Driven to abstraction

Oh for Fairy’s sake, it’s been ages, where have I been? Last time I posted I was a brand new student, waiting for the school bus. Fresh-faced, empty notebooks, pencils sharpened (they really were). All set to make friends and learn stuff as I chose a seat at the front of the class for my online MA in Creative Writing.
Eight weeks later, where am I now? Exhausted, overwhelmed, grateful for having had a break between units, out of breath from keeping up. But here! Yep, still here.
And as a bonus of still being here, delighted to report that unit 2 (I write this on day five) is already amazing. A month ago I was slumped at the back of the class, notebooks dog-eared and illegible, pencils stubby.
I stumbled through unit 1, which was all about research methods, full of long words and abstract ideas. Over six brief but hectic weeks we had to write an abstract, maintain and deliver a reflective journal, devise and present a 1000-word, 10-minute PowerPoint with slides. Plus reading. So. Much. Reading.
So, no chatting about our favourite writers over a bag of Kettle Chips and several wines, then?
Our second module is all about The Craft of the Writer, and I love it already. We’re looking at technique, structure, writer’s block (already tons of blog posts and workshop writings on that in my virtual folder, actually, #swot) – oh and so much more. I’m so happy to get stuck into some writing at last, and lie low for a bit from some of the characters we met a few weeks ago, bullies if that’s not too strong a word.
There’s Etymology: she thinks she knows everything.
And Ontology, who reckons he’s amazing just because he exists. A proper narc.
Critical Thinking wants to get into my head every second, as does Reflective Practice. Both of them keep asking me stuff, even if (especially when) I don’t know the answer.
I respect Value Judgement but I can’t tell if he likes me or not.
Rebellious Research is a nuisance, getting into my notebooks, upending my thoughts, then stealing them and reciting them back to me in the middle of the night.
Rhetoric puts up her hand to ask a question every single second. Someone needs to have a word.
Methodology is elusive and annoying, but I’ve been told he’s useful.
As for Verbose, I can’t understand a word he’s saying.
Off to sharpen more pencils. See you after the next break.