Ocean Blue & You

afterword

So. Ocean Blue & You is finally over. I actually can't believe it is. It's been so much fun writing this story, and since I've enjoyed it so much, and it ends in such a tragic way, I've decided to write an afterword. Basically a huge author's note on the story and my thoughts, secrets, the themes and the messages that inspired this story. If you were left questioning, all will be answered here. (unless your question is really obscure then feel free to leave a comment and I'll answer) xx

I always knew how I wanted this story to end. I knew I wanted the protagonist to die. I knew the whole theme of the story. When I came up with the idea, it was in March 2018. I never really got round to actually writing it till two months later, when my head was just full to bursting with ideas that I had to put them down. The picture in my head was that this story was about two teenage lovers. They meet at a party, and slowly fall more and more in love with each other. Heavily inspired by Romeo & Juliet. The love at first sight. The feuding families and forbidden love. In fact, I almost wanted it to be a modern version of that, so I took deep inspirations from the 90s movie Romeo + Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. It's one of my favourite films, and if you've watched it, you know what I mean.

But this story had to end differently. Instead of the lovers taking their life to be together, their lives are cut off anyway, by the world ending and their death (obviously) being the finale. It was not just a way to close the story off with a bang, but that I had a message behind it.

Ocean Blue & You is set in the present day, but has futuristic elements to it. The whole meteor idea may have been a big, melodramatic one, but reflects on environmentally how our world is today. I like to think of myself as a bit of an environmentalist, and this novel hints upon (especially in the chapter 'Heaven and Earth' and the beginning of 'The Last Time') pollution and how mankind is totally destroying the planet. I wanted to sort of bring across that message of how we are beings of destruction, and we need to change our ways of living before it's too late. Think of this story as one massive hyperbole on what might happen in the future if we keep destroying at this speed.

Some people might say this story is too short. I think it's just the perfect length. I thought it might be a bit longer originally, but to stretch it out further I would have to put in a lot of filler chapters (like 'under the stars') which (lets be honest) bores everybody :D. I want to keep it short and sweet. Otherwise it wouldn't be as satisfying. This is a love story about two friends. That's what I like about it. I've been hearing some of your feedback about how you like that it's not the stereotypical sort of thing. I don't like that either, that's why I didn't do it.

I wanted this story to be different. Posy and Jack aren't just lovers, but they're also friends. That's what I wanted to reflect on in the last couple of pages. He makes her laugh. She makes him smile. They love each other, but it's not stereotypical, with the bad boy and the girl next door, or the nerdy girl and the jock/popular boy.

The really romantic parts of the story were also beautiful to write. ('Cinderella at Midnight', 'Stolen Kisses', 'Only Ones' and the last chapter). I really enjoy writing love stories, and I'm definitely going to write more in the future. I'm thinking of writing some short romance stories after this, with different scenarios and characters and stuff. I'm still not sure yet.

I loved writing Ocean Blue & You, and it's sad that it's come to an end, but I'm super duper grateful for all of the support. Every comment on this story, every like, every message has honestly boosted my confidence and brightened my day. I didn't think this story would ever have even two thousand readers! I thought there would be maybe a hundred, just because I've never written a story on Quotev that's gotten this popular. But I am so happy and thankful. Really I am. I know this sounds cheesy, but I can't thank you enough for reading my story and coming on this incredible journey with me. Or rather, with Posy and Jack. I love you all so much for this, even though I may have never met you, and I'm excited for what's to come.

- Fleur xo