Adventure story. Which would you prefer?

Kind of a selfish thread, sorry.

I have two scenarios in my head as story settings.

I love both of them, and I can't choose between the two.

The story will be survivalistic either way, and it will be a group of highschool kids lead by a rebellious conspiracy-theorist goth/punk girl (like me, lol). It's a group of misfits who become best friends, and all learn to cope with one another as they survive, etc etc...

I have two possible settings.

#1 - Apocalypse. Bombs fall, military is running around shooting people, and my main characters have to escape school and survive the nuclear holocaust.

#2 - Summer camp. The group is in a camp for troubled youths, and they get lost out in the wilderness, and have to survive with one another.

I always loved the "Away for camp" setting, but I've been meaning to make an apocalyptic story for a long time. I can't pick.

Sorry for the self-indulgent thread, but I enjoy ATS opinions. They've helped with my stories quite a bit.

Which of the two scenarios is better? And why?

reply to post by XxNightAngelusxX


Why not combine the two....the same group is at camp when the apocalypse hits?

Originally posted by Gazrok
reply to post by XxNightAngelusxX

 

Why not combine the two....the same group is at camp when the apocalypse hits?

I considered this... but it seems a little complicated and muddled when I play it through my head. Maybe I just haven't given it enough thought.

I'll think more deeply on that.

reply to post by XxNightAngelusxX
No offense, but both story lines have been "done to death". Both have even been done with zombies and/or cannibals in the mix. I think an interesting spin to either of the scenarios you proposed would be for your heroine to be thrown back in time or to another dimension (maybe Old West in style) and land in an apocalyptic situation and band with other teens from that time or dimension. Just a thought.

Originally posted by littled16
reply to post by XxNightAngelusxX

 

No offense, but both story lines have been "done to death". Both have even been done with zombies and/or cannibals in the mix. I think an interesting spin to either of the scenarios you proposed would be for your heroine to be thrown back in time or to another dimension (maybe Old West in style) and land in an apocalyptic situation and band with other teens from that time or dimension. Just a thought.

I getcha. But I've already got a time-travel story.

I wanna do this survivalist story with more of a realistic twist.

Not enough people who use the survivalist storylines put much reality into it. It's all about fighting zombies and/or horrific porn.

I want to make a survival story with some real substance, with real morally conflicting situations that would ACTUALLY happen.

That's what makes mine different from theirs.

reply to post by XxNightAngelusxX


Warning: Vast bias may present itself....


I would say, that the apocalyptic scenario provides more oppertunities for drama. Action set pieces, interpersonal interactions bad and good, exploration of the psyche under threat, and under stress from being aware of the likely fate of ones family and other friends....

The apocalypse has long held the fascination of man, because it is a time unimaginable to the vast majority. It therefore offers an exciting read to the reader, and an interesting playground to the author. Plus the oppertunity to place images of death, torment, the harrowing of the innocent and the decay of morality in the minds of those who have not yet lived lives so effected, is always one to be taken in both fists.

Shake them with it, make people challenge thier preconceptions. Make thier foundations split and thier facades crumble. This is what a well wrought image of the end is FOR!

The other option you mention is all very well, but when compared with the subject matter of the end of times, is positively limp.

Thats my two pence

reply to post by TrueBrit


Your two pence is greatly appreciated.

I think I'll go with the apocalyptic story anyway...

It has more potential to open eyes too.

reply to post by XxNightAngelusxX


Awesome... I shall wait with anticipation (and a carefully preserved NBC suit) for the end results !

Best of luck!

TB