Epiphany

I've always been a budding writer. One of my major goals in life is to complete one of my many partially completed novels to my elusive satisfaction. If I had a bucket list, it would be right near the top. To be published would be a momentous bonus.

It seems a bit sad and sorry that I have an array of hidden stories on my computer at home, most of which will never be read, expanded upon or even acknowledged, despite the blood, sweat and late nights I put into them. As much as I love it, it's a lot of work to go to waste.

So to at least acknowledge that these neglected writings exist in the world, I hereby present a list of the novels/novellas/stories I've half/quarter/one-eightieth completed (in no particular order - the ones I remember, at least):

To Dance Again - the story of a hippy girl who has a guy best friend. She's in love with an older guy, but he's about to marry someone else, to keep his dying Nan happy. The best guy friend (based on a young John Cusack - how dreamy) drifts away a bit when he finds a girlfriend... um... it's all a bit clichéd, which is why I dumped it, I guess.

Besties Reunion Story (working title) - this seemed slightly original at the time, but of course it's been done to death now - the four best girlfriends get together for a holiday/reunion after one of them finally breaks up with her possessive boyfriend and organises it. There are fights, tears and tantrums... two of the characters are writing a book together - I think this was the one where that was one of the story threads. Hmmm, whatever.

Allison and Owen (working title)

A huge, ambitious epic of a novel, aka as 'put it in the too-hard basket'. Covers about twenty years of Allison's life, showing her lifelong friendship with Owen, and how other things get in the way of them getting together. It tracks her journey from timid little girl to confident, fulfilled woman. Owen looks like Seth Green in my head. Allison looks like Allison Hannigan in my head. How typical of me. One David Nicholls obviously hacked into my computer and stole this story to help him write his book. It was subsequently made into a movie called 'One Day'.  It stars Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess! Bah!

Off The Cuff (currently working on, technically speaking)The whole purpose and direction of this one keeps changing. I'm in danger of dumping it, but I've worked so hard, and I think it has potential. It's made a couple of my friends laugh in parts, and it even makes me laugh when I re-read it. I'd call that potential. It's just that this story is no longer original either - ie, shy girl has some kind of epiphany that makes her tell everything that's on her mind. I thought it could be a girlie spin on 'Liar, Liar', but then Sophie Kinsella went and jumped in with her girlie spin on ‘Liar Liar’. She's so fast at churning out stuff. It's starting to show too, just quietly. (CAT-TEE!)

Epiphany (currently working on, technically speaking)

Just decided that this Young Adult novella is called ‘Epiphany’. Also just decided that Epiphany is also the name of the daggy girl in the story. I was inspired to write this after reading Sonya Hartnett's 'Butterfly', which was sort of a dark story about a young adult that's probably more for slightly older young adults and adults. Or younger, more mature young adults. Anyways, target audiences aside, I'm also getting inspired by 'Xanadu' and 'Muriel's Wedding', so it's an interesting mish mash. Oh, and it was all triggered by a weird, slightly creepy dream I had ages ago. I don't want to say too much about it because this one feels kinda special and mysterious... let's see how I go!

And these are just the ones I can remember. Might have to go through the archives and see what else I can dig up! Could be sitting on a gold mine... if I start working on one of these again, rather than sticking to safe, quick and easy articles and editorials, poems and the odd short story! (I also love editing other people's work.) I'm a busy Mum but I'm sure I could make time... yeah, that's the spirit!

I feel like ‘Epiphany’ is my best bet... pray for me! Most of my epiphanies end up looking like plain old bad ideas... better to have written and dumped than to never have written at all!