Thursday, November 6, 2014

How to Write Books Good, Part 1


Thinking up the idea:
  • Think of an idea.
  • Lie in bed and think about the idea some more.
  • Dismiss idea.
  • Walk around house. Do menial tasks. Allow the mind to wander
  • When the mind has wandered around to an idea, stop doing menial tasks and pay attention.
  • Write it down.
  • Read it over.
  • Change it.
  • Lie down on sofa. Let idea form a story.
  • Dismiss idea. Hates idea. Idea is stupid.
  • Decide to write from the headlines. Switch on news. Read newspapers. Look for inspiration. 
  • Ebola, eh?
  • Brand new idea. A plague that wipes out most of humanity! The few survivors come together under some vague supernatural (religious?) pretence. 
  • But evil people have also come together! Drama! Conflict!
  • Realise your idea is The Stand, by Stephen King.
  • Read The Stand, by Stephen King.
  • Go back to original idea, decide it's good enough. 
  • Congratulations! You now have your idea!

4,788 comments:

  1. This is perfect, this is such an accurate summation of the creative proccess. Well done.
    (And the Stephen King reference made my day)

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  2. I wander if you are still online, Derek? No one seems to be around at the moment...

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  3. Hello Matex, how be you and why are you sighing?

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  4. Because Blogland, thats why.
    Look at it.
    How the fuck did i get first comment? Thats ridiculous. Half an hour after a post and no comments.
    I remember when we use to spam the refresh button waiting for a new post. Now there's no one here and it seems like Derek himself has abandonded the place, along with half the minions.

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  5. I see, well most people are either sleeping, in school or just don't come on anymore for what ever reason.

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  6. Not true, right now is prime time, its when the comments are most active. Least active due to sleep is in the middle of the night; which is the middle of the day for me here in australia, but for whatever reason most of the people on here are in the UK and those that arent still only seem to be online during UK day time, regardless of their own time zone. I suppose there is school but still, it use to be different.

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  7. Ok, but things do change
    sometimes for better and sometimes for the worst

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  8. 'Course they do, but right now its for worse. Probably doesn't help that the series ended either I guess, not as much urgency to go online and see the latest news I suppose. But still. *shrug*

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  9. Exactly, there's the problem
    but as they say "shit happens, you've got to get with it"

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  10. People dropping like flies doesnt help either though. Seems like everyone's solution is to just leave. *sigh* but im just being an old man, reminiscing on the past. Hah.

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  11. I feel so inspired...

    I'VE BEEN DOING IT THE WRONG WAY ALL ALONG!!!

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  12. Oh, the blog post?
    Yeah, of you dont do it like that then you have no hope of coming up with an idea, sorry :P

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  13. Why not, you can teach the newer people about the old days (which i have no idea what they were like, i only started coming on a fair few weeks ago) and that's true, people dropping like flies

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  14. There arent many newer people, and older people are friends, important people. You grow up with people, you dont throw them away and get new ones. (Although I completely know what you mean, and new people are always good, for sure. Just saying I miss some people :/ )

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  15. A+ blog post, Landy, haha! Loving it ^-^

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  16. Matex- yeah the blog post :P

    LUUUUCIIIII!! *supermegatacklehugsofdoom*

    HAI!

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  17. (Hello Soph, Luci and Jubi,
    how be you all?)

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  18. I'm happy thanks Soph,
    good to see your feeling good jubi

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  19. Fabi, what are you talking about? Leave it be. Don't get hung up on all the problems. Its not anyone's responsibility to provide soltuions. You're not a bad guy at all *hugs*

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  20. If you stay, we will love you and hug you. If you leave, we will respect your decision, although we will miss you. That's all there is to it.

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  21. Eh, it goes a bit in the middle, I guess; lots of ups, lots of downs, and quite a few in betweens. How are you, Jubi?

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  22. *Supermegatacklehugs Fab-Tea*
    Don't worry about it.
    Hopefully things'll turn around so no one has to feel like that...

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  23. Luci- I know the feeling... *nods*
    I'm pretty goooood :)
    ....But school

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  24. *cuddles Fabi* The thing about life is, no matter what it is you do, there will be positives and negatives to it, and there comes a point in your life when you realise that what really, truly matters is how positive things are for you. If breaking the peace means bringing yourself, and others, closer to equality, then it's worth it; if we were to always stay silent to keep the peace, us women would be nothing more than prostitutes or wives. Change is worth the damage of the peace, trust me.

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  25. *whispers* hey guys

    ...do ya think that if we chant Derek's name enough times then he'll come to us?

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  26. afternoon...

    My book is now on sale if anyone wants the link or the info about it :)

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  27. (Fabi - the view I have on the matter is that it is better to fight when there is reason to fight and be peaceful when there is a reason to be peaceful. Do not strike unnecessarily but neither should we ignore it if it happens again in future.)

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  28. *Hugs Jubi* lol Thanks Jubi

    https://www.createspace.com/5087505?ref=1147694&utm_id=6026

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  29. (Hello, Emerald. I must congratulate you on getting your book published.)

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  30. Brilliant. You are true inspiration.

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  31. ANDRAAAAAA!!!!!!!! *supermegatacklehugsofdoom*

    WHERE THE FRICKITY FRACK HAVE YOU BEEN?

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  32. *takes a slight bow.*

    Thank you, thank you. Has been a long auld road but it is now done.

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  33. Greetings, all!
    I cannot stay, but I am here long enough to say that I love the new blog post almost as much as I love all of you.

    *leaves*

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  34. *begins to chant*
    DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY

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  35. What does it day?!
    I can't see it! (Stupid school WiFi)

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  36. Hey Sophia! I be's goods!
    How are you? How be's yous eyes?!

    Matex!!!
    *huggles back*
    How be's yous?! How be's yous eyes?!

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  37. *really wants to suddenly blare It's a Beautiful Day through the class room*
    *don't... do.. it...*

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  38. *continues chanting*
    DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY DEREK LANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!
    SPIDERS HIPPOS AND FURRY FLIES, PLEASE COME ON NOW!!!!
    *there is a blast of purple smoke*

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  39. *if Sophia liked hugs she would be hugging but she doesn't*
    *but like I told my dad this morning when I thought about rinsing my bowl but actually didn't, it's the thought that counts!*
    Hope your eyes feel better Matex!
    And I have blue eyes TOO! But they're also kinda green so depending on what I'm wearing they're either green or blue but typically blue.

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  40. *holds her breath, waiting*
    *-did it work?!-*

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  41. My friend's eyes are brown!
    And y other friends' are red!

    SUGAR ANTS!

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  42. SUGAR ANTS!
    They smell like coconut when you smash them!

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  43. red? Red is cool. I like red. I wish I had red eyes.

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  44. Yeah! Red! I'll show you a picture!
    HI TIA THE AWESOME!!
    I'M GOOD! HOW BE'S YOUS?! HOW BE'S YOUS EYES?!

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  45. . . .
    I am trying to give a fuck about anyone, but it's not really working.
    I apologise. I am apparently turning into C. This is not a bad thing. However, it does mean that I really don't care about any of you. Sorry about that.

    . . .
    Ah, I care about some of you. :) That's cool, then. That's cool . . .

    . . . *nods*

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  46. That was somewhat morbid, especially for you, Star :(

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  47. *hugs Derek*
    *laughs* xD
    I'll bear this in mind. O_O



    *hugs Flora*

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  48. @Matex: Sorry.

    @Sophia: Not too good really . . . . . . . . but meh. How're you?

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  49. *pokes Star's nose*

    BUBBLEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

    Hello!


    (SORRY FOR BEING HELLA DISTANT I AM EDITING IMPERFECT VERY HEAVILY BECAUSE MY WRITING HAS IMPROVED LOADS AND I WANT IMP TO IMPROVE LOADS ALSO SO YEAH)

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  50. You don't have to apologise, you're you, that's cool. Just, that's kind of worrying, I think. I don't know.
    *huggles Star*

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  51. Hi Mushroom. :) :) *hugs*

    I met someone on AVEN (well . . . I haven't actually spoken to them. But I've seen them around) and they remind me of you so much and I don't even know why because I don't think you're even similar. :S I think it's just the way you structure your words - I read her comments in your online voice for some reason. XD
    It's weird . . .

    Then when I think about it thoroughly I find all these ways in which you're different, and in the process I remember how awesome you are, so yeah, you're awesome. :) *hugs*

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  52. FLORA!!!!!!!!!
    And yes, CONGRATULATIONS EM!!! I wanna read it!

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  53. @Matex: Mmh. I don't normally have bad moods, see, and if I do feel bad, I know it'll go away soon. I don't know. :P

    Thanks for being concerned. :) *hugs*

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  54. I'm feeling more okay now, though, so meh. :P HELLO.

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  55. STAR!!!! LUCI!!!!!!
    How be's yous?! How be's yous eyes?!
    (For everyone^.^)

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  56. . . .
    I feel cheerful for no reason now.

    XD
    Emotions . . .

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  57. AWH BUBBLE! *cuddles* You're so sweet. <3

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  58. I feel cheerful for no reason a lot...

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  59. Hey Dugglyn.

    I'm okay-ish.

    My eyes are cool, I think. Very green today. They were blue-y this morning, then sort of gold, but now they're very green:3
    You?

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  60. *hugs*
    Hope you feel better than okay-ish soon! :3
    You have pretty eyes.

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  61. Um. Not here, yet, because today has been made of moments and I'm taking another one.


    But I need to say that, Flora, it's really great to see you. :) :) :)

    And Star, you're perfect whoever you are. Yeah?

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  62. How are you, Flora? How be's yous eyes?!

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  63. @Mushroom: :P Thank you.
    Everyone says I'm cute. :S :P

    Blue-y. Gold. Green. Sounds pretty. :)

    My eyes are . . .my eyes. They're predominately blue, but like, my mum has blue eyes, and they're blue eyes-blue eyes. My eyes are just kind of a meh blue. :P

    *hugs Flora* :) :) Thank you. Hi. :)

    @Dugglyn: XD Yeah, you're cool like that. :) :)

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  64. @Taia: . . .
    I don't know about that.

    I'm glad I'm me, anyone. I just miss the me who would care about people more. :(

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  65. @Taia: it's great to see you too.

    @Dugglyn:I'm terrible, but that's usual. And my eyes are great thanks - green with a thick, deep blue ring around them.

    @Star: I think your eyes sounds lovely, not meh at all. And I know what you mean about missing the old you. Hopefully it'll come back, but if not, things are meant to change, so maybe it's for the better? Idk, don't listen to me.

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  66. Caring is not necessarily advantageous, Star; it is as much a virtue as it is a vice.

    HELLO PEOPLE
    BYE OTHER PEOPLE

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  67. *anyway

    @Flora: :P Trust me, they're meh.

    :) That's a good point. Thank you.

    Hello, Dragona. :) I'm fine, thanks. :)

    I love AVEN . . . it's just so nice. :)

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  68. ((Oh, also, Flora, thanks a lot for your comment! Only just saw the email through from it. :) ^^ ))

    ((And, Star, people change, yeah? THat's not always a pppppppppwordwordword permanent thing, and sometimes we just change for a little while, because everything else changes and you kind of get caught up with that?
    THat's OK.
    Just... I don't know.
    I like you because Star? Star a couple of months ago is very different from Star a couple of years ago, and Star a couple of minutes ago might be different from both of those, yeah. But I liked Star a couple of years ago, and I liked Star a couple of months ago, and I still like Star now?
    Idk.
    I hope you get yourself back, if that's what makes you happier? :) ))


    ((I might be ghosting somewhere in the background, to let y'all know, but maybe not commenting for a while.
    Or maybe that moment has been and I'll be here.
    I'm not really sure. I haven't decided what a moment is.
    I don't know what that means. :P))

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  69. (Hey Star! :)

    I'm so TIRED.

    BUT IT'S N7 DAY TOMORROW.

    I might change my picture to something to commemorate it. :P)

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  70. (Let's see what this looks like...)

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  71. (Hey Lucia! I'm fine, thanks. You? :) )

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  72. That's good! I'm glad! ^-^

    I'm alright, thank you:3


    How's college?

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  73. (Geology and Medieval History - GOOOOOOOD.

    Chemistry - BAD. :P

    Overall, college is fine. It seems I'm having loads of lessons cancelled recently... Today my Tutorial was cancelled so I was home at 2:30, then Monday and Tuesday I have History cancelled so on Monday I'll be home at 1:30. Yay. :)

    How's college for you?)

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  74. @Dragona: :)

    *hugs Luce* :)


    ... I might be here a bit.
    And I wrote a small essay discussing how that is, and then backspaced because basically just, wbd, drawing. :)

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  75. The fact that you study Medieval History still makes me hella jealous. :P

    I do not know a single person whose Chemistry course is going well, to be honest...!

    Glad that it's fine, but all the cancelled lessons can't be good >-<

    Eh. It's stressing me out a lot. I had loads of lessons cancelled last half term, so I'm sort of confused about Plato's The Republic and where we should be and my EPQ is stressful and so is NCS post-graduation stuff ;~; But, otherwise, it's okay:3

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  76. @Taia: :) *hugs* Thank you . . . thanks. :) :) :)

    @Dragona: O_O You ARE having a load of lessons cancelled.

    LUCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
    YOU'RE A PERSON WHO'S OLDER THAN ME.

    TAKING FIVE SUBJECTS - IS THAT A GOOD IDEA OR A VERY BAD IDEA?

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  77. (MEDIEVAL HISTORY IS SO GOOD. YOU HAVE NO IDEAAAAA. :P
    Neither do I, actually... Chemistry seems to be the subject everyone drops at AS level. :P

    What are you doing your EPQ on?)

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  78. @Dragona: I'm not sure. :P
    I'm lots of different things and I'm not clear on how they fit together.
    But good is one of those things, and I'm okay. :)

    @Star: *hugs*

    *agrees about chemistry*
    *yep*

    ... I'm seeing a lot of cancelled lessons atm, too. o0

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  79. FIVE SUBJECTS FOR WHAT


    NO


    DO NOT TAKE FIVE SUBJECTS


    FOUR IS BAD ENOUGH

    FOUR AND AN EPQ IS EVEN WORSE

    FOUR, AN EPQ AND NCS IS DEADLY


    FIVE SUBJECTS IS NO

    DO NOT DO IT




    My EPQ was on how the media represents mental health illnesses and how that affects how we treat sufferers of them.

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  80. *picture change because, idk, I feel like being a box*

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  81. No problem, Bubble!


    *pokes Matex's nose* BOOP

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  82. I don't...

    About yesterday.

    I'm sorry for my part in it.

    I'm sorry for driving you away.

    I'm sorry for making you angry and upset.

    I tell myself that it wasn't a big deal, just something that shouldn't have been out in the open, but it doesn't matter. It really doesn't matter anymore.

    And I'm sorry, Rose.

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  83. brilliant Golden God! I want to write so thanks XD
    how is everyone?)

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  84. (My EPQ is on the changes in method of construction for castles and how it influenced the development of weaponry in the medieval period... Um, medieval history. :P)

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  85. Dragona - that sounds incredible! Mine's hella boring. D;

    I'm the only student on my EPQ course that doesn't do maths or science. o.o I'm the lone English nerd ;~;

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  86. @Matex:


    Awesomeness is not a physical body.

    And so maybe you can't see it, but it's there

    it's not empty

    it's AWESOME. :)




    Huh. I don't think we do EPQ.
    What is it? ^^

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  87. @Star: I would stay don't take five subjects. Four subjects is perfectly manageable, but five can be a bit much. If you want, you could do the EPQ. I did that with four subjects and found it completely manageable whilst it gave me an extra boost.

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  88. (Extended Project Qualification, Taia. You basically do a report about something connected to one of your subjects but other than that you get to do whatever you want.


    Lucia - Um, there's only two Geology classes of about... ten? in my year so I can be pretty sure I'm the only Geology student in my EPQ.)

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  89. @Flora: Thank you. :) :)
    (Yes, I should have asked you, as well. I just didn't see you and think of it. :P)

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  90. (just discovered blood on the dance floor O.O)

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  91. (Chloe - maybe get a mop and clean it up?)

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  92. No, it's fine. I wasn't meaning that you should have asked me too. I just thought I'd give my opinion as I've been through college.

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  93. (oh haha ^^
    the band, silly
    how art thou? *for the third time*)

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  94. CHLOE GET AWAY FROM BOTDF THEY HAVE VILE LYRICS I AM SORRY BUT THAT IS BAD


    Dragona - Geology isn't a very popular subject though, is it? And it's still sciencey based, whilst philosophy and the Englishes aren't. So everyone else has done sciencey EPQs and I'm there studying the media:P

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  95. (GREAT NOW I FEEL STUPID. *facepalm*
    WHEN SOMEONE TELLS ME THEY'VE FOUND BLOOD ON THE DANCEFLOOR YOU ASSUME THEY'RE AT A PARTY OR SOMETHING AND SOMEONE HAS BEEN MURDERED.
    MAYBE NOT MURDERED.
    KNIFED, MAYBE.
    OR PUNCHED VERY HARD IN THE NOSE.
    YOU DON'T ASSUME IT'S A BAND.
    ... Or at least I don't.

    MEHHHHHHH music isn't my strongest subject. :P)

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  96. (I know...I was so shocked when I discovered them...I listened to hello kitty song and I was scarred)

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  97. Ugh, they make me feel genuinely sick.


    They sold, like, 6 tickets to their tour in Australia and had to cancel it. They're disgusting. >_<

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  98. (Geology is VERY unpopular. There was the option for it in high school and I opted for it but only THREE PEOPLE in the entire year wanted to do it and one of them had it as a backup.
    At least the course is running in college though. :) It's such an interesting subject. :)
    There was a medieval history trip to an abbey a while ago and everyone else was eating their lunch and me and my friend from Geology was like, "Hm... this appears to be arkose sandstone", whilst we were studying pillars and walls and stuff.
    GEOLOGY CAN BE USEFUL IF YOU ARE BORED AFTER YOU'VE EATEN YOUR DINNER.)

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  99. Huh.
    I don't think our school offer it. ^^

    But, idk. They hit us very strong with volunteering-type work and things...

    @Dragona: XD

    You thought somebody had been murdered
    or knifed
    and your first response is
    "maybe go get a mop"?

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  100. @luce: about half of all the epqs in my college were either history, art, or literature. Maybe it's just your college? There is normally more of a balance.

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  101. *hugs Taia*

    May I please have your email, Taia? :c

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  102. (Taia - Well chances are they'd be dead ANYWAY. So... after you rang the police and maybe the ambulance or something there's nothing to do. You might as well clean up a little bit. :) No one likes dancing on a bloody dance floor. :) )

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  103. My sister did Geology and I loved the subject, myself, but I don't think I could have done it at college; it doesn't even fit with my other subjects:P
    That's fabbity, Dragona!:D

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  104. @Dragona: I know a few people who do geology.
    But I know their classes are still very small, so, idk.
    I'm glad you get to do it now, anyway. :) ^^


    And - :P
    To be fair, too, I missed the 'or punched in the nose' part of your comment. :) ^^



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  105. (Well, Tia, dancing on a dance floor covered in blood might make you fall over and break your neck and the police would be like, "What happened?"
    And you'd have to reply, "WELL UM SOMEONE WAS MURDERED THEN SOMEONE DANCED IN THE BLOOD AND FELL OVER AND BROKE THEIR NECK.")

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  106. Flora - Probably is... My college is very scientific...! Though, a lot of English and history students applied and got turned down? So I don't know... :/

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  107. @Tia: Oh, I thought you already had it! :P
    I'm pretty sure I have yours. :P Are you still using the one on your profile? ^^

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  108. (Raisin - random question. Why a box?)

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  109. I don't know, Dragona. I just felt like it. :P

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  110. (OHMIGOD 2CELLOS ARE AMAZING, PLAYING THUNDERSTRUCK XD)

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  111. It's only scientific in the way that our science courses are more popular. We're more celebrated for linguistics though O.o

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  112. xD Thanks, DRagona :P

    @Chloe: :) :) :)

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  113. Ah. XD

    You folks are all so brilliant. :)

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  114. As someone who has at least tried to write something creative, I simply love this :D

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  115. (Hey Star and Leila ^^ how art thou?)

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  116. I'm fine, too, thanks :)
    This blog entry just made my day!

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  117. (aww that's good ^^ it is great, I love writing
    I woul;d love to be an author but I don't know if im good enough)

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  118. G'day, Leila. :)


    WBD
    Plus may suddenly start yelling because MyMaths T-T, but I don't know an abbreviation for that. :P

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  119. Hi Taia :)
    Well Inky Flame, I know what you mean... when I write, I often think that this is the shittiest story ever, but I'd wite anyway. Writing isn't anout being good, but about having fun :)

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  120. (I'm just taking my dog for a walk, brb. :) )

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  121. . . .
    I just remembered how to care.

    O_O

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