The Story of Los Santos (A GTA V fan-fiction)

[Prasdana21]

Hello all. I have always wanted to write a GTA fan fiction and I'm going to write one now. But first, I need help for deciding the main characters apart from Michael, Franklin, and Jerry Kapowitz. I have a plan to use Trevor as an antagonist but he might or might not end up appearing in this story.

 

This story will have similar concept like Albanyeve's Liberty City Limit fan-fiction. You can considered this as a GTA V parallel universe as well as I'm going to write a completely new story based on GTA V (for example: Michael and Franklin will meet in a different approach). That being said, I have to give him a credit.

 

This story will have 5 main characters based on this topic so I'm going to give DawidZnawca a credit as well. As you can see in his topic, he was predicting Michael, Jerry Kapowitz, a Latin character (who was apparently, a beta version of Franklin), a fresh black father, and another black character, as the protagonists.

 

Now, as I have said before, Michael, Franklin, and Jerry will be the main characters in this story alongside other 2 characters. I have 3 candidates for filling 2 empty main characters slots but I need help for deciding the other 2 main characters first before writing this story.

 

The 3 candidates are Gustavo Mota, Stretch, and Leroy. I have 3 possible scenarios:

 

A. I use Gus Mota to represent the latin character and Stretch to represent the fresh black father figure respectively.

 

B. I use Leroy to represent the fresh black father and Gus Mota to represent the latin character respectively.

 

C. I use Stretch and Leroy and NOT using Gus Mota to represent the latin character since the "latin character" was the beta version of Franklin.

 

I'm waiting for your ideas to fill the 2 empty main characters slots guys. Of course feedback and critiquez will be really appreciated, especially for non-english speakers like me. Thank you in advance . The first chapter will be released next week.

[saintsrow]

Regarding your request for suggestion for the two remaining character slots: I don't have any specific recommendation since I don't know the drift of your story, and I'm not too familair wiht the charactersa you have chosen. But generally, if I were selecting a character, I might have these considerations in mind:

 

(1) A fun or colorful character with personality, part of the GTA or Rockstar canon that fans recognize, but with only a little bit of backstory so there's plenty of room for you to fill it in and flesh it outhe way you want, and have fun writing for the character

 

(2) Alternatively, a GTA canon character that that you can speak through, to be your own voice part of the time, if and when you want to make thematic points in the story.

[Prasdana21]

Regarding your request for suggestion for the two remaining character slots: I don't have any specific recommendation since I don't know the drift of your story, and I'm not too familair wiht the charactersa you have chosen. But generally, if I were selecting a character, I might have these considerations in mind:

 

(1) A fun or colorful character with personality, part of the GTA or Rockstar canon that fans recognize, but with only a little bit of backstory so there's plenty of room for you to fill it in and flesh it outhe way you want, and have fun writing for the character

 

(2) Alternatively, a GTA canon character that that you can speak through, to be your own voice part of the time, if and when you want to make thematic points in the story.

Great advice man. Thanks

[Mokrie Dela]

A word of caution on using many 'main' characters. Many people feel GTA v faltered because of the three main characters, and that the story was sort of saturated; not as deep or well thought out as it could have been, character development wasn't as good....

 

Also it almost seems to me like you're basing your story on others too much - inspiration is fine but be careful to make sure yours is still unique. If this is a new story, I'd recommend limiting the main characters to one or two and allowing yourself to focus on them. If you do have more, make sure to take your time even more so.

 

 

As for your potential characters, a rule of thumb is to think of which one - to you - has that story that needs to be told. No one can tell you who to use, really, as stated above; we don't know your story plan. If the character needs to be there, you wouldn't really need to ask; you'll know that they have something you want to explore.

 

I'd say sit down and look at your story plan, the messages you want to say and the themes etc, then what characters help show that. Stretch as a father figure alongside Michael? The Latin character could be a new angle, but I can't say I see the value with retreading the events of GTA v (if that's your plan as I've interpreted). If you've got somewhere new to take Michael or Franklin's story (the latter is something I feel GTA v lacked), or if you've got a new character you want to explore, then great. But avoid doing it for doing-it-sake.

 

Simply put; be weary of takin on too much.

[Prasdana21]

A word of caution on using many 'main' characters. Many people feel GTA v faltered because of the three main characters, and that the story was sort of saturated; not as deep or well thought out as it could have been, character development wasn't as good....

 

Also it almost seems to me like you're basing your story on others too much - inspiration is fine but be careful to make sure yours is still unique. If this is a new story, I'd recommend limiting the main characters to one or two and allowing yourself to focus on them. If you do have more, make sure to take your time even more so.

 

 

As for your potential characters, a rule of thumb is to think of which one - to you - has that story that needs to be told. No one can tell you who to use, really, as stated above; we don't know your story plan. If the character needs to be there, you wouldn't really need to ask; you'll know that they have something you want to explore.

 

I'd say sit down and look at your story plan, the messages you want to say and the themes etc, then what characters help show that. Stretch as a father figure alongside Michael? The Latin character could be a new angle, but I can't say I see the value with retreading the events of GTA v (if that's your plan as I've interpreted). If you've got somewhere new to take Michael or Franklin's story (the latter is something I feel GTA v lacked), or if you've got a new character you want to explore, then great. But avoid doing it for doing-it-sake.

 

Simply put; be weary of takin on too much.

 

A very great and helpful advice, thank you Mori

 

I don't want to tell the detail of my story yet as I'm still writing the first chapter (to be honest, I'm still experimenting my story, but I'm getting a clue now. Hopefully I can expand it further), but I'll write my story as careful as I can. I want to take my time in the story and introduce each of the main characters very slowly. I want each of every single one of them get a proper character development (for example, Michael and Franklin would appeared in chapter 1, and Jerry would appeared in chapter 10, etc).

 

And yes, I don't think I can write a unique story, but I try to make it as my own version. I don't want to come accross as a "copy-paste writer" either, so I'm doing all I can to make people and myself enjoy the story. Like I said, I'm doing this just for fun, but any advices and critiquez are very much appreciated. You and Saintsrow are really helping me a lot (both of you and Albanyeve are my fav writers in this section, tbh)

 

Regarding of the 2 "empty slots" main characters, I have decided to use Gus Mota and Strecth as main characters, the puzzles are complete now. Again, I don't want to tell the details of their roles but as you know, both of them doesn't have much details back-ground in V. While this is a "pararell universe" of GTA V, it certainly help me a lot to expand their stories to the directions I want. New characters will be appearing in this story as well.

 

Once again, thank you so much for the advice

[Mokrie Dela]

There's something about Michael Franklin and (Trevor). With COL, I've struggled getting in their characters. Niko was easy, as was JK. Michael certainly has the deepest of characters but Franklin is just a shell. I tried to expand him, but it's been hard (writing so little in the last year or so doesn't help).

 

Gus Mota could have a unique story though. Ask yourself the question: what are you giving us with Michael and Franklin? How is it going to be different to GTA v? I praise your attitude to this, and wish you luck, and also don't wish to attack your confidence or enthusiasm (that you're doing it for fun is the most important thing; sometimes you do have to stand by your guns and say "no, im not changing it!"). My advice is to split this up:

 

Write Gus's backstory (I feel he'd be more interesting as you have a blank slate almost - look at Rami Yalon in JIF). Pad him out fully. Learn his character and his past - why he's doing what he is etc. Then do similar with your other characters. Then write their own plot lines - see my guide if need be for the 8-point plot arc - so know what their story is. Then think how they combine, and perhaps an overall plot. GTA v really is the story of Michael and Trevor - Franklin is just a counterweight, and imo that shows in his character. Remove Franklin and tbh the story wouldn't differ too much. Remove Michael or Trevor and the story collapses. Make sure all of your protagonists are the latter; make sure their plot is so integral to that of the overall story that, like a load-bearing wall, it simply could not stand without it.

 

Knowing the characters is going to be key, so really take your time to do so; write dossiers, when your bored and alone, have conversations with them in your head, know how they'd react to almost anything. An example of this done well is Pulp Fiction - each character is its own and with strong development (from hunnybunny right up to Vega and Wallace, hell even the buddy holly waiter!). It's almost like writing three, four different stories that tie together. As you've already said: take your time, and be careful and attentive to your characters.

 

The reason I'm sceptical is simply the amount of work a single-protagonist story demands is easily quadrupled when using three/four characters. GTA is for example: niko's story* was superb - strong characters, strong subplots and an outstanding overall plot line. The DLC were still strong characters (perhaps made possible by shorter stories) and a story that does blend with the others, but it's all done well (admittedly, bogt being the 'weakest' but it's a different take on things)

 

Gtav, however feels like a watered down version. Weaker characters, weaker story**, and to me it's evident how they struggled to get to gtaiv/rdr's base narrative quality - rdr of course focused on one protagonist (jack was poorly done) with a cast of great characters that made a standard plot and excellent one

You'd do well to look at these, not as a gamer but as a writer - look at the narrative and plot lines, the characters and the themes and parallels. The same applies to films and of course books. You'll begin to see how the characters feel real (looking at rockstar and GTA games will also help with the GTA-style).

 

To do fan fiction well you have to be an expert on the game***. That's easy to do (play it a lot, read wikia etc). Hopefully by the time you post this, I'll have pulled my finger out and read carbonox and albanyave's works (among others) so I'll keep and eye out. Post here or in the writer's room for help or discussion if you want of course.

 

 

* I mean the narrative not the quality of the game

 

**this is of course my opinion

 

*** with original works you create and control the world; you can make add remove or change anything at any time. FF, though, it's already there, so you HAVE to get it right!

[Prasdana21]

Thank you again for another great advice from you, Mokrie

 

I always read your COL stories and I think you did a great job with all the HD main characters. I haven't read your newest chapter though, hence why I haven't clicked the "like" button. Will read it ASAP. So sorry

 

As I said, I'm welcoming any advices, so don't worry, you don't attack my confidence, it's all good As a matter of fact, I have been thinking about what you and Saintrow said (especially with your question: "what am I giving you with Michael and Franklin) and it's a very valuable point if you ask me.

 

And about Gus Mota's story, I'm going to take your advice and writing about his story in a separate file.

 

I have read your 8-point plot arc and it was a great topic. I learned many things. Hopefully I can make you proud with my story

 

And about Pulp Fiction, while it isn't my favourite movie, it is definitely up there. But yes, I'm going to watch it several time to make sure all the characters (especially my 5 main characters) get proper development.

 

As I said, I keep thinking your advices (and Saintrow's) therefore, I'll post my first chapter in the next 2-3 weeks or even in a month. I just hope I could give you all a good first impression about my story

[Mokrie Dela]

Firstly don't apologise

 

Second, don't give yourself an ironclad release date; it'll be ready when it's ready.

 

Also while it's good to look at films don't get bogged down by watching it 3 times - once will do and just observe things. Take your time and enjoy the process

[albanyave]

Glad to know I am part of your inspiration to write. There are a lot of very creative people here at WD and they were my inspiration to take on such a huge project. Mokrie gives excellent advice. Advice that I have found very useful.

 

As far as your characters, just be sure you know how each will add to the story you are trying to tell. They will have their own challenges and triumphs. Knowing how they will respond to events will bring your characters too life. It does take time to develop a character and backstory will help.

 

Well that's my two cents and I wish you the best with your new adventure. Writing truly is an adventure for the writer as well as the reader.

 

[Prasdana21]

Thank you for your advice Albanyeve

 

Yes, I'm a fan of your works, so you inspired me mate

[Toreno6901]

Character development is a necessary ingredient of ur plot,i know.

The police characters u have developed must be coupled with the original NPC from the San Andreas game.

New character slots are itemized to allow a downgraded story to gradually

develop into a perfect systematized

theme, fiction.