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Chainfire

(17,531 posts)
Fri Apr 24, 2020, 11:20 AM Apr 2020

I have always wanted to write a novel

What do you think about the basic outline for a story: (yea, I know, I am going to need a good editor)

Trump holds on and is reelected. The virus recurs with a vengeance and the economy is tanking; the word "depression" is on the economist's lips. (Trump has his Reichstag Fire) Since he controls the Supreme Court, there will be no "legal" way to stop him from enacting what would have previously been considered "Unconstitutional" measures to deal with the overwhelming medical and economic crisis. One or two Supreme Court grow sick and retire, and justices are soon replaced with young loyal Trumpists.

It becomes obvious that Trump is too disturbed and too damn dumb to actually be in charge of actually running a nation, and he has always been just a front man for some really evil geniuses anyway. A few months after the election some "Liberal", infuriated by Trump's overreaching actions, assassinates the President. That killer was extremely lucky to take advantage of terrible error of the Secret Service. The Assassin is killed trying to escape. The manifesto the killer left on-line infuriates the Right.

The American Brown Shirts load up and go into the streets, on a rampage to destroy the Liberals, and other undesirables, and totally terrify the public with a reign of murder and arson. The government, through intentionally ineffective measures, allows the chaos to reign long enough to scare the public stupid. The government leaders then use the uprising as an excuse to declare further emergency powers to quell the violence. The public is thankful for the actions. The emergency powers include the use of the military for domestic law enforcement. The Courts approve, and their rulings do not include a measure to terminate the emergency powers.

As the violence continues, the military and police begin a violent "counter terrorism" campaign, to restore order and peace, rid the country of the dangerous domestic terrorists. There are roving military courts, public hangings, and other summary executions, mass arrests, and incarcerations to prevent further violence. All of the perceived enemies of the state find their way into prison camps, to await trials at some further time. In the process of halting the terror, the policing forces remove all guns from the society, again with court approval. (they leave a lot of cold dead fingers in their wake) The quelling of the uprising is so violent as to terrify all of the people into inaction and total submission.

I have to work on the ending. Perhaps you can help.

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I have always wanted to write a novel (Original Post) Chainfire Apr 2020 OP
Start by reading PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2020 #1
Read it last year Chainfire Apr 2020 #2
This makes Stephen King's books seem more like The Wizard of Oz. Jamastiene Apr 2020 #3
Before this is all over Chainfire Apr 2020 #5
Here's a tip about endings nuxvomica Apr 2020 #4

Jamastiene

(38,187 posts)
3. This makes Stephen King's books seem more like The Wizard of Oz.
Fri Apr 24, 2020, 01:28 PM
Apr 2020

I think I will curl up in a fetal position and suck my thumb for a while, lol.

It sounds like a terrifying read.

Removing the guns is a nice touch. That makes it so that both sides of the political spectrum can be horrified at just how horrible life under a Trump second term could become.

I do have a suggestion about Trump's wall. You could mention how it ends up being used to keep Americans IN instead of other people out. That would add to the horror of it all. That is how lots of walls countries build end up being used. So, it would definitely add to the story in a way that drives the point home about how short-sighted the idea of building a wall really is.

Chainfire

(17,531 posts)
5. Before this is all over
Fri Apr 24, 2020, 03:21 PM
Apr 2020

The Mexicans may finish the wall and make us pay for it. Hell, the Western Europeans may end up building a virtual wall to the West as well. Trump wants isolation, he is liable to get it. Who could blame them?

Guns and abortions are the carrot the Republicans dangle in front of their faithful. I don't suspect that Right Wing leaders are really comfortable with rednecks with guns, and I don't think they give a damn whether a woman chooses to have an abortion or not. It is the cake they offer their cult instead of health care, and living wages; neither issue cost the Republicans a dime. One day, the red cap bunch is going to wake up and discover how badly they have been manipulated; they will be pissed and there may be hell to pay.

When our nation is having a serious discussion about the President suggesting an internal bleach treatment for a virus, you can never again be surprised what comes out of the Trump Administration. That is what scares me.

The other thing that scares me is running our of Reynolds Wrap.....

nuxvomica

(12,422 posts)
4. Here's a tip about endings
Fri Apr 24, 2020, 01:36 PM
Apr 2020

Decide how things will be at the end without figuring out how you'll get there. Then just keep writing till you do.

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