Someone help me out with this novel concept?

Question

A pyromanic gets caught committing arson and is sentenced to do volunteer work for the fire department and he changes his ways once seeing how fire destroys people's lives.

I can't think of a good main character without it being a cliche! Gah help me!

What if he tries to cure his problem by joining a volunteer fire department? And is not convicted?

Answer 1

It is an interesting concept, but I'd suggest some research into:

1) Pyromania (causes and treatments)

2) Firefighting (I don't think any company would knowingly allow a pyromaniac to join them, even under court supervision - it would be dangerous)

3) Judicial system in the area where your novel is set (there might not be "leniency" in the form of volunteer work for this kind of crime - might require jailtime!)

If you feel something turning into a cliche, sometimes it is good to take a step back and do some research so that it can be realistic without being overdone.

I like the idea of the main character seeing how fire destroys lives, but maybe if you make it more personal to your MC you will also find it feeling less cliched - i. e. something happens to him or his family instead of being an outsider looking in on fire victims.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

How about a female? The majority of arsonists are young males, so a young woman would be an interesting twist. In addition to the other conflict, she would have to deal with the physical demands of the job and the sexism (sometimes subtle) that runs through male-dominated settings.

The biggest hurdle your story will have to overcome is that a fire department is usually the last place an arsonist would be permitted. Somehow this will have to be explained. The other problem is that actual pyromania is a psychological disturbance which cannot usually be 'cured' in any meaningful sense. The character may have some other stress or conflict which precipitated the initial arson, but a true pyromaniac changing their ways is not really believable.

Good luck with your novel, hope it works out.

Answer 3

I have to be cruel to be kind here, so don't take it personally. I think the idea has some major holes, the biggest being that I sincerely doubt that the fire department would let a convicted pyro anywhere near them. My mom is a volunteer firefighter, and believe me, it's not easy to become one. Additionally, people who are pyros generally have a mental disorder that fuels the condition. Just seeing the damage is unlikely to 'cure' them.

Answer 4

Hate to say it, but your premise is absurd.

A pyromaniac won't change due to seeing fire's effects.

A pyromaniac wouldn't be sentenced to do volunteer work for the fire department for exactly the same reason that a pedophile wouldn't be sentenced to work with children who were victims of sexual abuse.

Of course, that wouldn't stop your concept from selling, but then neither would cliches.

Answer 5

Tell the story through a main character who has lost loved ones in a fire. For example, an 8 year old child who lost his parents; a husband who lost his wife, etc. The pyro person could be the catherisis that the main character needs to "heal."

Answer 6

No offense but i think the reason you can't think of a good main character is because the concept is cliched. Take a step back from it and just consider the pyromaniac. Don't try to develop the story arc so much and the character may present itself. That and pyromania is a psychosis. We refer to people who like to burn things as pyromaniacs but the difference is that real pyromaniacs need to burn things. Does your character like burning things as a past time or is it a deeper psychosis?

Answer 7

tell it from the point of view of his lighter (which he used to start all the fires), which he never takes out of his pocket but in the end throws in the trash. Throughout the story, have the lighter tell about all the different fires he's started.

but does anyone really write from the point of view of inanimate objects? K, write from the guy's point of view...he's an uptight lawyer, banker, accountant, whatever. and he just sets fires to stuff to relieve the stress.

or maybe slomeof his friends were pyros and they all died cause they were idiots and set fire to something that exploded, except he didn't want to go and now he feels guilty and feels like he has to keep setting fires to stuff for them.

Answer 8

your main character needs to be someone strong minded and deeply scarred by a tragical event in their history, maybe he/she was trapped in a fire as a kid, we only find out why they are an arsonist as the story evolves,

don't make your guy a cliche down-and-out, they coudl be a respectable pillar of the community, who just is obsessed with flames etc.

Answer 9

How about a female news reporter who sets the fires and then is the first on scene to get the scoop. She is beloved in the community so nobody suspects her until she slips up and gets caught.

Answer 10

Are you going to give us a credit and a slice of the pay?