2018-03-13T17:51:55+00:00

Getting Back in the Saddle

March 13, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/45 Comments

Having taken a break from blogging for nearly a month, I am finding it a little tricky getting back into the saddle which I wasn’t expecting. I used to post almost daily about all kinds of subjects, yet now I find myself struggling for something to say.

Don’t get me wrong, I am sure I could bore you all to tears talking about my nursing experiences, but I have already mentioned nursing lately, and I am wary of over-egging that pudding, instead, I will drip feed you slowly over a period of time. (Why does everything with me always come down to food analogies)?!

Speaking of which, I had my diabetic review (on my birthday as it turned out), and things seem to be a bit haywire there. My weight has gone up even more, as have my blood sugars (according to the Hba1c blood test), and my liver function is deranged (hopefully I will find out why when I speak to GP tomorrow although it could be to do with my weight). This is all rather ironic as I am trying to get myself into shape before (hopefully) qualifying as a nurse, (bugger, I said I wouldn’t mention nursing)!

I am going to really have to put a lot of extra effort into living a healthier lifestyle, and no doubt I will post about my trials and tribulations on the way. Well, that will certainly give me plenty to write about!

#JusJoJan 2018 January 31st and #1LinerWeds Thank You

January 31, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/5 Comments

I hope that you are enjoying my posts from Linda’s Just Jot it January as much as I am enjoying writing them. Sadly it is the very last day today and it is combined with One-Liner Wednesday as well.

Thank you Linda for another fun month of Just Jot it January, I have thoroughly enjoyed it, and it has gone far too quickly!

A short and sweet post today, to thank Linda for hosting #JusJoJan and to everyone else that joined in. It has been great fun using your prompts and reading your posts!

#JusJoJan and #SoCS 2018. January 13th When it Comes…

January 13, 2018February 12, 2019/Judy E Martin/19 Comments

Linda’s Just Jot it January and Stream of Consciousness post for today is a little different as you will see from the rules below. I always enjoy a challenge and look forward to seeing where this post goes.

Without further ado, here is today’s prompt.

Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is as follows: read closely. When you’re ready to sit down and write your post, look to the publication (book, newspaper, permission slip from your kid’s teacher, whatever you find) closest to you, and base your post on the sixth, seventh, and eighth word from the beginning of the page. Enjoy!

The book that was closest to me ‘Critical Thinking Skills’ by Stella Cottrell and I chose the sixth, seventh and eighth words from the introduction, which are…’when it comes.’

When it comes to writing Stream of Consciousness posts, I think I have got the technique pretty much off pat. I put this down to the fact that I write nearly all of my posts in this manner.

I like to write pretty much as I speak because I feel that it is friendlier and also gives you a little insight into my personality. As you can see from the choice of book that was closest to me, at Uni this style of writing certainly will not do, and I have to stop myself from being ‘too chatty’ and instead be more formal and professional. I need all the help I can get on that front, hence the reason for that book and several others being stashed in my desk, ready to be pored over when needed.

Stream of Consciousness writing gives me the freedom to let my thoughts flow and just go with them. However, there might be a downside to this as my thoughts may be a little jumbled or jumpy at times, which is, unfortunately, the way that I am, so there might be a bit of weaving around before I get to the point. I might not even get to the point if I go off on a tangent and think about something else which is often the way with these types of posts. As there is no editing allowed other than fixing typos, this may be a little confusing.

The fact that there is a prompt word with our Stream of Consciousness posts makes it more interesting, as I get to see how others have interpreted the same word in their posts. It is surprising when it comes to Stream of Consciousness just how many perspectives there are, and how diverse we are as writers and/or bloggers. That’s why I love them!

#SoCS Contrast

December 16, 2017February 17, 2019/Judy E Martin/18 Comments

This week Linda has given us contrast to use for our Stream of Consciousness posts, which can be used any way we choose.

The last couple of weeks have been quite a contrast for me, especially when it comes to Uni. The first exam we had a few weeks ago was drug calculations. I had practised this quite a bit beforehand and had finished in 15 minutes! Luckily for me, when we got the results back, I got 100%. That gave me a bit of a boost, to say the least.

However, it all came crashing down on Monday, the day before we had our dreaded Human Anatomy & Physiology exam. The results were in from one of the first assignments that we had submitted, and I failed it, miserably! I had to look at the result again as I could not believe it. When I was at Uni before, I had never failed any of my essays. That took the wind out of my sails and I spent that night crying and stressing about the exam I WAS worried about the next day.

I thought that my academic writing skills were ok, but it seemed that I had been too descriptive rather than critical. Luckily I do have a chance to resubmit the consignment, but I need to have a good think about how to sort out my critical thinking before I do so. The worst thing is that I have also written all of the other three essays and submitted two of them. Hopefully, I haven’t buggered them up as well! I have lost all confidence now, despite the essay writing being something I was not as worried about when I started. That certainly is a contrast I could have done without!

As for the A & P exam, well… I think I did ok, but am rather wary now as I don’t want to jinx it. I have to wait until 15th January before I am put out of my misery with that one!

We have started our placements too so have been working 12-hour shifts with not a huge amount of time to study. However, we break up for 2 weeks on the 18th December. I actually broke up today which is a bit of a mixed blessing for me. Although I am earlier in breaking up, I have had loads of dental work done which is extremely painful plus (due to vanity), I won’t be going out or seeing anyone for a week when I hope I will be fit enough to be viewed!

Added to that, my blood sugars are playing up for some reason, and are quite a bit higher than they normally are, which has made me feel a bit under the weather.

Still, at least I have got that time to sort out those bloody essays, and with not being to eat properly for a while, I might even lose a bit of weight!

November 23: Flash Fiction Challenge

November 24, 2017/Judy E Martin/1 Comment

via November 23: Flash Fiction Challenge

Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge. An Order for Nanjo Castille

November 10, 2017/Judy E Martin/17 Comments

I have become determined to overcome my fear Flash Fiction, by continuing to practice! Over at the Carrot Ranch, Charli hosts a weekly prompt. This week’s one is very unusual and definitely appealed to my sense of the ridiculous! Please go over there and check out the story behind this week’s prompt.

This is the image that we were given to use, and these are the rules:

November 9, 2017 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a fictional story about The Real Nanjo Castille. You can set any gender, era or genre to reveal the character behind the mystery. You can also imagine the daily life of The Real Nanjo Castille. Go where the prompt leads.

Respond by November 14, 2017 to be included in the compilation (published November 15). Rules are here. All writers are welcome!

I have gone with a reply to Nanjo’s e-mail. I hope that is not breaking the rules!

Dear Mr Castle, or can I call you Nando?

I heard you have some classy bags and perfumes for sale for a tenner. I am after a Christmas prezzie for my mum and she can’t stand that Coco Caramel, but is rather partial to Optimum. I think John Paul Goatier’s perfume in that bottle-shaped like a girdle would suit her better. Oh, and I need a handbag for my sisters. Have you got any of them Blueberry or Herman’s ones in stock? I’m prepared to pay you twenty quid for the lot! Let me know, please.

Jef Leppard

#Fairies, #Myths, & #Magic Author Spotlight Guest Posts – “All You Need To Do Is Believe,” by Judy E. Martin

September 21, 2017/Judy E Martin/2 Comments

I am delighted to be a guest at Colleen’s magical blog.

Writer’s Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge – Rebirth

June 20, 2016/Judy E Martin/12 Comments

It is Colleen’s turn this week to choose the prompt word for her and Ronovan’s Writer’s Quote on Wednesday Challenge, and she has come up with ‘rebirth.’ I found this wonderful quote by Anne Frank which I can very much relate to:

I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn

-Anne Frank

When I sit here writing

I can be who I want to be

I can go on long adventures

Or I could solve a mystery

The timid little person

Who is so very shy

Could become a mighty warrior

Or perhaps a Super Spy!

I could make myself a hero

Who always saves the day

Or perhaps an evil villain

Who gets more twisted every day.

What about a princess

Who is a stunning beauty?

Or a blowsy, brassy barmaid

Whose language is quite fruity!

A skittish, social butterfly

An astronaut in space

The chairman of a company

A woman of style and grace!

Yes, when I sit here writing

I can be who I want to be

Not this mousey little person

But a reborn, flawless Me!

Writer’s Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge – Obsession.

May 18, 2016/Judy E Martin/15 Comments

I am taking part in Ronovan and Colleen’s Writers Quote Wednesday Challenge, and this week we have been given ‘obsession’ as our prompt word.
I felt that the following quote by sculptor, Henry Moore, pretty much sums up how I feel, and will be the subject of my poem.

“The creative habit is like a drug. The particular obsession changes, but the excitement, the thrill of your creation lasts.”

-Henry Moore

I have a bit of a problem

That I really ought to confess

Whenever I find a new hobby

I suddenly start to obsess!

First of all, it was sewing

I spent loads of money on that

But sadly, most of my creations

Were nothing better than tat!

I also get caught up in knitting

Stockpiling mountains of wool

With so many projects unfinished

I really am such a fool!

I had a go at card making

Buying up lots of supplies

I made a card for my daughter

After five or six tries!

And then I discovered blogging

As a way to cope with depression

I have slowly formed an addiction

And have yet another obsession!

Just Jot It January 16th – What #SoCS

January 16, 2016/Judy E Martin/44 Comments

Today I am going to be combining two of Linda’s challenges, Just Jot it January, and also Stream of Consciousness, please visit her blog if you want to find out details of how to join in. You will find loads of other goodies there too, so set aside some time!

What I love about the Stream of Consciousness posts is the freedom to go wherever the words take me. Yes, I have a prompt word, but it is still flexible enough for me to be able to go where I want to with it.

The negative side of writing one of these posts is that, apart from sorting out typos (thank God for that), we are not to edit the post at all. Now, I am someone who tends to just go off and write whatever comes to mind anyway, but I have been known to edit when it doesn’t make sense, which is more often than I would like.

I have to say, I am in awe of those people that always turn out a perfectly written blog post, and to be fair, it is common courtesy to ensure there are no typos or grammatical mistakes as the reader does not want to be mentally correcting as they go along. However, I have occasionally cringed as I have looked back on my previous posts and found the odd typo or spelling mistake, which I have immediately corrected. I find that the more I look at something, the more I glaze over, and then I don’t end up seeing any errors.

I am a novice at writing Stream of Consciousness Posts, having only written a couple before, but funnily enough, these are the posts that I have struggled with not being able to edit, the most! Weird!

Rhyme and No Reason!

Blogger, author and rhymester who likes to find the humour in life.

Tag: writing

Getting Back in the Saddle

#JusJoJan 2018 January 31st and #1LinerWeds Thank You

#JusJoJan and #SoCS 2018. January 13th When it Comes…

#SoCS Contrast

November 23: Flash Fiction Challenge

Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge. An Order for Nanjo Castille

#Fairies, #Myths, & #Magic Author Spotlight Guest Posts – “All You Need To Do Is Believe,” by Judy E. Martin

Writer’s Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge – Rebirth

Writer’s Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge – Obsession.

“The creative habit is like a drug. The particular obsession changes, but the excitement, the thrill of your creation lasts.”

Just Jot It January 16th – What #SoCS

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“The creative habit is like a drug. The particular obsession changes, but the excitement, the thrill of your creation lasts.”

Please share if you enjoyed this post :-)

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