My story is set in the early Victorian era.
There is a prostitute who is taken in by a decent lady. So, from here on, I'm not sure about the plot. I don't want it to be one of those "cliched" story about a prostitute becoming into a decent lady like in "My fair lady." But I want the theme of the story being: !)the prostitute seeks worldly acceptance, and she continues to seek after it, but in vain. And this desire for worldly love and acceptance leads to her destruction. OR 2) She has a heart more pure than the decent people. She is more honest, more kind. But the decent people refuse to see her for her character, but only see her by her past reputation as a prostitute. So, society suppresses her from becoming a happy lady, accepted by them. So, she leaves the woman who took her in, and returns back to the brothel, believing what society made her think: that she is bad, and not good enough. OR, would this story be better if she did not lose against society?
2007-02-14 13:33:36 · 5 answers · asked by June H 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Oh yah, and if you think the latter idea is better (the one with society refusing to see her good character, but her reputation) how should I have make the plot? What kind of things would she go through in this story? What incidents might occur....or in other words, with this sort of plotting, what would you expect in a book based on this theme? Like, what kind of events?
2007-02-14 13:35:21 · update #1
What about if she is frustrated with society and one by one kills off the people who piss her off?
2007-02-14 13:41:47 · answer #1 · answered by Orinoco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you're trying to write an Oprah book. She loves books where women struggle against society, not historicals, though.
Your scenario is good, but it's extremely unlikely that a lady would adopt a prostitute and put much effort into her unless it was for something like the bet in My Fair Lady. It's far more likely she would take a fallen woman and make her a ladies' maid.
Now that opens up a much broader area for fiction because the prostitute would be the "pet" of the lady, but despised by some of the servants. She would have to learn servants manners, not society manners. The senior maid would resent possibly being replaced, too.
Oh, and a footman is probably all too willing to share her bed.
As for where she goes in the end, how about a realistic ending? She leaves her job for a boat going to America.
If you would like to discuss this further, there's a brand new writer's chat at http://www.burryman.com on Friday nights at 10:30 EDT and 8:30 MDT. This one is for amateur writers. The pro writers come into the same room at midnight eastern for a chat that's been going on for 14 years.
2007-02-14 22:30:35 · answer #2 · answered by loryntoo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone loves a depressing story. Make her have the worst of luck and have all bad things happen to her. Make her work for what she gets. Then make her die in a freak accident when she is trying o tell someone that she's changed. That would be good. your story's on a roll!!
Take every depressing strand out of you so you can write this. Sounds good! I want to read it now!!1=(
Good Luck!=D
2007-02-14 21:39:40 · answer #3 · answered by LadyDragonRider 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For ideas, read Thomas Hardy's "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" and maybe John Irving's "Until I Find You."
2007-02-14 21:46:29 · answer #4 · answered by iammsblue 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This story has been written. It is called "Nana". The author is a man. He is French. He is dead. His name: Emile Zola.
2007-02-14 22:02:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anpadh 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋