I’m Trying To Write My Own Novel And I Need Some Advice…?
I’m in high school and I’m trying to write my own story… Btw it’s supposed to be a Science Fiction story and it’s supposed to be kind of dark…
One of the central figures in the story is a little girl, about 7 years old, with long, blond hair and blue eyes. She is supposed to a precious person to my main character, who’s a 16 year old boy, who acts as a sort of adoptive big brother to her.
First off, I have to be honest about my concept of the girl: She’s supposed to be based off the late child actress Heather O’Rourke:
http://heatherorourke.net/site/
who starred in the Poltergeist film series and passed away in 1988 at age 12. I primarily based my character on her. They have similar personalities and looks, but they’re stories are pretty different…
Second, the little girl in my story is supposed to play the role of the ‘Chosen One’ in my story… She’s supposed to have an inevitable destiny written out before her, that she (apparently) must fulfill, whether she wishes to or not. She’s supposed to be seen as a Messiah to certain characters in the story… They expect her to lead them to a certain enlightenment or salvation, even if it’s against her own will… She’s supposed to be used as a sacrifice in order to benefit others. This is supposed to lead to the conflict in the story, as the main character struggles to protect her from this fate.
So, here are my main questions:
1.) Is it distasteful that I’m really basing most of the characteristics of my character off a deceased child actor? I do not wish to offend anyone.. I am a fan off Heather’s work.
2.) Is there anything wrong with my character serving a Messiah like role in the story? Again, I don’t wish to offend anyone…
3.) Lastly, the relationship between the main character and the girl is supposed to be the strongest bond in the story… They’re supposed to live in a harsh environment and that is supposed to have affected their state of mind (mainly the boys…)
To the main ‘hero’ of my book, he cares about the girl more than anyone else in the world. He loves her and struggles to keep her safe throughout the story. He sees her as his light in the dark world he inhabits, his only reason for living… While their relationship is supposed to be nonsexual, he is supposed to be almost obsessed with this girl, infatuated with her…
This is supposed to be because he believes she is the only person who truly loves or cares about him and if he failed to save her, he would have no reason to continue living… He believes his existence without her would be meaningless.
What do you think of this?
4.) Also, from the girls perspective, how should she view the main character? I typically see her as playing a “cute little sister” sort of role around him… But, from a child’s state of mind, I think she should believe herself to be in love with him.
RushingG
28 Jan, 2010
If there was, I assure that there would be very few good characters in stories today. Writers based their characters of SOMETHING, dead or alive. Einsteins dead. So’s Lincoln. Hell, alot of people are dead, and it hasn’t stopped them from basing their characters off them.
2. The messiah role is probably one of the most used role out their. Its old as dirt, and most if not all cultures have stories about the messiah. If anyone accuses you that having a messiah in your story is wrong because Christ is the messiah, then that person has been in their closet too long.
Like a previous comment said, its impossible to offend no one. There are six billion on this planet. I guarantee you at least ONE will be offended (just to prove it, I’ll eat my leg it there isn’t.)
3. The relationship you described is a pretty common one in stories, love and not. Theres no problem with it, but I suggest you give a personal spin on it.
4. Not sure how to answer this one. You’ll have to figure that one on your own.
Good luck.
Bookworm
28 Jan, 2010
You can’t go through life never offending anyone. In fact, some of the best things in life offend people.
That said:
1. Not distasteful. Just don’t name her Heather or any name the little actress went by in any of her work.
2. Nothing wrong with a Messiah character. Christians will think you’re wrong, but we won’t be offended. We don’t offend easily – it’s unbiblical
3. Great idea. Do you think you can carry it out? From your writing of this question, I’m thinking you’ll do a fine job!
4. Keep the love out of it. She acts the little sis, but inside her, she’s strong, with a protectiveness of him. This shouldn’t show up to soon, but should be hinted at in small ways. She is, after all, the strongest of the two. At the end, he can fall for her, yet be confused about it, because he actually respects her so much – she is the Messiah, after all – so he’s not sure it’s so much a romantic love, probably just his platonic love and strong respect and such. She wouldn’t fall in love. A Messiah would be too busy – too dedicated to the work of being a Messiah – for that
This sounds like a GREAT story. You’d better let us know when it’s published. I mean it!
johngree
29 Jan, 2010
You lay out a very compelling story line, and I think you have a good foundation to start with on your novel.
I do not think anyone would be offended by the idea of a girl as a messiah. You are writing in the realm of science fiction, which is a place that has its own rules and laws: the ones that have been established by you, the writer. I also do not think there is anything wrong with having a basis for the formation of your character (in this case, Heather O’Rourke). I think many people were fascinated by this young and talented girl; and her death at such a young age was heartbreaking. However, you may want to consider how far the inspiration goes. In other words, are you trying to re-create her (to the point that you’d need to ‘tell your reader’ that she is a reincarnation of Heather O’Rourke), or is she just the image you have in your mind? If it’s the latter case, I’d not worry about it. We’re all influenced by many different things, and they all have equal weight to us.
The relationship between the ‘protective boy’ (hero) and the girl (protagonist) is interesting but lacks some substance. It may just be how you’ve described it. Why is he so devoted to her? Why will she be the way to salvation to him? If he is so obsessed with her, would he be drawn to do things for her that go against his own idea of right and wrong? I think it would be very intriguing if the hero were to have his own conflicts – in other words, perhaps his own devotion blinds him to his need to protect her?
And lastly, as to the relationship between the girl and the boy – this is probably the most challenging. Yes, I think it makes sense that she’d be a ‘younger sister’ to the boy, but also, she IS the messiah to other people, whether she likes it or not… this does put her in a different place than the boy. Perhaps part of her tragic flaws as a character could come from the fact that she doesn’t know how to handle this power. Perhaps she would look to the boy to help her understand it.
Best of luck to you.