#ldntask9

[chloegraceinlondon-blog]

Dear Chloe, Love Chloe || Solo

Dear Chloe,

I’m

You are

We kind of

I know my life is

I know our life sometimes

In the future

Right now you’re most likely

I wonder what

You probably don’t know this but

So, in the future

.....

Hey there,

I’m writing this letter for the younger me. I know it’s impossible for you to read this, but I thought maybe it would help me get some of these thoughts out of my head. Recently, I’ve just been thinking about how innocent I used to be. I was so full of life and joy. I guess things looked pretty promising for me, didn’t they? Or they do, I guess. Since I’m writing this in present tense.

The thing is, life isn’t like a movie. Life isn’t all happy go lucky, and when it gets too bad or things look happy enough to suit you, it doesn’t just end right there. It keeps moving on, and you continue to find happiness, or sadness, or maybe a mixture of both, because it’s okay to have a balance. But it’s not okay to be stuck on sadness for too long. It really brings you down. I would know - or, we would know. Or, I know now. You probably don’t realize that yet. I don’t think I did.

I don’t know what’s happening to me lately. I seem to just panic out of nowhere. I think I may need to get some professional help, but I refuse to do that. Here's some advice: if you need help, get it. Because you do need to put yourself first sometimes, even though it's hard. And it's living hell to pretend you're fine when you know you're not.

Oh, and that's another thing. You're going to change. A lot. Right now, you don't like cursing and you don't let anyone's criticism get to you or mold you into someone you're not. That's all going to change. And so is your outlook on life. And it's going to suck. And you're going to try with everything you have to get back all of that, to become the girl you used to be again. But you know what? Maybe you can't. Maybe that's impossible. Life is full of twists and turns and changes and honestly, you're going to be okay. You are. You just have to learn to love yourself. And that's going to be harder than everything else. But once you do that, you'll be okay.

So stop thinking everything is your fault. Stop telling yourself that you break everything you touch, that you hurt every single person you get close to. Or that they'll hurt you. Because that's how the world works. Suck it up. And stop hiding from everyone just because you don't want them to know what a failure you are. Because guess what? You're not a failure. You're not. You just feel like you are. But you shouldn't. You've worked too hard and long to be a good actress, to be a good person. You can't just throw that away, even if it seems like the easiest option.

And I'm sorry for the tough love but you need it. At least it's love. That's better than nothing. Take what you can get. That's another thing. Take whatever you can get and be happy with it. Because you may be sad and you may hurt but there are people that have it worse than you and while you need to love yourself, you can't always put yourself first. Don't always think about what's going on in Chloe's life. Don't always talk about what Chloe's doing. Branch out and talk about other people. Talk to new people. Because you're going to learn that people will hurt you and it will be awful but in the long run, you're going to need friends. You're going to need someone you can come to and talk about your issues even at 3 am without making them mad. You're going to need people who will make you laugh and smile; really and truly smile, not just that fake smile you'll end up wearing for awhile.

I'm starting to learn that sometimes, what seems to matter isn't as important as it seems. And that can be a good thing. I'm realizing that things are going to happen to you, and how you react is just going to determine what else happens to you. I used to be so positive, nothing could bring me down. But it turns out years of negative comments chip away that tough exterior, and it's really hard to get back up. Still, though, I'm trying. And you better be trying to.

The thing is, I started writing this thinking about all of the advice I would give to thirteen year old me if I bumped into her on the street. But now that I'm thinking about it, I honestly doubt I would tell her anything else. Because she'd figure it out. She's brave. She's strong. And so am I. I may have changed, but I'm the same person underneath it all, when you get to the parts that actually mean something.

I'm going to be okay, you know. You're going to be okay. And in the end, that's all that matters. So just... don't give up. Don't give up on your friends and don't give up on your family. Don't give up on life and most importantly, don't give up on yourself. Because it may turn out to be worth it.

Love, Yourself.

Please love yourself.

[andylldn]

Something to Consider || Writing Task #9

Resting an elbow on the counter, coffee rapidly cooling beside him, he turned towards the back where the new you, horoscopes and letter pages could be found. He skimmed it all, but found himself repeatedly coming back to a tiny article at the side of the page, eyes settling on the title more than once. A letter to the past. It seemed like a silly idea really, yet upon finishing his coffee and making his way home, he found himself continuously considering what he would say to an earlier incarnation of himself. How far would he even go back? A year? Five? Fifteen? Teenage Andy and twenty-five years wasn't even something he wanted to think about. But as stupid as he found the idea, it stayed with him right until he opened the front door, and, upon slipping off his coat, he grabbed for the pen and notepad sitting on the table in the hall.

Within seconds he was scribbling away...

Dear Andrew,

It’s the summer of 2011 and today you met a whole host of people. New recruits; some that you'll grow close to, others you won't. I'm warning you, I wouldn't grow too attached though if I were you (which I am), only three of them will be sticking around. Scott - great guy, Emily - adorable, got a fantastic set of pipes on her, and Lauren... need I say more? You’ll be feeling guilty right about now, and I'm here to tell you that it’s okay. You don’t need to be ashamed, I know you noticed her, I was there remember. No, you’re not going through some sort of midlife crisis (you're only 37!), and no, neither it nor she are going to go away anytime soon. You’ll learn to live with it, as we all do when we have no other choice. You could quit, you’ll even consider it, but you won’t.

She’s going to become one of your closest friends, always there when you need her, one of those kinds of people. It seems hard to believe, I know, especially when you’re feeling as you are. But you’ll work through your frustrations by throwing a few ‘zombies’ around and before you know what’s happening, you’ll be where I am now. It’s January 2016 and things are... a lot different. You're not with Gael anymore and there's nothing wrong with that, you're still friends, you broke up for the kids - did the complete opposite to what most do. No one wants to be miserable, something you both realised around the same time. It's all amicable and there's absolutely nothing to worry about.

Like I said, don't feel guilty, go with it. You've done worse in your life than get a crush on a fellow cast member. This is nothing, a nothing that leads to something, don't fight it, it's really not worth the effort you'll try putting yourself through.

Life's for living, don't stop now!

From a hopefully slightly older and wiser you.

Lifting the pen from the pad of paper, he stared down at what he'd written, stifling a small laugh. He honestly didn't have a clue what he was doing, but daren't read it back, instead tore the page away and folded it up as small as it would go. He considered throwing it away for a moment, then changed his mind just as he was aiming for the dustbin, instead tucking it away beneath a box on the fireplace out of sight. It wouldn't hurt to hold onto to for now at least.

[emmawatsonldn]

Power & Control || LDNTask9

“If I do this one thing,” Emma said, eyeing this 'well-being coach' suspiciously. “You won't make me do anything else? I mean, you won't ask me for anything unless I ask you for help? Because, really, I don't see what the point in this whole thing is...” She could see the slump of his shoulders and knew that this was the exact answer she was expected to give. She was expected to refuse help and avoid taking part in any of the activities this strange man had come up with. They both were, she supposed.

“I can't make you do anything, Emma, but I really think this would be beneficial for you,” he replied, his voice far too calm and level for her liking. It was part of their training, she figured, to learn how to adopt that voice; the one that was supposed to sound calming and soothing but which set Emma's teeth on edge. It was so patronising. He was patronising. But never the less, she found herself shrugging her shoulders and giving in. She would try, if nothing else, and even if she only got a few words down, she would have participated which was more than could be said for Josh. Bob or Bill or whatever his name was could hardly make her do any more than the bare minimum. But, as she sat at the back of set, watching as they re-positioned props over and over for the next shot, she found herself, pen in hand, willing to actually take on this ridiculous task.

Dear Emma,

How am I supposed to address you? Me? Us? Whatever. I should call you Bob, since he's the only person that's going to read this, even if he says he won't...

Okay, so you're probably wondering what this is, right? A letter from the future seems sort of bogus and that's because it is. A letter can't change anything. If it could, I'm sure someone would have written Hitler a letter from fifty years in the future just letting him know what a huge douchebag he was being. Or maybe they could have sent Winston Churchill a letter telling him that Hitler was going to become a huge douchebag and that he should just shoot him on sight. You know why that didn't happen? Because, even if there was a way to get the letter to the past, if someone tells you they have a letter from themselves a few years down the line then they're probably already in or on their way to a mental hospital. But I'm digressing. ..

Chances are, you're sitting in your apartment back in the States and you're fully packed for London and it all seems some sort of big adventure. You think you've got everything planned out, right down to the last moment and you're so in control of how everything's going to go. You're going to come home and reconnect with all your old friends and do all-British projects and be the Nation's sweetheart.

Well you're not.

I'm really sorry to break it to you but I think if you'd had a better grip of things back then – a more realistic grip – then I wouldn't have gotten into such a mess. So here are a few things you need to know before you come to London.

You're not going to reconnect with all your old friends. Even the ones you considered your closest friends are a struggle. It's because you got good at something. You got good at pretending. In so many ways you became Hermione and Hermione became you. You were the 'good' one who always knew the right answers, be it in class or in life, and you were always the person who fixed things. That is the person they want. They don't want the girl who's only answer is, “I don't know.”

You're not going to do all-British projects either. In fact, once you finish filming Twisted Sister, you're going to hit a dry patch. You're going to get the offer of 'Little Women' but I don't think you should take that. Being dropped from a project you really wanted is a lot harder than saying no to it in the first place.

You're not going to be the Nation's sweetheart. That ship has long since sailed and the best you can hope for is that they say nothing at all about you.

You're going to do a few stupid things – most of them will be fun at the time and I know Bob wants me to tell you not to do them because I regret them...But I don't. I don't have time for regrets because if it wasn't for all of those stupid things, you wouldn't become me. God that sounds stuck up.

What I mean is; these things you do will seem like the worst things in the world at the time. You'll hurt a lot of people and I don't condone that at all – believe me, the nightmares and thoughts you'll have about how much you've hurt them will prove that to you when the time comes – but what these things do is they give you things to build on. These mistakes make you who you are because you build on them and you move on and you grow up. Or at least, you try.

That's all I ask of you, really, to try.

I don't know what else to say to you other than that, on the 13th of January, 2016 you are going to have more homicidal thoughts about a man named Bob than you could ever possibly imagine and I really want you to be good and not act on them. (Kidding, Bob! Sort of...)

But seriously, your time in London isn't going to be all fun and games and you're going to spend a lot of time crying and planning to go back to the States. But you can't. Even if you don't believe it and even if no one else believes it at the time, you're stronger than that and one day you'll see that. But for now, you're not in control and it will be a while yet before you know the real meaning of that word. But you will. Promise.

So, to summarise, you're going to suffer but you're going to be happy about it.

And yes, that was a Harry Potter reference. I know you don't want to hear them right now, that you want to “move on” from all of that but you can't. So suck it.

Love,

Emma.

PS. If you do want to change anything I've done, I'm only giving you permission to change two things: don't mess with Tom and Rupert. It's not nice. And look out for Josh. Don't let it get too far, okay?

PPS. Was that good enough, Bob?

With a laugh, she scrunched the letter up, shaking her head before throwing it in the bin and reaching for a new sheet of paper. A deviant smile crept onto her face as she wrote, folding the letter up into a small square when she was done, slipping it into her pocket with the intention of handing it to Bob next time she saw him.

Dear Emma,

Don't listen to men called Bob.

Love, Emma.

[aneurinbarnardinlondon-blog]

Writing Task 9 || Solo Para

Sitting in the cosy living room of his parents cottage, he saw his niece, scooped up into a warm hug from his mother, as his less that calm sister came carrying a load of bags a few steps behind the hyperactive toddler. Arising from the soft sofa, sagging slightly after years of good use, he placed his arms around his sister. " Everything alright" he spoke softly, looking over her tired sisters face. Lowering his frame down to his niece, he took her in for a warm hug, even thought he last time in which they met she had drawn across his walls. After the house had gotten quieter, as his parents had taken the energy filled girl out with the dogs , it was strange coming home, the family was almost together, only if just for a small number of days. Life in London was wild, totally different from the wide , sweeping lush green valleys sitting just outside the window, it felt as if he barley had time to take a breath. Reaching into his backpack, his fingers searched out for any old Biro pen and his small leather note book. Carefully opening the supple leather book, his fingertips skimmed over the crisp paper before he wrote:

  10th January 2014 - 4.57pm

Dear Aneurin,

Remember not to let this time flash you by, hopefully now you'll be very happily married to L, who knows maybe a family on the way. Remember to live while your young and even though you'll be older and wiser but let yourself go with the moment, never let yourself doubt what could happen or what could go wrong, life is no fun for anyone if you're being a grumpy old git.DON'T let go of your friends, they have been a family to you and, although things can go wrong, turn a world upside down, be their for them, because whatever you may think they''ll be loyal to you .Come back home more. London life may be fun and fast paced, but let yourself come home, while we're all together and happy... and before mum gets any worse. Coming home and letting yourself breath now and again will do you wonders... don't run yourself into the ground either!If you haven't already, you need to travel. You always said you were going to visit Jordan, pack up the wife ( and any little people :S) and go! Listen to that voice in your head and let yourself go with it... your old enough and ugly enough to get yourself out of trouble, and besides its not like L is going to let you get into trouble... its more likely to be Shakira Stevens or Allen sitting in the jail beside you.whatever you do, don't play L about, you love her and she loves you, hopefully your married to her, and if she has decided to stick with you, you bloody well stick with her because right now there's no-one you'd rather share you life with so don't pull any douche bag moves.

 Aneurin 

Tearing out the page, he got up and wondered over to the large grand, oak desk that belonged to his mother ,perched facing the rolling hills and small patches of forest speckled across the horizon. Taking a small red envelope, he carefully tucked the small letter inside. Sealing it he quickly scrawled his some basic instructions to open in five years time before hunting down an old childhood hiding place. Carefully opening the cupboard under the stairs, he reached in, fumbling for the small gap between the side of the stairs and the steps. Tucking the letter into the gap, he smiled to himself, waiting for the cold, January day in 2021 he would open the letter of his former life.  

[ajxjp]

Things I Wish I Would Have Known... || LDNTASK9

Dear 'past me' -

You're standing at the altar in Vegas, wearing a pair of jeans and getting ready to say "I do" for the second time, only this time, to a man twice your age. He thinks he's going to make it as a rock star and he will always put you second. Next year, you are going to adopt your first child. You want to make a family with this man but long-term, all he sees, all he will ever see, is him and his band and the open road. You're just a part of his mid-life crisis.

Though you're in love with him and some part of him might actually love you, too, he will not make you happy. He isn't your 'happily ever after' no matter how many nights you spend crying about it or wishing things would just work out. As soon as you bring that baby all the way back to the United States, he will get scared and he will blame it on the fact that he doesn't "think" he's cut out to be a father. He's just a learning lesson down a long line of many.

You father didn't approve of you marrying him or even dating him for a reason, and it might take you years to finally understand that but it's true. You only stayed with this guy because you didn't want to be alone and because your relationship with your dad was so bad at that point, you were willing to do anything to upset him. It will take time before you find yourself, but staying with someone out of revenge will not make you happy.

[miss-caraa-d]

Little Me || Writing Task #9

Well the magazine wanted to know what if i had the opportunity to send a letter from the future to my past self,what age would it be and what would i say so there you go....

Dear 19 - 10 year old Cara, you're still rocking the eyebrows and you're fucking busier than ever thankfully because in all your life that's all you've ever wanted to be, it was always about work and guess what kid you still got it. Whatever has happened or will happen in a very near future -and you can trust me i've lived through all - will all be worth it, yes you'll cry because the day you'll leave for NYC to go a live there someone who you love dearly will be gone the minute you land and you'll feel guilty and you'll cry a lot but your friends will be there to hold you up strong and you'll find she wrote you a letter as well -aren't you a lucky person,getting all them letters? -  to say how proud she was of you and Popps and Chloe and even Alex, you know how she got with Alex... but you get through it.

You'll get your heart broken, twice. The first you'll come to the conclusion that it was for the best, both of you were too young to be in that relationship and it wasn't the right moment but you'll remain really good friends, best friends actually but DON'T tell him you have cookies or you'll be going to clean up his flat, please save me the trouble! And the second? Well he was an ass that never deserved you in the first place and you were too naive to see you was using you to boost his career but no worries karma is going to bite him in the arse and set him straight for cheating on you. At the moment you're happy with someone else, there's going to be a few bumps on the road, and no you're not pregnant or married, thankfully, but you'll stand your ground and be true to your still weird self and dude we're still walking for VS! 

So enough of this mum talk and go out there, be you, be weird and have a fucking good time kid, mum and dad say they are quite proud of how far we've come so just go for it. 

[flippyfingers]

Letter || Rob (task 9)

So here it is, a letter to remind you what to do in the future for myself, to keep myself level headed, something to read from who i was and who i will become. 

I fucked up a lot in the past, i lost myself because i couldn't take what was thrown at me, my career was going down, i was beginning to have nothing, i lost the love of my life and everything fell apart. Now everything is right, everything is great, couldn't be better. I am engaged, going to be married this year, a little one coming the end of the year, i'm going to be a dad, now all i need to do is not fuck everything up, i have another chance, everything is going my way. So when you feel down and think that your life can't get harder, stop and think what you actually have, that little one and your wife is the most important thing now and who the people around you are to help you, don't mess up, be a dad for the kid whos about to be born and grab any oppotunity that you can, because you can do it and you can prove everyone wrong. Don't let the media take their cause to fuck your life, thats what they want, they don't know the real you and only the people what matter do, so keep your head up high and keep hold of everything you have. 

[celebrity-london-blog]

Welcome to our very first writing task of 2014! This year we plan to centre the writing tasks around character development and finding out who your character really is. This task is not so much a 'solo' based task but one that involves your character doing the writing.

Your task for the month is as follows: Your character has been asked to write a letter to themselves. This can be for a variety of reasons (examples are: by request of a therapist or as part of a New Year, New Me article in a magazine) but the letter must be written to either their past self or their future self.

Things to take into consideration are:

Who is the audience? No-one? Their therapist? The readers of a magazine? This will affect how honest your character is in the letter.

Is it to their past self or future self? Do they feel more of a need to warn their past self about what's to come or are they desperate to know the answers to any fears/questions they have?

How far in the past/future are they writing? Are they writing to warn of London or are they writing to themselves as a child? Are they writing to the person they will be in 2017 or 2046?

This can be as long or as short as you need it to be but you do have a full month to complete it. Remember, if you have multiple characters you need only fill the task once (although if you want to do it for each character, we certainly won't stop you!). Please tag your responses with ldntask9. Happy writing!