There’s a young woman circling me. I can catch brief glimpses of her, as if shadows moving behind trees. Occasionally I can hear her whispered voice, but it may be the wind.
I’ve seen her walking above the sea alone, face lifted to the salt air. I know she feels cleansed, but I also see how gaunt she is. She’s simply escaped the mountains, but not whatever it is that haunts her.
There’s an old woman waiting for her. A grandmother, or maybe great-grandmother, in her end days. Some say she’s lost her mind, but what some see as insanity others see as vision, finally clear.
It’s like writing. This young woman circling me, creeping up on me, whispering to me, isn’t real. Or at least not yet. But she wants me to tell her story because she can’t. And there’s some mystery there, on the wild edges of the North Sea, where she now walks.
Some of you nod, recognizing the writing process, understanding that voice in the place where stories begin.
Others, who don’t understand the writing process, might hear this and think it strange, or wonder about someone who says they hear voices in their head.
But this…this is how a story begins.
She’s too shy yet. She doesn’t trust me fully yet. She’s not ready for the story to come to me yet.
But she’s there, working her courage up to come fully forward, to step through the door.
And this…this is how her story begins.
Beautiful. I totally relate.
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It doesn’t surprise me at all that the same thing would translate to other art mediums!
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This was a great post. Not all of my stories or poems are like that, but quite a few are. I do recognize the process. I hope you can capture this haunting woman’s tale.
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It’s an odd feeling in a way, isn’t it?
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Love the imagery! For me, lately, people have been walking past — strangers on a street. A few catch my attention, but they ignore my attempts to engage them. I overhear some bits of conversation, but that’s all. Hope your young woman finds the bravery to approach you. She seems like she has quite a tale to tell.
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I think she does, but I’ve made three attempts at a beginning so far and none have worked, so she’s not ready.
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Love this. 🙂
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Thank you. She’s moved a little closer now and I’ve made my third attempt at a beginning. This one feels like it might be right.
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Where can we buy your new book that is out. Love the title and cover!
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Amazon is probably the best place at the moment. I was so happy with the cover. A friend told me the raven would make a great tattoo so now I’m tempted to be adventurous.
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Oooo yes, it would. 🙂 and the cover really stirs the imagination and the excitement to dive in and and get lost…in the deep. 🙂
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