The Art of Forgiveness: A Promise of Peace
Submision Type
book
Logline
When rejected by her soulmate, the author’s heart is shattered. In response, she slips to near death with her drinking. She is given strength to pick herself up and heal from trauma, rejection, and alcoholism. With the discovery of how to forgive her past, the author shares how she found peace.
Genre
Drama
Short Summary
In the cockpit of a sailboat docked at a marina in Sausalito, the author is told abruptly by the love of her life that he does not care for her, is just being kind. With a shattered heart, she spends two months drinking to oblivion while not eating. Realizing death is approaching, she prays.
Setting
sailboat at a marina in Sausalito/RV van the author rebuilt in cherry wood/an apartment
Based on a True Story
Yes
Plot - Premise
Internal Journey/Rebirth
Plot - Other Elements
Meaningful Message,Happy Ending,Philosophical Questions
Mature Audience Themes
Substance Abuse
Main Character Details
Name: Carolyn CJ Jones
Age: 49 to 67
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Aspiring,Complex,Desperate,Engaging,Heroic,Educated,Insecure,Naive,Skillful,Funny,Visionary,Romantic,Adventurous,Confident,Decisive
Additional Character Details
Name: Soul mate
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Role: Antagonist
Key Traits: Heartthrob,Educated,Strong Moral Code,Secretive,Blunt,Aggressive,Unapologetic,Adventurous,Complex,Outspoken
Additional Character Details
Name: husband
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Aggressive,Complex,Educated,Insecure,Sarcastic,Outspoken,Blunt,Manipulative
Additional Character Details
Name: Brad
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Role: mentor
Key Traits: Aspiring,Charming,Confident,Decisive,Empathetic,Faithful,Flexible,Gracious,Educated,Honorable,Unapologetic,Strong Moral Code,Selfless,Religious,Modest,Adventurous,Complex,Engaging
Genre
DRAMA
Brief
CJ overcomes 30 years of traumatic breakups and a drinking problem. They then study grief techniques and master forgiveness. Through life examples and academically backed findings, CJ is able to share their wisdom about forgiveness with actionable steps that anyone can follow to find peace.
Overall Rating
FAIR
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: FAIR
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: FAIR
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: FAIR
Premise: FAIR
Structure: FAIR
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
The profile does somewhat reflect the book although there is more a focus on the wisdom in the narrative rather than a cohesive following of personal CJ's conflicts which is the focus of the profile. The development pitch is good an explaining why the book is marketable but could remove extra information about why there is a need for the book or rearrange to discuss it within the context of an intended audience until after explaining the marketability of the narrative.
Draw of Story
There is a line that says this book could help people who want to shoot someone after an argument. This is a bold claim that the narrative attempts to follow through in teaching forgiveness.
Possible Drawbacks
The breakup between personal narrative and lessons creates an uneven pacing of the conflict. Showing the concepts through a unified narrative and reframing the wisdom as part of the story might help even out the pacing and make the conflict and transformation easier to follow.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The hook is that the author had a rough life but was able to find inner peace and is kind of enough to teach others how to do the same. It is an interesting journey to find serenity.
Fanbase Potential
This could have a small but dedicated fanbase within the self-improvement market. It might be hard to show to those in violent conflicts as listening to reason over raw emotion is hard to master in those particularly tense moments. The target audience might vary but it has a selling point.
Awards Potential
This genre is unclear as a self- help story or a drama so it might be hard to categorize for awards.
Envisioned Budget
LOW BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
THE SECRET, THE SHACK, UNBROKEN, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, MAGNOLIA, GREEN MILE
What’s New About the Story
The originality is the from the self-motivation the main character has to overcome their external conflicts to find inner peace. The inner transformation is quite deep but the second person point of view for the wisdom has less emotional engagement and is without a followable transformation for other characters.
Lead Characters
CJ is a strong, motivated and serene person. Brad is calm and personable. Her ex husband is selfish and hopeless.
Uniqueness of Story
This has some nice concept but can be hard to follow as a character or plot driven narrative. The side characters could have more emotional investment and the themes could be tied into the conflict to even out the pacing.
Possible Formats
Film: Streaming, Indie
Analyst Recommendation
WORK IN PROGRESS
Justification
While the story has many positive points, it has room for improvement (see possible paths below). If you can't change the story at this point, my suggestion is using your notes as a guide to highlight the best aspects of it when taking the next steps, either putting a pitch page together, a treatment, or a presentation.
Tips for Improvement
Adding more depth and followable transformation to consistent side characters could help increase their emotional investment as well as show the progress and argument for the main character's wisdom about forgiveness. Integrating the themes into a forward-moving conflict could help quicken the pacing.