"Any creative writers here with time for story advice?"
I've actually asked for story help here before and received invaluable advice from people last time so hopefully people will be equally generous with their time and ideas.
I'm currently writing a book and there's a female character who's leaving her work place (where she works with the book's central character and is his potential love interest). She's told everyone she's leaving for a really cool job overseas but I want the story she's telling people to be a lie. What I can't think of is what the truth should be...
I've been through a long list of ideas like she has a child that she doesn't want anyone to know about, illness (which I haven't yet completely written out but am not too keen about using), I considered there being something about her family that she doesn't want shared(?), witness protection program (no, no)...
The book is a sorta crime/thriller so I guess it's welcome to be a little dark. I intend this to be three books in total and have completed the first (where she introduces the lie) and am in the planning stages of the second book where I need her to come clean basically.
2. "Depends on why she’s lying and how it ties into her overall arc. " In response to Reply # 0 Wed Jan-28-15 11:25 AM by Cold Truth
Ask yourself:
-Who am I lying to? -Why am I lying? -What type of person am I? -What’s the consequence if this lie is uncovered?
Then ask your character the same questions and factor the following:
If the lie is set to be exposed, then I assume there is some consequence.
If there’s a consequence, then there was a really good reason or excuse (depending on the character) for the lie.
If the lie is that she’s going to a cool job, is she trying to impress the people she’s lying to? Is she trying to throw someone some scent they’ve picked up on? Is she protecting someone?
My assumption is that he’s leaving and she wants a good reason to leave that won’t lead people toward what she’s really doing.
Thing is, without out a little more in the way of specifics there’s not much in the way of specifics I can offer as a suggestion. I can only offer a thought process to help lead you to your answer until then.
3. "Thanks for replies #1 and #2..." In response to Reply # 0
Just to provide a little bit of background: as I say, the first book is complete and the fact that she's lying about her reasons for leaving is only alluded to in book 1; book 2 has her reveal what the lie actually is, and then it can be further explored in book 3. She's by no means a central character - the story doesn't revolve around the relationship between the lead and her - and the lie actually only serves to develop *her* character as opposed to impacting the overall story. (Naturally, if the lie turns out to be an amazing thread, then it would lead on to impact book 3 way more than I thought it could.)
There's already been lots of great questions posed here so it's plenty for me to be thinking about, so thanks again for the replies!
7. "The pilgrimage is a fascinating idea..." In response to Reply # 5
So many possibilities stem from that - really interesting.
Poorly family member is interesting as well. Might be a good way to explore some of her family secrets and maybe reasons why she's the only one who can help them, etc.
Erm, if you have a couple more ideas I'd love to hear them?
9. "she has an alt origin story: " In response to Reply # 5
- finds out she was adopted
- or Knew she was adopted, but never that her adoptive family knew more than they let on about her birth family
- something (fill in the foreshadowing word) about her birth family or newly discovered blood relations
-- this one can really be used to move your book 2 and 3, as these newly discovered connections set up potential conflict w/ the main protagonist, his s.o., or the company.
-- e.g., they work at a law firm and the new found brother, cousin, aunt or whatever has evidence that the law firm was shady and everythng there is built on a lie. so you get a lie as a plot device exposing a much bigger lie.
and of COURSE she couldn't tell her job (especially if there was some ruthless ish afoot) that she's leaving to go look into a story that could threaten the very existence of the firm.
the above would work for tech (snowden ish, espionage, treason), law firms, really any number of companies.
and you could have a lot of fun with it.
you make it seem like a small thread.
and then tease a couple of updates of her connecting w/ long lost fam.
and then draw the connection in time to add suspense to the main plot.
that's my .02.
i'm pissed/upset/procrastinating now. this was a good respite.
========================================= I'm an advocate for working smarter, not harder. If you just focus on working hard you end up making someone else rich and not having much to show for it. (c) mad
16. "RE: if you use an idea presented here" In response to Reply # 11
Oh absolutely.
Alternatively, we could collude and when the book(s) become a giant success, the person could make public declarations about bits & pieces coming from them and then we could settle out of court. It's perfect exposure for both parties.
12. "someone posted anais nin's lovers obit yest" In response to Reply # 0
anais was living a double life with two husbands
so theres that
she could be a con artist (time to move on another day another sucker to fleece)
she could be joining a cult
~~~~ When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries. ~~~~ You cannot hate people for their own good.
she's reluctantly joining her family's thriving marijuana business in a weed-friendly state, doesn't want to but the money's too good, and she's worried her wonky family will get themselves in trouble without her level headed guidance
or
she's joining a fringe religious sect, or some type of "taboo" community
Being committed is kinda cool (within the context of the book I mean) - or maybe she was previously but feels compelled to move on because of it, or something like that? Hmm...
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