the problem with critics is that they vary very widely from each other. Such is confusing to the writer and leads them down a path of self-doubt and eventually they reach the forest of black despair. Such was the place that Susie was quickly approaching. The trees that had only been in the distance were now closing in around her. She could clearly hear the croaking of the crows and a rustling in the undergrowth and to make it worse the sky overhead was getting darker and darker. It was definitely going to rain and then she would be cold and wet as well as miserable and untalented. She had been working on an essay about the ghosts of Hamlet and somehow she had ended up here. To make it worse Susie was beginning to suspect that she might be lost and had an idea that night was coming on. The rustling in the undergrowth, what could that be? Squirrels, mice, rats. Until a moment ago she had rationally been interpreting the appearance of Hamlet’s father but now she was obsessing a little too much on the reality of spirits. How would she react if she were in a position like Hamlet? Was there any escape from this forest. She could feel panic rising in her throat. This was serious. She had to escape but there was no way back. Her words were becoming garbled and her argument was beginning to lose the run of itself. Why so negative? How so trapped? Delete, delete…too late.

Time to stop and take some deep breaths. Susie paused and closed her eyes but she could feel something moving in around her. There was something here. Was it real, or a spirit (or maybe the horror of her own inadequacy) Susie refused to open her eyes; she did not want to know. Now was the time for willpower…believing enough could make the thing go away. Gathering her strength around her like a shroud Susie partially opened one eye and quickly closed it again. There was something there, looking right at her. The face that was staring back at her was her own but the mouth was set harder and there was emptiness in the eyes that tried so hard to hold on to hers. This was the other Susie…the one she had nearly forgot about. This Susie was trapped in the forest by her a long time ago and it was only will power and determination that had managed to keep her there. This was the Susie that was trying to escape and she knew that one of them would have to stay in the forest and this time it would be forever. Our Susie, our heroine had faced up to this other Susie before and had won but she didn’t know that she would be able to do it again. Steeling herself for the fight she clenched her fists and opened her eyes in time to see ghost Susie walk away from her. She sighed with relief as she watched her retreat amongst the trees but her relief turned to horror as Susie Other turned and beckoned to her to come further into the forest. Unable to resist her self-destructive urges Susie slowly followed.