Chapter 1: How it all started

In 2013, my sister Lindy wrote me an email asking if I would like to co-write a story with her. We’d had a bit of a falling out, as sisters do from time to time, and I assumed this was her way of reconnecting. I loved the idea, so agreed. Lindy started it off and sent the first chapter that opened with a woman finding out she’s pregnant to her husband’s best friend. Juicy as. I sent back the second chapter overnight and checked my email every ten minutes the next day to see if she’d sent back the third chapter.

Nothing.

By the end of the day, still nothing. After dinner I sent her a text with a question mark and, ‘How long?’

‘What?’ she sent back.

‘Before you finish?’

‘Finish what?’

Jeebus. ‘The third chapter, of course! What else?’

‘Oh, that.’

She hadn’t written one single word. She’d been busy. She’d try and get to it soonish.

I waited impatiently for another week then broke. I rang my sister and asked her if I could write the third chapter.

‘Sure! Knock yourself out.’

Then I wrote chapter four and five and six. And so on.

 

(My sister has a slightly different memory of how events unfolded. After reading my recollection, she said: ‘Well actually, your controlling and demanding attitude was really off-putting. The fact that I couldn’t keep up with you was not due to lack of interest - it was largely because you just took over. Controlling as ever.’)

 

Aghhhh. Sisters huh? Brutal.

 

Anyway Lin, if you’re reading this, thank you for lighting the spark underneath me and your unwavering candour.

Kate Chladil

Writer of fiction and Blocklife blogger.

https://katechladil.com/
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Chapter 2: Do I have to be published to call myself a writer?