B&A: Some advice please: is this realistic enough?

[mmëmmmmmmãymm'sGREENt]

I've started my third re-write of my novel and I'm following the basic line of the second re-write, because I'm not planning to change the storyline at the moment (I'm very happy with the direction) but I'm just adding more description, making things clearer for the reader, etc. However, I've almost finished chapter two but I'm a little worried if things are realistic enough.

So I'm at chapter two right now and my main characters have become stowaways on a ship, without even knowing that it belongs to a pirate crew. In chapter one, their home is burned to the ground and three hunters are after them, trying to kill them, so the leader of my MCs has become quite irrational. She's the eldest and owned the home, for the others are her children. She tries to keep control of herself but wants some distance between them and the hunters. With this mindset, she says that "desperate times lead to desperate measures" and ushers them onto the ship. She believes travelling by sea is faster than on foot.

The hunters are after her father, and she wants to get to her dad first obviously while keeping her children alive.

Would this happen when people are thrown into that sort of situation?

 

[ericjohn1987]

Years ago I wrote something similar to this...

It was about an 18 year old security guard (Grant West) and his 17 year old girlfriend (Adrianna Parker) (who wants to be a writer).

They are in high school and four bullies are harassing and maliciously trying to hurt them them in the park after school. Being a skilled martial artist and having guard training he takes out the four bullies and becomes a wanted fugitive. Being a security guard he carries a scanner and his able to keep ahead of the police hunting him down...

They make it to the city docks and by chance they meet a boat captain (who Grant knows from working as a guard) that is headed for Archangel Island (a highly armed but liberated country). They hide under the deck and the boat (which is loaded with weapons and tactical gear) the boat leaves without the cops any wiser and they make it to the island which does not have extradition treaties.

So yes this kind of situation could definitely arise, especially if you use your imagination.

That's what I wrote, and I think she should find some kind of connection with a foreign country and have her father and children taken onto a ship, under cover of darkness and to wherever they are staying. But that is just what I am suggesting. Feel free to use any ideas, but don't steal the whole thing.

I am working on another story right now, and I have a question posted on here with the details:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ah.uzzjeAMX_5zaBeu03gu4azKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20111113062036AAirORp

 

[Amy]

I think that could definitely happen.

It's perfectly realistic. She's obviously desperate to get away from the hunters, so she'd be willing to do anything to save her kids, plus get to her father.

 

[hadeer]

yes, why not... in different situation people act differently, the character has a goald in mind and wants ti get to the goal whatever happens..... its quite realistic keep it up

 

[Molly]

It depends, do you want your story to be historical fiction? If so you should establish a time period. for example, it was/is 1957.
if you want your story to be fictional then it doesn't really matter.

 

[philosopherking]

fictions do not have to be realistic. well maybe a little. but it's a story. the point is you are creating a world of your own. you can do anything you want. do no be afraid to experiment on things. learning comes from experience. and if you want that scene. if it will serve the plot right. then you should go for that by all means. good luck on your novel!

 

[reignofcheese]

Well, as far as creating realism, I find the best writers pay careful attention to details. For example, out of three people one of them is bound to get seasick right? Well, stuffed into the cramped hold with no way to leave it while having to vomit sure creates a minor conflict!

This is a pirate ship. One of them is going to come down to the hold to gather food supplies or beer or canon balls or who knows what. Getting caught is inevitable and if they happily cruised across the sea and snuck off safely I would not buy it - I would put down the book. But that is the best part - how are you going to get them out of that mess? We can't tell you because the personality of the characters, the plot idea, and the mood of the story (tragic, action, comedy, suspense, a mix of any genres) will contribute.

Just write it. Out, go with what comes to you and think about how each character would really act, and if you don't like it try another idea. There can be no mistakes in the initial unedited writing, only fear of trying. Tne story sounds plausible but only if the details are too.