Thoroughly modern millennial

Tag: 2012

  • Writing with abandon: Taking on the Camp Nanowrimo challenge as a blogger

    It’s the 2nd of August and I’m on day 2 of Camp NaNoWriMo. 
    What is Camp NaNoWriMo I hear you cry? 
    Camp Nanowrimo - It's like Nanowrimo, but in June! Works better for students, teachers, and those who have more time in June than November. Want to write your own novel this summer?
    [Image sourced via Pinterest]
    Well It’s a month long writing challenge that has participants from every corner of the globe aiming to write a 50,000 word novel from scratch (or scratch-ish). It can be any genre, you can be any age and it doesn’t even have to be written on a computer (though I’d advise you do so you can count, your word count). 
    I’ve briefly mentioned my participation a couple of times on this blog, but I’ve never fully properly talked about it.

    Writing is something that I’ve always done since I was very young. I have an over active imagination and do find myself daydreaming stories. The only problem is finishing any of them.
    That’s definitely what drew me to blogging. It was quick and easy and posts have small word counts, you can publish your work within a matter of seconds and have dozens of people reading it within a few minutes.
    This changed slightly after participating in NaNoWriMo 2011. Alongside University work I completed a  whole novel (albeit a very bad one). The accomplishment felt amazing. I’d never finished anything to that length before.
    Pen and paper.[Image sourced via Pinterest]

    So what does this have to do with blogging?
    Heard of blogger’s fatigue? Blogger’s block? Or feeling a severe lack of creativity? I’m pretty sure all of these symptoms have been faces by bloggers at some point or another. And these are all things you need to fight against when participating in a challenge like NaNoWriMo. 
    The basic ethos of the challenge is to write with literary abandon and sometimes when you’re feeling uninspired by the world of blogging you need that. I feel like sometimes us bloggers forget that this is our domain, it can be good to loose one’s inhibitions and simply write like no one’s watching. The principle’s the same with photography, crafting and art. 
    There’s so much emphasis on reaching out to your audience that many of us bloggers can loose perspective on why we started in the first place…because we loved doing it!

    That’s really what a challenge like Camp NaNoWriMo is about: letting go and enjoying the unpredictability of writing and creating. 

    So it may already be day 2 but why not take on the Nano writing challenge? 
    Or take on the challenge in your own way. 
    Write 500 words of nonsensical fashion commentary, doodle with abandon or throw paint in the air and see where it lands. 
    Break the rules and bury your insecurities in the sand. 

    Keep on wishing…
    R.xoxo

    *If you’re trying to find me on NaNoWriMo (both for Camp Nano and the Novement event) I’m RCagz on there :)

  • Recommended: Prairie Charms

    Another ‘Recommended’ post! This time from Prairie Charms.
    I loves me a charm bracelet. I have a whole jewellery box full of bracelets and beaded knick knacks in my bedroom. Prairie Charms are a small independent store that sell charming beaded bracelets, friendship wraps and most recently brooches and pins. Each piece is quirky, beautifully made and the best part about them is that they donate 10% of proceeds go to Great Ormond Street Hospital’s ‘Kiss It Better’ campaign. 
    So pretty bracelets AND giving a hand to charity. Brilliant, right? 
    As part of Project Blogger, I picked out their ‘Life is better when you’re laughing’ bracelet*. I was really drawn to the little gold leaf charms circling the bracelet and the fact that it’s neutral colour will go with pretty much everything in my wardrobe. And another plus? It fits so well with my standard set of everyday bracelets too!
    [Beaded bracelets assorted from New Look, Miss Selfridge and Prairie Charms]

    Keep on wishing…
    R.xoxo
    *disclaimer: Bracelet was partially compensated, with 50% discount, as part of Project Blogger. Read more about it here. 

  • This Week…

    What I wore: Top [Primark], Skirt [H&M], Sandals & belt [New Look], Necklace [Accessorize]
    – Teen Choice Award red carpet blogging = standard – Sunshine! – Bright yellow hues – Afternoon spent boating at my friend’s house – Beautiful view, beautiful day – Hot honey, lemon & orange – Working in my garden has it’s advantages – My sister was watching Glee clips on her Wii (Woop for the Warblers) – Fringe is annoying, but good excuse for a pretty hair tie – Queen Rowling at the Olympic opening ceremony – My favourite part of the whole night – Exciting packages! – Beautiful bracelet from Prairie Charms – Demolishing pancakes this morning – Mum and sis found old family photos, definitely amusing! –

    Follow me on Instragram [@rcagz] for my photo diary

    Soundtrack: Muse – Survival

    To me this week felt kind of unproductive, in a nice way, but I’m surprised how much actually happened. It kicked off getting back into a good old red carpet round up [check out the post here], is it bad I’m thirsting for January award show season already? 
    The sunshine has been absolutely blissful this week as Summer seemed to finally arrive here in the UK. I spent Monday at my friend’s house, which backs onto the river, and we spent a lazy afternoon drifting on a dingy. Despite having to get some boring admin-y type stuff done I’ve tried to spend as much of it outside, I even forwent my bus ride and walked to work instead [albeit in 30 degree heat at 1pm in the afternoon, wasn’t the best plan in the world]. The forecast isn’t looking great so I’m glad I got some rays before the gloom and doom of typical British rain returns. 
    Thanks to the BBC coverage I’ve also been completely suckered into the Olympics again. The last time this happened I’d just finished my GCSE’s and spent most of my time glued to the TV screen watching pretty much every event. But how good was the Opening Ceremony?! Danny Boyle had me won over when the Queen parachuted out of a helicopter with James Bond. Pretty much sums up the eccentricity of us Brits in a nutshell doesn’t it. It’s also gotten me really excited about heading to watch the Paralympic Games at the end of August. Can’t wait to see the Stadium for myself. 
    Outside of the games I received my lovely bracelet from Prairie Charms, as part of Project Blogger. I’m probably aiming to make a full post about it this week, so keep an eye out!
    There’s also two very exciting things coming up for me this week!
    The first is participating in Camp Nanowrimo. For those who don’t know the aim of Camp Nano is to pen a 50k novel in a month. Sounds hard but I did their November event for the first time last year and went over target! I’m really looking forward to writing my August novel. The idea and characters haven been rooted in my head for the past few weeks so it’ll be good to get it all out on paper. 
    The second is that as of this Wednesday I’ll be starting my 12 month work placement, as part of my Uni course. I’m super excited and very nervous but hopefully it should be great experience to work in a full time marketing job for a year. This new routine may also mean a little shake up of my blog schedule, as well as what I blog about. But it does give a great opportunity to wade into the world of professional work wear ;) 

    Keep on wishing…
    R.xoxo