Featured Story of the Week: Buried Deep

Buried Deep is a wonderful original fiction by stars hollow.. In this week's Featured Story, we take a closer look at this work.

Give us a brief summary of Buried Deep.

Without giving too much away, Buried Deep is about two identical twins sisters. Spencer and Tristan used to be really close, but for reasons yet to be revealed, it's been two years since they last saw each other. When Spencer comes back to town, the lives of both girls are twisted upside down and secrets from their past resurface. Everything they thought was forgotten is being dragged back out and it puts a lot of strain on the girls, and their relationships with everyone in the town. The worst part of it all is that they have no idea who it is that knows all their secrets, making them powerless to stop the secrets coming out.

What inspired you to write Buried Deep?

I've always been interested in mystery, regardless of whether it's books, films, TV shows, or real life cases. Most of these mysteries often revolve around crimes, and that's originally how I planned for the story to go, but something changed during the planning. I intended for Tris and Spencer to be serial killers when I got the initial idea, but now I'm focusing more on relationships, and character. I always find myself captivated more by the human experience presented in literature than the plot-lines of the books I read, and that's something I'm trying to emulate here. So although there will be plenty of mystery, it's more about how secrets can effect people than the hunt for the secret-teller.

How long have you been working on this story?

I've been planning since January, actually. It wasn't a very thought-out idea, just the idea of a pair of identical twins who were also serial killers. Then, in March, I picked up the idea and my attitude towards the story changed. I've been planning as much as possible since I posted the first chapter almost three weeks ago, but I hadn't done much planning prior to that.

What is your favorite thing about writing Buried Deep?

My favourite thing about writing it, so far, is that I'm totally in love with the characters that I've created. I really enjoy trying to put across the feelings of unique, individual people because everyone reacts differently to things in life, and in the story. I also love that feeling after writing a chapter that I'm completely proud of. There's nothing like scanning over something that I created, and being totally content with it.

What is the most challenging thing about writing it?

Writing is generally a challenge for me. I get uncomfortable with my writing very quickly, and by the third or fourth chapter of a story I often find myself struggling to continue. I've only got three chapters written, and one chapter posted, but I've not experienced that yet. I hope I don't. Another challenge is the very thing that I love about it, writing different experiences and emotions is hard because I try not to let my personal feelings for the situations and characters come into play.

Have you ever experienced writer's block with this story? If so, how did you overcome it?

I pretty much have writer's block every time I sit down to write something. I don't stick to a schedule on here, as anyone who reads a few of my stories will know, because I tend to wait until ideas hit me before I write. When I know I should write, I end up procrastinating like crazy. I think for me, the best way to overcome writers block is to isolate myself, and have music in the background. It doesn't always work straight away.

Do you write with an outline, or just wing it?

I usually outline my chapters, just because it makes me feel more confident and relaxed before I sit down to write. The reality of outlining for me is that I know I won't stick to it. At all. I tend to keep outlines as short and concise as possible and the abandon them once I get into the flow of the chapter.

Do you have any pre/post writing rituals?

Other than creating the pretty pointless outline, I don't have any pre or post writing rituals.

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

Just a huge thank you. I know it's not the most original thing to say, but what else is there? I am not the kind of person to like much attention and fuss, but every time another person reads, recommends, or subscribes to my stuff it makes me absolutely ecstatic.

Special thanks to Maddi; and aubs for editing!