I’ve been having a rough time with my novel “The Best Revenge” It’s not because the plot is weak or my characters aren’t fully rendered, they are, but what’s missing is the heart. What makes this story really worth telling? I mean it’s interesting, exciting, yes, but what is really new about this? Why read this novel over any other. On my walk to school today I think I got a piece of the heart of this story.
Joe or Adam, I still haven’t decided what the name of my main character will ultimately be, maybe both Adam Joseph Collins, I think that might work. His name at work is Adam, but his friends call him Joe because his father’s name is Adam as well and as a kid he was called Joey or AJ I’ll work on that, but point of it is he hates his father. His father didn’t abuse him per se but he was awful. The conflict here is real because no one wants to admit they hate their father. When Joe is given Tim’s case he’s force to reexamine the relationship he’s had with his own father.
We don’t get to choose our parents. A lot of things in life we don’t get much choice in. When bad things happen we can prey for the best, but things will happen as they will. It’s how we choose to respond to those things that make us who we are. If we are weak, then we’ll have the response of a weak person. But what choice to we have about who we are? We may not have any, or we may have all the choice in the world, the point is that these things are not easy to answer. If they were life would be easy. Joe is going to learn to live with his feelings about his father on his deathbed. Tim is going to have to live with bad choices he’s made when he killed his father.
But there is hope. We can at time change who we are. Joe does just that. While a lot of things happen to him Joe makes the touch chokes against the better advice of his friends and collogues and takes on Tim’s case, thus really taking on his own case, and changing who he is. He doesn’t want to be a heartless bantered. He wants to care for people. He wants passion for what he does. He doesn’t want to have to drag himself to work each morning. But in his current situation there is little he can do to change his outlook. When the opportunity presents itself he takes hold and goes for the ride of his life; literally. That’s why it’s an interesting story. That’s what people want to read about.
Every action has to go through this premise. So Let’s simplify it:
“We don’t choose our life, but we can choose how we life it”
This is theme of “The Best Revenge” and it makes itself evident in every action the main characters undertake.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
"The Best Revenge"
Logline A young lawyer representing a child killer comes to terms with his troubled childhood.
Theme - Life is full of self deception. Joe deludes himself and everyone else that he is strait. Tim’s Family history of abuse is hidden from the community and even within the family it is unspoken, and reality of corporate criminals happens behind the scenes and even those commiting the crimes don’t see what they’re doing as something wrong
Players
Joe Collins – Protagonist
Timothy Sutton – Defendant
Thopolis Collins – Joe’s Father
Kevin Lamar – Joe’s Love interest
Lester Drake – District Attorney
Alma Jean Collins – Joe’s Mother
Daniel Collins – Joe’s Little Brother
Synopsis Joe Collins is a young ambitious attorney given a big case. He works for the criminal division of a large corporate law firm. The case is representing a major client of the firm. The CEO of the company is under investigation by a federal grand jury. Joe is at first astonished at the level of malfeasance and arrogance his client displays. Through interviews with his client Joe learns of many illegal activities that which his own firm in is involved. But Joe is convinced to overlook them by his boss and mentor Dr. Robert Callaway. Joe wants to be successful in the firm and is convinced that means keeping its secrets. Joe works out an underhanded deal with the US attorney to drop the investigation. Meanwhile Timothy Sutton kills his father in cold blood. Joe’s mother, Alma Jean Collins is a trying to keep, and Joe’s little bother Daniel Collins, out of trouble. Joe’s father, Theopolis Collins, is dying of Lung Cancer. After getting the settlement Joe is given some time off from work as a reward. Callaway suggests that Joe go home and visit his folks. Joe hasn’t been home since he left for collage eight years ago and it’s unclear why. Joe entertains a young woman at his penthouse apartment in celebration. Joe’s car breaks down on the side of the road. An old law school classmate, Kevin Lamar, come to his aid and help Joe change his tire. Kevin and Joe have a strangely intimate and strained relationship that suggests Joe may have sexually experimented with Kevin. He tells Joe he should take a Pro Bono case while he has time off. This conversation suggests Joe to be much more compassionate that he first appeared at the start of the story. It also reveals that Joe is living a lie. He might be gay living as a strait man and he acts as a cold dispassionate advocate when Joe is a very passionate loving person.
Joe goes to get a Pro Bono and is instantly dispised by the lawyers at legal aid. Joe is clearly out of his league to them and they want to knock him down a peg by giving him the worst case they have. Joe is given the case of Timothy Sutton a fourteen year old boy who killed his father. He arrages an interview with Tim and discovers a very compassionate and average boy. Joe can’t understand why Tim would have killed his father and Tim refuses to talk about it. Joe then gets some information about his friends and goes to them to find out more about Tim. Time has one friend who tells of afriendly guy who like to do charity work at his church. His friend is unaware of why Tim would kill his father, but suggests that his father was strict and he’d hit him a few time. Joe then goes to meet Joe’s mother she is very angry and hurt and doesn’t want to talk to Joe. Tim’s mother explains some of the history of Tim. How her divorce ripped their family apart, but in the mother’s eyes Tim is responceable and doesn’t think Tim was abused.
Theme - Life is full of self deception. Joe deludes himself and everyone else that he is strait. Tim’s Family history of abuse is hidden from the community and even within the family it is unspoken, and reality of corporate criminals happens behind the scenes and even those commiting the crimes don’t see what they’re doing as something wrong
Players
Joe Collins – Protagonist
Timothy Sutton – Defendant
Thopolis Collins – Joe’s Father
Kevin Lamar – Joe’s Love interest
Lester Drake – District Attorney
Alma Jean Collins – Joe’s Mother
Daniel Collins – Joe’s Little Brother
Synopsis Joe Collins is a young ambitious attorney given a big case. He works for the criminal division of a large corporate law firm. The case is representing a major client of the firm. The CEO of the company is under investigation by a federal grand jury. Joe is at first astonished at the level of malfeasance and arrogance his client displays. Through interviews with his client Joe learns of many illegal activities that which his own firm in is involved. But Joe is convinced to overlook them by his boss and mentor Dr. Robert Callaway. Joe wants to be successful in the firm and is convinced that means keeping its secrets. Joe works out an underhanded deal with the US attorney to drop the investigation. Meanwhile Timothy Sutton kills his father in cold blood. Joe’s mother, Alma Jean Collins is a trying to keep, and Joe’s little bother Daniel Collins, out of trouble. Joe’s father, Theopolis Collins, is dying of Lung Cancer. After getting the settlement Joe is given some time off from work as a reward. Callaway suggests that Joe go home and visit his folks. Joe hasn’t been home since he left for collage eight years ago and it’s unclear why. Joe entertains a young woman at his penthouse apartment in celebration. Joe’s car breaks down on the side of the road. An old law school classmate, Kevin Lamar, come to his aid and help Joe change his tire. Kevin and Joe have a strangely intimate and strained relationship that suggests Joe may have sexually experimented with Kevin. He tells Joe he should take a Pro Bono case while he has time off. This conversation suggests Joe to be much more compassionate that he first appeared at the start of the story. It also reveals that Joe is living a lie. He might be gay living as a strait man and he acts as a cold dispassionate advocate when Joe is a very passionate loving person.
Joe goes to get a Pro Bono and is instantly dispised by the lawyers at legal aid. Joe is clearly out of his league to them and they want to knock him down a peg by giving him the worst case they have. Joe is given the case of Timothy Sutton a fourteen year old boy who killed his father. He arrages an interview with Tim and discovers a very compassionate and average boy. Joe can’t understand why Tim would have killed his father and Tim refuses to talk about it. Joe then gets some information about his friends and goes to them to find out more about Tim. Time has one friend who tells of afriendly guy who like to do charity work at his church. His friend is unaware of why Tim would kill his father, but suggests that his father was strict and he’d hit him a few time. Joe then goes to meet Joe’s mother she is very angry and hurt and doesn’t want to talk to Joe. Tim’s mother explains some of the history of Tim. How her divorce ripped their family apart, but in the mother’s eyes Tim is responceable and doesn’t think Tim was abused.
Friday, June 17, 2005
"The Music of the Spheres"
• Brief Synopsis: A psychic young man is forced to learn how to use his powers to solve the murder of his father.
THE OVERALL CHARACTERS:
Name: Joe Collins
ID: Main Character
Gender: Male
Role: Psychic Detective
Name: Daniel
ID: Impact Character
Gender: Male
Role: City Commissioner
Patrick: Joe’s father
Joyce: Joe’s mother
Mitchell Livingston: Joe’s mentor
• Main Character Resolve as it relates to Steadfast:
Joe faces more difficulties than most people would normally be able to handle. But Joe not only survives them, he remains the idealistic justice-seeker he always was.
• Main Character Approach as it relates to Do-er:
Joe takes actions to solve problems causing him to be in greater and greater risk of failure. He doesn't contemplate much and gets to work to reach his goals. Sometimes this causes problems for Joe because he might have done better had he given more thought to his actions.
• Main Character Problem-Solving Style as it relates to Intuitive:
Joe approaches problems as whole. Rather than breaking a problem down into parts, Joe dives right in and tries to understand as much a possible and quickly a possible. He feels more than he thinks. His emotions guide his actions.
• Story Judgment as it relates to Bad:
Joe gets justice for his father's death, but is unsuccessful in his unobtainable goal of making the world a better place. He finds that while his powers can help, some things will never change. The blacked heard of killers will stay black. Molested children are scarred for life despite catching their abusers. In the end Joe doesn't believe he's brought much light to the darkness.
THE OVERALL STORY THROUGHLINE:
• Throughline as it relates to Situation:
The death of Joe's father makes him have to work his way though school. The Loss of Joe in the house Turn Joyce to take more interest in her student's well being. Mitchell needs Joe's skills to help his clients. Daniel couldn't run for State Senate with Patrick's knowledge of his criminal activities.
• Goal as it relates to The Past:
Justice
THE MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY THROUGHLINE:
• Throughline as it relates to Fixed Attitude:
Joe is a good man. Daniel is a bad man. Joe cares about his fellow man. Daniel does not. Joe and Daniel cannot be in harmony with each other because of the death of Patrick.
Joe Collins's THROUGHLINE:
• Role: Psychic Detective
• Throughline as it relates to Activity:
Joe gets a job after his father is killed. It's more work than he'd ever had to deal with. His powers of perception start growing because of the tragedies he encounters. He sees guilty men getting a slap on the wrist. He sees victims being sent to jail. He is forced to take a stand. He risks his job with the District Attorney and makes a choice that could mean disaster for his future. He realizes that his powers more important than his own life and dedicates himself to helping people. He finds himself working for a children's rights activist, Mitchell Livingston. He isn't paid anything, but uses his powers for justice.
• Concern as it relates to Understanding:
Joe's powers give him a view of the world vastly different than that of normal people. He needs to understand why he has his powers and what he can do with them. He has to learn about evil and how to combat it. He has to come to understand the meaning of Justice and learn to deal with the scarcity of it in a cold world. Joe has to understand what success is, and that it is not always counted in dollar amounts.
• Problem as it relates to Ability:
Joe has untapped psychic abilities. The positive side is that he can do a lot of good for people. He solves crimes and helps those in need. But Joe slowly realizes that his powers could be used to hurt people. Not all of Joe's desires are admirable and he has to learn to not to do things in a moment of weakness that he'll later regret.
• Solution as it relates to Desire:
Joe wants to make the world a better place. He is aware of injustice and wants desperately to help people. He does not see the world as bad, but is tempted to give in to cynicism. He remains a positive. However Joe runs into many obstacles. While his abilities are powerful, there is only so much he can do. And he find Daniel to be a formidable villain who's powers far exceed his own. Though he desires to defeat Daniel, he is not able.
• Unique Ability as it relates to Interpretation:
Interpretation of events is of how Joe resolves problems. Most people are looking for "how" or "who", Joe is looking for "why". He works with the case the police have already investigated using his powers. He makes connections based on interpretations or evidence the police or District Attorney couldn't make.
• Critical Flaw as it relates to Destiny:
Destiny plays a major thematic role for both Joe and Daniel. Both characters do what they must to achieve what they must do. Joe cannot ignore the suffering of abused children. His conscience cannot allow for injustice to stand. Daniel cannot allow Patrick to stand in the way of his ambition.
Daniel's THROUGHLINE:
• Role: City Commissioner
• Throughline as it relates to Manipulation:
Daniel hasn't become evil overnight. He learned it from seeing injustice around him. H slowly learned that the only person he should be looking out for is himself. When he reads the thoughts of other people it disgusts him. The lies and filthy thoughts turn Daniel to hate.
Miscellaneous Other Storytelling Items:
• Master Plot Synopsis:
Joe's father is killed forcing him to get a job working for the district attorney to pay his way though school. There his is put in situation where he can use his powers to help the young victims of crime, but is forced to help prosecute victims. Joe turns to Mitchell Livingston, a defense attorney and private investigator for a job knowing it will jeopardize his ultimate goal of going to college and getting out of the ghetto. He help resolve some very difficult cases. He meets the man who killed his father, only to learn that he's a very well connected city councilman running for the state senate. Joe uncovers the dirt on Daniel but is unable to convict him on his father's murder.
• Master Theme Synopsis:
The story is about justice. It is about how when things go wrong there is very little one can do to set them right. Joe discovers this horrible fact, but finds peace in doing what he can to help out those who need it. The bad guys may not get what they deserve, but Joe learns he make a difference for those they hurt.
• Master Character Synopsis:
Joe: a psychic young man, Mitch: Joe's mentor after his fathers death, Joyce; Joe's mother Daniel: The murderer and skilled psychic
THE OVERALL CHARACTERS:
Name: Joe Collins
ID: Main Character
Gender: Male
Role: Psychic Detective
Name: Daniel
ID: Impact Character
Gender: Male
Role: City Commissioner
Patrick: Joe’s father
Joyce: Joe’s mother
Mitchell Livingston: Joe’s mentor
• Main Character Resolve as it relates to Steadfast:
Joe faces more difficulties than most people would normally be able to handle. But Joe not only survives them, he remains the idealistic justice-seeker he always was.
• Main Character Approach as it relates to Do-er:
Joe takes actions to solve problems causing him to be in greater and greater risk of failure. He doesn't contemplate much and gets to work to reach his goals. Sometimes this causes problems for Joe because he might have done better had he given more thought to his actions.
• Main Character Problem-Solving Style as it relates to Intuitive:
Joe approaches problems as whole. Rather than breaking a problem down into parts, Joe dives right in and tries to understand as much a possible and quickly a possible. He feels more than he thinks. His emotions guide his actions.
• Story Judgment as it relates to Bad:
Joe gets justice for his father's death, but is unsuccessful in his unobtainable goal of making the world a better place. He finds that while his powers can help, some things will never change. The blacked heard of killers will stay black. Molested children are scarred for life despite catching their abusers. In the end Joe doesn't believe he's brought much light to the darkness.
THE OVERALL STORY THROUGHLINE:
• Throughline as it relates to Situation:
The death of Joe's father makes him have to work his way though school. The Loss of Joe in the house Turn Joyce to take more interest in her student's well being. Mitchell needs Joe's skills to help his clients. Daniel couldn't run for State Senate with Patrick's knowledge of his criminal activities.
• Goal as it relates to The Past:
Justice
THE MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY THROUGHLINE:
• Throughline as it relates to Fixed Attitude:
Joe is a good man. Daniel is a bad man. Joe cares about his fellow man. Daniel does not. Joe and Daniel cannot be in harmony with each other because of the death of Patrick.
Joe Collins's THROUGHLINE:
• Role: Psychic Detective
• Throughline as it relates to Activity:
Joe gets a job after his father is killed. It's more work than he'd ever had to deal with. His powers of perception start growing because of the tragedies he encounters. He sees guilty men getting a slap on the wrist. He sees victims being sent to jail. He is forced to take a stand. He risks his job with the District Attorney and makes a choice that could mean disaster for his future. He realizes that his powers more important than his own life and dedicates himself to helping people. He finds himself working for a children's rights activist, Mitchell Livingston. He isn't paid anything, but uses his powers for justice.
• Concern as it relates to Understanding:
Joe's powers give him a view of the world vastly different than that of normal people. He needs to understand why he has his powers and what he can do with them. He has to learn about evil and how to combat it. He has to come to understand the meaning of Justice and learn to deal with the scarcity of it in a cold world. Joe has to understand what success is, and that it is not always counted in dollar amounts.
• Problem as it relates to Ability:
Joe has untapped psychic abilities. The positive side is that he can do a lot of good for people. He solves crimes and helps those in need. But Joe slowly realizes that his powers could be used to hurt people. Not all of Joe's desires are admirable and he has to learn to not to do things in a moment of weakness that he'll later regret.
• Solution as it relates to Desire:
Joe wants to make the world a better place. He is aware of injustice and wants desperately to help people. He does not see the world as bad, but is tempted to give in to cynicism. He remains a positive. However Joe runs into many obstacles. While his abilities are powerful, there is only so much he can do. And he find Daniel to be a formidable villain who's powers far exceed his own. Though he desires to defeat Daniel, he is not able.
• Unique Ability as it relates to Interpretation:
Interpretation of events is of how Joe resolves problems. Most people are looking for "how" or "who", Joe is looking for "why". He works with the case the police have already investigated using his powers. He makes connections based on interpretations or evidence the police or District Attorney couldn't make.
• Critical Flaw as it relates to Destiny:
Destiny plays a major thematic role for both Joe and Daniel. Both characters do what they must to achieve what they must do. Joe cannot ignore the suffering of abused children. His conscience cannot allow for injustice to stand. Daniel cannot allow Patrick to stand in the way of his ambition.
Daniel's THROUGHLINE:
• Role: City Commissioner
• Throughline as it relates to Manipulation:
Daniel hasn't become evil overnight. He learned it from seeing injustice around him. H slowly learned that the only person he should be looking out for is himself. When he reads the thoughts of other people it disgusts him. The lies and filthy thoughts turn Daniel to hate.
Miscellaneous Other Storytelling Items:
• Master Plot Synopsis:
Joe's father is killed forcing him to get a job working for the district attorney to pay his way though school. There his is put in situation where he can use his powers to help the young victims of crime, but is forced to help prosecute victims. Joe turns to Mitchell Livingston, a defense attorney and private investigator for a job knowing it will jeopardize his ultimate goal of going to college and getting out of the ghetto. He help resolve some very difficult cases. He meets the man who killed his father, only to learn that he's a very well connected city councilman running for the state senate. Joe uncovers the dirt on Daniel but is unable to convict him on his father's murder.
• Master Theme Synopsis:
The story is about justice. It is about how when things go wrong there is very little one can do to set them right. Joe discovers this horrible fact, but finds peace in doing what he can to help out those who need it. The bad guys may not get what they deserve, but Joe learns he make a difference for those they hurt.
• Master Character Synopsis:
Joe: a psychic young man, Mitch: Joe's mentor after his fathers death, Joyce; Joe's mother Daniel: The murderer and skilled psychic
Sunday, June 12, 2005
"The Music of the Spheres"
A psychic young man is forced to learn how to use his powers to solve the murder of his father.
Character Synopsis:
Joe: a psychic young man, Mitch: Joe's mentor after his fathers death, Joyce; Joe's mother Daniel: The murderer and skilled psychic
Plot Synopsis: Joe's father is killed forcing him to get a job working for the district attorney to pay his way though school. There his is put in situation where he can use his powers to help the young victims of crime, but is forced to help prosecute victims. Joe turns to Mitchell Livingston, a defense attorney and private investigator for a job knowing it will jeopardize his ultimate goal of going to college and getting out of the ghetto. He help resolve some very difficult cases. He meets the man who killed his father, only to learn that he's a very well connected city councilman running for the state senate. Joe uncovers the dirt on Daniel but is unable to convict him on his father's murder.
Theme Synopsis: The story is about justice. It is about how when things go wrong there is very little one can do to set them right. Joe discovers this horrible fact, but finds peace in doing what he can to help out those who need it. The bad guys may not get what they deserve, but Joe learns he make a difference for those they hurt.
Overall Story Goal: Justice
Overall Story Throughline: Situation The death of Joe's father makes him have to work his way though school. The Loss of Joe in the house Turn Joyce to take more interest in her student's well being. Mitchell needs Joe's skills to help his clients. Daniel couldn't run for State Senate with Patrick's knowledge of his criminal activities.
Main Character Throughline: Activity Joe gets a job. His job is much more than he though he'd ever have to deal with. His job is illuminating his powers of perception. He is forced to take a stand with his job with the DA and make a choice that could mean disaster for his future, but he stands on principal. And when he has to choose to be murderer he chooses to be a good man and not stoop the level the Daniel took when he killed Joe's father.
Main vs. Impact Throughline: Fixed Attitude Joe is a good man. Daniel is a bad man. Joe cares about his fellow man. Daniel does not. Joe and Daniel cannot be in harmony with each other because of the death of Patrick.
Impact Character Throughline: Manipulation Daniel hasn't become evil overnight. He learned it from seeing injustice around him. H slowly learned that the only person he should be looking out for is himself. When he reads the thoughts of other people it disgusts him. The lies and filthy thoughts turn Daniel to hate.
Main Character Resolve: Steadfast
Main Character Judgment: Bad
Main Character Approach: Do-er Joe takes actions to solve problems causing him to be in greater and greater risk of failure.
Main Character Problem-Solving Style: Intuitive Intuition plays a large part in Joe's role as a detective. He has not special training or experience, but he can understand when someone is being untruthful. He sense when he should press further.
Overall Story Concern: The Past
Overall Story Outcome: Success
Overall Story Driver: Decision
Overall Story Limit: Timelock
Main vs. Impact Issue: Truth
Main Character Problem: Ability Joe's desire to fulfill his fathers wish of becoming a good man becomes a mission to keep wronged kids accused of murder from going to prison for the rest or their lives. Each action he takes seems only to make things worse cause him to jeopardize this college education and his father's dream.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Main Character Throughline: Activity Joe gets a job. His job is much more than he though he'd ever have to deal with. His job is illuminating his powers of perception. He is forced to take a stand with his job with the DA and make a choice that could mean disaster for his future, but he stands on principal. And when he has to choose to be murderer he chooses to be a good man and not stoop the level the Daniel took when he killed Joe's father.
Main Character Concern: Understanding Joe has to come to understand the meaning of Justice. It is not always the punishment of the guilty, but putting things back when injustice is inflicted on the innocent.
Main Character Problem: Ability Joe's desire to fulfill his fathers wish of becoming a good man becomes a mission to keep wronged kids accused of murder from going to prison for the rest or their lives. Each action he takes seems only to make things worse cause him to jeopardize this college education and his father's dream.
Main Character Solution: Desire Joe's desire for justice provides him with a headstrong guide for doing what is right. Ultimatly, Joe discovers that there is more than one way to become the man his father wants him to be, abandoning his values is not the way.
Main Character Approach: Do-erJoe takes actions to solve problems causing him to be in greater and greater risk of failure.
Main Character Problem-Solving Style: Intuitive Intuition plays a large part in Joe's role as a detective. He has not special training or experience, but he can understand when someone is being untruthful. He sense when he should press further.
Main Character Unique Ability: Interpretation Interpretation of given facts is a large part of how Joe resolves cases. He doesn't do most of the legwork. He works with the case the police have already investigated. He makes connection based on interpretations or evidence the police or DA couldn't make.
Character Synopsis:
Joe: a psychic young man, Mitch: Joe's mentor after his fathers death, Joyce; Joe's mother Daniel: The murderer and skilled psychic
Plot Synopsis: Joe's father is killed forcing him to get a job working for the district attorney to pay his way though school. There his is put in situation where he can use his powers to help the young victims of crime, but is forced to help prosecute victims. Joe turns to Mitchell Livingston, a defense attorney and private investigator for a job knowing it will jeopardize his ultimate goal of going to college and getting out of the ghetto. He help resolve some very difficult cases. He meets the man who killed his father, only to learn that he's a very well connected city councilman running for the state senate. Joe uncovers the dirt on Daniel but is unable to convict him on his father's murder.
Theme Synopsis: The story is about justice. It is about how when things go wrong there is very little one can do to set them right. Joe discovers this horrible fact, but finds peace in doing what he can to help out those who need it. The bad guys may not get what they deserve, but Joe learns he make a difference for those they hurt.
Overall Story Goal: Justice
Overall Story Throughline: Situation The death of Joe's father makes him have to work his way though school. The Loss of Joe in the house Turn Joyce to take more interest in her student's well being. Mitchell needs Joe's skills to help his clients. Daniel couldn't run for State Senate with Patrick's knowledge of his criminal activities.
Main Character Throughline: Activity Joe gets a job. His job is much more than he though he'd ever have to deal with. His job is illuminating his powers of perception. He is forced to take a stand with his job with the DA and make a choice that could mean disaster for his future, but he stands on principal. And when he has to choose to be murderer he chooses to be a good man and not stoop the level the Daniel took when he killed Joe's father.
Main vs. Impact Throughline: Fixed Attitude Joe is a good man. Daniel is a bad man. Joe cares about his fellow man. Daniel does not. Joe and Daniel cannot be in harmony with each other because of the death of Patrick.
Impact Character Throughline: Manipulation Daniel hasn't become evil overnight. He learned it from seeing injustice around him. H slowly learned that the only person he should be looking out for is himself. When he reads the thoughts of other people it disgusts him. The lies and filthy thoughts turn Daniel to hate.
Main Character Resolve: Steadfast
Main Character Judgment: Bad
Main Character Approach: Do-er Joe takes actions to solve problems causing him to be in greater and greater risk of failure.
Main Character Problem-Solving Style: Intuitive Intuition plays a large part in Joe's role as a detective. He has not special training or experience, but he can understand when someone is being untruthful. He sense when he should press further.
Overall Story Concern: The Past
Overall Story Outcome: Success
Overall Story Driver: Decision
Overall Story Limit: Timelock
Main vs. Impact Issue: Truth
Main Character Problem: Ability Joe's desire to fulfill his fathers wish of becoming a good man becomes a mission to keep wronged kids accused of murder from going to prison for the rest or their lives. Each action he takes seems only to make things worse cause him to jeopardize this college education and his father's dream.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Main Character Throughline: Activity Joe gets a job. His job is much more than he though he'd ever have to deal with. His job is illuminating his powers of perception. He is forced to take a stand with his job with the DA and make a choice that could mean disaster for his future, but he stands on principal. And when he has to choose to be murderer he chooses to be a good man and not stoop the level the Daniel took when he killed Joe's father.
Main Character Concern: Understanding Joe has to come to understand the meaning of Justice. It is not always the punishment of the guilty, but putting things back when injustice is inflicted on the innocent.
Main Character Problem: Ability Joe's desire to fulfill his fathers wish of becoming a good man becomes a mission to keep wronged kids accused of murder from going to prison for the rest or their lives. Each action he takes seems only to make things worse cause him to jeopardize this college education and his father's dream.
Main Character Solution: Desire Joe's desire for justice provides him with a headstrong guide for doing what is right. Ultimatly, Joe discovers that there is more than one way to become the man his father wants him to be, abandoning his values is not the way.
Main Character Approach: Do-erJoe takes actions to solve problems causing him to be in greater and greater risk of failure.
Main Character Problem-Solving Style: Intuitive Intuition plays a large part in Joe's role as a detective. He has not special training or experience, but he can understand when someone is being untruthful. He sense when he should press further.
Main Character Unique Ability: Interpretation Interpretation of given facts is a large part of how Joe resolves cases. He doesn't do most of the legwork. He works with the case the police have already investigated. He makes connection based on interpretations or evidence the police or DA couldn't make.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
“The Impotent ” (working title)
Horror/Thriller
A man who is losing his wife because of ED turns to murder to save his marriage.
Characters:
Protagonist: Travis Parker (working name)
Antagonist: Detective Yin
Other Players:
Travis’s wife
The Wife’s Friend
The Doctor
The Street Dealer
Two Police Officers
There Other Victims
Storyline
Act 1
Travis cannot get an erection and it is causing problems in his love life. In order for him to save his marriage he seeks treatment. When they fails to obtain the drugs he tries to buy them off the black market. During one illegal transaction Travis kills a dealer.
Act 2
He discovers that the killing worked better than the drugs. He goes home and makes love to his wife. He sees that this is starting to save his marriage. After considerable inner debate he resolves to kill again. His marriage seems to be saved when one day Travis finds his wife asking questions about where he’s been when he said he was at work and was found to have not been there. He discovers her snooping around his home office. Soon the police start asking questions about some of the murders he’s been committing. Travis starts to suspect that his wife might find out his murder spree. He starts reading her e-mail, and listening in on the phone when she’s talking to friends. He starts to suspect that she will go to the police. Travis finds a number on his wife’s cell phone to Detective Yin that implicates her in telling the police about her suspicions. Two peace officers come to arrest Travis. He kills them and escapes.
Act 3
The wife is notified of the police killings and goes into hiding. Travis goes to one of her wife’s friends and tortures her to get his wife’s whereabouts. He comes to kill her at her hideout. He manages to some people who where there to protect her, but fails to get to his wife before Detective Yin gets one non-fatal shot off on Travis. The Detective is waiting for backup when Travis explains to his wife that he’d done all of it for her. She reveals she did not turn him in. The wife then realizes that she cannot allow her husband to be sent to prison or worse be put to death. The wife kills Detective Yin and the two flee together.
Epilogue
Travis and his wife have moved to New York under a new identity. In the final scene Travis and his wife are depicted picking up a young girl and killing her together.
A man who is losing his wife because of ED turns to murder to save his marriage.
Characters:
Protagonist: Travis Parker (working name)
Antagonist: Detective Yin
Other Players:
Travis’s wife
The Wife’s Friend
The Doctor
The Street Dealer
Two Police Officers
There Other Victims
Storyline
Act 1
Travis cannot get an erection and it is causing problems in his love life. In order for him to save his marriage he seeks treatment. When they fails to obtain the drugs he tries to buy them off the black market. During one illegal transaction Travis kills a dealer.
Act 2
He discovers that the killing worked better than the drugs. He goes home and makes love to his wife. He sees that this is starting to save his marriage. After considerable inner debate he resolves to kill again. His marriage seems to be saved when one day Travis finds his wife asking questions about where he’s been when he said he was at work and was found to have not been there. He discovers her snooping around his home office. Soon the police start asking questions about some of the murders he’s been committing. Travis starts to suspect that his wife might find out his murder spree. He starts reading her e-mail, and listening in on the phone when she’s talking to friends. He starts to suspect that she will go to the police. Travis finds a number on his wife’s cell phone to Detective Yin that implicates her in telling the police about her suspicions. Two peace officers come to arrest Travis. He kills them and escapes.
Act 3
The wife is notified of the police killings and goes into hiding. Travis goes to one of her wife’s friends and tortures her to get his wife’s whereabouts. He comes to kill her at her hideout. He manages to some people who where there to protect her, but fails to get to his wife before Detective Yin gets one non-fatal shot off on Travis. The Detective is waiting for backup when Travis explains to his wife that he’d done all of it for her. She reveals she did not turn him in. The wife then realizes that she cannot allow her husband to be sent to prison or worse be put to death. The wife kills Detective Yin and the two flee together.
Epilogue
Travis and his wife have moved to New York under a new identity. In the final scene Travis and his wife are depicted picking up a young girl and killing her together.
Joe’s first major conflict
I’ve decided what Joe’s first major conflict will be. It will deal with his a series of events that lead the Patrick’s (Joe’s father) death. Joe has a part time job working at his father’s law firm. There is a case the Patrick lost some years ago. His client went to prison for 12 years. When he is released he starts to befriend Joe unknowing to his father. Joe has his first prophetic vision of the book when he sees his father being gunned down in the law firm. He tries to make himself fit in with man before he tries to take his revenge. Joe protects his father by talking the man down with the use of his powers. Before the first act climax Joe meets Detective Livingston because he is concerned for Joe’s safety Joe talks the man down from killing his father with the detective in the room. Mitch witnesses Joe’s abilities and understand his overwhelming capacity for justice that his new gift has. However just a few minutes later Patrick is gunned down by a drive by shooting. Detective Livingston is put in a coma, Joe escape with nearly a scratch.
Unknown to the reader at this point is that the drive by was called on by the antagonist, Daniel Sullivan. Daniel Sullivan has gifts much stronger than Joe’s and uses it cloud Joe’s mind from the truth. Daniel ordered the hit because he had a vision the Patrick would get in the way of his political ambitions. Mitch will later wake fro him coma to help Joe in the Third act.When he wake Mitch has abilities as well. It is set up to be a showdown of the minds.
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