I am often asked where I find background for my stories. Life is my one-word answer.
Take a look around you. Everyone has a story to tell. That answer doesn’t resonate? How about if you take a stroll down to your local courthouse and sit in on a case of two? Think of all the stories that reverberate through the hallowed halls- Elder Abuse, forgery, theft, identity theft and assault and battery to name just a few cases you are likely to hear.
Now build that character. He or she should be believable. What if you have someone in a position of power and they abuse it? Say, for instance, a social worker who takes children out of homes but abuses an elderly parent? Hmm. Or, consider having a computer savvy person hack another’s identity then use it to send abusive e-mails, try to get credit cards or even a reverse mortgage in the victim’s name. Do you get the idea? Think outside of your clean, Christian box. Life can be dangerous when Satan is allowed to roam like a roaring lion, seeking to devour all in his path.
Think dark then bring in the cavalry. Do your research. For Elder Abuse, who would the protagonist contact? DSS? The local Sheriff’s office? What about cyber-theft? FBI, local police, FTC. The list goes on. Don’t forget to bring the tumultuous legal system into play. And yes, there is no such thing as a speedy trial unless you are a high-profile individual. Perhaps that is where your imagination will take you. Someone who works for a government agency? Or do you keep the job simple- such as a teacher, a preacher or even a house painter and let the trial drag on giving the victim a chance to bring additional charges? Either way would do. You have to go into a story with an idea that it is either for print only or could be turned into a film or TV series. Possibilities are boundless.
Keep the story believable but keep it a page-turner. Characters should be those that others identify with- know of someone like the antagonist/protagonist or read a story in the paper similar to the one you have written.
One final thought. Change the names of your characters to protect the guilty and the innocent. There are enough frivolous law suites clogging our court systems. Don’t add to the backlog!
What do I know about the dark side of life, you might ask this AnnaBaptist? Let me just say that people who are near and dear to me have been going through some terrible times. But, like your story, justice will prevail, if not in this life, then by the Great Judge Himself.
See you in print or on the screen.