One Image, Two Story Ideas: Woman Walking At Night
Jen and Tina love writing prompts. Sometimes they turn into stories, sometimes they just get our creative juices flowing. Either way, they’re a lot of fun.
Jen’s Idea
When I saw this photo, I thought the woman was walking with such confidence that she must have her life together.
I started to imagine a story for her, but I realized the more interesting story would be the secondary character: a relative of the superstar. I imagined the mixed pride and jealousy, but also the disappointment of learning that no one’s life is what it seems.
It took me to a story of sibling rivalry and espionage that I’d love to spend more time with.
Tina’s Idea
When I saw this photo I immediately felt a chill. Here is a vulnerable young woman in a European city walking home at night. What secrets does she have, I wondered? When I noticed the bright headlights of the car next to her, I envisioned a political thriller and saw clearly what the threat could be.
Jen’s Back Cover
Calm, cool and collected, that’s Marjorie James. Advisor to politicians, unseen hand in corporate mergers, and a concert-level cellist.
It’s not easy being her older sister.
Adelaide James knows that her celebrated sister isn’t trying to outshine her. They took separate paths. And Adelaide wouldn’t trade her three grown boys, two slobbering shepherds or kind husband for anything. Not most days, anyhow.
But when a handsome stranger mistakes Adelaide for Marjorie, she’s flattered and plays along. They have dinner and more wine than they should. It would have ended there, but the stranger was found dead and Marjorie accused of killing him.
Adelaide confesses to the impersonation, but the police don’t listen. The only way Adelaide can put things right is to uncover the ugly truths her sister has been hiding behind a facade of perfection, and identify the real killer.
Tina’s Back Cover
Marta had joined the revolutionaries in her country when she was an idealistic young woman; when stopping the cruel dictator was all that mattered. She had followed Diego, the jefe, willingly, first out of love and then out of commitment to their cause. But when Diego turned greedy with power, and found ways to line his pockets at the expense of the impoverished farmers, she could stay no longer. He had become more brutal than the dictator they were fighting. But he wouldn’t let her go. It had taken her months of planning to slip away.
She had made her way to Texas, but felt she was too close for comfort, and eventually made her way to Europe and into Paris – a bustling city where she could easily disappear. She taught Spanish and babysat and walked dogs. She had no desire for a high-powered job or another cause. All she wanted was to fade into the background. To have a small footprint.
It has been ten years and she can finally walk the streets without fear. She is sure she has left her old world behind. She has even found a new love. Silvio is an Italian studying French literature. He is young, naïve and very kind. She feels alive again.
One day she notices the blue sedan. Everywhere she goes, there it is. At first, she thinks it is her imagination. Blue sedans are common, aren’t they? She starts paying attention to the license plate. One day she glimpses the letters XH, another day the letters AA. Last night she was able to make out the number 20. She begins to relax, perhaps it was all in her head, her paranoia resurfacing. These are different cars. Blue sedans are ubiquitous and she is letting her imagination get the better of her.
Tonight she feels herself again, unburdened by the worry of the last few weeks. She walks home chatting with Silvio on her cell phone. She entices him with the dinner she plans to make with the bag of groceries swinging freely from her left hand. As she approaches her apartment building, a set of headlights blink on and almost blind her, but not before she notices it is a blue sedan with the license plate AA 1920 XH. In that moment, she knows that Diego has found her.
Tina’s Response
Jen, I agree, you should spend more time with this story! I love how Jen has flipped the expectation by focusing her story on the secondary character, not the woman in the photo - how clever! Here Jen has given us just enough to intrigue us. These characters have rich lives and I would enjoy being immersed in their stories. When I read these back cover summaries from Jen I get so frustrated that I can’t just buy the book and start reading!
Jen’s Response
I got chills reading this! Tina promised a political thriller, but I was surprised and delighted by the degree of emotion she worked into just a few lines. Marta feels heartbreakingly real. How can we not root for a one-time idealist trying to carve out a small, satisfying life. Just the right situation for an author to throw into chaos when her past catches up with her. I’m rooting for Marta already and want to know how she’ll turn the tables on Diego once and for all.
Photo by Maksym Tymchyk 🇺🇦 on Unsplash