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Robert Cutillo

Method for Planning Essays and Revisiting James Joyce

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In my last TMA, to plan my essay, I decided to begin by writing out the question and then answering it with as few words as possible. Then I used the answer to plot out my plan. It so happened there were about four answers to the question, and so these answers provided me with a topic for each paragraph. The final essay was better than anything I've written so far; it was much easier to read than my last one. Hopefully, this will improve my chances of getting a good mark. Regardless of the result, I will still stick with this approach.

I've decided to reread A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and I'd forgotten how well it was written. It's quite depressing actually, reading something written so well and then trying to write something of your own. I wonder if James Joyce was ever intimidated by other writers?

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Robert Cutillo

TMA, Writing, E3, and the World Cup

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OK, so my plan for my next TMA is sorted, which is good. I'll starting writing the essay tomorrow and hopefully have a final draft finished for Saturday. Then I can spend Sunday and Monday editing it ready for submission.

I'm trying to take writing a little more seriously. I've found a number of sites that accept volunteer writers, and I've applied to them. Hopefully, I can start building up a portfolio. All this writing should improve my skills, too.

E3 is on at the minute, which is a pain, as I still haven't bought a Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, I don't have the money or the time at the minute. I've been dying to play Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey for a long time now.

For some reason, I'm not excited for the World Cup this year. In fact, I haven't been excited by football for a long time. I'm not too sure why that is. Maybe it's because people get too carried away with it. It's supposed to be a form of entertainment, not something you get violent about.

Not too sure what else to write, so I'll leave it there smile

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Robert Cutillo

Good Riddance TMA 04 and a New Routine

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Edited by Robert Cutillo, Monday, 28 May 2018, 19:19

TMA 04 was horrible; I did not enjoy it. I wasn't the only one either: people on the AA100 Facebook group also thought it was horrible. But it's over now, gone. Hopefully, the next TMA is more interesting.

I'm always obsessing over routine. At one point I was setting a 90 minute timer on my phone and doing whatever work I pleased within that time. It was good and I was more productive, but sometimes I would work on things that weren't as important as something else. So my new routine focuses on prioritising. I've made a list of everything I need to do and I've ordered them. Here's the list, beginning with what I consider the most important: writing, uni work, learning Italian and Greek, and reading and learning something new.

I really hope this routine works, as I feel I'm nowhere near accomplishing my goals. University, of course, will take time, but the writing and learning of new languages and new things is totally up to me. I've read that some people can learn a tremendous amount in three months when it comes to language learning. I've been learning Italian on and off now for... well, I don't really want to say. I think I just need to stay focused and stick with my new routine.

By the way, these are my goals: get a degree, be a traditionally published author, be able to speak Italian and Greek (and maybe another language), and to have bought my own home. I'm 30 now, so I believe accomplishing all this by the time I'm 40 is more than doable. I hope.

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Robert Cutillo

Assignment, Writing Competition, and a Bit of Poker

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I've just submitted my third assignment, and I'm glad to be rid of it. I found it much more difficult than the previous two, but I guess that was to be expected. I did have fun reading about Stalin and then Plato, however. I'm particularly drawn to logic, so reading Socrates' methods of finding truths was great. I think I'll take a break from uni work for the next couple of days.

I've entered a writing competition called the Bristol Prize. I don't think I'll win, but you've got to try I suppose. The story I submitted was only about 2,500 words, and it's about a man running away from the crimes he's committed. I'm also in the process of writing what I hope will turn out to be a book.

What else? I've been playing a bit of online poker recently. I hadn't really played for about two or three years but I fancied it one evening, and now I can't stop playing. I tend to play fixed limit games, as I find those more fun. I only play micro stakes, so I'm never in danger of losing anything more than $6, which is nice.

I don't think there's anything more to say. I'm just going to kick back and write some more of my potential book. Toodles!

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Robert Cutillo

Still Waiting

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I'm still waiting to hear back about my flash fiction submission, but that's expected, as usually it can take a good few weeks before hearing anything at all. In the meantime, I've been working on a short story. I've rewritten it so many times I've lost count. But I'm very happy with this version. All I need to do is finish proofreading it and then I'll submit it to some place.

As far as my second assignment is concerned, I've finished writing it and am now proofreading it. Overall, I'm happy with it.

Recently, I began doing audio transcriptions for a website called TranscribeMe. It doesn't pay well but it is fun. It means writing as well, which is good.

Not much else to write really. Hopefully, I'll have something more interesting to write next time.

Permalink 2 comments (latest comment by Robert Cutillo, Tuesday, 3 Apr 2018, 19:56)
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Robert Cutillo

Second Assignment and Flash Fiction

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Edited by Robert Cutillo, Friday, 16 Mar 2018, 19:38

Yesterday, I received my first assignment back and I was very happy with the result. Although I didn't receive top marks, I was still proud of what I achieved (I hope this doesn't come across as too "braggy"; I don't mean it to be!). I'm going to get to working on it right away. Hopefully, I'll have it done for next week, as I want to be ahead of schedule and not be in a position where I'm rushing to get it done.

On a unrelated note, I submitted a piece of flash fiction I've been trying to get published to a website today. It's only about 800 words or so, and it's about an awkward kiss that occurs between two colleagues after their shift has ended. I'm not sure if it's that good a piece of writing, but I could always rewrite it if it keeps getting rejected.

I'm surprised flash fiction isn't more popular, actually. It's short and so can be read in no time at all. They're usually better written, too, as brevity important, so you don't get too many unnecessary words. But, unfortunately, I think some people just don't think they're worth their time. Let's hope that changes some day.

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Robert Cutillo

Mr Stalin

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Edited by Robert Cutillo, Tuesday, 13 Mar 2018, 19:02

I'm still waiting for my assignment to be returned. The wait is almost killing me. I'm very eager to know how I did and what I can improve upon in the future.

I've fallen a little bit behind the study planner, but that doesn't bother me too much. I'm currently reading up on Stalin. I can't make up my mind about whether he was a smart man or not. If he was smart, and his intention was to cost millions of lives, then he's probably more evil than we thought. If, however, he didn't plan those deaths and he genuinely believed his collectivism and other beliefs would work, then he was well and truly a moron. But does being stupid release him from being labelled "evil", or could we spare him that and instead go with "incredibly incompetent"? I say this because I wonder if you can be evil without being intelligent. I think that's an interesting idea. 

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Robert Cutillo

Yikes!

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Edited by Robert Cutillo, Saturday, 24 Feb 2018, 14:38

First assignment submitted! And before the deadline too. It was a very nerve-racking ordeal though: I was paranoid I'd formatted it wrong or written something stupid. Ah well. Only time will tell now.

I've started reading the chapter on Cezanne in the AA100 book. It's proving to be an interesting read. But I think I'm more interested in the art techniques than the artist. Personally, I don't like his style. 

Permalink 2 comments (latest comment by Robert Cutillo, Sunday, 17 Jun 2018, 11:11)
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