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duskforged · 3 months

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State of the Author: January 2024

Normally, I wouldn't do a thing like this. However, because I have not actually updated y'all on my WIPs in a while, I thought I might as well!

We'll start with the thing most of you followed me for: long-form fiction. And I call it that since all of these will be over 15k words (hopefully). There are three novels I'm currently focusing on.

LONG-FORM FICTION

Lodestar is currently stuck in a worldbuilding spiral, since it's a near-future humanity in space. While I do love sci-fi, science and math are not especially my forte. I hope to start drafting by the end of the summer, around September.

Vespertine has started on the first draft, though I'm also outlining still - something of a combined process. I am excited to share more of it with you, though it may be tough since most of it still lives in my head. Such is the woe of the artist.

Unto Summer Kings is in the first draft and currently hovering around 15k words! So far it's the longest I've gotten on a novel, and if I stay on track I could start my second draft by May, and begin beta reading by August.

LONG-FORM FANFICTION

I hesitate a little to touch on this one, just because. However, for the pure self indulgence I will. I have three major fanfics currently posted on my AO3, all of them multichaptered.

The Hanged Man is a Naruto SI!OC as Hatake Sakumo, immediately before his death. I currently have 8 chapters out and the main beats of the fic are fully outlined as of this month, which marks a major turning point in the fic's planning.

The Ever-Growing Gloaming is another self insert, this time into the events of Baldur's Gate 3. Vespere, the main character, whose name is subject to change, has been plucked from August 2023 and has not played the game since early access March 2023. Therefore they know less than you might expect.

Finally I have my Supernatural series, For Want of a Broken Nail (Broken Nail Verse). And I know what you're going to say, it's super meta to have a self insert in that fandom, you're writing SPN fanfic in 2024 what is wrong with you, etc etc. But the concept seized me full on by the balls and I already have the first 5 seasons outlined. Sorry, not sorry? No one is obligated to read it anyhow.

I also have a billion ideas on the backburner, ranging from fandoms like Game of Thrones and the MCU (for some reason) to Avatar: the Last Airbender and Star Wars. I'll post 'em when I post 'em!

ART PROJECTS

Wolf in Shepherd's Clothing is a comic of humanity's first lycanthrope, taking place in ancient Mesopotamia, in what is modern day Iran. The main character, Lahar, is gender neutral/ambiguous. So far, I'm stuck in outlining and drafting but hopefully soonTM.

Witchboy (title wip) is a story I'm working on with my partner @fallenorpheus based on various YA novels we read growing up. So far we aren't super set on the story, but it's definitely about a boy who is (accidentally) a witch, his best friend, his adoring father, and his estranged mother.

Dame-Errant (title wip) is a story that, instead of in comic form, is a story that is illustration snapshots, accompanied by short story prose. It is about a butch knight, Dame Johana Talon, who is tasked by Queen Atossa to find her missing son, Prince Khosrow. Typical 'prince(ss) in the tower shenanigans' but then, politics. And boy does Jo hate politics.

I have other webcomic ideas (mtf vs bbeg accidentally breaking a prophecy, team of bipoc/minority characters getting thrown into a fantasy world for an adventure, etc) so feel free to ask.

PERSONAL

I hesitate to touch on this, really, since it's not something that just anyone needs to know, but I've been struggling to find a good name for myself. Hesperos is a good name, but doesn't necessarily feel like 'me' these days. I do enjoy the h/e sounds... I've considered Ezra, but that's just the name of an OC and I'd rather not get quite that meta.

Ah well, sure it'll sort itself out eventually.

THE END

Anyway, thanks for reading! I know that's quite a lot for this one post to cover, but you stuck til the very end. Not sure when I'll start posting again in earnest but I hope sooner rather than later!

#dusk in progress #progress update #writeblr

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fallenpharaoh2378 · 4 months

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Long ass vent. Sorry in advance.

Just went on a whole spiel in a private venting server about my ex, my best friend, and how I genuinely feel like I'm meant to be alone in this life. Starting to think I might just. Kay em ess. Like genuinely.

I can't stand being alone. I want to be pretty before I die at least, but I can't stand being alone like this. I don't want sex, or romance, or anything else. I just want emotional intimacy and vulnerability. And the second I start having that with someone, anyone, they start to pull away.

Am I just so unlovable? Am I truly so broken?

I don't want to end up like my Nana, dead by sewerslide at the age of 50, an alcoholic most of her life, popping prescriptions just to seem normal, living off of random men who she never even loved, being constantly exploited and abused and taken advantage of by everyone. I don't want to end up like that. I loved my Nana, but I don't want to end up like she did.

I hate this...

It's been two months, but I miss it all so bad...

I was finally starting to get better, I had stopped hurting myself, I wasn't even restricting or purging or even binging, I was doing so good... I miss when he would be there to comfort me... I miss him...

But he wants nothing to do with me now. Because I'm too unhealthy. I'm too much. I'm too broken. I'm too unlovable.

I'm so sick of this. I want to fix it all so no one can see it anymore, but I want so badly to be vulnerable with people. I want people to see the breaks and tell me they love me anyways, like he used to before he decided he was just done with me.

But there's no one for me who is like that. Not anymore. If I'm destined to be alone, then I'll be alone. But I'll die before I ever hit my 30s, if that's the case, and it'll be by my own hand. It'll be in early September, just like my Nana, just like when he and I started our relationship and just like when it started to fall apart, just like when my Uncle died, just like when I lost Maya. It'll be early September, and I'll go down to the water and return myself to where I once came from. Whether I starve, whether I sh007 myself, or I OD, or bl33d out, or whatever else. I'll do it at the water. I'll do it intentionally. I'll do it on a warm September day. I'll wear my red jacket (that hopefully will be too big by then), and I'll tie my hair back, and I'll bring my most prized stuffed animals and items with me. And they'll all come with me when I hit the water.

Because I don't want to be all alone, even in death. I'm so tired of being all alone.

I'm so tired.

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galaxietm · 5 months

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heyo! it's me here, with a bit of an update on my situation.

first off, without a readmore, i'll give a super tl;dr: it should be over within a week at the least, maybe two weeks at the most. i'm also trying to slowly get back into writing here. unfortunately, that means that muses / muse replies have been somewhat selective. but i 'm trying my best to get back into things.

as for the longer update, here it is, under a read-more for more convenience.

so, a somewhat-short version of it all is more or less this: - since september i've been in the process of evicting 3 of my roommates. that spiralled into a drama where they pulled the other 2 roommates into it all. one of them was (thankfully) staying out of it, while the other stuck her nose in and was harassing me over text message (to the point where i was legitimately considering getting a restraining order against her) - the one who was harassing me moved out towards the beginning of november, so it's been better, but one of the 3 who is being evicted was making super passive-aggressive comments about me, my cat, the house to the point that it was obvious that she was trying to start something / egg me on. - the guy who was supposed to be out at the end of october got served for court the day before thanksgiving, his court was on friday. anytime within the next few days, a sheriff will be coming by to move him out. the two girls who were evicted were supposed to be out by the end november, they're still here. their court date is on friday. if they don't respond or show up, it'll be the same story / scenario.

so?? hopefully by christmas they'll be gone and i can work on starting to return to normal / sanity?? i have my fingers crossed that it'll be over soon because hoo boy i'm so ready for all of this to be over.

the sooner it's over, the sooner i can work on not only trying to write with ya'll more, but just writing more in general.

thank you so much to all of you who have been patient and understanding. i appreciate it so, so much.

#tbd later //#// dude idk what to tag this as #// there's more that's happened but i don't wanna go too into it right now #// the whole situation's gotten so buck wild??#// but oh well i guess lol

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natrome · 7 months

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ok now that i for real know what my writing commitments are going to be for the next, like, year, at least the majority of them, here is the actual for real i s2g hold me to this writing schedule

Fic in a Box - due 10/15

1 assignment of 2k words remains, write it this saturday

Five Figure Fanworks Exchange - check in 11/11, due 1/20

i expect this will take about a week to finish, and ideally i'll have it done prior to check-in.

Yuletide - works due 12/18

UNLESS i get an assignment that i want to go hogwild on, which i should be prevented from doing, i should be able to finish this the week of 11/26 and not work on it outside of that.

galactic santas - est. due 12/25

my fave event of the year lol, the logh secret santa exchange. uh anyway this one is usually due around christmas and also is the easiest thing on this list by a mile and a half. i'm 0% worried about this one.

tomorrow ye will get your pay - aka the whale novel. - first draft due 3/1, physical product due for display 4/1

this is an extremely short timeline, and while it's not "drop everything else" level short, it is going to have to be my #1 writing priority for a long time.

my plan is as follows

spend the remainder of october getting situated w/ the research i'm going to have to do, figuring out who i need to talk to, etc. as well as put together a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline

nov/dec i'm assuming will be eaten by SMST and other commitments, but get research done and essentially braindump into document

jan/feb, just write as much as possible, take time off of work/quit job if i need to

if possible confine edits to the first 2 weeks of march, get books printed; deliver final product by last week of march.

god this schedule is miserable. well i signed up for it! i did this entirely to myself! lmfao.

anyway i'm going to bracket in that it's a 20 chapter novel, which seems like a reasonable number of chapters. i essentially have ~10 weeks to write this book. this is totally normal and fine, i have written longer books with less of a solid outline in shorter amounts of time. if i can just sit my ass in a chair and hammer out 2.5k words/day i will EASILY make this deadline and have time for editing. the issue will be making myself do that. but having a deadline and like professional accountability should majorly help. esp if i quit my stupid fucking job lol

serpent's mouth, serpent's teeth - due 12/31

i have four chapters left on SMST. i do not think they will be EASY to write but I do think that I'm CAPABLE of getting them done before the end of the year. at the very least i've sworn until i was blue in the face that i would finish this book by the end of the year. i need this book to stop haunting my waking nightmares lmfao. i estimate ~50-60k words remain, but we'll see what it actually ends up shaking out as. hopefully it's not more than that.

anyway this is another just "ass in chair" moment. though if i could have made myself do that months ago, this book would have been finished sometime this summer lol

every link was freedom's name - aka the fucking. arle heinessen play. no due date.

this is my yay you finished all the obligations you had now you get to do something deeply deeply stupid and entertaining only to a tiny number of people project. lyric play about arle heinessen. book of exodus pastiche. probably not that long. estimate it'll take me as long as POD did, so a month and a half? but i won't stress it. aim to finish it mid may?

new constellations - aka the logh rarepairs exchange i run

I'm planning to run signups in late march, with works due mid may. this is slightly earlier than last year but due to my own personal schedule i don't want it to overlap with...

heart attack exchange - works due 6/2

yeah you literally only get 2 weeks to work on this one so it kinda is what it is lol.

life out of balance rewrite. no particular due date.

i expect this will take me 3-4 months to complete. finish by september?

lighting out for the territories augmentation. no particular due date.

i'd like to think that i can get this done in 2 months but i don't actually have a plan for what i need to do to it. so who tf knows lol. assume it'll take me the rest of the year.

every hateful instrument - no firm date

this will likely take between 6-8 months to finish, but it's another thing that i really want to stop having hanging over me. i'll either work on it before the LOFTT stuff or after

WIAW phezzan novella - ultimate TBD

to be completed immediately before starting LL/SS, probably

other misc nonsense

there are other small exchanges that i like to do (space swap, unsent letters, we die like fen) so as those pop up i probably will sign up for them. i'm not going to look up/prognosticate when they will happen at this moment in time

god i owe so many people gifts for birthdays and holidays and stuff >.> you may or may not get them. lean towards may not b/c what the fuck is this writing schedule. i'm so sorry lmao

i've now gotten back around to "oh this goes up to the end of the year again, so the end of the year exchanges (yuletide, fffx, fiab, galactic santas) should be on this schedule" but down that road lies only pain and horror lol

this list has gotten incredibly vague as things have gone on. the last part of this year and the first part of next year are pretty set in stone though, and i just need to like, get myself to the starting block and then start running

literally so funny that i was like "i should relax and take a break from writing before starting LL/SS" lmfao. lmfao.

obviously some of these things could be deleted from the schedule. i don't have to do a bunch of exchanges (but i liiiiiike them) and i don't have to write a stupid play (but i wannnnnnt to), and i don't have to do any rewrites to the early parts of WIAW (but they're a mess). so it's like. idk. maybe none of this is real and i'm just making lists b/c i like making lists lol

#writing #a wheel inside a wheel #in the shadow of heaven #tomorrow ye will get your pay #weh probably there's other things i should tag this with but it's late i need to go to bed

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nephiliminality · 10 months

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Angstember Prompt 6: Secrets

Yeah, I'm still doing these! This one took a while because it turned into a 17k word multichapter (oops) and also it's my third attempt at the prompt, which I've really struggled with. One of the other attempts might surface as a different prompt fic later, the other is definitely dead (but never mind, I had fun trying to write it).

In this one, Crowley gets a visit from the former Lord Beelzebub, who has been ousted in a coup. Ze wants Crowley's help fixing that, and ze has some useful leverage: ze knows he isn't really immune to Holy Water...

This fic is finished apart from editing and I'll be posting the chapters over the next couple of weeks or so - it'll almost certainly be my last Good Omens fic before S2 lands. It's pretty light and fun considering the subject matter (I'm not sure it really counts as an angst fic), and it does end happily (well, for most of the characters anyway).

Gen fic, T-rated for alcohol and swearing. CW blackmail, authoritarianism, minor character death.

[AO3]

Excerpt

It was a pleasantly mild Tuesday in September, and Crowley was idling along the A40 at an uncharacteristically modest speed. He would rather be going much faster, but he was trying not to disturb the small pile of packages behind him on the back seat: most of them contained delicate, cream-covered pastries, fine wines, or cheeses so pungent the car would disown him if he spilled any. Aziraphale wanted a picnic, and he was going to get a picnic to remember.

At least, hopefully. The light spots of rain flecking the Bentley’s windscreen didn’t bode well. Still, picnic or no picnic, there would still be wine, and there would still be Aziraphale, now Armageddon was off the table and they were finally, completely on their own side.

Crowley overtook an ancient Fiat, because modest speed was one thing but there were limits, and counted his lucky stars that the traffic was tolerable today. Then a flashing in his rear-view mirror caught his attention and his heart sank. Those were definitely the lights of a police car behind him, and they definitely wanted him to stop and have a chat about something. Wonderful.

Crowley muttered a curse last heard in Mesopotamia and pulled over into the next lay-by. It figured. The one time he hadn’t even been speeding. He muttered to himself and hoped that speeding ticket quotas hadn’t been one of his ideas.

Bless it. Normally he would turn the police car’s engine into something amusingly unmentionable and leave them in his dust, but Aziraphale had been very keen on avoiding miracles until they were sure that Heaven and Hell really were going to leave them alone. Crowley couldn't blame him for the caution. They had only reached their agreements after the trials because neither side knew what they were dealing with; if the secret got out they would both be hauled back in and permanently dealt with faster than you could say ‘gotcha’. Crowley hadn’t heard anything from Hell since the trials but they weren’t likely to have calmed down about it all. Still, these cops were taking the piss and very much deserving of some kind of retribution, and he didn’t need to use miracles to put the fear of Crowley into someone.

The police car pulled up behind him and the hazard lights came on; the driver climbed out and strode purposefully towards the Bentley. Crowley tapped his fingertips on the steering wheel, fleshing out an improvised revenge plan he was rather proud of already, and waited for the officer to reach him. Their gait seemed vaguely familiar, but then humans were all pretty similar in that respect. Normal human skeletons only had so much range, after all.

The officer reached the driver’s side door and knocked gently but firmly on the window. Crowley turned to look at them, smug grin already in place… and then his revenge plan evaporated from his mind, leaving only dregs of highly concentrated terror. That was a very familiar face. One could say, quite literally a painfully familiar face. Certainly he expected it to result in imminent and considerable pain.

The window rolled down of its own accord and several fat blue-tinted flies flew in, settling on Crowley's shoulders like very very tiny henchmen. The officer's teeth were bared in the kind of malicious grin that not even airport security guards could comfortably achieve.

“Do you know how faszt you were going, sir?”

Crowley stared back, speechless and motionless. So that was that, then. Hell had broken its word already, had decided they could safely be eliminated after all. He hadn’t dared to hope that they could actually win against their former sides, but he had thought they would get a little longer.

He had been so cocky, so stupid. They hadn’t even left London. Why hadn’t they left London? Avoiding miracles didn’t count for much if you stayed right where they last found you. Why hadn’t he taken them both to the other side of the planet or something?

Crowley tried to compose himself, plastering on a polite smile. Self-recrimination could wait until the more immediate problem of survival had been taken care of. “Lord Beelzebub,” he gulped. “What a surprise.”

Beelzebub glowered at him through the open window, far too close for comfort. “Get out of the car, Crowley. Or I’ll set fire to it.”

Crowley climbed out of his car meekly, since there didn’t seem to be much choice, and briefly considered bowing before thinking better of it. At this point, genuflection would probably be counterproductive. He glanced over at the police car – which was parked with its rear end sticking out into the road just enough to endanger and infuriate other road users – then back to Beelzebub. “How’s Hell?” he mumbled, a pretence at civil conversation. There had to be a way out of this, if he could only buy himself a little time.

“Hellish,” Beelzebub replied. Ze took off zir hat with one thickly-gloved hand, letting out several more flies, picked something unidentifiable off it and smeared it on the roof of the Bentley. Crowley’s indignation made a valiant effort to override his terror, but his terror had a considerable size advantage. He gave his car a discreet reassuring pat and mentally promised to make it up to her later, provided he survived this. Beelzebub put the hat back on firmly. “Though I’m no longer Lord Beelzebub,” ze said. “Thanks to you.”

Crowley’s jaw dropped. His brain went away for a bit to process that news, then came back and slapped him in the face with the second half of the sentence. Beelzebub, no longer in charge of Hell, because of Crowley. “What?” he protested. “How is it my fault?”

Beelzebub fixed him with an unimpressed look. “You defied Hell, survived your well-deserved execution, dictated terms to both sides, and walked out. In front of ten million witnessez. What did you think would happen?”

Well, when ze put it like that. He’d feel proud if he wasn’t so scared. There wasn’t really a safe way of saying ‘I didn’t care and still don’t, you were trying to execute us for Someone’s sake’, so he kept his mouth shut.

“It’z chaos down there now,” Beelzebub continued bitterly. “Lucifer is off sulking somewhere and the troops are revolting. Half the Dark Council was thrown in the Lake. I barely got out with my wingz intact.”

“And you’ve started a new life in the Metropolitan Police?” Crowley said, trying to sound casual while anything but. Ze hadn’t discorporated him on the spot, which could only mean ze had something worse in mind. Like… oh Hell. Like keeping him occupied while one of zir remaining loyal minions went after Aziraphale.

“Worried about your angel?” ze said, as if reading his mind. “You should be. Unless you cooperate, of course.”

Of course, thought Crowley desperately. Anything you want, anything at all, just leave him alone. Please. “Cooperate on what?”

“A little assignment. You’re a twizty little bastard and I have a job for you. Do it well, and perhaps you and your angelic bed warmer get to live.”

Beelzebub pulled a small bottle from zir pocket, an elegant gold-capped crystal phial which gave off a faint ethereal glow, and Crowley realised why ze was wearing such thick leather gloves. He also realised, too late, that he’d flinched. Beelzebub grinned like a crocodile.

“I know you tricked usz, Crowley,” ze said coldly. “I know this stuff will still kill you. I'm the only one who knows. For now.” Beelzebub leaned in and made eye contact with a stare that could bore through a wall. “Help me get my job back, and maybe I won’t tell Hastur.”

#writing #my writing #good omens #good omens fanfic #angstember

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wickymicky · 2 years

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hi! hope you’re doing well!!

i was just reading the comments on the everglow pirate mv to see what people were saying about the song (bc it slaps of course) and a lot of them were talking about how the group is apparently in dire straits and that the company needs to take action quickly or else they’ll fall apart/disband/etc. obviously it all seemed quite dramatic, but some of the things people mentioned (no full album/lightstick, yiren’s situation, the group’s current general absence from the spotlight, etc) were things that i did know about and aren’t necessarily great signs. as a person who is generally pretty informed on the girl group scene (and the number one first fan), i wanted to ask if you thought these claims had any legitimate merit or if it’s just fans worrying and creating problems where there aren’t any (or at least not to this scale). regardless, i just hope we get some good news about them soon :(

oh wow this is unexpected lol, im not an expert at all haha

but to answer your question, im not that worried about them, tbh. it has been a while since their last comeback, but this is actually not the longest gap there's ever been. it's just about the same length right now as the gap between First and Pirate, and not as long as the gap between La Di Da and First. i wish their gaps werent so long but.... in any case, this is actually fairly normal for them. i think Yiren's situation and Onda's father passing away have been big delays though. but as for right now, they're actually doing pretty well right now, they've been performing all over the world at a couple big concerts and festivals. i think they were the first kpop girl group to ever perform in saudi arabia? they did that a couple weeks ago. they were in london recently too, and they just performed at 1thek's big "g-kpop" concert in seoul like last night. aisha has covid right now i think, so they were performing just as 4 members... but they were performing! and i've heard really good things, especially from people who were at the saudi arabia and london shows. yuehua is having yena come back next month, and i think everglow will probably be after that. i dont think they would be flying everglow all across the world if they werent gonna have them come back i think, haha. unfortunately it's very likely that it'll be without yiren... i'm not very informed about her current situation, but i do think she'll definitely be back... just... maybe not yet. i think there will probably be at least one comeback without her, similar to dreamcatcher in their era without handong. idols getting stuck in china is a recurring thing. i think this is more of a handong situation than a cheng xiao/meiqi/xuanyi situation though, i really do.

fans do love to worry and complain though. everglow arent on top of the world, that's true, they're not the biggest kpop group ever, but i think theyre doing pretty fine. there are a lot of girl groups who would KILL to be where everglow is right now. it's taking longer than i would have hoped, but i think they'll come back relatively soon. probably september or october. and hopefully the gap after that comeback won't be so long

#as for lightsticks though lol i dont really care #i have the word lightstick muted here and on twitter because i hate lightsticks and i think theyre a scam haha #but yeah no idk i have faith in everglow #im more worried about a group like weki meki... but even they have been doing a number of concerts and stuff recently!#building up some momentum!#thank you for the ask though! i love to talk about this stuff

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misakolove · 5 years

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Misako’s Q&A Blog(2019/08/13)❁

#( •ॢ◡-ॢ)-♡~!!(sorry for the lack of activity here. very busy lately but hopefully it'll be back to normal in September)#AAA #attack all around #Uno Misako #Misako Uno #uno-chan #uno blog #AAABLOG #2019 #jpop

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the-english-student-studyblr · 3 years

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Applying for postgrad study

So here it is, the promised guide to applying for a masters. I'll take you through everything, from choosing a course to actually submitting applications.

1. Choosing a course

First things first, choosing what you actually want to do. There are 2 different types of masters degrees: research masters and taught masters. A taught masters (what I'll be starting next week) is closer to what you've probably already doing. You will have lectures and/or seminars and workshops, and write a dissertation at the end of it. It's (normally) a 12 month course, rather than the usual 9, so be prepared to be at uni from september all the way through to the following september. A research masters is probably the masters equivalent of a phd. You do a long-term research project, which you'll have to defend to an academic committee in order to graduate, and can then continue the research in a phd. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and I recommend looking into both before making a decision based on what works best for you.

After you've decided on taught, or research, you have to decide on a subject. It might be a really easy decision, because your subject was very niche anyway, or it might be hard to narrow down a very broad undergrad to something more specific. I narrowed down English lit to World lit, for example. There are about fifty different history-related postgrad degrees, if that's the subject you're looking at, from prehistory, the funerary archeology, to modern history. Hopefully by the time you start looking (and really, if you're looking to apply this academic year, you should be starting now) you have some kind of idea of what area of study you're most passionate about.

UCAS is a great place to start looking, as is findamasters.com

2. Talk to your advisers

You should have an academic adviser (though it might be called something else at other unis) who is meant to help you with things like progression within the uni, future plans, references for work, and postgrad study. This person should be your first port of call. Tell them you're thinking of doing a masters; ask for their advice. Your university careers department might also start doing talks or workshops to help with applications later this term so pop along to those if you have time. Your university might offer discounts for staying on, so find that out before you make firm decisions.

3. Start the applications.

It doesn't cost anything to start an application, just to submit them, so once you've picked out a few courses (I applied to 4 postgrad degrees at different unis and that was a good number, but I've heard of people applying to more and I've also heard of people applying to less) start to fill out the application. Just the basics like your name, date of birth, email address etc. If they have a way to sign up for updates or virtual tours, do that. It'll be super helpful to see how you like the place. The main difference between applying for postgrad, and undergrad is that postgrad DOESN'T USE UCAS. You apply directly through the university. They will each have their own application portal with their own set up and it's so confusing when you first look, but you get used to it I swear.

4. Write your personal statement

Go to your adviser again and ask for help. Each university has specific things they look for, and personal statements vary depending on degree. For a research masters, you're more likely to have to do a research proposal, for a taught masters it's more like what you did for undergrad, conveying passion without being over the top, though they will also want evidence that you know somewhat what your interests are within the subject. You shouldn't need to write more than one statement, but each uni will have what they want to see on their application page. Some are especially nice and have a whole advice page on their website. Some unis (St Andrews) don't even ask for a personal statement, but have all the information usually included therein in a separate application document.

5. Ask for references

Do this as early as you can. If possible, bring it up in passing with your chosen professors before hand, so they know you're interested. These professors should ideally be people who know you relatively well, have seen your best work, and are experts in their field or the field you are applying for. DO NOT do what I did and ask a teacher you know hates you, just because they taught at one of the unis you're applying to (spoiler alert: he promised to give me a reference and then didn't.)

When you email them, be polite and to the point. Tell them what course you're applying for and what you need. Butter them up a little with a little note about how much you love their class/what you like about their teaching/a fond memory you have of them. This also works as a way to remind them of who you are, if they don't teach you currently.

6. Academic CV

This terrified me, if I'm honest, but it's actually pretty easy. Just like a normal CV, you need personal info, education history, and relevant work experience. Unlike a normal CV, you have to include relevant publications. On my CV, I included GCSEs and A-Levels, English tutoring during lockdown, volunteer teaching in Zambia, and the two short stories I had had published as an adult. You also need a very very short paragraph with your skills, and - again - research interests. It's not a very long document at this point in time, and it's not expected to be. If you want more help, your careers department are on hand (or you can message me and I'll screenshot mine, minus any identifying details).

7. Sample work

Most postgrad degrees will ask for a sample of your academic work, usually a short essay of some kind. Some will ask for more than one, and they may have specifications of what type of work it is (for example, mine asked specifically for at least one essay on postcolonial literature, or literature in translation). They will give word or page counts and you need to stick to these. I spent several hours cutting over a thousand words from one of my essays (which actually made it better [see here for more detail]) so I could use it for an application, and that's what they expect you to do. Talk to your professors and get feedback from your assignments so you know how to make your work the absolute best it can be.

8. Finish the application

Once you have everything you need, you can submit your application. This should be: - all the demographics/personal info - your personal statement and/or research proposal - your academic CV - sample essay/s - your transcript (this will be provisional/current, and you will be required to submit a final one when it becomes available) - proof of finances (unless applying for a government loan. That will be another post later on) - proof of citizenship/right to study. This sometimes isn't requested, but I'm a dual national so I get asked every time.

There will be a part of the application form where you have to put in references, but this will just be contact information for the teacher/s you're using. The university will request references from them directly, but it's considered polite to let the teachers know in advance that this will be happening.

Some unis (*cough* Oxford) request an application fee. This varies from uni to uni. Oxford was the only one I had to pay for but it was £75 so make sure you look into that before you apply.

After that it's just a matter of waiting. Some unis have an application deadline, in which case you'll hear back about 6 weeks after that, otherwise it could be anywhere from several days to several weeks later. You will probably get a conditional offer, which - just like at undergrad - means you have to get a certain grade in order to be accepted, unless you're very lucky and get an unconditional. You'll probably start getting emails from people in the department around the time you get an offer, explaining the course in more detail, so be prepared for a flooded inbox. Exeter are still sending me promotional emails even after I rejected their offer.

Hopefully this has been helpful. If you have any questions I haven't answered, my inbox is open, or I'm happy for you to DM me and ask directly. Good luck with all your applications!!

#postgrad applications #studyblr #postgrad studyblr #english lit student #uni tips #advice

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stateofgrace1303 · 5 years

Text

My chronic illness, how it started.

*Can you guys please reblog and/or tag Taylor?? I really want her to read

this. I want this to get to her and I'll take any help I can get. I rarely ask this but it'd mean to world to me. I wanna get my story

out there (even if this is only a part of the entire story. The rest I

might post sometime if you guys want me too. I think I did include

everything I wanted to for now though). Just thank you all so much!!! I

love you all ❤*

(Im really sorry about how long this is. Its like a little novel. Plus I'm

OCD and tend to talk/rant until it feels just right... I just wanted to

share it with all of you, since its something I would've shared on TSL,

even though it'd probably be too long for there... But I wanted to share it

here because most of those swifties can be found on tumblr, and I want you

all to hear this... Maybe it'll even get to Taylor too. But please read if

you can. It'd mean a lot to me. Also I tried writing this but then it got

deleted when I tried posting it, so hopefully this one posts (I ended up trying to post this ALL DAY. I'm so glad it's finally up).)

Hey Swifties! So, I thought I would post this because its something I'd

post on TSL if it was still around, as I shared pretty much my whole life

on there, and I always found swifties very easy to talk to (plus you're all

just the nicest people)! So, I wanted to share this on here since most

swifties can be found on tumblr. I'm sure i talked a little bit about this

on tsl (my user was stateofgrace1303, same as on here and ig) but I wanted

to tell you guys more, especially because its getting so much more intense

now and like I said I've always found swifties very easy to talk to you.

Basically, when I was 12, my dad took me to see the RED tour at Gillette

Stadium. We had gone to see the Speak Now tour there and I had been

completely wonderstruck (no pun intended) by Taylor that night. I was 10 at

the speak now tour and had idolized Taylor since I was 6 and she put out

TOMG (and I was known as the Taylor Swift girl by now at my school). So

even though I was 10 I asked my dad, if I save up the money will you take

me to see her when she comes again? And he said yes. About 2 weeks before

the show, I had saved up enough. He didn't think i could do it, but I did.

So, I got tickets and we went to the tour. But when I was walking towards

the stadium (we had parked in a lot right down the street), my vision

became weird, almost like tunnel vision although nothing was turning black

around the edges of my vision. My feet looked very far away from me.

Suddenly, a rush of dizziness came over me and instinctively i grabbed onto

my dads arm to keep from falling down. He asked if I was okay and I could

barely get out words for some reason. I was starting to sweat and we

thought maybe i was dehydrated, so we got into the stadium as quickly as

possible. I was gripping onto everything around me to keep from falling,

but eventually we got into the stadium and I got some water. We had seats

on the field, so that's where I was, drinking some water when suddenly I

was pretty sure I was going to throw up. It was starting to get super

uncomfortable so my dad brought my to the first aid, which was actually

right at the enterance on the field. So when we went in there my dad told

them what was going on and they all looked at me weird and said "people

never get sick. We usually treat bee stings and allergic reactions. We

almost never have people get sick" which actually surprised me. But, they

took me back and laid me down. Almost immediately I started puking. The

nurse I had actually had just had a baby and had some anti nausea

medication on her. So, she gave me that but it didn't work. And I just got

worse. My dad went to find me something to eat so I'd have something in my

stomach. He came back with some chips and iced/frozen lemonade but I threw

up every time. I was so dizzy at this point I was gripping onto the bed

they had me on and puking my guts out, as well as sweating a lot. After a

while, as it only got worse, they actually thought I might have had food

posioning and asked what I ate. But there they noticed something. I was

completely white. Like white as a ghost. Except for my lips, which were

turning blue. And I was struggling to breathe. They wanted to take me to

Boston Childrens and my dad asked if I wanted to, but it was Taylor. I

couldn't miss it. So I said no for that reason. But actually, everyone at

the stadium was trying to get me tickets for the show the next night as she

was playing two nights. Security guards, the nurses, my dads girlfriend...

But nobody could get tickets in the end which was okay. But later my dad

went and for a list of everybody's set times. I had been in first aid for

about an hour at this point. He came back with the list and said "I promise

I will not let you miss them" he said and pointed to Ed Sheerans name, then

Taylor, since I was a huge Ed fan as well. He knew I probably wouldn't be

able to stay, but even seeing them for a minute would've been perfect to

me. Another hour had passed, and I was still there in the same condition.

It was terrifying, and they were really pushing me to go to the hospital

(they wanted to call an ambulance because they actually thought something

very bad might happen if they didn't). But I keep pushing that off because

I wanted to see Taylor and Ed so badly. But, 2 hours I had been there in

the same condition, puking up everything, completely white with blue lips,

struggling to breathe, so dizzy I couldn't even sit up. It was starting to

get painful honestly. So, I suddenly just burst out crying. I was just a 12

year old who wanted to see my idol, and I got this... This weird sickness,

and got stuck in first aid. In so much pain. I didn't even really

understand what was happening. I had always been a sick kid. Always getting

colds and infections. In fact, I almost died as a baby from a problem with

my kidneys, and had become septic. Its a miracle I lived. But I had never

experienced anything like this... And to experience it when I was just

trying to see my idol? When it was only my second concert ever? It crushed

me tbh. My dad asked what was wrong and I finally said the words I had been

avoiding all night... "I wanna go home" (which was actually his

girlfriend's house who lived in Boston... I'm from Maine). And he said

"okay". That was all he needed and he left, walking back towards where we

left the car. However, around 7:30ish the traffic in this area is really

weird I cant even explain it. But traffic can only go one way, instead of

both ways like normal.. So he couldn't get a ride back to the car and had

to walk, and then drive the car in traffic all the way to the stadium to

pick me up. So i had to wait a while, and while I did I heard clapping and

then a British voice say "hello Boston" and he started playing give me

love. I listened to him play and i only cried more because I was so

frustrated I couldn't go out there to see him. About half way through the

set, my dad showed up. They let him park in a no parking zone to come and

get me so he was right next to the enterance to the field. They were going

to put me in a wheelchair, but instead my dad came and helped me up. He was

holding me up straight and almost dragged me out of the first aid station,

into the stadium. I remember this part so well. The air hit me, I heard

Ed's voice clearly and saw him on stage, and suddenly, I let go of my dad,

and I was able to stand on my own... And I was fine. It was like a miracle.

I yelled to my dad over the music "is it too late to stay?" And he screamed

back "what??? After all that you wanna stay???" And I said yes, so, we

stayed. He went to go move the car (the girl was so nice who did the

parking, he told her the story, and he just needs to park the car and het

back in the stadium, how much would it cost. And the girl said park

wherever you want no charge. I thought that was seriously the sweetest

thing.) Sooo he did that, and since I was only 12 in a huge stadium, one of

the cops that was patroling the place stayed with me and asked me all kinds

of questions about Ed Sheeran, especially about the A-Team, when he played

it. He said "this isn't his song right?? Is this a cover?? I know this

song." And I told him it wad and told him all about it. It was the ideal

conversation for 12 year old me 😂 Anyway, my dad came back, we got to our

seats, and I actually met Andrea for a very brief moment! And before I knew

it, Taylor was playing. And I had made it through the entire show. I woke

up the next morning, still feeling a little sick but actually felt better

after eating, so I thought the worst was over. But, I was wrong... I didn't

know that one night would become my life... And god I wish I had gone to

the hospital... Maybe I would be okay now if I had... But anyway... A month

later (in August), it happened at my friends end of summer party. Then a

month later (in September), while I was at school... Each time worse than

the time before. Everyone had been informed I was having issues, but nobody

had seen anything happen yet. I seemed like myself. Then one day, I was on

my way to lunch with my friends, and I collapsed in the hallway... Same

thing happening. All my friends freaked out and 2 stayed with me while the

rest went to get the nurse. She actually thought I was dying, and honestly

I could've. She called my mom and said she wasn't sure if she should call

my mom or an ambulance. Then my mom came and got me and immedaitly took me

to my doctor (because she said next time it happens to come in so they

could monitor me). I was monitored and fell asleep, then 4 hours later i

woke up like nothing happened. After that i was pulled out of school and

constantly at the doctor. And I just got sicker and sicker... Which was

later diagnosed as... "Anxiety". By an unqualified doctor. He was a thyroid

doctor and diagnosed me with that?? As time went on, I got incredibly sick

to the point I can't even move. I have become completely disabled and lose

control of my body a lot. It's like my brain is disconnected from my body.

And I get this weird feeling im falling off a cliff and I cant feel my arms

and when that happens, I cant move at all. I cant even express how bad it

can get, how scary and painful it is. I'm a lot sicker than most people

think I am... I spend most days in bed, actually unable to move. I find

ways to keep my spirits up, luckily. Mostly its listening to Taylor and

watching friends but yeah 😂 I have days where I can't even sit up I'm so

dizzy and weak and it hurts so much. Its also terrifying when you don't

have full control over your own body. Absoultely terrifying. Although I

have okay days where I can stand up and function for a little bit, most

days lately have been like this... Bad and living from my bed due to

weakness and dizziness (extreme dizziness honestly). I have days where its

even a struggle to breathe, the most simple thing in the world. It gets

depressing at times... When you spend all ur time in bed or a wheelchair it

really can vet discouraging... But I'm still fighting. And I'm so happy I

am. And like I said, Taylor always lifts me up. Even on my worst, most

disabled and bed ridden days. Oh, that reminds me... I also have seizures

now, sadly. But I hadn't had what happened that night at the RED tour in a

while though... Until one night last year... While I was seeing Ed Sheeran

in Gillette Stadium 😂 Maybe its him?? I dont know 😂 Anyway, I spend most

days in bed, and I do online schooling now. I've seen Taylor twice since

then. For 1989 and for reputation. With 1989 I needed a lot of help but I

got through it. Reputation, it had gotten so bad I needed a wheelchair and

I still do whenever I go out, really. I dont have full control over my body

and I'm too weak and just very sick. I'm really hoping to go to lover fest

but if i do will need a wheelchair and even then I'll probably still feel

sick... But Taylors worth it ❤ Hopefully can get ada seating like with rep.

Wanted to keep this last part short but I think I failed 😂 Mainly wanted

to focus on the red tour. My health story is so incredibly long, I couldn't

say it all (maybe I will later). However, for now, I will tell you this, I

was diagnosed with a thyroid disease, migraines, and seizures. Then it was

discovered that all of this... Was advanced Lyme Disease... And it created

something called Dysautonomia (basically a disfunction of the autonomic

nervous system, which most people don't even realize they have, or how

important it is, until it makes you sick and either nearly kills or

cripples you... Depending on the kind though.) Also known as POTS, or

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (there are actually 15 kids of

dysautonomia, that being one of them, I might possibly have more than one

kinda, were not sure yet. But its basically half cardiology half

neurology). And there's no cure... I could be this way, this disabled and

sick for a while... But there are treatments that might work luckily!!!

Since there are no Dysautonomia clinics in Maine, I either have to go to

New York, Baltimore, Cleveland, or Minneapolis. So looks like im taking a

trip! Sadly to a hospital, but still 😊 I honestly don't know how we'll pay

for it, but I need it, or I will spend my life like this. So I'm sure we'll

find a way... Like I always seem to do in life, no matter what 😊❤ Oh, and

funny thing is, I have something called PANS as well... So I have Pots and

Pans 😂😂😂 Anyway, I just wanted to share this with you guys because like

I said you guys are always so great and Taylor is my favorite artist so I

wanted to share it with the people who understand my love for her. I've

been a huge fan of her for 13 years (I'm 18, 19 next month, now). Theres

something about her... She's always helped me but especially now. She makes

me so happy and feel so safe during this time... Im fact, the only time i

smile like i did when I was younger,before all of this, is when I listen to

Taylor. I even have a Long Live tattoo on my wrist because I felt it

represented my love for her the most, and what we've made as a fandom, the

magic we've created. Plus, it reminds me that I'm fighting my battle (this

"dragon") with Taylor and her music on my side, as well as all of you. And

it makes me smile. I can't wait to get more Taylor tattoos... Honestly,

after all of this and the other health issues I faced as a baby and a

child, I can't believe I'm still here, that I'm still living... Especially

because since I've always been so sick with so many different illnesses and

health issues to the point I'm disabled, my immune system is so weak. I

truly cannot believe I'm still here. But... I guess my body just isn't

ready to give up. It hasn't yet at least!!! And it doesn't want to. It

won't. I'm strong. Me, and my body, want to fight until the very end. And

I'm grateful for that. So grateful that I am still alive, and still

fighting every day of my life. It might be hard, and I can't function or do

really anything but lay in bed and watch tv most days, but I'm just so

thankful that I'm still alive, that it's okay I have to be at the doctors

so much and have to take all these meds (I do anything at this point that

can help me even the slighest). And no matter what life throws at my

health, my body always fights it and gets right back up. I fall down 10

times, I stand up 11. And I could not have the courage and strength to do

this if it wasn't for my idol, Taylor Swift. I've been a fan of Taylor for

13 years (I'm 18 now, 19 next month) so her and her music have helped me

through every problem I have ever faced, and this is no different. She has

a song for everything, so I can always find something to listen to that

makes me feel like she understands and she's telling me it'll be okay...

And ever since LOVER came out, I've been listening to soon you'll get

better on days its really bad, and my girlfriend sends me that song on bad

days too... It makes me feel safe. And like I can fight this. Thank you,

Taylor. I will never be able to repay you. I may struggle with this every

single day im here on earth, but with your music and the support I feel

from the swiftie fam, I know I'll get through it. Anyway... I guess I

should end this here. Again, sorry this is so long but if you read this

thank you so much for taking the time to!! If you made it to this point,

I'm proud 😂❤ And it means the world to me, you have no idea. Im hoping

this will get to Taylor and maybe even Ed one day. I love you all so much

and once again, thank you for reading!! ❤❤❤

@taylorswift @taylornation 🌈❤ @taylornotices 💜

(Pic is from when I was in First Aid at Ed Sheeran. It was so bad there

they had to give me an IV. I was in the first aid station, wrapped up in my

nightmare before Christmas blanket, on a stretcher with an IV in my hand

pretty much the entire night. It was so painful. When I arrived to first

aid I was actually unresponsive. Like I knew what was happening but I

couldn't talk or open my eyes. All I could do was make very small

movements. It felt like my body was shutting down. I was having bad heart issues as well and they wanted to give me a medicine fot my nausea but since I had lyme disease it could make my heart issues worse so they had to give me an EKG... Right there at the concert 😂 Interesting... But, I got through it.

Like always 😊 So yeah thats where the

picture is from ❤)

#taylurking #taylorswift #taylorstans #taylornation #red #redtour #edsheeran #lymedisease #dysautonomia #taylorlurking #i love you taylor #tay #usertaylornotices #tswift

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