Critique is daunting. Like Alexia, I am terribly insecure about my writing and handing over an unfinished half-drafted write up on Spider-Man to a new classmate was, of course, nerve-racking. Ultimately, this turned out productive (of course!) and despite these bouts of self-consciousness it’s just good to be back at uni. To be engaged with my writing I really need deadlines, objectives, direction. The mid-sem break eventually churned me out lethargic, no brainpower in the tank. This studio is reinvigorating the worker bee in me. It has also pushed my writing and reading beyond my comfort zone: most of my read criticism when not researching for essays comes from other users on Letterboxd, with small segues into professionally published work, mostly when it’s convenient. I’ve kerbed my laziness (to some degree) and given myself more time to read; snoozed the clock in my head that ticks so aggressively away anytime I feel like doing something unproductive; locked up the habitual skim-reader inside, and learned to read in moderation, just a little bit more per day. So far, this studio makes the 5am wake up worth it.