Week 8 Review

A review of a review week? Absolutely.

Graphic

(Bluetooth from Present & Correct Twitter, from the MythFolklore Class Blogspot)

I thought this graphic and the Wikipedia page about Bluetooth was interesting and kind of hilarious. Who would think to link a Viking King and modern technology? Jim Kardach, that's who. The Viking King Harald Bluetooth united two tribes so they could come together to be one cohesive kingdom. Kardach was reading a book about this when the technology to link phones to computers was being developed. He suggested the name Bluetooth as an allusion to the Viking king, because he saw the linkage of computer to phone as similar to what Harald Bluetooth did with the different countries. 

Then, using a bind rune of H and B, for Harald Bluetooth's initials, was the icing on the cake. Now it is the iconic symbol for Bluetooth. 

Video

How to Build a Fiction World - Kate Messner on Youtube

I chose this video because I am constantly learning new techniques to build fantasy/fiction worlds. The idea has always interested me since I was a child with a huge imagination. As I get older, I find ways I can use worlds, such as in storytelling for this class or even when I am being the DM for my D&D group. This video gave a list of things to consider and flush out, some of which I definitely forget in the world making process. After watching the video, I have a burst of inspiration to go create something fantastic! I definitely recommend it, and the longer TedEd lesson that even gives helpful "worksheets" to build your own world! 

I plan to use this lesson for myself, and maybe I will document what I come up with!

Week 8 Progress

Looking Back

So, looking back, I am pleased with the work I have done. However, I have absolutely been horrible with time management. I have advantage of the non grace period far too often for my liking. I had wanted to work way ahead this semester for this class, but life got in the way very quickly. If I'm looking right, I'm about 9 points behind where I want to be to be on track. My hope is that this week I can do some extra credit, as well as doing some in the weeks to come. This is will put me back on track for the A I want, as well as give me a little more of a cushion. 

Looking Forward

A huge pitfall I want to avoid is doing assignments last minute. I think I enjoy them less when I feel rushed, so it's also hurting me in that way. I'm trying to get some real structure started in this next week or so. Here's to that!

(Keep Going by Andy Wright on flickr)

Sometimes I just need someone to tell me, "You got this. Keep going."

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

Feedback In

I feel like I've gotten some good comments on my posts, especially when it comes to me project. The comments on my project have really let me know how clear my story was coming across and when I needed to add things like terms and definitions. Some comments have been feel-good fluff, but I don't really mind those, haha!

Feedback Out

For the feedback I have been providing, I have been trying to get a good mix of compliments and "feedforward" in each longer comment. I think I have been doing all right? I guess I won't know unless someone tells me personally. I think as long as I have helped one person with their writing, I can be happy with that. 

Blog Comments

I feel like there are a few people I feel like I know a little bit. Either because I've commented on their posts multiple times, or they have commented on mine, or both! I did know a few people in this class beforehand, so obviously I know them. :) There are definitely a couple people whose writing I really enjoy, and I'd like to talk to them more. 

Looking Forward

I think I'm pretty happy with my blog at this point. There are changes to my project I'd like to make though. I talked about those in my project specific post, though. As far as looking forward to comments I will make on other's posts, I feel good with how I'm commenting so far. I don't think too much will change. 

Image

I chose this image because sometimes I have a difficult time choosing what sort of feedback I should leave for someone. This sort of linear "if this, then that" type of graphic is incredibly useful for me. I think I will probably use this a lot more now that I have it. 

Week 8 Reading and Writing

Looking Back

Overall I have really liked the reading and writing assignments. Time management has still been my problem (unfortunately), but something I didn't really think would be a problem has been my story length. I tend to write way too much! I think it's because I really, truly love creative story-telling, and I get carried away fairly easily. Editing and cutting word counts back has been a pretty big time consumer for me.

My favorite reading so far has been Cupid and Psyche. I liked how the readings for Part A and Part B were part of a larger story, and I have always had a soft spot for Greek mythology. This story gave me a lot to think about as far as storytelling goes.

I think my reading notes have been helping me with my writing, mostly because I write out details I want to remember when it comes time to re-tell the story. I definitely could go deeper with them, I am just not sure what I would include.

My favorite re-telling that I have done is definitely retelling the story of Callisto. In Ursa Major, I got to explore a completely alternative ending to a story that didn't sit well with me. I kind of felt a little empowered writing the story, too. It felt like a way for me to stand up and take back something and turn it into something a little inspiring (at least to me).

As far as my Project goes, I have a lot on my plate. I've been playing with ideas about how to tackle the branching aspect, and I'm not sure I've gotten it down yet. For Story 1, I made it so you could follow three different characters, but only one had the meat of the story. I think when I revise it I might change a lot and make it so you only follow Erwin, but there are more branches within his story. Then, moving forward, each story will focus on one character and different paths they can take.

I'm still pretty satisfied with my overall website, especially considering I had no clue how to operate OU Create or Wordpress before starting. Maybe in the future I can delve deeper into customizing it. For my story's appearance, I have been slowly learning some HTML so I can (hopefully) put in some pictures in the future!

Images

(Patch for The Golden Arrow, designed by me, ft. arc archery arrow)

I think this is my favorite image I have used so far, mostly because I made it. I did use a transparent bow and arrow from somewhere else, but everything else I did in Word! Ideally, I would have been able to use Photoshop or something similar in quality, but Microsoft Word is all I have for the moment, haha! I love creating things, whether its stories, art, music, ect. So creating a patch to fit in with my Ursa Major story was really fun for me. I know it's not the nicest looking, but I am still proud. 

Looking Forward

So I talked a bit about this in my looking back section, but I'd like to find a good strategy for my reading notes that would help me go a little deeper into the notes. I feel like I just skim the surface and remember a lot on my own later, but I'd like to write more of it out. 

For my project, I also talked about a different set up for my branching stories moving forward, and I can't wait to start implementing that. Possibly as soon as this week's project revisions! 

I am also just looking forward to the rest of the semester in general. I am excited to have my story finalized, or at least to the point that I'm just making small revisions/adding cool new things like pictures. I think by the end, I will have something amazing that I can really be proud to show off!