Story Outlines

I've already pretty much started my story, so this is essentially the outline I would have for it!

Characters:
Mason Davis- 38 year old business man, married with no children. Slightly depressed, rather lost in his world, regrets not living more for himself because he fell into the typical daily grind. Feels dulled. Commutes to New York everyday
Janie Davis- 34 year old small business owner.  Runs a small accessories boutique on main street of their suburban NJ town.  Wanted to have children later, but at this point she's not sure anymore
Intern, Jake- 22 year old business intern.  Tries to do everything that Mason requires of him to make an impression although most of the time he is overlooked in the rush of Mason's life.  A people pleaser, but really wants to succeed.
Mason's Boss (no name yet)- 59 year old CEO. Grumpy, but can be understanding at times

Setting:
New Jersey Suburb
New York City
San Francisco (?)
Spring 2012

Goal, Conflict, Problem:
Mason is unhappy with his place in life.  He has to support his wife, etc, but wants to follow himself for awhile.
He wants to achieve fulfillment

Major Events:
1. Mason is fed up, quits job
2. Gets in car, roadtrips across America WITHOUT JANIE (party)
3. Problem along the way? Meets a lover? not sure yet
4. Comes home, realizing that he is taking Janie away and moves to Switzerland. Maybe

Ending:
They live in Switzerland, almost bumming it, but are content

Theme:
You should fulfill yourself and your dreams, living for the experience

Questions to Character

When are you most content?
I'm most content when I'm at home, watching the History Channel and learning.  Or when I'm travelling- in interesting, bustling cities like San Francisco though.  Forget places like L.A. I would say I love my family, but my wife never wanted to have kids. So we're alone in the suburbs, and at this point, she's almost too old to have children anyway.  Don't "high-risk" pregnancies start being high-risk when the woman is thirty-five? I feel like that's right.  Well, she is thirty-four.  Despite that, I used to love those late nights we spend in the backyard, or just driving.  She really is beautiful. I just haven't seen her sparkle in a while.

Are you an expert at anything?  
I'm an expert at seeing constellations in the sky.  I'm an expert at picking soccer games before they are played.  I can make a to-do list like no one's business.  I can knit too.  But that's a secret.  Because it's weird for men to knit.

Speak about Darkness.
The dark is something unknown to humans; we are primarily diurnal.  Only with the introduction of fire for uses other than warmth, and practical light, did we ever dare to venture into the dark.  Even with those torches and bulky lamps, the creatures of the night beckoned and threatened.  Our ancestors only went out as long as light permitted, until electric light made it possible to constantly keep streets, cities, and the outdoors lit.  Now we don't know darkness.  I thought I did.  But I don't.  Most of you are in the light, but I'm in the shadow. The creatures of the night still beckon to me. But instead of threatening my survival, it intrigues me.  Maybe I'm just that one dumb caveman in the pack that goes into the night and gets eaten by the lions.

Describe your vision for the future.
In the future, I want to retire and never venture outside again.  I just want to curl up in my house, with Janie, and the children we never had.  My future will be uneventful, despite how boring that prospect is.  It's easier to go out as expected than unexpectedly. It saves pain and hassle.  Maybe I can take Janie to Europe like we planned after we got married.  It depends.

Character's Self-Description

Tuesday, March 14.  6:13 AM
Why did my reflection catch my attention today, of all days? I've walked past this floor length mirror everyday, multiple times a day at that. I guess what matters is that I noticed myself today.  I'm thirty-eight.  To think, twenty years ago, I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed; there was no hint of the slight crow's feet in the corners of my eyes and I didn't have these bags under my eyes, even though I slept less than I do now.  Those eyes sparkled at one point, right? That's what Janie had said so back when we were dating.  I ran my fingers through my wet hair.  Where did these grey hairs come from? I liked my hair.  I feel so much older than I look.  I run every night after work... but I still don't feel like I'm in shape. My mouth is boring and indifferent. There' no point in staring at myself, I have to get downtown.

Character Conflict

It's another weekend, another two-night partying extravaganza.  I bet I'm the only kid in this entire school who actually doesn't want it to be the last period of the day on Friday.  There are four minutes to the bell, and I have yet to pack up.  In four minutes, the ruse commences again.  And my decent lexicon temporarily terminates, like everytime I see someone I socialize with.  God, why did I get into this? I'm smart, yet I'm here, in a class that I could've taken two years ago.

"RRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGG"

Oh god.

Slowly, I pack up until I'm the last one in the room.  Maybe if I take awhile, they'll assume I had some other plans for the weekend.

Character's Face

Mason was an attractive young man.  He has thick, dark hair, now sprinkled with distinguished silvery grey.  It is trimmed on the sides, with the top longer, so it can be fashionably styled up with a quick run through of his hand.  But on dressier occasions than a regular workday, he runs some mousse through the length to give it a more controlled, sleek look.  Mason has gently strong jawline and chin.  Square, and characteristically male, but not so hard that one would be intimidated by him.  His nose cut down the middle of his face, small, but fitting for his face at the same time. He has a small mouth, with pale lips.  Mason's eyes are dark, slightly squinty, with eyelashes that are hardly noticeable until you come nearer him.  For the amount of stress that the man has subjected himself to over his life, he has few wrinkles and has a very nice complexion.  Had Mason not woken up and shaven, as he does everyday, he would have a thick, dark beard, but alas, his face remains clean-shaven.  

In Class- November 8

Mason is thirty-eight.  He quit his mediocre job today.

On March 15, Mason began his day like every other day he had lived since his twenty-fifth birthday, exactly thirteen years before.

6:04 AM
The alarm clock rang out at a volume that could've woken Medusa's victims back from their stony deaths.  The beeping didn't wake Mason though.  Red-eyed and indifferent, he rolled over. Again. He hadn't slept since he woke up two days before, on Monday morning.

6:56 AM
The smell of exhaust fumes overpowered his new car's smell, filling the typical two-car garage, bordered by shelving units too full of "once-a-year" decorations and toys. His finger applied pressure to the button in his car, opening the only barrier he had to hide behind from the cold morning in suburban New Jersey.

7:35 AM
Scrambling to find the projections he had worked so earnestly on for the company's next semester, he slammed his office door.
"Mr. Davis? I have your cof-" called out the intern as Mason rushed past, almost knocking the double shot, extra black expresso coffee from the quaint coffee shop three blocks away from his skyscraper, all over the twenty two year old's jacket.

Slam Poetry?

Do you jump into rushing waters?

Would you get in a car with a stranger?

Do you speed past police stations just to start a chase?

No? You're wrong.

To catch his eye, I bet you'd jumped in the water.

You'd get in his car.

And you went 120 through a school zone just to make sure he'd pull you over.

What happens when you jump and drown?

Or he gets lost in the middle of nowhereville, Canada?

And the wrong policeman pulled you over?

The waters pull you under, and you see him.

But he didn't see you.

You thought he knew where you wanted to go.

You thought you wouldn't go broke because of a ticket.

Swim, get a map, pay up.

It's not that easy sometimes.

Your legs are all of a sudden heavier, you can't hear your thoughts,

your eyes blur out with liquid, your lungs compress.

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming"

Losing him isn't hard.

Floating downstream isn't either.

Thinking of how he made you smile and giggle is,

and how free you were just jumping.

Don't think of it? 

Tell me not to breathe too, please.

I feel the water, see the rocks on the side, 

but I don't crawl out.

You would need someone to pull you out too.

Someone will pull you out.