Invisible

I wrote the other day about a new story which has bubbled to the surface of my busy writer’s mind. It was triggered by seeing someone I recognized out and about in town, but it was someone who wouldn’t know me, someone who works in a shop which I go into sometimes. I have no real thoughts or feelings about this person, apart from the fact that whenever I come into contact, paying for something, enquiring about something, they are always pleasant and friendly. However, supposing someone in this situation, begins to develop other feelings – irrational feelings because they don’t really ‘know’ the person!

A person, not sure whether it will be a man or a woman,  has a secret ‘admirer’… and again not sure whether the secret admire will be a man or a woman. Nothing at all happens until one day, the admirer sees the object of their interest out of their usual context… and follows him or her. What will happen after that I have no idea. Will the admirer see something compromising, dangerous or criminal? Will the admirer just find out where the admiree lives, or where their children go to school or where their partner works? I cannot tell, but this will probably develop as I write, and plan and write.

This was not the only idea which came to me; supposing I conceal from the reader who the admirer/stalker is? Supposing there is a group of friends and one of the group is the admirer/stalker but I write it in such a way that it could be any one of several of the group, and only towards the end reveal the truth… Should the stalker be innocent or malign? Should the stalker remain a passive observer of the ‘victim’s’ life or should he or she become involved in some way… and should the involvement be helpful and kind or dangerous and sinister? Should the admirer’s originally innocent interest in an attractive other remain just a kindly and slightly silly secret fantasy, or should it develop into something not so innocent? Which would be more original and unexpected? Which would intrigue the reader more? Which would lead to the best and most satisfactory conclusion of the story?

A title has come to me ‘Invisible’, and I am beginning to wonder if instead of being an innocent ‘stalking’ supposing it is something a little more unpleasant; supposing the stalker is someone in everyday life would pass down a street and not be noticed. It was a thought which has come to me about myself – and I hasten to add I’m not stalking anyone! – but since I have become an older woman, somehow I have become invisible, people passing by just don’t notice me, because there is nothing special or remarkable about me. I have friends my age who are tall and striking looking, or really fashion-conscious and always wear interesting clothes and are beautifully made up with their hair designed into a wonderful style, or friends who have such an effervescent personality that yes, they are noticed, but I am just really ordinary. It’s always been a bit like that for me, except when I engage with people and get to know people and then I think my personality begins to show! even so, I’m still really ordinary!

So the follower/stalker is invisible… but supposing in reality the stalked/followed person is too? Supposing s/he would never believe that anyone would be interested in them in that way because they too are ordinary? Might this make it easier for the follower to follow? certainly the friends of the stalker would find it difficult to believe, partly because their friend is so ‘ordinary’ and partly because they can’t see what’s so intriguing, special, different or attractive about the victim?

I haven’t finished the novel I’m writing, the latest in my Radwinter series, but already something else is writing itself in my head!

If you haven’t read any of my ebooks, you can follow the link for them including my Radwinter stories, here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lois+elsden