Writing on rails

“So you've never even read Pride and Prejudice?” The girl asked the man sitting across from her in the train compartment as the rolling hills of Germany passed by under a moonlit sky.

Her traveling companion shook his head. “Nein,” He replied in a quiet voice, his eyes focused on the pen and paper in his hands.

“That's a classic!” The girl stated in shock, her indignation revealing her Welsh accent. “So you've not read any romantic literature?”

“Ja, and what's more, everyone expects something good from me given that I am apparently gut with other areas.”

The Girl shook her head. “Well I'm no a writer, but maybe I can advise you, it's a long train till Berlin anyways.”

“Maybe I can have you write it?” He asked holding out his pencil. “I'll just translate to German, sounds gut Ja?”

“Not going to happen.” She replied with a laugh. “I'm not a writer remember?”

“Then what do you do?” He asked, setting down the paper.

“I don't know, I mean I work in a bakery but, my degree is um, I'm not sure.”

The man shrugged. “Well, not everyone knows what they'll do. But you better think about because otherwise, you're just wasting time in college for nothing.”

“Well, maybe you can help me think of an idea.”

The German nodded. “As soon as I write fifteen hundred words.”

“You're going to write all that in the trip?” She asked raising a dark eyebrow. “Well, you're going to be a boring coach mate then.”

“You're welcome to help me speed it up.”

The girl nodded. “Alright, what have you got?”

He flipped the paper showing a number of doodles on the paper and nothing else. “About three rockets und a German punching a Frenchman.”

“Don't consider a career in art.” She replied with a slight smile. “Well, where do you want to set it?”

The German shrugged. “A coffee shop? That sounds like something a romance novel would have?”

“Oh, you're hopeless.”

“What about a train?”

She nodded, “While you're at it, why not the eight O five to Berlin from Paris?”

“Write what you know?” The German replied with a grin. “Ah, the main character....” He started, taking back his papers. “He's a strong, handsome man, about six foot three, strong muscles.”

“So everything you're not?”

“Und he sits across from a Whale lady.” he replied with a smirk.

“The proper term is Welsh woman.” The woman replied frowning.

The man nodded. “Oh of course,” He stated with a smirk, making a show of erasing what he had pretended to write.

“Oh, I see what you did there, very funny.” She replied twisting her nose. “Do you want my help or not?”

“I think whether I want it or not is irrelevant since I need it.”

“Well for starters, the man should not imply the female is fat unless they're having a fight.”

The man nodded. “Ja, but what about a joke?”

The Welsh woman leaned forward. “That's something you shouldn't joke about, it never works, so unless you want him to sound like an idiot at flirting, or drive the woman away before they fall for each other.”

“Well, how do they fall for each other?”

The woman smiled, “Well usually the man see her as attractive, they chat a bit and then he asks her out or something.”

“And?”

“They talk and, it really depends on what type of romance.”

The German groaned. “So what about in a fifteen hundred word story?”

“Then, they just talk, and start feel attracted, he asks her out, they do something, they spend time, and do something sweet.”

“That sounds boring.”

“It's not!” The girl replied indignantly. “I wasn't done! You need some catch, it's not enough they just meet and act sappy.”

He nodded. “Ja, like any story. So, maybe a boyfriend?”

“An affair could work, or maybe a time limit, be creative. It's not much different than other stories.”

“What do you think about adding a few vampires?”

She glared. “You're the one who is supposed to be serious here, I can read my romantic book in my bag, which will be better than any romantic thing you'll write.”

The German held up his hands. “Sorry, please continue.”

“Well, think about the train, why do they meet? What are they doing?”

“I think they're reading and maybe there's a train crash....”

The girl held up her hands. “Why would you add a train crash?”

“Well, he saves her and then...”

“You can, but that seems like the focus would be on the crash and him being heroic and not their romance.”

The German sighed. “Well, what about after they know each other?”

“Better, but it doesn't seem like it would add much, you want to make the reader wonder if they'll get together, not if they'll live. It's romance, not drama.”
“Aren't they related?” He asked tilting his head. “Why not add it, make have drama that he's trying to save her?”

“Well, if your assignment allows you to, that's fine. But you said it was pure romance.”

“Ja, I got specific instructions on not adding anything interesting.”

She shook her head. “Relationships are interesting!” She insisted. “Maybe not to you though.”

“It's not that, just,” He paused as he thought. “Apples are gut, but Apple Strudel is better.”

“You're over thinking it!” She replied exasperated. “Yes it can work, and be the focus, but it doesn't need to be, it's romance, it can be as small and simple as two people sharing an evening or, talking.”

The German sighed. “Two people talking, how do you have an entire story about one conversation?”

“It doesn't have to be one conversation, maybe you can take a day each year and write about their lives on that day, or maybe the day they meet, or maybe you write about the politics of eighteenth-century England.”

“So, maybe I should just start writing? See what I can think of?”

She nodded, “Maybe if you thought about the characters, you can get in the mood. Are you good at descriptions?”

“I can be.”

“Describe me.” She stated sitting back. “But don't actually use me in your story, just describe me.”

He nodded. “Well, you're beautiful, you have nice hair, ummm,”

“Okay.” She interrupted. “Now describe me romantically, use flowing words.”

“Ja, okay fine.” He paused a moment and stared at her. “Your face is sculpted like that of an angel, the..... little brown spots.”

“freckles”

“Ja those, showing your proud Welsh heritage and highlighting your emerald eyes that glow with the passion and hidden strength. Your auburn hair is pulled into a.... whatever that is and frames the warm cheeks and bright lips.”

“See, not so hard.”

“Are you blushing?” The German asked, looking at his coach mate’s cheeks.

She shook her head. “No of course not. Now, write that in there, and do the same for the guy, but don't make him too perfect.”

“What you mean?”

“Well, don't make him look like a businessman, give him ruffled hair, maybe a little stubble, things like that, but not too hot though, believable.”

“Well, that seems subjective, anything else.”

“Make him American or English.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Why not German?”

“Well....” She hesitated. “People don't usually think Germans are so romantic.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Germans are stiff and humorless, not good romancers.”

“Not true!” He replied, offended.

She nodded. “Maybe you're right, I certainly don't think so, but that's the stereotype,”

“Maybe I should break it.”

“Good luck, I suppose no harm in trying, but I'd still suggest an America or English.”

He shook his head. “He's going to be German, charming a lovely English girl on the train, but how does it end? I suppose I write they meet, and have sappy dialog in the middle, but the ending?”

“Leave it ambiguous, let the audience think about, let them decide. So maybe at the end of the train ride, they agree to meet somewhere, or something like that, thinking of all the memories of each other. Will it last?”

“Does it?”

“That's for the imagination.”

His lip twisted slightly. “So no conclusion then? Shouldn't they have a happily ever after?”

“They can, but I prefer the story that lets the reader imagine their future.”

They were interrupted by the sounds of breaks and the feeling of the train slowing down.

“I suppose we are here?”

He nodded, “Ja, welcome to Berlin.” There was a moment's pause before he cleared his throat. “Do you want me to send you a copy of this when I'm done?”

“Are you asking for my address?”

He nodded and held out his pad and pen. “I'll mail you a copy and maybe you can get a laugh.”

She smiled and took the pad as the train came to a stop. “Maybe I'll see you around Berlin?”

He nodded. “I'd like that, can I at least walk you to your hotel?”