Helping a friend write a novel - Writers Forum

StephenP2003 · 08-03-2006, 03:42 PM

A fellow English major friend has been working on the outline for a novel, an action/thriller.

He wanted me to help him keep the plot clear and organized. The first thing he sent me was a short synopsis (more an intro like you would read on the back of a novel.)

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Nicolas Legard liked to make money with his brains, so much that he would go along with pretty much any scheme, as long as the profits were high. So, when Nicolas’ best friend, Lewis Brooks, brings him into the world of scamming by taking dives in illegal underground fighting, he can’t help but feed his curiosity.

Nicolas agrees to help a group of amateurs make big bucks in an easy scheme, but when they find themselves high and dry in a foreign country after a match gone wrong, Nicolas tries to prevent himself from getting caught in the path to revenge.

Murder, kidnapping, and betrayal follow what seemed like a simple scam, and the longer Nicolas tries to dig his way out of it, the deeper he slips. Nicolas must come to terms with what he really wants and make the decision to do what’s right.
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Personally, I like the idea, but I am seeing some issues with what the book will really be about. From what he says, the book will be in first person about this guy (Nicolas) getting caught up in an overseas scam of underground fighting and taking dives to make quick money.

I guess he wants the character to get deeper and deeper by having to commit more crimes to get out of the trouble they are in to begin with. I figure the plot is simple enough for a first novel, but I was telling him that his synopsis needs some work. It seems vague, and perhaps something people wouldn't want to pick up off the shelf.

I've never written a novel, and I won't be writing this one either, but I am trying to give him some tips, though I feel a little out of league from lack of experience.

Thoughts on the plot synopsis?

rowlam2 · 08-03-2006, 03:59 PM

It sounds like a good plot to me, definatly something I would read. I think you could evolve the plot by giving Nicolas Legard a family that is eventually kidnapped or murdered to give him a motive to comit another crime.

Ignore my spelling; I've never been able to do it.

StephenP2003 · 08-03-2006, 04:14 PM

I also suggested that the point where they lose their money in the scam should be caused by Nicolas, which gives him more of a reason to feel like he has to stay in it. Maybe a love interest who was along for the ride gets kidnapped after an accidental murder... I don't know. I've been throwing ideas at him so he can round out the plot.

imrhati · 08-03-2006, 05:01 PM

is this hsi first novel, has he worked on shorter thigns before? if he doesn;t have much experience the synopsis is the least of hsi worries. maybe tell him just to get a start on it for now.

StephenP2003 · 08-03-2006, 05:10 PM

This is his first novel. He writes short stories, one might have been published in a campus lit magazine. I do believe he has part of an outline done, but he just sent me a synopsis. I think his biggest worry is whether the concept seems like it would be worth writing, and more importantly, worth reading.

He's doing it the outline way. He's afraid he might quit halfway through if he doesn't have a solid plot mapped out beforehand.

cacafire · 08-03-2006, 05:28 PM

I am sick of reading half-baked action thrillers that all end the same.

Personally, I wouldn't pick this up with a ten foot pole(That's almost impossible to do, by the way), simply because it sounds like something I've read way to much before...
...
...
But, hey, whatever curls your noodle.

-Cacafire

StephenP2003 · 08-03-2006, 05:40 PM

Good point. What do you consider to be a typical ending to something like this? Maybe I can help him come up with something unique.

I agree that he needs to work on how he will present it, because it sounds pretty cliche, like "Look what happens when (character) has to decide between (insert scenario that represents good and bad)."

I think if he did it well, it could be marketable. He just needs to come up with a better way of explaining it.

Mike C · 08-04-2006, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StephenP2003

He just needs to come up with a better way of explaining it.

Duh. That's the bit where 'being a writer' really scores. I don't think he needs your help writing the novel - sounds more like the blind leading the blind.

StephenP2003 · 08-04-2006, 01:04 PM

Maybe so, but everyone has to start somewhere. He's more of the creative type, whereas I am more technical. We both know how to write, obviously, but he is attempting something pretty difficult (something I doubt I will ever do unless it's a book about the battle of broadband between telephone companies and cable companies).

He wanted me to help him get a logical plot. He'll be doing the writing, but not until we lock his ideas into something that works together. Personally, I think he's too ADD to finish it, but I'd also like to see him prove me wrong. But before he writes it, we would like to see if the concept (though vague as it may be) would be something worth reading. Hence, the final line in my first post.

Clearly it's not so much the blind leading the blind -- more like the blind leading the deaf, or a body trying to find its head.

imrhati · 08-04-2006, 01:35 PM

from what you two have said you may make a good team, ask him if he would consider co-authoring?

StephenP2003 · 08-05-2006, 05:40 PM

He's already having doubts about the novel. I, on the hand, spent the entire day from morning to evening yesterday planning out the plot, since I figured I might end up writing it or some variation of it (with his written permission of course).

Then my hard drive crashed.

Yeah, life sucks.

rowlam2 · 08-06-2006, 07:42 AM

You said that the novel contain a love interest. What about making the love interest the wife/girlfriend of the boss, it make it more interesting.