I've been a bit absent from here recently (for which I massively apologise!). It has largely been because of technological problems - apparently Internet Explorer 11 no longer supports Blogger (yes, I'm one of those people who has yet to move to Google Chrome!) which has actively prevented me from posting. Now I have moved back home, I'll be able to  occasionally use my Dad's computer to create and publish posts but of course this isn't an ideal situation - he's a very busy man!

 

In the meantime I have been blogging away on Tumblr (www.the-mocking-jade.tumblr.com) if you fancy taking a look! I'm going to keep blogging there, as I did anyway, but in an attempt to try and coordinate all my online efforts, I'm changing the name of this blog to match. For those wondering, yes the new name did start as a terrible pun on the Hunger Games! But actually, I think it fits the direction of my blog too because although I try and be professional with my blogging, I also want to have fun with it and I hope to never take myself too seriously! I think it's a great quality to be able to laugh at yourself and I am a great believer in laughter being the best medicine. Having said that, I am starting to taking blogging more seriously now; I would love for it it to complement the direction my career is hopefully going to go. I want to be a writer: both the creative route and more journalistic route appeal to me, and I'm planning to maximise on any viable opportunities that come my way. I am already building my CV by writing for free and I hope that by continuing to blog and by gaining more experience in my chosen craft, things can only improve!

 

I am due to graduate next month and of course that brings with it great a deal of fear and uncertainty! It's a tough time for many of us out there but I know I have a strong support system with my family and close friends, all of whom I am incredibly grateful for. So with that, I apologise again and I am on the lookout for a way to solve my current techy problems! I may have to admit defeat and submit to google chrome! In the meantime, if you also blog on Tumblr, let me know! Otherwise I wish you all a lovely start to the summer and I hope to be blogging again in the next day or so!

In the meantime, come and find me on Instagram, Tumblr or follow my newly named and updated Bloglovin'!

 

Much love,

 

Jade x

Depending on your opinion of Drake, using his lyrics as the basis for the title of a life goals post is either inspired or a low point in life! I can kind of share Drake's sentiments however as I very much feel like I'm starting from the bottom. It's taken a good few years to decide but I think I know what I direction I want to take my life in now. And yes, it does mean that I will be starting from the bottom but everyone has to start somewhere.

 

I want to be a writer. I want to be the person who sits at a read through for a TV drama and hears people acting out the words that I have written. I want to run around a city - London, Paris, New York, anywhere - wearing jeans, a nice shirt and my hair knotted in a messy bun on top of my melon shaped head., watching people and writing about them. I think I've always known I wanted to be a writer, I just never had the guts to admit it out loud because there was always so much standing in my way. There still is - if not more - stuff standing in my way but whatever career path, whatever plans you have for your life, I'm pretty sure there are going to obstacles to overcome.

 

So since I want to write, I figured I would write down exactly what I want to achieve in 2014. The last three years I've had the comfort in knowing that I'd be staying on at university, I would be on the same campus, doing the same things with people I've come to call some of my best friends. This year, that certainty isn't there and it's scary. I'm scared that I'm going to lose contact with people because of geographical reasons. I'm scared that my hometown will gradually chip away at my determination. I want to keep wanting this future I've imagined for myself and I'm going to try and do what I can to keep myself motivated.

 

That's where these life goals come in:

1. Graduate!

It's all well and good having all these post-uni plans but I need to actually put the work in and graduate first! It's going to be a tough few weeks but I'm ready for it.


2 & 3. All in the aim of improving as a writer. I don't care if I get two words published in an online magazine no one has heard of or a poem published in an anthology twenty people subscribe to - I just want to start making progress! And I figured that writing workshops are going to be the best way to network and make that happen!

4. Of course with having a jobs come the benefit of earning money! I've spent the last four years avoiding buying too many new clothes and going on trips to places because I need to be paying for my accommodation and living expenses at uni. So the prospect of having a bit more disposable income is really exciting! And wardrobe wise, I can't wait to start building a collection and smart-casual blouses and blazers.

So here's to a productive and positive 2014!

Jade :)

Today marks a (mini) milestone in my literary life! For the first time, I submitted a poem to be considered for an anthology. I'm not going to get my hopes up as I know this career is going to a slow and steady one but I decided to document it all the same. I don't think I'll find out until January whether or not it has been accepted but I still feel like I'm slowly making progress - which can only be a good thing!

 

In other news, I came home from university on Saturday morning after what has felt like the longest term ever. Due to teaching commitments at weekends and dance classes on my days off uni, I haven't been able to come home at all so it felt so nice to sleep in my own bed on Saturday night! I do have a lot of work to do over the Christmas hols but I've given myself today off to sort everything out - tomorrow sees the real work start!

 

I haven't actually started my Christmas shopping yet which, for me, is very unusual! I'm usually so on top of it but after watching tonight's Made In Chelsea, I'll be having a quick browse in bed. Trying to find presents for my 18 year old brother is proving pretty difficult though!

 

Jade :)