Character Intro #1: Alan Garrett and Opening Plot Threads
Okay, so for those of you that don't know, I'm kinda a comic book dork. Well, I'm sort of an overall dork (at times), but I digress...Anyway, as I stated earlier, these characters and the ensuing storylines that follow were born in my freshman English class in high school. The first character I created was based on myself although as the character continued to evolve, it became apparent that he wasn't so much based upon me as he was my idealized view of myself; the me I aspired to be. Then, as more characters were created, I began to realize that I needed to go back and revisit my firstborn. He'd become less interesting than the other characters because, well, they had flaws and baggage and things they needed to overcome and this guy, he was the leader, the one with all the answers and was bland, bland, bland. Thus, I began to rethink him and as with all of my characters continue to do so.
Alan Christopher Garrett is the eldest of three siblings. His father was a world-renowned archaeologist and a college professor. His mother was an anthropologist and a college professor as well. He was five years old when his father died under mysterious circumstances. His mother was devastated. She found out weeks later that she was pregnant with twins. After Caitlin and Daniel (named after his father) were born, Alan's mother worked part-time in order to continue her and her husband's work. Prior to his father's death, Alan had been a carefree kid, yet under the surface he was an introspective and precocious child with a sharp mind and a keen observant eye. When his father died, however, so did Alan's carefree spirit. He put it upon himself to be the man of the house, even though he'd barely started school. Once in school, Alan immersed himself in his studies and was always at the top of his class. Alan was also very protective of his younger siblings, often causing he and Daniel to clash, leaving Caitlin to play the role of peacemaker.
Although obviously smart and talented, Alan always made it a point to remain humble and quietly lead by example. He took his studies and athletics seriously, but didn't get involved in the trivial matters of school life, nor did he want anything to do with being in the limelight or a part of the popular crowd. He seldom spoke up or got involved in active leadership roles in school. However, he upheld a strong ethical code and when he DID choose to speak up or intervene, he was most often respected.
Although Alan was widely respected by his peers, he tended to be a loner, that was until the fateful day that he crossed paths with Chad Andrew Walker Winston. Chad was the new kid at school. An only child, Chad's father was an up-and-coming politician and his mother was a doctor (specializing in genetic research). Although he was close to his mother, Chad had always hated being an only child. Chad never much cared for his father's political circle and seemed to revel in being a maverick, much to his father's frustration, and embarrassment. Chad was outspoken and seemed to have a knack for rubbing the right people the wrong way, especially the guys in the power clique at school. Alan stepped in and prevented an altercation between Chad and a group of guys after school. Chad was impressed with how Alan handled himself. Where Chad's instinct was to prove himself through aggressive means, Alan seemed to hold a completely different approach. Chad immediately set about becoming friends with Alan and their friendship had a profound impact on both of them. Chad brought out the carefree spirit in Alan that had long since laid dormant. Alan never ceased taking his studies seriously, but did make time to have fun and become more social. And Alan, well, he and his family provided Chad with a sense of kinship and belonging that he'd been lacking. Alan's friendship with Chad was cemented further when Chad's mother was tragically killed in a car accident. At this point, having nothing to really go home to, Chad spent most of his time at the Garrett homestead. Time passed and as Alan prepared for college, Chad decided he needed to embark on a journey to find himself and figure out what his purpose in life was.
In college, Alan crossed paths with another important fixture in his life, Kevin Michael Cannon. Kevin and Alan were roommates and became fast friends. Alan pushed Kevin to excel in the classroom and Kevin managed to push Alan to excel in the gym. Alan's mother became increasingly more involved with her work, putting her in a tough situation considering the twins were just entering high school, so after a year of living on campus, Alan moved back home in order to help keep an eye on his siblings when his mother was away on archaeological excursions. Aside from the occasional clashes with Dan, the living arrangement worked out well. Much like their older brother, the twins had always done well in school and were both trustworthy and mature for their age (Caitlin more so than Dan, however). Alan graduated from college and immediately began grad school, while the twins enrolled as freshmen. Their mother's archaeological research really began to pick up as she felt she was on the verge of a big discovery. Knowing her work would require her to be gone even more than she already had been, Mrs. Garrett made sure that her kids were well taken care of, even going so far as to put the house in their name as well as her own.
At this point in time, Alan and his siblings were surprised by the return of Chad Winston, fresh from his travels abroad. Chad was immediately welcomed back into the fold. He moved into the family's guest room as he set about finding a job and contemplated the next phase of his life. Alan introduced Chad to Kevin and they too hit it off, so much so that once they realized that they both were interested in business, they immediately struck up plans to open up their own club. Alan, was finishing up grad school when Chad and Kevin opened up their own Bar and Grille/Nightclub in a vacant movie theatre near campus. Caitlin was one of the first people the guys hired. The nightclub was an instant success and a central backdrop for the friends.
On the day that would transform everyone's lives, Alan had swung by the bar and grille to grab some lunch and to catch up with Kev. Chad had been moody for days because his father was going to be in town for a huge campaign fund raiser. Chad's father had worked his way up the political food chain and was seeking the Republican party's nomination for President. Caitlin had switched shifts with her best friend, Amara so that she could cover senator Winston's press conference at the statehouse and she was dragging Dan along with her to play cameraman. Chad hadn't come in and Alan was tempted to check on him. TV coverage of the press conference went live. Alan, Kev and Amara watched, catching a glimpse of Caitlin and Dan in the crowd. Suddenly all hell broke loose as what appeared to be some kind of explosion rocked the statehouse. Kev and Alan looked at each other in shock and horror. They immediately sprinted out the back to Kev's motorcycle, leaving Amara to hold down the fort. Weaving in and out of traffic, Alan and Kev raced downtown.
This is my first installment. Now, this is clearly just a loose synopsis of the opening part of my storyline and some background details into some of the characters. I'd like to try to do this with each character and leading up to the same moment and then go forward from there. I'm not bothering with dialogue at this point, but of course that will be added eventually when this is all written out at some point. I welcome any and all thoughts and constructive criticism. It's been ages since I've taken a writing class and I am most certainly rusty.
Alan Christopher Garrett is the eldest of three siblings. His father was a world-renowned archaeologist and a college professor. His mother was an anthropologist and a college professor as well. He was five years old when his father died under mysterious circumstances. His mother was devastated. She found out weeks later that she was pregnant with twins. After Caitlin and Daniel (named after his father) were born, Alan's mother worked part-time in order to continue her and her husband's work. Prior to his father's death, Alan had been a carefree kid, yet under the surface he was an introspective and precocious child with a sharp mind and a keen observant eye. When his father died, however, so did Alan's carefree spirit. He put it upon himself to be the man of the house, even though he'd barely started school. Once in school, Alan immersed himself in his studies and was always at the top of his class. Alan was also very protective of his younger siblings, often causing he and Daniel to clash, leaving Caitlin to play the role of peacemaker.
Although obviously smart and talented, Alan always made it a point to remain humble and quietly lead by example. He took his studies and athletics seriously, but didn't get involved in the trivial matters of school life, nor did he want anything to do with being in the limelight or a part of the popular crowd. He seldom spoke up or got involved in active leadership roles in school. However, he upheld a strong ethical code and when he DID choose to speak up or intervene, he was most often respected.
Although Alan was widely respected by his peers, he tended to be a loner, that was until the fateful day that he crossed paths with Chad Andrew Walker Winston. Chad was the new kid at school. An only child, Chad's father was an up-and-coming politician and his mother was a doctor (specializing in genetic research). Although he was close to his mother, Chad had always hated being an only child. Chad never much cared for his father's political circle and seemed to revel in being a maverick, much to his father's frustration, and embarrassment. Chad was outspoken and seemed to have a knack for rubbing the right people the wrong way, especially the guys in the power clique at school. Alan stepped in and prevented an altercation between Chad and a group of guys after school. Chad was impressed with how Alan handled himself. Where Chad's instinct was to prove himself through aggressive means, Alan seemed to hold a completely different approach. Chad immediately set about becoming friends with Alan and their friendship had a profound impact on both of them. Chad brought out the carefree spirit in Alan that had long since laid dormant. Alan never ceased taking his studies seriously, but did make time to have fun and become more social. And Alan, well, he and his family provided Chad with a sense of kinship and belonging that he'd been lacking. Alan's friendship with Chad was cemented further when Chad's mother was tragically killed in a car accident. At this point, having nothing to really go home to, Chad spent most of his time at the Garrett homestead. Time passed and as Alan prepared for college, Chad decided he needed to embark on a journey to find himself and figure out what his purpose in life was.
In college, Alan crossed paths with another important fixture in his life, Kevin Michael Cannon. Kevin and Alan were roommates and became fast friends. Alan pushed Kevin to excel in the classroom and Kevin managed to push Alan to excel in the gym. Alan's mother became increasingly more involved with her work, putting her in a tough situation considering the twins were just entering high school, so after a year of living on campus, Alan moved back home in order to help keep an eye on his siblings when his mother was away on archaeological excursions. Aside from the occasional clashes with Dan, the living arrangement worked out well. Much like their older brother, the twins had always done well in school and were both trustworthy and mature for their age (Caitlin more so than Dan, however). Alan graduated from college and immediately began grad school, while the twins enrolled as freshmen. Their mother's archaeological research really began to pick up as she felt she was on the verge of a big discovery. Knowing her work would require her to be gone even more than she already had been, Mrs. Garrett made sure that her kids were well taken care of, even going so far as to put the house in their name as well as her own.
At this point in time, Alan and his siblings were surprised by the return of Chad Winston, fresh from his travels abroad. Chad was immediately welcomed back into the fold. He moved into the family's guest room as he set about finding a job and contemplated the next phase of his life. Alan introduced Chad to Kevin and they too hit it off, so much so that once they realized that they both were interested in business, they immediately struck up plans to open up their own club. Alan, was finishing up grad school when Chad and Kevin opened up their own Bar and Grille/Nightclub in a vacant movie theatre near campus. Caitlin was one of the first people the guys hired. The nightclub was an instant success and a central backdrop for the friends.
On the day that would transform everyone's lives, Alan had swung by the bar and grille to grab some lunch and to catch up with Kev. Chad had been moody for days because his father was going to be in town for a huge campaign fund raiser. Chad's father had worked his way up the political food chain and was seeking the Republican party's nomination for President. Caitlin had switched shifts with her best friend, Amara so that she could cover senator Winston's press conference at the statehouse and she was dragging Dan along with her to play cameraman. Chad hadn't come in and Alan was tempted to check on him. TV coverage of the press conference went live. Alan, Kev and Amara watched, catching a glimpse of Caitlin and Dan in the crowd. Suddenly all hell broke loose as what appeared to be some kind of explosion rocked the statehouse. Kev and Alan looked at each other in shock and horror. They immediately sprinted out the back to Kev's motorcycle, leaving Amara to hold down the fort. Weaving in and out of traffic, Alan and Kev raced downtown.
This is my first installment. Now, this is clearly just a loose synopsis of the opening part of my storyline and some background details into some of the characters. I'd like to try to do this with each character and leading up to the same moment and then go forward from there. I'm not bothering with dialogue at this point, but of course that will be added eventually when this is all written out at some point. I welcome any and all thoughts and constructive criticism. It's been ages since I've taken a writing class and I am most certainly rusty.
posted by Chris at 12:58 PM
1 Comments:
It's good man and very well written. I would, however, like to see the story flipped, where the characters are presented when the explosion happened and then find out more about their back story. But whatever you do, don't stop.
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