You know how there are some characters whom other characters and fans like to call by their first and last names with frequency? Jordan Catalano. Tim Riggins. Veronica Mars. And more. Many more that I'm not thinking of! Anyway, I just realized in mine that that character is Seth McCoy. It isn't cheesily done - at least I hope it isn't - but it kind of cracks me up now that I see it.
I am lucky to have a critique partner who is a fantastic writer who happens to think like an editor. He comes up with lots of ideas for me and gives me things to think about every time he gives me feedback. WHICH IS FANTASTIC. But this week, he said something that has turned my world all upside down again. John doesn't see how the stuff with Kendall relates to Seth's main arc regarding his dead friend Isaac. And, in his opinion, the Kendall stuff just keeps getting more and more away from the main problem here. (FYI: the main thing Kendall brings early on is regret for Seth. He woke up in bed with her after getting trashed. He remembers NOTHING about it, and it bugs him for many reasons that I won't get into here, but trust me, they are complex.)
I don't disagree with John. I mean, I think it all does connect, but loosely.
John suggested that it might be a good idea to change Kendall's role in the story. To have her be Isaac's girlfriend or ex-girlfriend or something. Because that will pull her right into the arc and make her an important part of the journey instead of just a divergence. And, it also makes for a different (and stronger) kind of tension in every one of Seth and Kendall's scenes.
I just re-read my opening scenes with the mindset that Kendall was Isaac's on-again-off-again girlfriend. I have to say, it really, really did up the tension.
The original line about how much things suck for Seth lately: ...remembering that I’d lost my virginity the night before to a girl I couldn’t stand...
When you take out "girl I couldn't stand" and put in "my friend's girlfriend" (or whatever), well, that really does change everything. It makes you feel Seth's disgust and regret so much more somehow.
Changing Kendall the character changes the feel of many scenes because instead of Kendall disliking Isaac and being almost indiffent to his death (as it is currently written), Seth would instead have to wonder what she's really thinking, how she can act so cold about someone she is supposed to have cared about. It really gives Kendall depth and makes her more sympathetic, I think. Because clearly she's behaving the way she's behaving for different reasons than what you might expect.
I don't know. I almost think I'm ready to make the change in my mind, so I can keep moving forward knowing that I'll have to do some pretty big clean up when I go finish. I wish I knew if this is the right change to make. There are certainly good and bad points to whatever I decide. But the main bad point seems just to be that it will be more work. And that really shouldn't be my determining factor. Especially if the change will be better for the story as a whole.
I've been, you know, reworking this draft for a few months now. There have been new scenes added as well, but a big part of it really has been rewriting scenes I've already written. I just did two Kendall/Seth scenes in a row and they've been going really well. I was even starting to feel, like, good and confident again. But then Rosetta showed up in the scene and I instantly hit a wall. People who read Rosetta/Seth scenes after I've revised the heck out of them say they have great chemistry. But, why, oh why, is it so hard for me to get that chemistry going? Why can't Seth's interactions with her just FLOW like his interactions with Kendall?
Hmmm. You know what's funny? Seth has known Kendall his whole life. Even though he doesn't like her most of the time, he still knows what to expect from her, how to handle her. Rosetta he's only known a few weeks and he really doesn't know much about her (except that he likes her). So, maybe that's what it is. Maybe I'm trying to figure things out right along with Seth?
Blarg! I don't know...
As I mentioned in this entry last month, I used a 2007 calendar when I structured my outline. Today is a big day for Seth McCoy! While I'm here at my desk rewriting the Homecoming dance (which took place October 6th), Seth's October 13th agenda includes many, MANY major events including losing his virginity (which happens around 1pm)!
Oh, and the weather here in the Seattle area? Cool, but clear skies. In my outline it is raining like CRAZY. Ha!
Rachel Cohn posted on MySpace about the movie for "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" which evidently is in preproduction. In a discussion going on in My Pants a few months ago, there was a thread about "Which fictional characters do you have crushes on?" My true answer is Seth from The Fake McCoy (I know, I know), but since no one would know who he is, I chose my number two: Nick from "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist."
Michael Cera from "Superbad" was cast as Nick in the movie and, I have to say, from what I've seen of him he just doesn't fit my idea of Nick. At all.
We'll see, we'll see.
