The Musings of a Fanfic Writer

"I'm living for these updates. Like a modern Carrie Bradshaw."

I received this message from a friend I went to university with after I posted about a not so great date on my private Instagram story. And, she hasn't been the only one to say this.

A brief history, so you’re all caught up:

I became single in May after my fiance and partner of nine years sat me down on the bank holiday Friday and told me he was no longer in love with me.

Heart breaking, I know.

We had been together since we were 17 and had been engaged for a year and a half and suddenly, I was thrust into single life as an adult for the first time.

After a few weeks of wallowing, eating ice cream and, frankly, being very angry, I needed a little validation so I did what any normal 26 year old would do.

I joined Hinge... and Tinder.

I said I was normal, not smart!

Anyway, it was at this point I realised I had a type. 

My friends have described my type as ‘medium ugly’ men with a mullet and facial hair. When I started on the apps, this became evident. Man after man with a half decent haircut, a moustache and an easy smile would get a swipe in the right direction.

It wasn’t long before I went on my first date… I will go more into what happened with him in my next post, but let's just say the best thing I got out of it was the story.

Picture this. I’m getting coffee with my best guy friend, recounting the ins and outs of the night before. And then on Monday morning, I’m holding court with my colleagues in the staff kitchen.

Before long, I was dropping by desks before work and at lunch to give updates on my love life. It has become a routine and people are loving the drama.

Some of my friends wanted updates too, and after one particularly bad date (a review to come at a later point) I posted to my private Instagram story… Suddenly my inbox is full of messages asking what happened. 

It gave me an idea: curate my close friends list to include people I know would appreciate the updates (and most importantly not include any of my family) and give them what they wanted - almost live updates.

The first date I went on with this update schedule resulted in my friend’s comment and do you know what, Carrie and I are not too dissimilar.

Sure, there’s a six year age gap between us and I live in Manchester, England rather than New York City, USA… But she is a writer and so am I. She lives in a busy city on her own in an apartment that no one is really sure how she can afford and so do I. She has brilliant friends and, luckily, so do I.

She is also willing to do almost anything for the plot and so am I.