Random writing tips that my history professor just told during class that are actually helpful
Download all your sources or print them so you can turn off your wifi
Give your phone to someone
Just. WRITE. Writing is analysing, you’ll get more ideas as you write. It doesn’t need to be perfect, for now you can just blurt out words and ideas randomly. You can fix it later.
Create a skeleton/structure before writing.
Stop before you get exhausted. It’s best to stop writing when you still have some energy and inspiration left, this will also motivate you to get started again next time.
Make a to do list
Work in bite sizes. Even if it’s not much, as long as you put some ideas on paper or do some editing.
Simple language =/= boring language, simple language = clear language.
Own your words. If they are not your words, state this clearly in the text, not just in the footnotes.
STOP BEFORE YOU GET EXHAUSTED. Listing it again because it’s easily one of the best tips a teacher has ever given me.
Easter, prelude: A sunny day out in County Durham.
I took a weekend off for a bit of much-needed leisure before launching into work again. The sun has at last graced England with its presence and I had to make the most of it.
Auckland Castle was beautiful, and wonderfully restored. Greatly interesting to learn about its history as well as that of its many bishops.
allow yourself to indulge in romantics. press flowers in old books. play movies with subtitles and mouth the words. dance in your room. wear something that makes you feel good, even if you wouldn’t wear it in public. write your chosen family letters, even if you hand deliver them. write poetry, even awful poetry. revel in its awfulness. eat dark chocolate and when your chosen family want to go out, try to go out with them sometimes, even if its just to the market.
spent my afternoon working on next weeks seminar prep for my favourite module instead of doing coursework that’s due in tomorrow. i will now be spending my night in the library getting that done :( ft a photo from my visit to York this weekend!
Found the new living room table cloth makes up for a great background for my pics – love how it completes the brown & green palette, and contrasts the hundreds (!) of sticky notes in my textbook. I really liked studying for this exam, but I sure don't miss having to memorize all of those dates!
I've gotten really interested in collections policies. I've had a little experience in this area, so my supervisor has directed me to updating these thing. Now that I've updated the policy as best I can (according to the American Alliance of Museums guidelines), I'm working on updating the way we store basic information about our collection.
First study session of the semester! Today I was focused on getting ahead on some readings and thinking about my paper due Wednesday. This semester is definitely starting off strong, but I really am excited about my classes. 🍂
history. again. authoritarian states unit this time. still severely behind schedule but honestly I cannot work at a faster rate without burning myself out to the point of self destruct. the subject I am most behind... is probably English? that, or maths. I know it doesn't count as studying but I have been doing Duolingo for Spanish, whereas I have completely avoided any maths or English questions for the past week, every single day. maths is plague, and English... I think I'm just scared. the pressure to achieve my predicted grades is suffocating. it corrupts. leads to stagnation. oh well! hopefully I recover in time for this weekend so I can get at least one past paper done before the mock exam itself...
I have, however, developed a splendid playlist out of all of this! if I score within two points of my predicted I will share the whole thing with you all, as a treat ^^.
🦇 graduated, masters degree (literature) on july 23
🦇 learning norwegian (i should pick up a book in norwegian and attempt to read it) my lovely partner is norwegian and i want to speak his language, so far i guess i'm "survives basic conversation if talked to slowly"
🦇 learning korean (writing system so far)
🦇 likes reading and studying (for fun)
🦇other hobbies: being in nature, going to metal/punk/goth events, being tired at home
🦇 trying to find a "normal" job so i can then study in peace without money stress
Distant future studt plans:
🦇 languages i want to learn: ukrainian, old norse, church slavic, polish, german (revisiting), spanish
🦇 fields of study i'm interested in: decolonial study, literature, art history, history (medieval, iron age, non-european/western) feminism, posthumanism, philosphy, violence studies (basically "why are some people violent/do crimes and how it can be prevented")
i had three hours of seminars today which means i’m absolutely exhausted! but i’m going out with my flatmates to do karaoke tonight, so i can’t have an evening nap :(
Couldn't choose which setting I liked best, so I'll post both – I really liked how the filtered sunlight made all the colours of my desk stand out! While rewatching these pictures, I realized how many memories I have of studying from this textbook – be it the 700+ pages, be it because it tickled my curiosity, but they surely are the best from this past academic year!