The challenge

Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.

I only made one lasting friend at uni. Over the years she has been my main sounding board for story ideas. And I hers. She writes slice of life fiction. I write magical realism and fantasy with a character focus or slice of life slant. Her writing is more focused on the positive. Mine can take much darker turns.

Still we appreciate and enjoy each others styles. We encourage and do our best to help the other grow. Which is why, several years ago now, she issued me with a challenge.

As a wheelchair user, she wanted to see a fantasy story with a wheelchair user as the lead. But the wheelchair user had to be a mother of two, and have psychic powers of some kind. This was her challenge to me. And, even though I was nearing the end of another project, within 24 hours I had the protagonist pictured and the bones of a story in mind.

Echoe.

For me getting the chance to stretch my creative muscles is always a positive thing. But my challenge went beyond the basic parameters my friend had set me. I wanted the world it was set it to be that of fairytale creatures. I wanted the plot to have a mystery, a genre I don’t usually write in. I wanted the story to remain character focused, with the mystery driving my protagonist forward.

Did I succeed? Well my friend certainly enjoyed the story, and it was written for her. So that’s the only success it really needs. But for those who are curious, you could always have a read.