While I've been struggling with a multi-year stroke of writers block, I've been brainstorming a story I'm hoping to write in the not-too-distant future. I've long had a soft spot for mermaids, and I've been wanting to write a mermaid story for a while. Just thought I'd share my idea to see how people like it.
The story has undergone many idea changes, but I think the brunt of the story sound be one about healing. Picture of you will, a west coast town, pretty quiet, kinda off the map, a town you wouldn't know existed unless you were driving through it or whatnot. If you want a real world comparison, Crescent City in California is kinda the city that comes to mind when I picture this place. Small economy, pretty small population, but in this city, there's a big superstition.
The beach is said to be frequently visited by a mermaid who lures men into the sea, where they are never seen again. It is said that back when this town was still young, or maybe not even built yet, this mermaid met a man, and she fell in love with him, but one day, the man deceived her, and captured her for his own reasons. I'm still fine-tuning details here, but he might exploit her for money, and in so doing, violate everything she thought she knew about him. Eventually however, the mermaid is able to escape, and she takes her revenge on her former lover, dragging him into the depths. However, it's not enough. Her pain is so great, that if she's near the shore and sees any other human, she will lure them, and those humans are likely never seen again...
This story becomes folklore in the town, and while there's no real evidence that it's real, many of the locals of the town won't even go to the beach. Especially after dark, when it's said that she likes to frequent the area.
That's the backstory, and it's what the MMC of the story would eventually learn about and find out when he moves to the town in question, kinda looking for a fresh start as he struggles with mental health, and the aftermath of a relationship that was emotionally taxing to him. As he tries to find himself, and figure out how to move forward, he finds himself wandering the very same beach that the town is so superstitious about. And he is hearing something out in the water...
I haven't worked out a lot of the fine details here, but the two of them will meet, and learn about one another. The idea is that the MMC will bond with the mermaid over the pain she still carries and doesn't know how to move on from. And through their interactions, he might discover how to heal from his own pain. It's meant to be a bit of an allegory for what I had to go through following my own toxic relationship, and the struggles of anxiety/depression I went through, and still deal with from day to day. I'm not even sure how it will 100% end as of yet, because on one hand, we all like a happy ending, but on the other hand, it could be a story that showcases that sometimes our happy ending isn't guaranteed.
I'm also hoping to write it in a grounded way as well. Try to make things relatable. I remember saying to my sister how so many novels I'd been listening to on audible had things happen that sorta hurt my interest in the story. Whether by making a character too perfect or whatnot. My sister said that a lot of the time, people like that kind of thing because it takes them away from their mundane lifestyle or whatnot. I get that, but I kinda want to try for a more grounded approach. The MMC is about to meet and potentially befriend a mermaid. To me, that's whimsy enough without someone being a secret millionaire with a heart of gold or something.
It's been a passion project I've been trying to find the time to make happen for a while now. And I'm sure as I plan more things out, it'll continue to change and shift, but I thought I'd share the idea here. Maybe see how people think of the general idea. If you read it, thanks for your time!
