Comments on: Fundamental Change of Outlook http://samstrong.me.uk/2009/12/03/fundamental-change-of-outlook/ A Writing Blog Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:25:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ali Hale http://samstrong.me.uk/2009/12/03/fundamental-change-of-outlook/comment-page-1/#comment-1500 Ali Hale Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:41:13 +0000 http://samstrong.me.uk/?p=361#comment-1500 It's the right area (fiction) -- I just got the impression that this one's going to be very exercise-based, which I don't find especially helpful (I'm midway through a novel). But yeah, I'm looking at it more positively today, figuring it'll be what I make of it, so to speak.... thanks! :-) It’s the right area (fiction) — I just got the impression that this one’s going to be very exercise-based, which I don’t find especially helpful (I’m midway through a novel). But yeah, I’m looking at it more positively today, figuring it’ll be what I make of it, so to speak…. thanks! :-)

]]> By: Sam http://samstrong.me.uk/2009/12/03/fundamental-change-of-outlook/comment-page-1/#comment-1499 Sam Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:14:35 +0000 http://samstrong.me.uk/?p=361#comment-1499 Thanks Ali! I'm sure I'll blog or tweet my progress! The whole self-control thing was one of those revelations that really shouldn't have been. There's also pleasure in just knowing you can take control when you want to. Actively affecting positive change in yourself is a self-reinforcing exercise. Sorry to hear you didn't get onto your module of choice! You can look at it in one of two ways... First is that you've paid your university hideous amounts of money for the privilege of them hosting a regular workshop group for you. By not letting their students study the areas in which they wish to specialise they devalue their course. Second is that running an MA also costs hideous amounts of money and due to the lack of research funding in the arts sector it's hard to imagine many of these courses making a profit. The last year or so has not been pleasant for any institution and the university likely can't afford to hire enough staff to run all the modules they wish. This means they have to make tough choices when it comes to student numbers. First come, first served seems a bit harsh though. Not everyone is going to be in a position to be first. I guess it depends how much of a fuss you want to make. After all, your second choice may yet turn out to be the best thing for you! Thanks Ali! I’m sure I’ll blog or tweet my progress! The whole self-control thing was one of those revelations that really shouldn’t have been. There’s also pleasure in just knowing you can take control when you want to. Actively affecting positive change in yourself is a self-reinforcing exercise.

Sorry to hear you didn’t get onto your module of choice! You can look at it in one of two ways…

First is that you’ve paid your university hideous amounts of money for the privilege of them hosting a regular workshop group for you. By not letting their students study the areas in which they wish to specialise they devalue their course.

Second is that running an MA also costs hideous amounts of money and due to the lack of research funding in the arts sector it’s hard to imagine many of these courses making a profit. The last year or so has not been pleasant for any institution and the university likely can’t afford to hire enough staff to run all the modules they wish. This means they have to make tough choices when it comes to student numbers.

First come, first served seems a bit harsh though. Not everyone is going to be in a position to be first. I guess it depends how much of a fuss you want to make. After all, your second choice may yet turn out to be the best thing for you!

]]> By: Ali Hale http://samstrong.me.uk/2009/12/03/fundamental-change-of-outlook/comment-page-1/#comment-1498 Ali Hale Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:38:44 +0000 http://samstrong.me.uk/?p=361#comment-1498 Good luck... I suspect a lot of folks struggle their whole lives to achieve that sort of serenity. I find that it helps to remind myself that, in many cases, what *I* can control is my response or reaction to something ... even when the event itself is out of my hands. (Trying to remind self of this at the moment, have been put into my second choice class for my MA next term, which I'm feeling is really not going to be so useful to me as the one I actually wanted. Sigh. It's my own fault for forgetting to send in my choices on the day, cos I knew it was first come first served...) Good luck… I suspect a lot of folks struggle their whole lives to achieve that sort of serenity.

I find that it helps to remind myself that, in many cases, what *I* can control is my response or reaction to something … even when the event itself is out of my hands.

(Trying to remind self of this at the moment, have been put into my second choice class for my MA next term, which I’m feeling is really not going to be so useful to me as the one I actually wanted. Sigh. It’s my own fault for forgetting to send in my choices on the day, cos I knew it was first come first served…)

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