Blog 43: It's all a Conspiracy

Hello again, you creative bunch. Now that Halloween has come and drifted back into the shadows again, the next celebration that awaits us is Bonfire Night. Of course, this was originally called Guy Fawkes Night. I still remember when I was young and older kids would knock on the door asking if they could have a ‘penny for the Guy’. They would make an effigy of Guy Fawkes, dress it in old clothes and burn it on a bonfire. I recall them collecting spare wood for their bonfires too. Nowadays it is all about family fun, with fireworks, funfairs, food (I’m loving the alliteration there) and of course the old bonfire.

But if we look at where the story of how all this began with Mr Fawkes, like a lot of history, it’s all pretty grim. For those who may not know, this all took place in 1605, when King James was on the throne and head of the Church of England. There had been laws in place for some time that persecuted Catholics, and Guy along with his associates, believed that if they assassinated the current king and the English aristocracy, there would be an uprising by the Catholics. They planned to seize the king’s nine-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth, believing she would be brought up as a Catholic, which would lead to a Catholic monarch, correcting the unfair treatment.

The conspiracy was actually led by Robert Gatesby, while Fawkes was the explosives expert. They stored 36 barrels of gunpowder in a rented cellar under the House of Lords. However, the plan was foiled when an anonymous letter alerted the authorities, leading to Fawkes's arrest in the cellar just before he could let her rip, as it were.

So, originally this was more of a religious festival celebrating the preservation of the Church of England. I have to say, as pretty as fireworks are to watch and as hypnotic as I find bonfires, the anxious part of me always worries about people getting hurt at this time of year, especially with the lack of control and people misusing them. And as my girls don’t like the loud bangs, we don’t tend to celebrate it.

Conspiracy stories are quite thrilling though, aren’t they? Let’s have a look at some famous fictional examples: -

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (2003)

The conspiracy: the Roman Catholic Church have hidden the truth about Jesus Christ being married to Mary Magdalene, resulting in a "holy bloodline" of  descendants. But Leonardo da Vinci was aware of this and left clues to this truth within his paintings.   

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (2005)

The conspiracy: members of a wealthy family by the name of Vanger are responsible for a series of serial murders going back four decades, beginning with the disappearance of Harriet Vanger. Motivated by antisemitism, they managed to cover up their crimes for years. 

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949)

The conspiracy: the totalitarian Party's systematic control over reality itself to maintain absolute power. By constant government surveillance, censorship, and rewriting history, they ensure the past always aligns with their aim for the present. An omnipresent system of social control.

So, first of all, what exactly is a conspiracy? It is a secret plan put together by a group that is harmful and/or unlawful. The plot generally involves the characters uncovering said conspiracy, which in turn, puts a target on their back.

Conspiracy stories can come under many genres, such as thriller, horror, crime, historical, dystopian, sci-fi, action/adventure and fantasy. They tend to be fast-paced and suspenseful, and may be related to political or social issues. There should be enough suspense and tension that will keep the reader guessing until the big reveal at the end.

So, for those of you big on conspiracy stories, and who are itching to get writing on the topic, what tips would help you put the pieces together and get your readers glued to the page? Let’s get into it: -

1.     The Conspiracy

Choose an intriguing premise. Begin with something small, seemingly unimportant and then add layers to make it more complex and far-reaching. Where the full scale of the conspiracy begins to unfold. Use real world details, like systems, organisations, or events to make it more believable and credible. Here are a few more questions to ask yourself: -

• What is the secret or crime that is being hidden. (This is what the plot will revolve around).

  
  

• Find the why. What are the antagonists' goals and what do they fear will happen if they get found out?

  
  

• Why is it a secret?

2.     Theme

Look at what theme you want to include. Common ones are: government secrets/ cover-ups, the existence of secret societies, mind control/brainwashing, and paranoia. You will need to do some research on the topic and read about similar related theories. Once you have got to grips with the basics, you can look for specifics that will help you to build your story. Watching the news and current affairs can actually assist in the idea process. You could even check out first-hand accounts from people who have been involved in conspiracies to help you understand it from their point of view.

3.     Characters

As always, you need to make sure you have well-rounded, believable and relatable characters. Give them profiles and personalities that make them stand apart from each other. Then ask what their goals are, how do they fit into this conspiracy? Why is it personal to them? What are the risks? What would they be willing to do to achieve their goal and why? Perhaps they need to protect their family or have some objective that they can’t let go of or a personal vendetta. Remember your plot is driven by how the characters react and act upon what is happening to them.

4.     Build Suspense

You can’t have conspiracy without suspense but you need to build it slowly. Start the story with a sense of unease.  This can be achieved by introducing mystery, fear, or the unknown. You can also choose what information to give out, which creates tension and curiosity. Hinting at things carefully, adding subtle clues, but withholding key plot points, character motivations, or pieces of information adds mystery and keeps your reader guessing. Don’t forget the stakes for your character must be high. Other things to bear in mind are: -

• Use immediate threats or time sensitive situations to bring an urgency that keeps it fast-paced and pulls the reader along.

  
  

• The use of cliff-hangers at the end of the scenes can help to create tension and keep the reader invested.

  
  

• Remember that all-important story arc, build up the tension gradually throughout by continually making life more and more desperate and difficult for your main character, leading to the climax, where he wonders what on earth he is going to do.

  
  

• Make sure you don’t drag your narrative down with unnecessary details. Remember that each scene should either move the plot forward, introduce an element that is vital to the plot, such as a clue, or create more chaos for the main character. If it doesn’t fit a good purpose, then cut it out. 

  
  

5.     The Ending

Make sure the resolution brings the story to a satisfying close. This could be the protagonist defeats the antagonists and exposes their plot, stops it altogether, or achieves some sort of moral victory, perhaps facing his fears. They need to be in a different position from the beginning, having gone on a journey and changed somehow as a result of it.

So, if you’re getting into the spirit of Guy Fawkes Night, then perhaps you want to have a go at planning a little (or a big) conspiracy of your own. Happy plotting people.

Bye for now. And enjoy the fireworks.