and family
- Be present in the moment
- Be positive
- Blog more
- Read as many books as possible
Perhaps some of those are loftier than others, but I love all my goals and aspirations the same. I am glad that my priorities have changed because it means I have grown and developed as a person, and I’m pretty proud of that.
What are your goals in life, and have they changed over the years?
