Well, Rachel just had this creative urge. She might have been inspired by the relationships around her, including her own past relationships. So she just sat down and started jotting down ideas for her romance novel.
I'm not sure specifically what the 'friends of rachel story' is without more context. It could be about Rachel's group of friends, perhaps their adventures, relationships, or something that happened among them.
She does write a romance novel. It seems to be a typical 'romance - type' story, but the show doesn't go into the nitty - gritty of the plot. Mostly we see Rachel's journey in writing it. For example, there are scenes where she's sitting at her table trying to come up with ideas, and her friends either encourage or tease her about it. So while we know she's writing one, the exact content of the novel remains somewhat of a mystery.
Yes, there are. Many fanfiction writers explore the deep bond between Rachel and Monica. For example, there could be stories where they support each other during tough times at work. Rachel might be having a hard time at her fashion job and Monica is there to cheer her up with her unique brand of tough love. These fanfictions often add new dimensions to their relationship.
Since I don't know the exact 'friends of rachel story', I can't say for sure. But it's likely Rachel herself is one of the main characters, and then her closest friends would be the others.
There could be a scenario where Rachel had a job - related issue during the Fourth of July. Maybe she had to work extra hours at Ralph Lauren and missed out on some of the fun with her friends. Or perhaps she met someone new at a Fourth of July event that led to some interesting interactions in later episodes. But this is all just guessing as the details are a bit hazy.
It's possible that Rachel's friends in Europe had a story centered around a particular event. Say, they all went to a music festival in Spain. There, they danced to the lively music, made new friends, and had a wild time exploring the local nightlife. And throughout their time in Europe, they created memories that would last a lifetime.
Friendship is a very common theme. Writers often explore how they support each other through different life stages. Another theme could be their shared living experiences, like the time they spent as roommates.