The Chinese Whisperings project was well under way by the time I got involved, so I’ve felt like I was someone pulled out of the audience half way through the second act, when the director realised that an actor hadn’t shown up to the theatre.
I don’t know what made the person originally slated to write story number nine drop out, I hope it wasn’t something awful. The reason I worry about this is because I’m pleased I got to take their place, and I’d hate to be pleased at the cost of someone else’s misfortune.
Story number seven was being written when Paul got in touch with me. I had just started my Short Story Club, and so I’d been talking about short stories online, where our respective social media circles had overlapped. Truth be told, I’d been cyber-stalking following Paul for some time and I was just beside myself with glee when he offered me a place in the book.
I ran downstairs to tell my husband and to make a cup of tea (that’s very important) but I had already made up my mind. So what if I had already committed to writing two other short stories before my turn for Chinese Whisperings? So what if I had just started my own business? I’d find time for this!
It’s been a series of firsts; the first time I have ever collaborated with other writers on a project, the first time I have ever had a short story edited by people other than my internal censor and the first time I have been commissioned to write fiction, instead of press releases or web site copy.
Jodi and Paul have made me feel welcome and cherished, and wonderful spring-green friendships are growing out of the project, which I hadn’t expected at all. I’m so toe-curlingly delighted that Paul invited me up onto the stage. I stood there like an idiot, one step behind the rest of the cast for the rest of the play, but my goodness, what a buzz to be up there, on view, instead of down there, in the audience!
Heartache is the nineth story in The Red Book and the creation of writer Emma Newman. Tomorrow Emma shares her experiences of creating Heartache. All comments of two lines or more go into the draw at the end of the week for a limited edition (electronic) Red Book Reversed.
Chinese Whisperings invites you to kick back with your favourite beverage and Take Five with Benjamin Solah.
The Red Book, Audio Trailer
Emma, I had a similar experience since I too was pulled in at the last moment. I did story number five and number four was already being written when I got “the call”.
Still it was a great experience. I’m glad you enjoyed it too.
Hooray for arriving fashionably late