Plot idea for a spiritual book

by Akber
(Bangalore, kar, India)

Question: A parable set in the contemporary world opening in the present-day social milieu in India, then moving on to exotic Indian locations, to uncharted places centred on nature like bio-diversity hotspots; dramatically desolate landscapes of the Indian deserts; meeting obscure mystics who seem to be characters from traditional Indian folklore etc. It may be called a "creative non-fiction.”


So the protagonist is disillusioned with his present life…and seeking answers to big questions; not just the meaning of life but seeking truth itself. Thus disenchanted with life’s vicissitudes, paradoxes and mysteries he leaves his busy city life and, following a new awareness gained through daunting, adventurous travels and focused single-minded seeking, he comes to live an authentic life with a heightened sense of self.

The aim of the book is to convey this wisdom to the reader through a parable designed to pluck at their heartstrings.

I need specifics to add meat to this outline. Any ideas?

Answer: The specifics are your job to develop. (They are what will make your story uniquely yours.) On this site, we only offer help on structure or general writing techniques.

The archetype for this type of story is the Quest. The basic pattern is...

Act 1. The main character, stuck in an unsatisfying
situation, learns about an opportunity to discover a teacher or teaching or a place which can help him achieve a more authentic way of living.

Act 2. He sets out on the journey, and makes some initial progress; has some adventures; acquires friends; faces enemies, temptations, and challenges; gains some rewards; and generally feels encouraged.

Act 3. Past the point of no return, he discovers the task is not as easy as he hoped. The difficulties increase until they appear too great for him to overcome, given his psychological limitations. He is caught in a dilemma. Should he hold fast to his approach or way of being, or change and do/become something totally new and different? He has no idea which choice is the right one, and the wrong one will cost him everything.

Act 4. He is forced into a final confrontation or challenge on which everything depends. At the critical moment, he makes the right choice, and receives all the rewards (the authentic life he has been seeking). In a non-spiritual Quest, he usually finds true love with a woman. In a spiritual Quest, the reward is union with life, the universe, God, etc. and he may be left in a position to help the next seeker.

Best of luck.

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