Origin of Inspiration

The Big Move

A/N: there are formatting errors. This is not my fault. It's because of copy-pasting from the formatted file in Microsoft Word. The book is available for purchase on Amazon, but the eBook will be FREE between October 1st and 5th.

She sighed as she switched the scuffed iPad off. Her mind was blank, absolutely no ideas had hit her during the entire ride.

The past week, she'd been too busy packing, preparing for the move, to properly sit for an hour and write, but the five-hour train journey was going to be worth it, she thought to herself.

Alice Furgerson was a writer. A script-writer. Though her true passion had once lay with dancing and theater, those dreams rapidly faded, crushed by rejection and lack of support from family. But since leaving college, Alice had made a somewhat livable career from her writing, and that's why she was moving from deep in the countryside in the heart of Wales, to the city. Not just any city, at that: Birmingham, UK, the creative capital of England.

It wasn't particularly what she wanted, but her friend, who often doubled as a business contact, in Birmingham had told her that it was important to accept the job she'd been offered by a company who was incredibly eager to hire her, and accept the relocation. It was peculiar, though, that the people hiring had exclusively requested somebody who would agree to move to the city they were filming in. According to her friend, Carlotta Hammond, they wanted the writer on set at all times. They were experimental. Their methods somewhat unorthodox, and in their previous films (two that Alice was aware of), they'd often changed things on the fly. They needed a writer who could adapt. A writer looking for their break. A writer who was willing to sacrifice their traditional writing for something else. Alice was that writer.

The stiff train air made her feel dreadfully tired, and as she watched the fast-moving country outside, she noticed that buildings were getting closer together. It was almost time to embrace her new life, in a new home. It was to be her first time living away from her family, and though she never truly wanted to stay near them, change was frightening — not knowing what was around the corner scared her.

"Refreshments?"

Alice glanced up and nodded. "I'll have a bottle of cola and that small bottle of vodka, please." Alice passed the money over to the attendant, who in turn gave her the shot-bottle of cheap vodka and the cola. "Thank you," she smiled, as she cracked open the vodka slowly, and then opened the cola. Vodka Cola was her favorite drink.

"Our next stop will be Birmingham International, please be aware that if you are alighting here there is a gap between the platform and the train. Passengers are reminded..."

Alice zoned out almost entirely, putting in her earphones and listening to some pop music, drinking the cola. She was so close to Birmingham, yet she still hadn't finished off the piece she was required to work on. Just as she was about to close her eyes, Carlotta's image appeared on her phone, and her music stopped to play the familiar ringing tone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Carly, what's up?"

"Just thought I'd ask if you're in the city yet. I would like to introduce you to someone you'll be working with, he's an absolute charmer." Forever trying to find Alice someone she would 'click' with, Alice rarely trusted her judgment on men.

"I don't know, I haven't finished the script... I thought you weren't on this film?"

Carlotta was an actress and writer. Carlotta was the woman that Alice had longed to be, but she never had the guts to go for something like acting. She wasn't pretty enough, thin enough, or skilled enough, Alice thought.