Back to study

I've long thought about doing my PhD, but the memory of the workload from my Masters, while working full time, is still etched deeply in my mind, so much so, that its put me off from looking into it in much depth.

I've been at a real standstill with my writing, paralysed by writers block, fear based and worthiness issues expound the extreme level of stress I've hosted round this. I have pushed myself to get out of my hole by blogging every day and only recently have I been able to write a structured article to submit to the writing sites I use to be involved with.

I'm working on the children's book for the Camino, but its still not flowing as freely that I had wished it to. So I am going right back to basics; and follwing hte golden rule for writing.

To be a successful writer, you need to read widely and often. I've let this slide, other than some very short stories and flash on occasion.

I came across an interesting site which collates online courses offered by major Universities around the world.. for free. Courses are 4 - 12 weeks long. Admittedly, if you want recognition for the work you have completed in the course, you need to pay for certification. ( its under $100 each course - so its really not that much)  I'm not interested in putting these on my resume; as I'm more interested in the information, and the brain practice it will give me.

I've enrolled in two courses to complete before Christmas this year. One is a supporting dyslexic learners; which I am interested in professionally in anycase. Its offered by the University of London and from what I have seen so far, extremely thoughtful and well put together.

The other one,  Fantasy and Science Fiction: The human Mind, Our Modern World, explores classic novels and stories, from Wells, Bradbury and Poe to more current authors. I'm a little apprehensive about the amount of reading required every week, but I guess I need to be up to the challenge if I am thinking of doing a PhD next year. I am blown away already by the lecturer ( Professor Rabkin from University of Michigan. ) as we pulled apart and analysed an Aesthops Fable to an incredibly deep extent - and I can't imagine what we are going to do with a novel like Frankenstein.

There are tests and assignments every week, so I'll be busy... which is good.