Painful References

[avatarblade2000]

Hey fellow writers! Kind of in a pickle , and since I'm amongst some Christians who know a little about literary jams, I hope and pray that you can help.

I'm currently writing a story about the trials and troubles that people go through in life, and how despite how bad they are, God uses them to ultimately do good. My main character is going through a load of terrible circumstances that are meant to eek sympathy from the audience, but I don't feel he's going through enough torture. Strange as it sounds - though I'm going to ask it anyway - I need to know the names of some movies and books with the main character/s going through some down-to-earth though awful circumstances that can't help but make you feel for them.

Anyway, any references would be deeply appreciated. God bless!

 

[oncewaslost]

why use movies or books? why not watch the news or borrow other people's life experiences instead of using something someone else already created. unless i'm not understanding your question.

 

[heron]

Spend some time in the recovery section of the forum. Or listen to conversations in a busy coffee house. (Or talk to your friends!) You will be amazed how many normal people have to face one crisis after another. Remember that readers get the hint faster than we think they do, and need some breathers of relief.

The Fugitive, Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford
Shawshank Redemption, Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins
O Brother Where Art Thou (twisting the comical in) George Clooney, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, on and on.
Accidental Tourist, William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Geena Davis
Big Fat Liar (A film classic)

When you think about it, any successful story has this element in it.

Compare these with movies where everything goes wrong, and you're so weary that you no longer care what happened to the protagonist (I don't anyway)

War of the Roses Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito
Meet the Fockers
Any Adam Sandler Movie

 

[avatarblade2000]

Well, the whole point of this was not so much to COPY what others have done (a little self-destructive, don't you think?), but rather, to figure out what's CLICHE at this point. What I'm trying to figure out is what things that we ALL suffer from, things that we see so often that we can't help but relate and say, "Yeah, I know how you feel, everyone does that/has that happen to them..." You see, the thing writers nowadays have to worry about most often isn't coming up with something ORIGINAL, because - and I'm going out on a limb here - there just aren't any other original ideas anymore. EVERYTHING is cliche at this point, because EVERYTHING has been talked about at least once. The REAL hurdle that writers must focus on in their work is actually presenting those tried and true familiar issues IN NEW INTERESTING WAYS. THAT is what I am trying to do.

You guys, though - oncewaslost and heron - both brought up some things that I didn't think of at first, things that I now realize that I needed. God bless you for that. I just figured that since this was going to be a mostly visual experience - that is, a film - then other films would be the likely source of inspiration, in a non-parody-spoof-rip-off sort of way; you were right, though, in having me expand to books and TV shows, though. In any case, thanks for the movie list, heron, and keep them coming, people, if you would. Again, God bless you all for the help!

 

[heron]

I am picturing you now running through city streets with a digital video camera, producing your low-budget cult film on your own.

An idea...look at the setting you've established, and walk through a similar location if you can. Look around you for things that could possibly go wrong in that locale.

 

[Jinn_Ku]

Million Dollar Baby.