A few years ago, I stepped into the unknown with Debdutta Pal.
After reading one of her stories, I responded with…
Her post had stirred me. It got me thinking about how, more than once in my life, I had literally fantasised about leaving it all behind. Disappearing and starting again in a completely different place.
A different name.
Different hair.
Different clothes.
A different attitude.
I never did it. And I can honestly say it wasn’t down to bravery. I have been courageous in my life — even if I do say so myself. It was more that I always felt I had too much to leave behind when push came to shove.
Things like how my mum would have been devastated if I’d gone poof and disappeared. That mattered to me.
Then my kids mattered. And a couple of friends too.
Still, the idea fascinated me — those who did it, who upped and left. The whys and the wherefores. The regrets. Were there any?
Whenever I imagined it over the years, though, the scenes in my head were set way back when — before our every move was tracked, like it is now. I pictured a time with no mobiles, hardly any surveillance cameras, and mostly cash. A time when disappearing felt possible.
But when I wrote the first part of Hope — a girl who leaves herself behind — I didn’t think to set it thirty years ago. So as Deb took the reins and we continued week by week, we had to tackle what it would really mean to disappear nowadays, with the whole world watching you.
I was — and still am — very proud of our serial. Particularly of how much story we managed to fit into each episode. Debdutta is the best spare writer I know. I’ve always relished creating stories with few words, so the two of us really did attempt to nail each episode — just 100 words each.
We’ve decided to share the serial - updated - free on Substack and would love you to follow along.
So you can get every episode in your inbox, even if you don’t subscribe to either of us, we’ll both be publishing with Collaborative Fiction. Subscribe to that magazine, and you’re done.
Follow Hope’s 2026 journey as she tries to find herself. We’ll also be adding our thoughts about the story as we go, and we’d love to hear what you think in the comments.
Join us — and Hope — and let’s have faith in 2026.
It all starts with Debdutta’s story - which will be published on her Susbstack - the one that inspired the whole series. Come back on the 30th December to read it and begin at the beginning. Then stay with us every Thursday to cheer Hope along.
Start here:
But what if I like being watched? 😆
Thursdays are about to become more colorful. Can't wait!
New Hope? Excellent news. I bet it would make a great film.😁