Who are the fictional English teachers that you either love or love to hate? Can be from film, TV, books or other texts.
For a little personal project to entertain my senior English class in Week 7-9 this term.
Last day of holidays so I’m spending it with my imaginary friends*
*playing Baldur’s Gate 3 again.
The team from https://mastodon.au/@ChooksSA have drawn me back here after experimenting with Mastodon in 2023 and 2024.
Graduating today. I was a high school drop out at 15 and a teen mum at 17. I first attempted uni at 21. I’m graduating at 37 from a Bachelor of Creative Writing.
New hair, who dis?
My role* was very small but it still feels special to have been part of the process to develop the new National Cultural Policy.
There is so much work to do over the next five years and beyond, but Revive is a start. Let’s go!
*I was one of the members of the Policy Advisory Group to the Minister for the Arts. You can read about the process and download a copy of the policy itself here: https://www.arts.gov.au/what-we-do/national-cultural-policy
Been making zines with tweens all of this week in the Riverland and Mallee. 💛
My reflection on a big year: https://alyshaherrmann.wordpress.com/2022/12/30/i-have-been-cherished-in-2022/
I've been thinking a lot about the Golden Record since reading Rebecca Giggs' book Fathoms.
A woman speaking the Chinese dialect Amoy said "Friends of space, how are you all? Have you eaten yet? Come visit us if you have time." and isn't that so beautiful?
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-is-on-voyagers-golden-record-73063839/
PS - I've started the first draft of a sci-fi verse novel that briefly references the Golden Record, and includes luminescent space whales.
Feeling some feelings. Just received my graduation regalia in the post.
I had to Google how to wear the Oxford hood thing because no-one sends you instructions. Nic didn’t go to his graduation and no-one in my immediate family (parents, brothers) has gone to uni except me.
I’ve spent most of this year feeling like I’m failing everyone and everything. But finishing my Bachelor of Creative Writing this year with a Distinction average is something I do feel proud of. I did that. I earned that
A few recommendations for life on Mastodon:
1) Follow anyone you think looks potentially interesting; you can always unfollow later, and they may lead you to new people via boosted posts.
2) Boost posts you think are worthy, so others can discover new content.
3) Don't obsess on replicating your Twitter follows on Mastodon; let it be its own experience, and grow it organically. Obvs follow anyone you miss from Twitter, but this isn't a 1:1 replacement; have fun, follow your instincts.
My brain is feeling so overloaded this year, and was weird to re-read this poem (written at the start of this year) and reflect on what has/hasn't shifted. What a big tangle everything feels.
May have just accidentally started writing a romance novel with a grumpy middle-aged love interest and a single mum sunshine main character with grown children meddling in her business.
👀 👀 👀
For final assignment in a Bachelor of Creative Writing, I wrote a digital piece imagining dragons/magic arrived in my small regional community in 2020 instead of COVID. All of the characters and events are completely fictional, but also inspired by co-coordinating the first every Riverland Pride March last year. If that sounds like your thing, you can read it here: https://wewerethere.digital/
Apparently I accidentally unfollowed a bunch of people when I thought I was following them. Ooops. I think I've fixed it.