Starting a YouTube Channel?

This is one of the things I've really wanted to do in the past few months.

I've now been blogging for over a year and for the past few months now, YouTube has been increasingly on my mind. It seems to be popular to have a YouTube channel and many start a blog as a gateway to creating video content.

Then there's me. I had no intention at all of ever doing YouTube.

When I started this blog back in 2014, I started to absolutely love my little place on the internet. I could just type away my thoughts and share with you what I've been doing and what I've been loving.
 Last year,when I visited London, I created a montage type video and had so much fun with that too and started considering making videos myself.

I do have silly little reservations about it hence why I don't have a  YouTube channel yet.

Nonetheless, I want to write blog posts on things that I have enjoyed writing on and what you hopefully will enjoy reading. I have some exciting posts planned and hopefully I'll get round to doing those and improving my blog for you all.

Watch this space and you never know, tomorrow might be the day where I finally let go of my fears and then click upload on my first ever YouTube video!

Thanks for reading,

Mcsophwar xox

University Reading List: Year 1 Semester 1

Hi,

Despite the fact that I've already been at University for several weeks, it still feels so surreal to say that I'm a University student.  I am studying the modules Reading Texts 1, Writing for Academic Success and Forms of Narrative this semester.

I've decided that it would be a good idea to post my reading list for this semester for me to look back on but also for those of you who like reading or are thinking about studying a degree in English Literature.

Note: This list is just the required reading for the first semester of my first year. I'm also expected to do secondary reading in addition to the texts posted here.

Reading List

Behind the Scenes at the Museum- Kate Atkinson
Northanger Abbey-Jane Austen
The Importance of Being Earnest- Oscar Wilde
Twelfth Night- William Shakespeare
Metamorphosis- Franz Kafka
Metamorphoses- Ovid
101 Sonnets- Don Paterson
Tenth of December- George Saunders
Top Girls- Caryl Churchill
Frankenstein- Mary Shelley
Never Let Me Go- Kazuo Ishiguro
Room- Emma Donoghue
The White House, If We Must Die & America- Claude McKay
The Destructors- Graham Greene
The Yellow Wall-Paper- Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Films: Vertigo-Alfred Hitchcock & Hero- Zhang Yimou

Thanks so much for reading & I'll post again soon

Mcsophwar xox

I'm not perfect

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to tell you all that......

I'M NOT PERFECT

But I'm ok with that. Today and throughout my life, I've had many comments from people about not being pretty enough,being too shy, being stupid or being too fat.

Even today I was messaging someone and I didn't understand one of the words they used. When I asked, they replied with "so stupid. You are gona have troubles at uni in fact I can't imagine how you got there".

I may not know all the words in the English dictionary but it's ok for me not to know that.

I may not have achieved A*'s in my GCSE's or A levels but all I did was try my very best and that's all I could do. Some days whilst studying for my A levels, I would study at Sixth Form all day, come home, eat something out of a packet, shower and then spend the rest of the day doing homework, reading textbooks or revising (that includes all of the hours that I should've been sleeping too). It wasn't healthy at all but what I thought I was being the 'perfect' student when in reality the best I would get is a B and I'd sit at home feeling absolutely heartbroken that I wasn't not one of the high achievers neither was I able to apply to study at Oxbridge. I wasn't happy and I couldn't carry on like that.

But what I did was perfect in my own way. I got a place at my firm choice university and this time next week, I will have moved into student accommodation and will be the first person EVER in my family to go. I'm very happy with what I've achieved.

I may not be the girl that gets all the compliments or be 'thin enough' but to me it no longer matters. I have smiled while people sent me horrible messages about my looks and I tried to be strong when people that I thought were my friends teased me about my weight, haircut and pretty much everything else they could think of.

I decided to write this post today to let you all know that I've changed but I've changed for the better. I'm not perfect but I never was and I'm never going to be. I've accepted myself for who I am and to anyone else who is struggling I just wanted to tell you that....

YOU WILL GET THERE! Ignore everything that people say about you unless it's something that puts a smile on your face. They don't know who you are and those that say bad things deserve to have zero influence over what you do and how you feel about yourself.

Thanks so much to everyone that reads my posts. After a break, I am back blogging again and I love it <3

Mcsophwar xox

Would You Rather: Book Edition

Hi everyone,

I've been absent on my blog for quite some time. My A level exams end on 19th June so I'm hoping that I can blog on a more regular basis once they've ended.

I have a massive love for reading so I thought I'd answer this book tag although I'm probably the last one to do it.

Would you rather:

1) Read only trilogies or stand alones?

I'd have to say only read stand alones. I really don't read trilogies so this question isn't a hard one for me.

2) Read books from only male authors or female authors?

This is hard. I'd have to say female authors as my favourite book is by Sylvia Plath. Though I do love books written by male authors for example The Great Gatsby and The Wasp Factory. I never take into account the gender of the author when picking up a book.

3) Shop at only Waterstones or Amazon?

Waterstones. It's good for both browsing and selecting a particular book. I only like Amazon if I need a book really quickly and I know exactly what I'm looking for.

4) All books become movies or TV shows?

Movies. I feel as if the plot is flows more quickly making it more exciting to watch. Saying that, I always make sure I've read the book before I watch the film version so I doesn't take away my imaginations of the characters too much.

5) Read only 5 pages a day or 5 books a week?

Although it would take more time, I'd have to say 5 books a week. 5 pages a day is not enough to really get into the book and I couldn't cope with only being able to read a couple of books each year.

6) Be a professional reviewer or author?

A reviewer. Although I love writing short stories, I often find it hard to get inspiration and write something which I'm really happy with. I'd prefer to read books and give my opinion on them.

7) Only read your 20 favourite books over and over or only be able to read new ones that you haven't read before?

Although I do love reading books several times, I'd have to say only read the ones that I haven't read before. I wouldn't want to miss out on all the books that I haven't had a chance to read yet.

8) Be a librarian or a book seller?

Easy. A book seller.

9) Only read your favourite genre or every genre except your favourite genre?

My favourite genre. I feel like there's a reason why I don't read books from some genres. I get so much enjoyment out of books which are focused upon a topic/ genre that I'm really interested in.

10) Only read physical books or eBooks?

Physical books. Although eBooks can be good for travel, there's nothing like having a physical book and getting more book shelves as your collection grows.

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Thanks so much for reading this post.

 If you do decide to answer these questions, please send me the link either on a comment or via the message box so I can check them out.

H&M : My Favourite Store

Hello,

I'm back after quite a break and I'm looking forward to getting back into the blogging routine so to speak.

I've been browsing around the shops recently and picking up things I really needed (I thought I did anyway- there's always room on my bookshelf for another novel!) and H&M has really stood out for me in terms of affordable clothing and cute jewellery.

Jeans used to be something I would always shy away from. I could never find my 'perfect' pair that would be comfortable, look quite nice but also fit properly and this is where this store came to the rescue. My go to Jeans fit really nicely and for under £10 meant I could buy another pair to wear when the other pair is in the wash.

I'm pretty sure they come in a black denim, light blue and a dark blue. I'm sure I will finally get round to buying a light blue pair to complete my collection.

I've also been searching for some spring jumpers that are basic but not too thick because I'm looking forward to just being able to wear them without a coat and scarf over the top. I brought two for £12! One in a rich burgundy/ darker red colour and the other in grey with love hearts on. I have also picked up a set of 4 earrings for £2 and a necklace for the same price.

Have you been shopping? What have you picked up recently? Is there anything that I have missed out on that I should pick up? What is on your wishlist this month?

Remember you can leave me a comment below or send one privately using the 'Your thoughts' box.

Thanks for reading,

Mcsophwar xox