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| Lower Manhattan at late dusk. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Some might fantasize about going to Manhattan someday while many a writer fantasizes stories that take place in Manhattan. You name the genre, there is likely a story out there that uses Manhattan as the story setting.
In this post, Sydney Aaliyah Michelle fuels a bit of romance fantasy that came to her during her last trip to Manhattan. You writers out there will likely relate to Syd's methodology of coming up with the stories and maybe even relate to some of the stories themselves. Let's go to the borough of Manhattan with Sydney:
Why Manhattan?
Last summer I spent two weeks in
Manhattan. I’m no stranger to the city. I visited for the first time when I was
twelve years old. My father took my mom, brother and me on a business trip and
we fell in love, my brother more than the rest of us. He moved there after college
and never left.
Since then, besides the five and
1/2 years, I spent in China; I’ve been to NYC at least once a year every year.
In each of those visits, my primary goals were to get to know the city better,
try something new and find out if I could live in such a place that sparks my
sense of adventure.
Each section of Manhattan feels
like another world. The people carry around verbal and physical pride in which
every area they reside.
As I wandered the city, one story
idea after another popped into my head.
The tree lined streets with the
eclectic combination of homes, bars, and restaurants in The Village give a
unique backdrop for the diverse mix of people. I spent one afternoon sitting in
a coffee shop and eavesdropping on conversation around me.
I'm
a writer; I eavesdrop, get over it or don't sit next to me. :-)
Two guys sitting at a small round
table, one black and one white, one in a tailored business suit and the other
in baggy jeans and a hoodie (in the summer time). They aggressively discussed
the economy of several Caribbean Islands.
I imagined a couple falling in love
in the corner table but both of them holding on to a life-altering secret.
The sexy, muscular, tattooed
covered guy who ordered an espresso was my new hero. Tired of his meaningless
life, he was looking for someone to love and who would accept his love of hip-hop.
I took the train to Battery Park
and in my mind, created a world where behind those massive cement and glass
structures was a world of wanton adventures.
As I walked back to my hotel in Midtown,
I found a busy street corner; the perfect setting for a romantic first kiss.
I spent the afternoon strolling
through Central Park and sat on a bench and wrote the following passage:
He
wore a black hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans. He ran his left hand through his
shaggy brown hair before shoving it in his pocket. His other hand clutched a
white postcard covered in messy handwriting.
His
forehead wrinkled as he deciphered the message. He read as he shuffled down the
street, walking on the balls of his feet. As he passed in front of me, a breeze
of his scent assaulted my nose, and I let out a sigh and inhaled deeper.
He
stopped ... abruptly.
I
gasped.
We
locked eyes for five seconds. I counted.
Recognition
seeped into my brain; I knew him. He pulled his eyes away from mine and looked
back down the street, but he didn't move.
I
watched the pulse in his neck as his heart raced. Mine fought to catch up with
the thump, thump, thump. My gaze panned down as I took in his tight muscular
arms outlined under the sweatshirt that gathered at his waist and gave me an
unobstructed view of his backside; his profile made me blush. I continued
taking in his form but shuddered as he spoke.
"Excuse
me."
"I'm
sorry." We locked eyes again, and I didn't dare look away. "What was
that?"
"Is
this Manhattan?"
I
narrowed my eyes and wondered why he asked. I stood up, dusted the seat of my
pants, and walked toward him. He squared his shoulders and proceeded to stare
down at me as I approached. I’d underestimated his height as I glimpsed up and
bit my lip.
Not to say my adventures in
Manhattan only happen in my head. Far from it, in fact, no place on earth, in
my life, does my reality and fantasy collides like in Manhattan. It will always be my place for inspiration
and new beginnings each and every visit.
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle is a
contemporary romance writer, world traveler, voracious reader, movie quoter,
and tattoo lover who hails from Texas.
You can connect with Sydney online
at:
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Thank you Sydney for sharing your stories with us!
What places tend to fuel you imagination? Have you written any stories set in Manhattan? Do you ever get story ideas from listening to or watching strangers?
