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Hey guys!

So right now I’m in the plotting stages of my book, and I have brainstormed myself into numerous corners. XD So I thought I would throw out some of the difficulties I’m having to see if someone with a fresh perspective can help. Thanks in advance!

First things first, my story is futuristic and it takes place in this settlement that’s built around an endangered animal refuge called “The Animal Sanctum”. It’s a government funded experiment to try and repopulate the Amazon rainforest. The Sanctum is in a remote location in the Peruvian Amazon.

But unknown to most of the inhabitants, the Sanctum Settlement is also home to another government experiment: memory erasure. My villain is the scientist (Dr. Arrowood) conducting this experiment. So here’s my first difficulty: What is motivating him in his experimentation with erasing human memories? My first thought is that he has a terrible memory of his own that he wants to get rid of. But what memory could be awful enough that he hasn’t been able to suppress it all these years? (say it’s been 40 years since said event happened. He has to have time to study and experiment.) Obviously he tells himself that the reason he does these experiments is for the good of humankind (lie). But deep down he needs a more selfish motivation.

Enter MC, Rubi Manco, a girl who was found abandoned in the jungle as a child. When she was found, it was obvious something traumatic had happened to her. Dr. Arrowood decides to use her as his first experiment with removing a specific memory. (He had already wiped a man’s entire memory, which also plays into a side character’s arc.) Second difficulty: Why is Rubi willing to break with everything she knows to find out the truth about her past? Obviously she’s curious and very emotionally invested, but shouldn’t there be a stronger external motive here? Also I’m trying to figure out if she should have remnants of her memory left. But that presents an issue, because Dr. Arrowood has been monitoring her ever since she was a kid. So how has she kept this memory a secret?

Ok, ok I promise this is the last thing. XD If you’ve read this far *high five* and thank you. So back to the villain. What should be his goal in this story? How should Rubi stand in his way? Is he close to erasing his own memory? If so, that’s not really interfering with the MC, Rubi. Note: Rubi’s goal is to find out the truth about her past. Her sidekick is the son of the man whose entire memory was wiped. They are both trying to find the truth about Dr. Arrowood and his experiments. 

In short, I’m having difficulties pinpointing the main conflict… It doesn’t help that I’ve  been thinking it over for way too long. So maybe you will have new perspectives/ideas. Questions are welcome! Thanks for taking the time to read this. 🙂