This is the last email of the week. And there’ll only be one more next week in advance of the webinar on Wednesday 24th April at 6pm UK Time. Then it’s back to Friday-only emails as before.
We’re plodding on with our Naturally sitcom idea which will be used for training purpose at the webinar. Last time, we noted:
(Sidenote: I’m thinking that Zena isn’t giving us much here. She might need some more thought.)
So what’s Up With Zena?
At the moment, she’s not really giving us much. I’ve not done a lot of work on Zena, but the plotting process has already revealed that she only really exists in relation to other characters - especially Aaron.
In one sense, that’s okay. Relationships are probably as important as characters – as we will see in our final instalment before the webinar.
For now, let’s think a little bit more about Zena.
At the moment, Aaron was the driving force of the shop and Zena has joined him in that endeavour. What did we say about Aaron?
Aaron is a perfectionist, who is all about the rules of the store, stock-checking and making sure the numbers add up at the end of the day. He seems more interested in that than the mission of the store or his colleagues.
Let’s be honest. Does he sound like the type to start a health food store? Not so much.
Maybe we need someone a little more alternative for that. Surely that’s Zena? Is she the visionary behind this shop?
Her jealousy over Debbie is quite fun and interesting. But I think it’s all in Zena’s head. This is partly because I’ve never found infidelity funny. Maybe it ‘secrets’ I don’t find funny. Characters sitting on information or hiding anything for more than one scene is, in my view, tiresome.
But I think it’s funny that Zena is naturally a suspicious person. Let’s make sure we’re not veering into Chas’s world or paranoia, although I think Chas is a natural ally. I wonder if Zena says she is all about ‘harmony and world peace’. But she doesn’t live it out in her own life or her own head.
I’ve not read The Brothers Karamazov, but have often meant to because it contains this wonderful quotation that is apposite:
“The more I love humanity in general the less I love man in particular. In my dreams, I often make plans for the service of humanity, and perhaps I might actually face crucifixion if it were suddenly necessary. Yet I am incapable of living in the same room with anyone for two days together. I know from experience. As soon as anyone is near me, his personality disturbs me and restricts my freedom. In twenty-four hours I begin to hate the best of men: one because he’s too long over his dinner, another because he has a cold and keeps on blowing his nose. I become hostile to people the moment they come close to me. But it has always happened that the more I hate men individually the more I love humanity.”
PJ O’Rourke puts it much more simply.
“Everybody wants to save the Earth; nobody wants to help Mom do the dishes.”
That’s Zena. She wants to save the Earth. But she won’t do the dishes.
And she assumes that everyone else is trying to get out of doing the dishes too.
Let’s see how we go with that.
Sign up for webinar on Wednesday 24th April at 6pm UK Time. Between now and then, have a think about some plots – and how they relate to characters – and we can talk about them on the Zoom. And you can email me in advance via the email address when you sign up.
It’s a pay-what-you-like thing, with a very low minimum. But more than the minimum would be appreciated (and will determine whether I run these again in the future).
Damn it, I don't have time for this. I'm an exhibitor at the LA Times Festival of Books (which begins TOMORROW) and I'm launching a new thing next month, so I have a ton of work to do over the next few days, the next few weeks and months. No responsible person would add anything to the pile.
But now I'm invested. I want to know how this sitcom concept might play out, and the ideas in my own head aren't half as interesting as the ones you're playing with in these posts...
Will Nic finally register for this strangely magnetic webinar, despite all the reasons he must not do so? Stay tuned...