First bit of planning

Today I decided I am 100% set on doing my magazine on traveling. I also decided to start scheduling how I will do each part of this project. I figure if I have a schedule with a little outline to follow, I'll stay organized and give myself more time to perfect anything I want and I won't stay behind leaving everything for the last minute. As of now, my schedule goes a little like this (subject to change):

WEEK 1 (3/6-3/12):
- Blog Introduction
- Create schedule
- Begin research (look for inspirations, likes and dislikes in magazine styles, travel magazine tendencies, etc.)
- Hopefully come up with at least a name (although inspiration strikes when it feels like it)

WEEK 2 (3/13-3/19):
- Continue research
- Gather pictures from my own trips and organize them so they'll be easy to access when the time comes to put everything together.
- Put together title page
- Decide what my double-page spread will consist of
- Begin table of contents (try to get as much done as possible)

WEEK 3 (3/20-3/26):
- Finish table of contents if it has not been finished yet
- Begin double-page spread

WEEK 4 (3/27-4/2):
- Finish double-page spread
- CCR

WEEK 5 (4/3-4/9):
- Revision and perfection
- Submission!!!!!!! (by 4/7, before I leave to my trip)

Welcome!

Hey everyone! Welcome to my blog. I am Manuela Arango and this blog will serve to document the whole journey of my AICE Media Studies project for the following couple weeks. Here I'll explain my plans, research, problems, successes, & final project. I've done many large projects before, but never one of this magnitude where I also got to work on something I choose, & get to control every aspect of it. This project gives me a lot of space to communicate my message, both visually & through words. I know it'll be a good experience, despite the difficulties that come with any project.

I'm quite excited, honestly. I chose to do a magazine for my project, because although making movies is a lot of fun, I've found that I'm more successful at transmitting messages clearly and more professionally through graphics and writing. I also chose to do this project alone. I love working with people because it's fun and constructive, but in all honesty I'm a perfectionist and I'm pretty stubborn, so when it comes to something serious I'd rather be on my own, in control of everything. Not only do I consider I'd perform better in this task alone, but I also have a small inconvenience that others don't. I have a trip to South Africa planned a couple days before this project is due (IRONIC- you'll see why later in this post), therefore, I'll have to work at a faster pace than everyone else in order to ensure everything is perfect so I can submit it before I leave. I wouldn't want anyone to have to deal with the responsibility of having less days to finish their project just because of me.

As of now, the only idea I have for my topic is travel. I think I've travelled a fair amount (at least a much as my economic status allows me) but I always come home wanting more. I'd like to advertise the idea of traveling and seeing what's out there to everyone around me, so I will do so through this magazine. Something that really sucks is that the trip I was talking about before won't happen until I'm done with this project, and that could've been a great place to get information as well as pictures... whatever. I'm almost 100% sure I won't change my mind because this has been the plan since day 1, but I'm pretty spontaneous, so who knows if I'll change my mind within the next week? Stay tuned...