Phoebe Wheeler

Phoebe Wheeler, originally ‘P’, is the main character featured in Untitled Thoughts. She is a character writer, a recently published novelist, and the name behind best-selling novel ‘Caffeine & Changes’. Her novel follows Vinny Dupree, a young café worker. Phoebe was drawn to the character of Vinny when first developing her novel because of the similarities she sees in Vinny – a ‘meek, mild soul’ and ‘desperate loner’, as described by Phoebe herself. Phoebe threw herself into this novel, and when published, was over the moon at the reception and the resulting book tour, around 8 stops around the UK, in small local book stores. The readings were packed, and the signing line wrapped around the corner at every stop. To Phoebe, it felt like it would last forever.
Still enthralled by her recent book tour, Phoebe is brought crashing back to reality, with emails flooding her inbox as soon as she returns, already enquiring about her next novel’s progress. This crushing wave of questions takes her away from the celebration she craved, that she felt she deserved to remain in for a little while longer. It is now clear to her that this is no longer an option – she is being chased for, pushed towards her next masterpiece. Phoebe is sent into a loop of her own questions – what should come next? Which character should be the focus? What are their most important stories to tell?
Now facing Writer’s Block, Phoebe is unsure where to go next, her next release date looming already, whilst she is left empty and yet utterly conflicted. This is where the events of Untitled Thoughts takes place, the exploration of this time in her career, being launched back into the hard work, cutting her off from the enjoyment and celebration she felt she deserved more of. Her characters are the focus of the action, exploring her character pages to determine who should be her next focus. She takes the time to play, explore each character she has, becoming each and exploring the inner battle these characters are having in her mind.
We are allowed into her world to witness it all; her feelings towards the already looming concept of her next novel, the journey of exploration her writing process now takes her on, and the overall rollercoaster of emotions she faces during this short period of time.

After all, the hit of reality and the wave of writer’s block isn’t the nicest combination, is it…

P(hoebe) was developed during a time when I really started to struggle with Writer’s Block, and needed to create something for my ‘Writing for Solo Performance’ unit. I felt and still feel a real connection to P, as she mirrors my journey I took throughout 2023 and into 2024, trying to battle my own block and be able to produce the work required to progress through my BA course. I felt a real connection to P during the original development and performance of Untitled Thoughts – aptly named due to my lack of creativity during this time – these were my untitled thoughts during this unit. The piece, and it's characters, are close to my heart, as without learning to utilise my own obstacles, I would never have made it to this point, finishing my course. Although I can see a path of editing and developing the piece, concept and characters, this edit holds the essence of who I am as a writer – my untitled thoughts drive me to better understand myself and my work, and I am so pleased it has resurfaced to mark the end of my educational journey.