Im trying to write short story to practice characterization but I'm short of a plot to develop. I have a character, a setting, even some scenes and worldbuilding but cannot come with a whole plot. There is what I have: Setting: basic paranormal/urban fantasy world living in a masquerade. Modern-like times where all mythological creatures are true but remain hidden willingly to avoid humans. Still, supernatural may leak then or there by accident. Character: Duncan Crowley. A "Bounty Hunter" who specializes in magical item recovery but has a burglar-like approach, sneaking in rather bursting out the door. Surprisingly stealthy and nimble for someones of his size, largely because his paranormal background and use of magical trinkets. Part giant thanks some remote ancestors, recently cursed as loup garou. Usually poses as a bouncer, heavyweight fighter, lumberjack or any job fitting for someone of his gruff appearance. What I'm looking for: Some simple infiltration, break in or robbery in a low security building where a magical artifact is being held by some mundane(s) that don't know what they hold or a magic user(s) who what to use it for nefarious purposes. He has done all legwork and preparation before the plot start. I'm not sure about the conflict, maybe some mundane or paranormal interfere ruins his plans. Not because protagonist's direct or indirect acrions Avoid mission: impossible and arsene Lupin type heist. Motive: The thrill, mostly. He isn't very good at pretty much besides taking what isn't his and hurting people, he prefers go with the first. Usually he's hired by a magical items and information broker to steal on their clients request.
I'd suggest to look at the character again:- Duncan Crowley. A "Bounty Hunter" who specializes in magical item recovery but has a burglar-like approach, sneaking in rather bursting out the door. Surprisingly stealthy and nimble for someones of his size, largely because his paranormal background and use of magical trinkets. Part giant thanks some remote ancestors, recently cursed as loup garou. Usually poses as a bouncer, heavyweight fighter, lumberjack or any job fitting for someone of his gruff appearance. That's what he is - but who is he? Motive: The thrill, mostly. He isn't very good at pretty much besides taking what isn't his and hurting people, he prefers go with the first. If the character is still thinly-conceived, so will be the plot. But I get the sense that there is a character forming here. Maybe an approach to the plotting would be to write a day in Duncan's life: what he thinks about and what he decides to do in another context that isn't the heist. In the work of filling a page or two, probably some more characters will start to form for the MC to have conflicts with - and that's what can drive a plot. Whatever the heist looks like and whatever the outcome is, it's some stuff that happened in Elfland - lots of things happen in Elfland. Short story characterization needs to be extremely tight, so working the character out in a longer piece might be useful.
Dunno what you mean by about "who is him" (language barrier maybe?) Could your elaborate? I see your point. I just gave a vague description about mc to bring brief, I already has an idea of his whole personality but that's why I'm looking for short story material, to see if I really get it. Decided to write it on his line of work to see if I got that too. And yeah, writing a day on his life is a good idea. There are some relationships I had planned too and a skeleton schedule of what he does normally. Choose short story, mostly, to focus on the bulk of plot and avoid fluff. Also any prompts for heist?
I'm not sure I can explain this well or if other writers even sense it as a distinct usage, but I think when "who" is used as an interrogative pronoun and the interrogation is reflexive... it can re-emphasise the interrogation, often to take the emphasis away from unimportant/outer/nominal characteristics. Perhaps similar to when a reflexive pronoun is used for emphasis. e.g.:- "I'm trying to find out who I am." "Who's that?" / "That's Bob." / "Yeah, but who's Bob?" "Who's who?" Huckleberry Finn (Chapter 17):- "[...]Who's there?" I says: "It's me." "Who's me?" "George Jackson, sir." ===== Regarding the OP's character, it would have been neater if I had said That's what he is but we need to know who he is. With this usage I'm trying to take the emphasis away from the nominal answer to the interrogation, i.e. "He is Duncan Crowley" and by extension the external characteristics and backstory of the "what he is" (the bounty hunter, the burglar, the half-giant loup-garou). The plot ideally should come from what type of person he is, and his conflicts with other characters who, like him, are being who they are.
Don't know if this helps or not but I know of two PC games that already have the story of a thief/burglar encountering something supernatural. Maybe you can read about them and find out which plot/idea not to repeat . Even though games and novels aren't the same. https://chzo.fandom.com/wiki/5_Days_a_Stranger (Indie game) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thief:_The_Dark_Project (Not modern setting) Warning:A lot of spoilers are in the two links above.
As one example, I am a licensed architect and a licensed building inspector. I have designed buildings, I have inspected buildings during construction, I have investigated building failures, and I review plans before construction to try to ensure that everything conforms to building code requirements. That's what I am. That is my profession, but it tells you nothing about me. It doesn't even tell you whether or not I am good at my work. Who I am is more complex (I think). I am now a senior citizen. I am an Army veteran who served during a war and who was awarded a number of medals (mostly minor ones -- no Purple Heart, no Bronze Star, no Congressional Medal of Honor). I was married three times, the last marriage ending when my wife died - so I am a widower. My wife has been gone for eight years, and I miss her every day. I have an adult daughter who constantly creates problems in my life. I am a Christian, but I rarely attend church; I prefer to pray privately, which I do every day. Throughout high school and college I played multiple sports, and I was captain of my high school tennis team. I am an automotive hobbyist; I do most of the repair work on my own vehicles, partially because I enjoy it and partially because I know I will do the job right the first time. I drive Jeeps because I enjoy going off-road. In the past, however, I was active in road racing and at one time I qualified for a professional racing license. I like cats and dogs, but I prefer cats. I cry when I watch sad movies. I am a private person, somewhat introverted. I do not have a lot of friends, but the friends I have are good friends. I am good at my work because I am detail-oriented. That's more about who I am. Do you see the difference?
