BWFoster78
Myth Weaver
My protagonist develops an addiction to a stimulant. The following is a summary of this story arc through the first two books in the series. I’m looking for any advice at all: how to make it better, is it realistic, anything you want to share.
1. Xan is dreaming, a magical process that he, at this point, has no control over. The process drains his energy. Not only is he not getting any real rest when he sleeps, the process actually uses more mental energy than if he had just stayed awake. Basically, the only real rest he gets is when he’s asleep when the other dreamer isn’t.
2. Obviously, this leaves Xan tired and drained. After a week of dreaming, he begins taking a stimulant to help him function.
3. To establish the dangerous nature of the drug, I show Xan’s furtive behavior when taking the stimulant and later show an apothecary who doesn’t want to sell this “dangerous” substance to him.
4. Xan takes the stimulant over the course of almost two weeks. At the beginning, a single dose worked to keep him alert for an entire day. By the end of the two weeks, he’s using multiple doses at a time.
5. At the end of two weeks, he’s put in a situation where he has no access to the drug. However, at the same time, he learns about what’s happening with the dreaming. He’s able to sleep during the day some and avoid sleeping at night.
6. I show him wanting the drug, but I do not want him, at this point, to be physically addicted. More along the lines of “I really want a drink” than “my body has to have a drink to survive.” I try not to make a huge deal about it or have the lack impact him too much during this time period.
7. Another week passes, and he gets into a situation where he can acquire more of the drug. He lies to get an apothecary to sell it to him. I show him as being really hyper after taking it.
8. Over the course of the rest of the first book, I show him taking seeds occasionally, but I don’t make a big deal about it.
9. At the start of the 2nd book, Xan is alone and without resources, including food, money, or the drug. He discovers that, as a chemical mage, he can stretch food usage by manipulating its chemical reaction inside him to feed his body.
10. He discovers a natural source of the drug, but a small quantity. He thinks: if I can enhance the effect of food, what would happen if I increase the impact of the drug?
11. The increased super drug effect leads him well and truly into addiction.
12. Because of his arrogance, someone close to him dies. The guilt leads him deeper into despair and addiction.
13. It’s important, plotwise, that, though he’s addicted, he’s not shown as having a lot of physical manifestations of the problem in his appearance. I want the love interest’s first sight of him after a long absence to make her be impressed with how much he’s filled out (he’s lanky in the first book). My thinking is that he uses the chemical reactions of the food and his body to increase his muscle mass.
14. As he hits rock bottom, his friends and the love interest draw him back from the abyss. He struggles with it the rest of the series, but he’s kicked the habit. I can always have him relapse if I feel the need.
What do you think?
As always, thanks in advance for your help!
1. Xan is dreaming, a magical process that he, at this point, has no control over. The process drains his energy. Not only is he not getting any real rest when he sleeps, the process actually uses more mental energy than if he had just stayed awake. Basically, the only real rest he gets is when he’s asleep when the other dreamer isn’t.
2. Obviously, this leaves Xan tired and drained. After a week of dreaming, he begins taking a stimulant to help him function.
3. To establish the dangerous nature of the drug, I show Xan’s furtive behavior when taking the stimulant and later show an apothecary who doesn’t want to sell this “dangerous” substance to him.
4. Xan takes the stimulant over the course of almost two weeks. At the beginning, a single dose worked to keep him alert for an entire day. By the end of the two weeks, he’s using multiple doses at a time.
5. At the end of two weeks, he’s put in a situation where he has no access to the drug. However, at the same time, he learns about what’s happening with the dreaming. He’s able to sleep during the day some and avoid sleeping at night.
6. I show him wanting the drug, but I do not want him, at this point, to be physically addicted. More along the lines of “I really want a drink” than “my body has to have a drink to survive.” I try not to make a huge deal about it or have the lack impact him too much during this time period.
7. Another week passes, and he gets into a situation where he can acquire more of the drug. He lies to get an apothecary to sell it to him. I show him as being really hyper after taking it.
8. Over the course of the rest of the first book, I show him taking seeds occasionally, but I don’t make a big deal about it.
9. At the start of the 2nd book, Xan is alone and without resources, including food, money, or the drug. He discovers that, as a chemical mage, he can stretch food usage by manipulating its chemical reaction inside him to feed his body.
10. He discovers a natural source of the drug, but a small quantity. He thinks: if I can enhance the effect of food, what would happen if I increase the impact of the drug?
11. The increased super drug effect leads him well and truly into addiction.
12. Because of his arrogance, someone close to him dies. The guilt leads him deeper into despair and addiction.
13. It’s important, plotwise, that, though he’s addicted, he’s not shown as having a lot of physical manifestations of the problem in his appearance. I want the love interest’s first sight of him after a long absence to make her be impressed with how much he’s filled out (he’s lanky in the first book). My thinking is that he uses the chemical reactions of the food and his body to increase his muscle mass.
14. As he hits rock bottom, his friends and the love interest draw him back from the abyss. He struggles with it the rest of the series, but he’s kicked the habit. I can always have him relapse if I feel the need.
What do you think?
As always, thanks in advance for your help!