We're Moving!

To my dear readers,

WE'RE MOVING SITES!

Goodbye Bubbles of Blogger. Hello Sophie Aussie of Wordpress.

No offense to Blogger, but Wordpress is more professional and versatile.


And in case you weren't up to date on all my online presences, here they all are:

Blog: http://sophieaussie.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophieaussie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophieAussieT

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBgZjpicpY2rdWAT5EvO3wQ/about

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/sophieaussie/

Gabbie, you are not allowed to visit SoundCloud because I want the first time you hear it to be when it airs on Round@Lauries. The first poem should be airing tomorrow night. Stay tuned!

My Biggest Challenge

The biggest challenge for me at the moment is time management--submitting things on time and planning out schedule/goals. Everything always takes longer than I think it will.

I want to improve this skill so that I achieve all my goals and so that employers can see that I'm taking their time frames seriously.

I seriously need a good kick up the arse before I will complete something. Having a real deadline from someone I respect/ want to impress is perfect motivation for me.

PS. Never wait. It will not get easier. Sure, you need time to think over your ideas, but if you hesitate too long the idea will get stale or you'll lose your chance.

Lesson: Listen to your own voice

You know all those times our Creative Writing tutors told us that reading your work aloud improves it immensely? I mean, we all know that, but what I've found especially helpful is to record my poems. I've borrowed a voice recorder from uni. I did it because my good buddy Laurie Bolger said she wanted me to send her my poems so that she could put them on her show. So I've been taking extra care to ensure my poems sound as good as they can. It's amazing the words you can take out, and hearing the clunky phrasing. Listening to myself has been the most helpful thing this past week.

And I thought I talked too much.

Lesson: Record your Stuff

Well, I submitted a poem for an event in London. The poem is about as good as it could be. I just need to work on the performance. I haven't got a decent recording of one of my poems. I've done great performances, but they were recorded by the official organisers, who turn out to be not very organised at passing along the footage. Goes to show you should always have your own stuff recorded. What you really need is a film student, or a friend, to record your stuff at each gig.

The little voice in my head told me I should have recorded my events. It's hard when the room is crammed with people and you don't know when you'll go on and your friends are on the other side of the room.

Really soon I'll find a space and record my performances and upload them.

Also, just a heads up, but I'm going to switch to WordPress. I'm not happy with the options on Blogger.

Ciao for now xx

How to Manage your Time

I have a number of deadlines coming up and it has started to overwhelm me. There's too much floating around in my head. I need to write things down and allow more time for tasks, because there are always unexpected complications.

Allowing plenty of time is also important because you need to give people warning if you need their assistance. For example, I need to find a film student to help with a project and I also need to contact a poet for an interview and if I leave it too long they might not have time.

I found a Ted Talk that has helped me to clarify what I need to do to effectively manage my time. I summarised it below:

Summary of his Ted notes

• Plan goals
• Divide into manageable sized tasks to be less overwhelmed
• Plan time
• Have time frames
• Plan resources
• What do you need? How will you get it?
• Plan process
• Visualise as well. Tricks your brain into thinking that you’ve already done something
• Plan for distractions
• Work in a clear space. Stay focussed on tasks
• Plan for failure
• Allow time to get through problems
• Grit your teeth and work through problems

"Don't wait. The time will never be just right." -- Napoleon Hill 

How To Speak English

The most irritating cliches to do with emotions

So maybe they've had some emotional issues, but do they really have to use the same old phrases all the time? At first I heard it on a lot of reality TV shows, but when it started poisoning the language of everyday people, I knew I had to speak up. Here is the top 6 on my list:

1. "Now their lives will change forever"

Cue studio audience going, "Ooooo!" Maybe this event will change their lives, but people's lives change all the time, from little things as well. And it won't be "forever". Just until they die. Unless their forever=their lifespan, in which case they're a narcissist.

"Don't you want to get fit and change your life forever?"

"No, but for the next 50 odd years would be pretty fucking nice." 

2. "A rollercoaster of emotions"

Firstly, rollercoasters are way too short. Secondly, people pay to go on rollercoasters. Thirdly, rollercoasters are fun, whereas quick emotional changes are exhausting.

3. "Ups and downs"

This just seems too linear to me. Surely there's more ways to go than just up and down. What about all the other angles?

4. "Hair-raising"

Maybe you're scared, but the incident would only be hair-raising if you were a cartoon... or if your science geek friend was holding a carpet rubbed balloon to your head. The one exception I'll make is if your bodily hairs (arm hairs most likely) stand on end. Though I have never personally experienced this response to fear, it is a legit thing called piloerection, so don't feel like a freak if this happens to you...not a total freak, anyway.

5. "Fall head over heels"

This only applies to someone really clumsy. Like, Bella-level clumsy (yes I just referenced Twilight, which in itself feels like a cliche. But maybe that's just because people in creative writing courses really enjoy paying out books with two dimensional characters).

Now for the most annoying one of all (drum roll please...)

6. The "Journey"

This word should only be used if you are actually physically going on a trip (usually a long one, because you'll sound like a pratt if you tell your mate, "I'm just going on a journey to get some milk from the shops"). But I think this word might be completely ruined for me. I blame reality TV shows.

Now I will show you the most cliched way to express your feelings, based on Twilight, since I mentioned it:

"My life was changed forever when Edward walked in. Even though his intense stare was hair-raising, I couldn't help but fall head over heels. Since then it has been a rollercoaster ride. We've had our ups and downs, but overall I've enjoyed our journey to love."

I know, I know, it just makes you want to have this reaction--a reaction which, by the way, is in no way life changing or everlasting; has absolutely nothing to do with rollercoasters that should stay at the fair where they belong; is not stuck in an elevator; does not raise any kind of hair; will not make you go head over heels unless you're Bella; and most importantly, is NOT a flipping journey!