 Action/Adventure: October 12, 2016 Issue [#7914] |
  Action/Adventure
This week: But It's for a BAD Cause! Edited by: Cinn  
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Take inspiration wherever you find it! That's my motto, and this newsletter is an example of it.  I'm doing research for an academic literature review, my topic is... well... long and complex and of no interest to many of you. The key is that I've been reading about nonprofit volunteers for countless hours, and it occurred to me that an Action/Adventure story (or any other type, really), might be well served to make use of nonprofits and/or volunteers. This week, the focus is the possibilities for "bad" nonprofits.
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I chose my lit review topic because nonprofits change everything, and I don't just mean changing the world through their causes.  The lack of a bottom line, the use of grants, the financial requirements, the lack of flexibility when it comes to hiring staff... it makes a nonprofit different than a business. That is precisely the reason why it might be interesting to incorporate one into a story.
The Worst Corruption
Everyone has read stories about evil corporations. What's worse than an evil corporation? An evil nonprofit. People expect big business to have an agenda, and they expect its representatives to lie and cheat and do whatever it takes to be successful. People expect nonprofits and the people who work for them to be altruistic. An evil organization that you thought was beyond reproach... much more disgusting/horrifying/memorable. Just think about those old stories about the terrible orphanages that abuse children, which is the most generic version of what I'm talking about. There is potential for real emotional impact.
How-To Evil
There are lots of ways to use nonprofits for bad things. Using a nonprofit as a front for a criminal enterprise may seem like a terrible idea (since the charter requires public financial records), but there are surely ways to cook the books. I'm no accountant, but I think you could make it work with a bit of effort and research.
The more obvious and easy and sinister option would be a scheme like, say, human trafficking or smuggling conflict minerals. Why? Nonprofits often operate internationally because that's where their causes are. Human trafficking would be a relatively easy outcome for a 'peace-corp-like' organization that sends people all over the world. Dangerous places... sickness and violence and... lots of options to fake a death. If the organization operates on a large scale and truly functions as a nonprofit, no one would think of human trafficking when a handful of people go missing or die every year.
Meanwhile, something like smuggling conflict minerals has a built-in cause. For instance, there are organizations that aim to help women of the Congo who have been victimized, and they are victimized because of conflict minerals. Violence and violation of women is a method for controlling the population that works in the mines (it's disturbing and I recommend reading about it-- someone might have died so that my cell phone can vibrate, which is horrifying). Now, how repugnant would it be for an organization to operate in the Congo under the guise of helping victims while really involved in the operation that is victimizing them? Now that is villainous to an extreme degree!
In the peace-corp-like case, the nonprofit is the basis of their business operation... their human trafficking business model requires sending people outside the U.S. and making them disappear. In the conflict minerals example, the nonprofit is just a cover for moving goods and services. It provides a reason to have an office where the money is being made, and they could actually fulfill their function with grants (perfectly realistic bookkeeping) while generating big money from the mines.
So What Do You Think?
I'm sure that by now, everyone has an idea or two of how this could work, and I'm sure you all recognize the depth it could add to a story. It could make the bad guys shockingly bad. It could provide an interesting way to use an exotic setting. And of course, it could get characters thrown into the middle of extreme conflict when all they wanted to do was help. Sounds like something to consider to me!
In my next newsletter, I may revisit nonprofits focusing explicitly on character development. There are plenty of opportunities for it. Or perhaps the focus will be on good nonprofits that may serve to raise awareness for a cause as well as fulfilling a role in your story. We will see.
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In fiction, what is the most creative use you've seen for a nonprofit organization?  Have you ever volunteered? If so, what inspiration could you draw from your experience?
 
In my last Action/Adventure newsletter, the topic was "Action/Adventure Newsletter (September 14, 2016)" . Here are a few interesting responses:
I wanted to comment about motivations for a villain. In a story I have been working on recently, the villain's motivations are similar to the hero's, actually! Both are doing everything they can, including using each other, to save their dying family member. I think that as a parent, which my villain is, I'd do just about anything to save my daughter's life even if it may mean I do things I normally wouldn't... within reason. It is a noble cause he is working towards, but he becomes desperate and that is when he goes bad. From kfcnhc 
I think that is a reasonable way to create conflict, honestly. If the hero and villain want the same thing, they are in direct competition, which provides ample opportunities for character development. How far will they go? Your example is a really good one. Thanks for writing in! 
LIFE Magazine has a new edition FILM NOIR. Reading it as a writer has opened my eyes. I love old movies and some I'd seen others not. This edition pointed out the transition over time. I suggest you find a copy and read it. Reveng, greed, lust are just the beginning since some of it was written in true life. From Quick-Quill 
My husband is a film noir addict. I've seen my fair share of them as well (and am also a huge fan of old films in general). I believe we have a few books on film noir, but I'll happily see if Life's latest edition is available online. Thanks for the head's up! 
I like the idea of resentment and revenge as a favorite inspiration for myself but I have to wake my muse. Fine News Letter Cinn. From Monty 
Honestly, I find resentment the most intriguing possibility. I'll have to give your stories a look sometime. I'm pretty sure that I've never read any of your fiction (didn't even know you wrote fiction until now, in fact). Chock it up to my poetry blinders. I never seem to make it further than the poetry folder in most portfolios! And speaking of poetry, I couldn't be more pleased to see you running a traditional poetry contest again.
A quick plug for anyone reading this: "Poetic Traditions Poetry Contest "
One motivation for one of my antagonist is actually an unrequited love. He loves the heroine but she finds he's a bit on the, well, "crazy wizard" side. So she tries to stay away from him in any way possible. And He goes a bit too far. I guess what I'm saying is people do weird things when they want other people to love them. From Elfin Dragon-finally published 
Ah... I've written a newsletter about that subject before ("Horror/Scary Newsletter (February 10, 2016)" ). It wouldn't have occurred to me for the Action/Adv newsletter because those unnecessary love subplots in action/crime/thriller novels annoy the heck out of me.  Now, if it's the main plot (as seems to be the case with yours), the unrequited love motivation could be very interesting. Thanks for that food for thought, my dear!
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