Concept

In my attempt to write a book or at least a short story (fictional) I have spent some time thinking about how to go about it. To this end I have created this document in which I will try and lay out my story before I begin writing. I think it's good to have a plan as to where you are going so that you can keep to the story line.

My earlier attempts at creative writing (read high school) were written much more free form and thus didn't start with any specific ideas other than the terms of the work set by school. Now that I want to do my own thing I have to have much more of an idea of what I want to write about.

I have enjoyed reading Crime and Punishment and I certainly relate to the struggle the main character has with the deeds that he has done. Thus I am inclined to write a story about one man struggle with some kind of new knowledge. Thoughts so far are some form of mental capacity or perhaps a new scientific discover that has large ramifications.

Outline

Start with background of the primary character. Introduce him and let the reader understand him. What he looks like how he behaves.
Walking down the busy city street, Pavlo exuded excitement like a glow one gets after sex. You could tell just by looking at him that he was bursting to tell everyone and everything about something. It was his walk, his barely there smirk and the way he wasn't distracted by any of the sights passing as he walked. Here was a man on a mission.

Next start with his state of mind. Perhaps he has already made this discovery and his first reaction is just to tell people. This does not go well.

Learning from his first reaction he finds that people just aren't interested. He is having a hard time making people understand the significance of what he has discovered. He is depressed about this.

He tries in vain to ignore his discovery feeling letting doubt reign thinking that perhaps its a symptom of his own mental illness.

He seeks treatment for his 'illness' even though in his heart he doesn't believe it. But then mental illnesses can feel like that he reasons.

He is placed on medication by his physician and seems happy for now with this outcome. In a sense it is a resolution. Not the resolution that he desired but certainly one that fits with todays ideas.

Years pass and by accident he finds someone else who has created a website about his discovery. He is completely thrown off guard with this news.

He attempts to get in contact with the person that has created this website to try and confirm the story but the person is illusive.

Eventually he tracks this person down and discovers that whilst the concept is the same as his the person does not believe in it but placed it on the Internet as a thought experiement.

Our man is devastated by this news and spends much time in a haze unsure of what to do next.

Finally he decides the only resolution he can possible have is some form of proof that either he is mentally ill, or his discovery is real and he is ok.

Somehow an experiment is conducted which he plans to demonstrate his discovery to people who can judge it properly.

He presents the experiment and despite mixed responses to his discovery comes to the conclusion that not all strange weird and new discoveries such as his are the result of mental illness and perhaps leaps of discovery such as this is now mankind advances.

Notes

I believe the premise of this story is to take the reader through the same states that the protagonist goes through. The excitement at his discovery followed by disbelief when the discovery is revealed.

Alternatively, I had toyed the the idea of seeing now far I could get through the story without revealing what the discovery was at all. After all the meat of the story is how he deals all the things that are thrown at him. Yet the reader will be curious as to what it is and want to judge for themselves that this discovery is warranted.

I am thinking of stories like the movie K-Pax where the 'discovery' so to speak is that Prost is an alien yet are left guessing the whole time about the truth of this. So perhaps here I need him to have a discover that is suitably out there.

Perhaps some form of mental capacity that is currently unbelievable. Psykokensis is too well covered. Telepathy also. Perhaps coersion. The mental equivalent of bullying. Making others do what you want. Bending free will to your will. Yes that will do it.

To make it interesting though we won't reveal this until his diagnosis as ill. This could be the end of part 1.