I read your summary, and I think maybe the conflict you're facing is that you don't have a clear goal for each character. It seems like each of your characters are facing different dilemmas in their lives, so I'm assuming that the end goal of this story is how each character moves past these obstacles and finds happiness?
I'd say the best thing is to write a character outline - with their personalities, who they connect to, what their initial problem is and the goal you want them to reach by the end of the story. Then you can work on the details of how they each either reach the solution or don't reach it at all depending on their reactions to these obstacles. Another thing, is each character has their own idea of happiness and can handle these life problems differently, so maybe a car might make one of your characters happy but not another, ya know? Looking up character types can help, too or personalities- that way you can better handle how your character acts with that type/personality as a "template" of some sort.
Ok. I ramble. Sorry lol. :D As for why Brian's been fired- he doesn't really need a reason actually. If this is a story about New York (which I unfortunately happen to live in, damn city), then it could simply be the bad economy if this is a modern day story. Just today I read the newspaper about them raising metro card prices again- to 3 bucks and gas money and under staffing places like fire stations, and so many companies like Circuit City closing down stores or companies letting large amounts of employees go, especially after the stock market crisis we've been having here lately on wall street. A character doesn't always need a direct reason for something to happen because sh*t happens lol, and sometimes it can't be controlled.
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I read your summary, and I think maybe the conflict you're facing is that you don't have a clear goal for each character. It seems like each of your characters are facing different dilemmas in their lives, so I'm assuming that the end goal of this story is how each character moves past these obstacles and finds happiness?
I'd say the best thing is to write a character outline - with their personalities, who they connect to, what their initial problem is and the goal you want them to reach by the end of the story. Then you can work on the details of how they each either reach the solution or don't reach it at all depending on their reactions to these obstacles. Another thing, is each character has their own idea of happiness and can handle these life problems differently, so maybe a car might make one of your characters happy but not another, ya know? Looking up character types can help, too or personalities- that way you can better handle how your character acts with that type/personality as a "template" of some sort.
Ok. I ramble. Sorry lol. :D As for why Brian's been fired- he doesn't really need a reason actually. If this is a story about New York (which I unfortunately happen to live in, damn city), then it could simply be the bad economy if this is a modern day story. Just today I read the newspaper about them raising metro card prices again- to 3 bucks and gas money and under staffing places like fire stations, and so many companies like Circuit City closing down stores or companies letting large amounts of employees go, especially after the stock market crisis we've been having here lately on wall street. A character doesn't always need a direct reason for something to happen because sh*t happens lol, and sometimes it can't be controlled.
Does this help? O_o I hope. :D