Discovery is a very important step in the process of writing a novel, or even a short story. It is the stage where you think about the story you want to write and go beyond the premise. It is the time when you dream with your eyes open.
Yes, your idea is magnificent. But who’s going to join your adventure? And where is that happening? Why is that happening?
Characters—think about them in advance. Who’s your protagonist? Who’s your antagonist? Who’s the love of your protagonist? Their friend(s)? Their mentor?
Most novels follow fully-formed round characters who resemble real human beings and undergo significant change over the course of the story. Good character development means understanding the backstory and background information that informs your character’s point of view.
I know, you want a memorable protagonist with some heavy demons to fight. Inner battle is important. Yes… what? You want them to be alcoholics? Or drug addicts? Why not a gambling problem? Or all three together?
That’s some heavy stuff, but…
We’ve seen it thousands of times before. It’s overused in all genres. It’s a cliche.
I’m not saying don’t do it. I’m saying don’t do it. Or at least don’t do it like everybody else. Find something special about their addiction. Something that we’ll set them apart.
A good example is “Vurt” by Jeff Noon. The novel is set in an alternate version of Manchester, England, in which society has been shaped by Vurt, a hallucinogenic drug/shared alternate reality, accessed by sucking on colour-coded feathers.
Now, this is not just a regular twist on drug addiction, this is a full 360 degrees twist.
You don’t necessarily have to try to do such a dramatic take. But you’d need at least a 90 degrees twist to make such an overused cliche interesting.
Or just come up with something else. Something like Tyrion Lannister in “Game of Thrones”, a whoring dwarf in a world of brutally efficient warriors. Or Sherlock Holmes, who is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science, and logical reasoning that borders on the fantastic. And all that in a world that doesn’t yet have forensic science.
Whatever you choose, keep in mind that what drives the story is not your brilliant idea, but your characters. The deeper, more interesting and relatable characters you build, the better their story. Because in the end, it is their story you’re telling.