something I've been workshopping for years is this psuedo-hero story. It's set in some dystopian present where world war 3 happened in the seventies, caused by some weird alien. Anyway, the protagonists are a woman who I've usually envisioned as a psychologist/psychiatrist and the guy who's currently the sort of vigilante knight of the city, slowly taking down enemies one at a time, since the new form of law enforcement isn't working. The story's always complicated, but at heart it's about a young man coming to terms with the deaths of his parents and realizing why he does what he does, and the woman realizes that while her career had been a fake out up to this point, she finally has the opportunity to help people in some manner.
The reason why it's psuedo is because the vigilante protagonist isn't really... the conventional hero (that's said a lot, i know). He does not kill his opponents but, he's found fates worse than death for many, and his armor is more a delusion based on something his mother wrote before he died. There're other heroes of course in this version of earth, most operate under wraps, no longer in public eye, so his sudden explosive entry sparks a new era, one more violent than the last.
It's been a struggle, and they've both changed a LOT over the years. I almost considered cutting her at one point, but she's about the only normal force in his life which would push him to think he's worthy of a normal life. Chances are though, it'll never go anywhere, but I find it a worthy challenge to keep throwing ideas at until it sticks.
I spent almost a decade trying to get a sci-fi story going, and it's going well! Sure I'm adding some stuff and changing the first chapter a bit, but that's a good sign. Writing takes much longer than I could have ever expected, especially when you have brutally self-critical mind.
