My first idea would be to continue the story I began about the policeman from exercise 54. My main character is the policeman, Wayne. The conflict would have to do with the struggle Wayne has with guilt over the death of his mother and the loss of his girlfriend as well as his divorce... which he can't really get over. Feelings of inadequacy. After the end of his relationship with JoAnne he will call his ex-wife. He wants to reconnect with her due to hes fear of ending up like his mother, alone. The resolution could be he gets back with JoAnne but first he may reconnect with his ex which will lead to Wayne discovering his flaws and how they are so similar to his mother's. Epiphany!
Second story idea. a man in his 50's lives in a hotel for men called the Cleveland. He's poor, has stuggled with addiction in the past and has thrown in the towel essentially. The conflict arises when his only child, a daughter enters into his life again... needing help. She is divorced and has a young son. She is lonely and asks the main character to live with them. Make a go of it together. The main character now faces the conflict of living in this comfort of little responsibiltiy or to get his life back together for the sake of this daughter he barely knows and the grandson he wishes to know better. Perhaps the daughter has a secret... that she is dying and is looking for a person to leave her son with. Maybe they move in together and deal with the stuggles that brings. I'm not sure.
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I am completely enthralled with the second idea. If you don't choose that as your story for this class, I definitely hope you do pursue it in the future - and keep in touch with me so I can read it!
ReplyDeleteI like the second idea better, as well.
ReplyDelete(Totally off subject here, but... Our oldest sons went to school together. Max actually came to Todd's birthday party a few years ago. You and your husband both came. Todd doesn't go to Handley anymore, but asked me to have you tell Max hi.)
You can see which way the consensus is going here! I'd say both ideas could yield rich stories -- Wayne's coming to terms with himself and his relationships with the women in his life is fascinating -- especially given the fact that he is being pushed to reflect on things that (a stereotype based on truth) men would rather not dig into -- feelings about his mother (and possibly his own role in her final condition) and how that relationship has shaped him, put him in his own current state of crisis.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Christine and Kristy that the second idea's worth exploring. The daughter's conflict would also be an interesting one to explore -- given her father's state, what's brought her to the point where she's even considering bringing him back into her life? One caution would be to be on the look out for "Hallmark" moments -- it's the kind of story that, if not handled carefully, could fall into made-for-tv patterns that could take away from the real story these characters have to tell. Be on the lookout for too-neat resolutions or tear-jerking moments of catharsis that haven't been earned!