news report

My current assignment at London School of Journalism is to write a news report. When I got it, I felt really down. I am moving from Moscow right now, I just moved the the new neighbourhood in Moscow (where I am going to live for 2 months) and I didn’t know anyone or anything here. Besides, I couldn’t get a local newspaper. Seems like it was something non-existent. I wrote to the local paper, no respond. So I decided to relax and just do what I could do – other subjects, reading literature my tutors wanted me to read, writing articles for people, who asked me to write them for a long time, etc.

But then something happened, I was surfing the net and read about Drug Policy seminar, that was going to happen in Moscow State University (the one I graduated from in 2007 with Maths&Computer Scinece degree). But it was too late to register, but I wrote them anyway, and they kindly accepted my request. Then I was surfying some more and found some English magazines online who could be interested in my news report (that was the tough part of the task, I had not only to write report, I had to write it for a particular paper, no really matter, if they publish it or not though..). So I did it. Not hoping for any respond (as always). And a miracled happened.. I got a reply from the editor of “Drings and Drugs” magazine and she was interested in my report! We exchanged couple of e-mails, so now I have a good chance.

I began to research the topic and found out that the seminar was organized by Rylkov Foundation for Health and Social Justice. I contacted it, to its President and she was ready to help me with material! On the other hand, I told her I was ready to volunteer and help their organization as much as I can. We’re going to discuss it on October 29, 2011 during the seminar.

I am really looking forward to it. I began to worry that I won’t be able to write good enough.. I read acticles in DDN and they’re really cool and well researched and with really impressive English. I can’t write like this yet, but I’ll try my best. At least, I’ll get my assignment done, and at most – I”ll have a published news report in a British magazine, with a future possibility to write a feature article there!

let’s try

Sometimes I am afraid to do something just because I am afraid to fail. Actually I almost never failed, maybe because I am so careful before trying. I finished school with top grades, entered the oldest Russian University (Moscow State University), it was really hard to enter it, but I did, and even this didn’t make me feel more confident. Everytime I tried something, I did it only when I was almost 100% sure, I will succeed. It was like this not only about studies and career, but even with personal life! I’ve never fell in love with anyone who I couldn’t get.

At the moment I try to change my life for good, so I make more risky goals. “Let’s move to..England” When I made this plan, I wasn’t sure we’ll succeed. Now we’re moving to England. “Write an article to a Shape magazine” I’ve never believed they would publish it, so I didn’t spend much time writing, finished my article in 30 minutes and sent it even without re-reading it. Article is published.

Now I decided to apply for college. Actually, I am not sure I’ll find a college that will accept me. Yes, I have high GPA (4.6), my IELTS is 7.5 of 9. But I still can’t believe that any college will accept me. After few hours of thinking I decided to try, fill all the forms, send them, nothing bad will happen if I do. It’s better to try and fail that not to try at all.

Most courses I’ve chosen are about Journalism, Psychology and Creative Writing. I am sure 100% I would enjoy Creating Writing course. I am not completely sure about Journalism. I still think my communicating skills are below average for this profession. But I enjoy the process and it’s for sure. So I’ll try it, let’s see where I’ll end up.

Today I had a hard time in the hospital, but as a writer I tried to remember what I felt and I’m going to describe it.

When the Doctor Cares. 

I was looking at the doctor and waiting when she would start. Usually doctors explain me in details what they’re going to do, so I know exactly what I will feel and when. Doctors are usually earnest with me, and I appreciate it. This time I knew it would be painful and I’ll have to be patient.

Just before I imagine what kind of pain it would be. Every part of our body reacts differently to the pain, so if you have enough experience (and I have some of it), then you can guess. I was very close to what I actually felt, but it was still very difficult to stand.

I haven’t hardly eaten anything and didn’t sleep much. I remember that during old times some Russian generals made soldiers not to sleep for a couple of nights to be braver during the battle. My battle was not that long, so I just slept less during the previous night. I haven’t eaten much, because for me it’s simpler to stand anything being hungry. I feel stronger this way.

When she was doing it, I behaved fine at the beginning, but when the pain was too unbearable I began to moan and I’ve seen how the doctor was really sorry about it. Usually it’s difficult with me. I am all happy and smiling during talking, and in pain, I become so different for those couple of minutes. Doctors usually don’t expect it. And all of them react differently. Today’s doctor was really fine and told me that most of the time people lose consciousness during it (lucky they But I never lose it even when I really want to.  I often imagine how hard it is for doctors, good doctors, who feel the pain of their patients, to do their job. She did a wonderful job. When it was the most hard moment in the whole procedure, she began telling me good things, like like a mother would do. It really impressed me. I was not a peace of meat for her and I felt it.

Those moments made us really close. This doctor and me. I fully trusted her and she did her best. I felt so much relief when it was over that I didn’t feel any pain all at once! I was so surpriced, but the doctor told me that it might be my sudden happiness, I completely ignored that I was bleeding and that pain was actually there. I ran to the flower shop and brought her some flowers. I was really thankful. She did such a great job.

“Eats, Shoots & Leaves” by Lynne Truss, first thoughts

Today I began reading “Eats, Shoots & Leaves” by Lynne Truss. I was recommended to read it by my English teacher from London School of Journalism Gavin Evans. English punctuation was always something surprising to me, because it’s very different from Russian punctuation.

I’ve heard several times from my older British friends that they were never tought grammar and punctuation at school, it always made me wonder, how it came. Once I was told that it was time of hippie and that was the reason. I am still not sure in it, but the book also mentions that during 70s schools haven’t tought any grammar and expected that children would know it from reading.

In Russia we were tought grammar for about 8-9 years and about 2-3 years were dedicated to punctuation. So, I never had an idea that punctuation was unimportant. It was important, because if you misplaced at least one comma in a final essay, you wouldn’t get a top grade and I wanted a top grade.. I just got used to the fact, that English were usually placing commas depending on their mood. I always wanted to know the basic rules though.

The book is funny at times with lots of examples of wrong usage. Here are those I found interesting (thought I am sure they will be more in future):

A woman, without her man, is nothing.
A woman: without her, man is nothing.

Here is one more:

Dear Jack,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not
like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no
feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy – will you let me be yours?
Jill

Dear Jack,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not
like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men I yearn! For you I have
no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart I can be forever happy. Will you let me be? Yours,
Jill

And finally, an example five hundred years before e-mail

Every Lady in this Land
Hath 20 Nails oneach Hand;
Five &. twentyon Handsand Feet ;
And this is true, without deceit.

(Every lady in this land has twenty nails. On each hand, five; and twenty on hands and feet.)

Writing TODO list

I am going to put some writing plans in a to-do list!

- Write articles about Thailand and Singapore to  www.world-to-see.ru

- Write a review to http://brucekilgour.wordpress.com/ (I truly enjoy this blog)

- Do my Improve You English assignment for London School of Journalism

 

intro

Some time ago I realised that I should be more active online. I love writing and would like to become a writer, and I thought it would be useful to have a blog and twitter, take part in some new communities, meet people with the same interests and so on.

At the moment I study at London School of Journalism (LSJ)  and really enjoy it, especially the Short Story Writing course. At the moment I am working on two short stories with the titles “Dear Mom, Love Jason” and “Monday Madness”. Both of them are thrillers of some kind. English isn’t my native language, but very soon I am moving to London, England, so hopefully it’ll improve in no time.

Besides writing I love reading, so I am going to write reviews of the books I read here. I just joined the Goodreads community. I try to read books written in different genre, classical and modern literature. I love my Amazon Kindle, but once in a while read books in paper too, just to feel the book.

I just started reading a book called “Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story” by Leonie Swann. I like the style and enjoy reading it a lot. I read it in paper, and I dropped it into the bathtub a little bit today but it’s still okay. I got a book from a German friend and it’s in English (because I don’t speak German yet).

I was asked to write several articles in Russian about my trips. I study Travel Writing at LSJ, so I thought it would be a good practise, even though I am planning to write mostly in English.