Plot Concept - Demon Virus - Page 2 - Writers Forum

Dawnstorm · 10-09-2006, 07:43 PM

From a science fictional perspective, how do you possess a virus?

I mean a virus might be viewed as the model of how "possession" works in the first place. (Imagine your brains a computer, and someone - say a demon - smuggles in information that slowly re-wires your synapses...).

A virus is just information. It's not real until it runs. There's nothing to possess. I can see a demon using a virus to possess an AI-run computer, for example. But I have no idea how to imagine a demon possessing a virus.

A question to programmers out there: Is it possible to write a virus that infects/modifies a virus? (My head starts spinning...)

Krim · 10-09-2006, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Until the character is written and developed, of course they will seem done and cliche. It isn't until they have a chance to come alive that their true depth is realized.

Hence my warning that they are cliche characters you'd expect to see. I'm aware you can't tell much about the character until it's written, I'm telling him he has to do it good or they're bland cardboard cutouts.

Bika · 10-09-2006, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawnstorm

A question to programmers out there: Is it possible to write a virus that infects/modifies a virus? (My head starts spinning...)

Yup

MASK · 10-09-2006, 09:31 PM

Just my two cents worth. Never throw out an idea. If it doesn't seem to be working, shelve it and use it later on. As for the concept, I like the general idea. However, I would suggest one of two things. Either do away with the 666's and demonic color scheme, and underplay the demonic aspect (don't do away with it, but a more restrained 'performance' from it can really add to how sinister it comes across.) A great scene that might give you an idea of what I mean is from Dean Koontz's PHANTOMS (Yes, Ben Affleck was da bomb in that movie), but I'm referring to the novel. It's not really the same concept as your idea, but there is a scene that's similar enough to really demonstrate how effective it can be.

The other suggestion is if you're dedicated to heavily using the satanic theme. In that case, I think one of the central themes ought to be "What is evil?" Is the virus an actual demon, or just a corrupted A.I.? Or do the two have to be mutually exclusive?

I think with a story this broad in scope (globally threatening), it would be best to have several subplots, each following different characters in different parts of the world. Although, The Taking was a War of the Worlds type of story that was told from one couple's POV, so that is effective too. Just depends on if you want a plot driven story or a character driven one.

As for the characters, even the most generic ones can develop distinctly original personalites when you write them. But for fun, why not mix them up a bit? A woman with a past. A priest looking for children. (Wait, strike that last one!) How about a soldier turned priest? (As opposed to a priest who loses faith...done to death.) Anyway, embrace your ideas and make them flourish. And worry about refining it AFTER the first draft is done.

FrankBlissett · 10-09-2006, 11:09 PM

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The characters kind of seem bland and cliche. There's nothing about them that's new or exciting...priest? Done. Ex-soldier (with a past)? Done. Woman lookingfor children? Done.

If you are able to make them believable, good, but I see no reason that would make this book more worthwhile than any other. Why not, say, a woman obsessed with cats who has her cat killed by the virus? Fifty times cooler than an ex-soldier.

I have to disagree with this. IMHO, it's easier to get a person's emotional involvment in your story if they can sympathise with the characters. Certainly they have to be written well, but unless I had a specific reason I'd stick with "boring" archtypes.

The whole "666 on computer screen" thing would be a bit to pulp-fiction for my tastes though. As to the idea being done before, I think Stephen King did it twice. First, there's "Lawnmower Man", which doesn't involve a demonic virus, but accomplishes largely the same thing with military software and a human lab-rat. Second, there's "Cell", which I haven't read but seemed similar from what I heard.

That said, worry more about the quality of the story and the writting than how "original" the core idea is. I mean, if Stephen King can get away with using a cliche Stephen King idea, then you should be able to also.

-Frank

Bika · 10-09-2006, 11:35 PM

Wasn't the Stephen King short story actually about a half man-half goat and the movie was substantially different... ie what you described?

Dawnstorm · 10-10-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bika

Yup

Great. The idea starts coming alive!

slayerofangels · 10-10-2006, 10:23 AM

I think you should do away with the demon possessing a virus thing and maybe go with the virus is the demon sort of vibe.

I mean that the demon is trapped as electronic code for the moment, through some insane and made up occult process. You then have the idea of some group or person who believes that the international network is evil, or is consuming the world, and that they view this demon as a means of cleansing the world. The back story could then be that said demon wreaks havoc on the world's systems and is trying to escape it's prison.

As for characters, you have to adapt them to a world where every action is connected in some way to the network.

Priest: Trying to advocate faith in an increasingly electronic and inhuman world.

Soldier: How has combat technology advanced in your new age? Is each soldier linked up to the network? Can the demon control them somehow?

Mother (or father) trying to find kids: Almost everything is electronic, the house, the car, the school system, how does the demon or the virus affect these systems so that the children are put in danger.

Hell, what if the priest was an ex-soldier who still has some of his old implants and realises the danger posed by this demon? I'm sure the mother could fit in there too.

PAGEMASTER · 10-10-2006, 01:17 PM

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Originally Posted by Krim

He gave me a plot outline and the basics of the characters. What do you want me to do besides tell him to make sure he doesn't make them into stock characters? Stop acting like some kind of protective hero for the young, misunderstood writers of the world.

I'm just basically saying the way you explained every character of the guys choice was a cliche and to not use them type of characters, I wasn't merely trying to be the hero but trying to give him a boost to write whatever he wants too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krim

Hence my warning that they are cliche characters you'd expect to see. I'm aware you can't tell much about the character until it's written, I'm telling him he has to do it good or they're bland cardboard cutouts.

Obviously he has to make the character good, any writer has to create a good character or else the story wouldn't be any good to read.

Fantasy of You · 10-10-2006, 01:36 PM

The characters chosen for the situation are cliche. No matter how well they are delevoped, they are still over used in the genre and situation. Why not have a nervous banker in there, or a teenager who has read on the comic books on the situation (and porbably thinks he knows what to do to survive, which turns out to be the right thing in the end)?

Selorian · 10-10-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantasy of You

The characters chosen for the situation are cliche. No matter how well they are delevoped, they are still over used in the genre and situation. Why not have a nervous banker in there, or a teenager who has read on the comic books on the situation (and porbably thinks he knows what to do to survive, which turns out to be the right thing in the end)?

In developing the characters, they very well could uncover aspects of them that break the normal cliche stereotypes so often used.

Also, the teenager with the comic book and knowing the situation. Done -- The Lost Boys.

Fantasy of You · 10-10-2006, 02:54 PM

I roll my eyes at you Selorian. The example wasn't the important thing. Why put yourself at a disadvantage by using characters that have been done to death in the same situation, when you can use your imagination and not shoot yourself in the foot? I understand characters develope beyond a stereotype, but that still doesn't make void the fact that it's a priest, soldier and mother. The three perhaps over done characters in the situation.

Selorian · 10-10-2006, 03:04 PM

It doesn't matter, FOY, how done they are. What makes them unique is the author. If you feel that you have to stay away from them just because they've been done before, then you are putting yourself at just as much of a disadvantage as you claim using them puts you. Just because that is what you always hear doesn't mean it is gospel. Sometimes a story works best with certain characters, that is why they always show up.

Mr. Blix · 10-10-2006, 04:24 PM

I read a lot of Stephen King. Does anyone know about this half-goat story and where I can find it?

I believe a good author can take any cliche character and twist them so they can be new and fresh. At my early writing stage, I don't think I have the talent to do it.

As far as that comic book thing, yeah that's the first thing I thought of, The Lost Boys. I think it would be great if the character thought they knew what they were doing from comic books and was horribly wrong.

imrhati · 10-10-2006, 06:23 PM

ok, we have heard both sides of the cliche charcater argument, you all make good points, and are starting to sound a bit cliche yourselves (ironic isn't it?)

I like the idea iof the demon somehow being turned into code, maybe by accident. It could eb trying to destroy the net to end its suffering?

How aut this for a character: The ex soldier priest is torn between trying to exorcise the demon or kill it through military disicpline. In the end he finds he needs to use both.

My other idea is that the world is torn in horrible wars *cough* as usual *cough*, all weapons are part of this net. For a neat scene, a huge battle is raging and all of a sudden everyone's tech goes offline. I could end it there, or go on with the troops starting to talk things out.

It still sounds a bit cliche, but it is still goign to eb a week or two before i can get my Micrisoft office renewed. Hopefully i can make this more origina by then.