Featured Story of the Week: The Pursuit of Sarah Alice

The Pursuit of Sarah Alice is an original fiction written by amaru shakur. In this week's Featured Story, we take a closer look at this wonderful romantic comedy!

Give us a brief summary of The Pursuit of Sarah Alice.

The Pursuit of Sarah Alice is the story of a girl with a pessimistic outlook on the world. The story shows how she quietly struggles with anorexia and bulimia as well as juggling a social life with people that initially she doesn't even like, and how, slowly, they weasel their way into her heart.

What inspired you to write The Pursuit of Sarah Alice?

I remember reading several stories with anorexic/bulimic girls, and I remember how the protagonist/tone of the story always looked and sounded the same to me - shy and naturally skinny, always avoiding human contact with lots of self-pitying, self-loathing and sadness. And while I'm in no way bashing that - because I know that people really feel this way every day - I figured that not every single person with an eating disorder could be like this. I wanted to break away from this stereotype; I chose a different route and did this through Sarah Alice's cynicism and anger paired with being pushed into a social world and having to deal with places she doesn't want to be and people she doesn't want to talk to.

How long have you been working on this story?

Several years! Way before I even considered posting it on Mibba. If I remember correctly, I'd say since the spring/summer of 2010. It's come a very long way since then.

What is your favorite thing about writing The Pursuit of Sarah Alice?

I love writing it because it's a great outlet for my anger and sadness or just whenever I'm feeling down, and I notice that when I write with my emotions as inspiration, the words comes out much better. I also enjoy the romance (which is slowly coming along!) between Sarah Alice and Link because I wouldn't say that it's very conventional; they weren't attracted to each other to begin with, and they're very sarcastic with one another and they irritate each other easily - strangely, this is a big way that they bond.

What is the most challenging thing about writing it?

There are a couple things. Obviously the EDs are very difficult to write about because it's a controversial topic and never taken lightly anyways. On top of that, I've never had one, and because of that I have to do my research, as well as put myself in Sarah Alice's place, and that's a very dark place to be. Sometimes I have to take a break and gather myself because of this; I'm pretty empathetic towards Sarah Alice in particular. I also try to be thorough while writing this, so my word count is usually five thousand per chapter, and sometimes this takes a while to write out.

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

Yeah, I get blocked a lot - several months at a time. To overcome it, I stopped trying to push myself to write and I would take breaks from the story. I would write random one-shots to distract myself, read books and find new music to listen to, and I also have a journal that I write my thoughts and memories in, and sometimes reading through that that can spark the inspiration in me.

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

I think I'm somewhere in between. I get an idea, play with it in my head for a couple days, then eventually I put it to paper and write a few chapters to see if I like where it's going. I never make a complete outline, though; I've tried before and the words never come out right when I plan ahead like that.

Do you have any pre/post writing rituals?

After I finish a chapter, I avoid that story for a few days to give myself time to bounce back. I've learned that I tend to burn out easily and I never want to push myself. Before I start a new chapter, I like to focus on first lines instead of thinking ahead to the rest of the chapter in fear that I'll rush it and ruin the flow. Baby steps.

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

If any of you are reading this, I love all of you! Whether you've commented/recommended or not, I still love you because you still read my story and get enjoyment from it, and for that I am forever grateful. I hope you'll continue to enjoy it even after I've finished it!

Special thanks to Fandango and sheepcat; for editing!