Writing Workshop: Another Life
Welcome back to the Writing Workshop link-up! At the bottom of this post you’ll find the widget to post the link to your workshop posts. First of all it’s my turn.
I had some fun with my post this week – something a bit different for you. Inspired by prompt number #4 – my life in a parallel world, this is not exactly the life I would choose, but one I can imagine. I wrote it all out in one sitting and am not letting myself edit it (for once), so see what you think…
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The girl pressed her forehead to the cold glass and watched as the postman opened the gate and made his way to the front door of her apartment building. The mist was finally lifting from Richmond Park, and from her vantage point the girl looked on as the shapes of oak and beech trees gradually emerged from the gloom. The trail of breath the postman left hanging in their air as he returned to his bike suggested it was going to be another below-zero kind of day, and the black Labrador pushing eagerly at her foot was met with only a frown and a shake of the head as she pulled her legs in closer to her, and her cardigan more closely round her thin body.
“No chance,” she grumbled, “no walk till it’s warmed up a bit. Besides, I have a million things to do”.
But she didn’t move. Not yet. Instead she sighed and wincing slightly at the sound of movement in the next room, glanced over to the half-open bedroom door. Jeez, that had been a mistake. Was he awake? Oh god, what if he wanted to stay for breakfast? What if he wanted to talk? Maybe a walk wasn’t such a bad idea. Maybe if she went now he’d be gone before she got back.
Too late.
“Morning beautiful”.
She smiled faintly as he leaned lazily against the door frame, stretching up and letting his finger tips graze the lintel. His brown eyes were heavy and dark with sleep. And something else too. The things that had made her heart race and her head pound as she’d spotted him through the groups of pretentious intellectuals sipping at home-made cocktails and trading passive-aggressive insults. He had been an artist, of course, they always were. Drawn to the idea of a real-life poet and writer, and one on the best-seller lists too, although she hated when people made a big deal of that. It had only been one book, and one she wasn’t particularly proud of either. Like many before him, the boy, for that’s all he was, had deftly used discussions of light and words and how fucking boring all these bloody lawyers and journalists and PR losers were, to make her smile and draw away to a quiet corner of the room, and later, to an even quieter taxi, whispering in her ear how much he wanted her. How he felt such a connection to her.
They all felt such a god-damn connection to her. Pity she never seemed to feel one back, or not for long anyway.
Sighing again, she swung her legs down from the high window sill and padded across the room to her desk.
“Time to go Tom. I’m sorry but I have to work.”
She sat, opening the laptop in front of her, pausing only to close her eyes briefly as the rough hand touched her neck. Lips in her hair, on her forehead.
“Ok Jo, no worries. I know you have a deadline. Call me when you’re done ok?”
Nodding, her fingers already on the keyboard, she barely heard the sound of the front door closing, already lost in words -the pressure of two new chapters needing to be on her publisher’s desk by the morning making her ears buzz and her nerves twitch.
It had to be good. No, it had to be more than good: it had to be prefect.
A best-selling book deal at 25 leaves a hell of a lot of expectations on a girl. There was no room for failure with book number two.
Taking two years to wander the globe – looking for what, she wondered? – had not been enough. Not enough to stop the emails and the letters from landing heavily on her shoulders as she settled back into London life. What was coming next? They all wanted to know. What was she working on?
She stopped.
A morning had passed. Her stomach growling from the memory of last night’s snatched sandwich and her head pounding from a morning’s frantic writing.
Feeling the familiar creep of panic, her eyes blurring as she pressed the palms of her hands sharply into her brow, the girl ignored the ringing phone to stumble, blindly into her bedroom, and crawl protectively under the thick duvet. It still smelt of him, an odd mixture of white spirit and Lynx deodorant that made her stomach turn in a horrible, sickening lurch.
What was she doing?
Was this really the life had always dreamt of? The success she had imagined?
The low ache, the inexplicable feeling of loss was stronger today. What did it mean? This feeling of missing something so fundamental to her happiness, when she had so much?
Money, fame, a head full of adventures and a line of young, eager men just ready to fill her world and her bed with passion and make her feel young and beautiful.
She closed her eyes. And dreaming, dreamt of soft blue eyes and softer hands.
Wedding vows spoken over pink roses.
And blonde hair, a child’s wild laugh, shining bright in the sunlight.
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Now, it’s your turn:
1. Take the time to talk to an elderly relative or friend and share with us a story of theirs. Or perhaps tell us a favourite story you remember being told by/about someone you have lost.
- Inspired by New Day New Lesson’s beautiful and thought-provoking post reminding us to take the time to learn our heritage before it’s too late.
2. Tell me about a time you walked in another person’s shoes, and how it changed your perspective of them.
- Inspired by Kerry’s post from “And then all I thought about was you” about spending a day doing her dad’s job
3. What war is raging in your house? What are your family’s battles right now?
- Inspired by Vegemitevix’s PS3 house invasion!
4. Imagine there is another ‘you’, living in a parallel universe. As CJ so beautifully put it in her post “Putting aside your contentment in this life, imagining you could choose another…” what would you chose for your ‘other’ life?
- Inspired by the lovely Crystal Jigsaw’s musings on Parallel Worlds
5. What is making you feel under pressure right now?
- Inspired by me, and my endlessly self-imposed need to do better.
Leave your name and the URL to your post in the MckLinky below (the URL should be to your post not just to your blog) andleave me a comment to let me know you’ve taken part. If you have the time it would be great if you could try and read and comment on at least two other entries. And be kind! It’s supposed to be a bit of fun – we’re not looking for the next Booker Prize winner here!
If you haven’t had chance to respond yet, then you’ve still got today! Or just wait till next week, when there’ll be five brand new prompts to get you thinking.
This Writing Workshop is brought to you in association with Mama Kat’s Losin’ It – who’s lovely author came up with the concept and runs her own workshop over in the U.S.
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Absolutely brilliant Josie. Love it.
When your first book is out, I want a signed copy, kay?
(and I thought I was going to be first in McLinky – but The Moiderer must've been clicking a second earlier! 
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Fantastic! I want a signed copy too! 
x
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Brilliant post – I can't imagine living another life either…. Although I wouldn't say to no to a nice little lottery win lol x
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Wow! Inspired and inspirational x
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Funny how the grass always seems greener. Beautifully written – can't wait to read your bestseller. x
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Wow! A fantastic piece of writing – especially as it's unedited! Talented lady! x
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Brilliant Josie. And not edited? I'm even more impressed.
I've signed up for the first time to your Workshop and wrote about my Grandad Harry (at number 13). I cried like a baby as I typed it. Thank you. And I really mean that. Its wonderful to have something concrete down about him rather than floating in my head. I need to get all my memories out of my head and onto paper which relate to my Grandparents before they fade away and this has prompted me to get on with it. Thanks again.
MD x
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Josie, a brilliant story. nostalgically reminds me of days gone by (the random stranger bit not the bestseller! – although that makes me sound awful!!). Really enjoyed reading it and got taken away to another time and place, really great writing. I hope you're writing your bestseller now, can't wait to read it.
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http://www.feelingstylish.co.uk/writing-worksho...
I've done one! Now going to read some others.
x
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My kids just roll their eyes and shut their ears when they hear me start with “If I'd never had kids…..”. I managed to drum through to them at a fairly young age that since I don't miss the kids I would have had if I'd taken any one of a myriad of different paths they ought to realise I wouldn't miss them if I hadn't had them either. So the eyes. They roll. And we sit together criticising causality paradoxes in bad sci-fi. Which is kinda cool. For me.
So, you wish you'd slept about a bit more then huh?
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Did my first worksop today – quite scary really, espsecially as it was all a bit of a rush – although to be honest probably saved me writing and re-writing for far too long. Sometimes I'd quite like to live another life – if husband and kids came too – but can't imagine it as clearly as you can yet..
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This was great Josie. I love the way you write. I just want to find out more about her now…does she get her dream??
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Yours is so beautiful. I wrote one today but, reading yours, I wish I hadn't done mine at the last minute and in such a rush. Oh dear. But it was good fun—thank you for hosting it. Mine is also about Parallel Worlds. But I wasn't sure how to link to your site. I'm turning into a technoramus–I don't know how to do so many things in the blogging world.
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Loved it!
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Love it too!!
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Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by porridgebrain: Brand New on Sleep is for the Weak: Writing Workshop: Another Life http://tinyurl.com/ycpk2mh...
Wow, that's incredible! The last bit brought me to tears!
Very brave of you to choose a scenario that you feel would have been likely and not one that you would have chosen!
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great post – and so true. the minute I start to dream of another life I stop short because I would loose what I have…. still, a full time housekeeper would be nice!!
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Simply wonderful as ever. I hope I have time to join in next week, my TMA has been submitted anyway so perhaps I will have time to write for me.
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As you can see despite my best intentions I didn't get around to joining in this week. Something to do with a 11mth old who this week has chosen to cry real tears every time I put him down so have only been able to do anything when he's asleep BUT really loved that post and was very impressed that no editing. It was different and I really liked it.
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[...] mother will be glad to hear that this is not reality but a post written for Josie’s Writing Workshop from prompt 4: “Imagine there is another ‘you’ living in a parallel [...]
I want to step into the frame and find out what becomes of this young writer – impressive – I'd definitely keep coming back for more!
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Very lovely. I didn't write one, but thinking about this subject gave me some interesting daydreams so thanks for the ponder material!
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Beautiful Josie Just Beautiful – talented woman that you are
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Josie, I'm so glad that I found your Writers Workshop- I needed the extra push to actually write something again. Hope youre having a great day!
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Oi! Well, maybe… I did meet my hubby when I was 17 so there is always going to be a part of me that wonders what life would be like if that hadn't been the case. Given what I was like at 17 I think I would have been a bit of a slut 
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Well, the 'other' Josie did And despite no book deal she is a zillion times happier for it.
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Ooh I'm so pleased you found it! Lovely to 'meet' you
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Fantastic, Josie! I want to know what happens next… This workshop has become the highlight of my week.
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I love it!
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I couldnt imagine another life, one without my children and the challenges we are put through. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else and I dont want to imagine being anywhere else in case it is a better place!!
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