Story Assembly -- Putting it all to work

writing
#123

That’s exactly the kind of question I needed - thanks.

So here’s what I’m thinking: Sebastian is constantly finding himself stranded without fare money, keys, wallet, etc. and sometimes in no condition to get himself home. It’s always Mary Beth he calls to come get him, no matter the time or location.

In doing some research before writing this I came across some interesting things about airships and daredevils on the tops of buildings that might play in to Mary Beth’s fear. Also, for those on Pinterest, this board on 1930’s New York: http://www.pinterest.com/hillshezza/1930s-new-york/

So…do I need more? less? something different?

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#124

Sounds great to me! I added that he considers Mary Beth his only friend, a reason for him to always call her (and it’s a nice Situation-y bit).

@Writegeist your turn.

#125

@jhull , I need a little clarification. I thought Sebastian was supposed to be “imaginary?” Did that get scrapped/ignored?

#126

Writegeist 4d
“…I propose considering Sebastian Olivia as the Guardian… The rest of this is just free-writing;
it may or may not be the appropriate time to bring up some of these points, but I didn’t
want to lose any of it.
POSSIBLE IDEAS: In this case, I can see him as an inadequate Guardian, one who feels as if
he needs to protect Marybeth despite the fact that she doesn’t want or really need to be
protected. He is possibly inept at it as well, perhaps lending a certain amount of charm to
the character. He isn’t malicious; just misguided. He has established prejudices that come in
direct conflict with how Marybeth views herself…”

I have been working on something about Sebastian, myself, based on the above, (I just copied and pasted this from earlier in the encoding sessions.) Did I miss something about imaginary? Or was that another character?

Oh, I see. I went back to the beginning and found this previous post:

jamjam1794 15d
“Sebastian Olivia as the Impact Character. I’m thinking that perhaps he is a character MaryBeth has created, her idea of the perfect man.”

There is the word “perhaps”. Did that leave it open?

#127

Considering that I raced ahead of my turn, I’m still interested in creating a Guardian for Marybeth. I would like to propose Olga Ira as the Guardian. I’m not sure how much to go into her background, so again, like I did before, I’ll just put it here to prevent losing my ideas. I was thinking Olga could be someone who has worked in the building for many years (in some other capacity; backstory needed, maybe something to do with being enamored with cartooning or whatever their specific niche will be) and has perfected a technique on her own, in hiding, that has not been seen by anyone in the business (research needed here, I’m sure). Olga is uncertain about sharing her technique with anyone else, but some series of events convinces her that Marybeth may be able to appreciate and use what she has worked so hard to develop.

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#128

Oh, I see. jamjam1794 went first, then yours. Jim will straighten this out, for sure.

#129

In regards to “imaginary” characters and backgrounds…you can write these if you want. Typically we don’t delve into that much storytelling as it tends to narrow down the story too much - kind of like answering 15 questions at once! To be honest I didn’t even read that little bit about imaginary because I just took the Archetype assignment.

I would maybe wait to make Sebastian “imaginary” and see if there is someway it could work into the storyform…though if it were me I might try to keep him real for now.

@Writegeist Olga is the Guardian. Great…which leaves me…

I’ll do the Consequence – the women in the studio prepare themselves to work the bread lines and soup kitchens.

If everyone is good with that…@jassnip?

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#130

I’m good with that.

I would like to cast Shaina Yakov as the emotion character. Repped with permission by the beautiful Melory M.

#131

I am going to be unavailable for three days. I am next according to the list. I sent Jim this one and two others, in case my turn comes, again, before I get back. How is this one?

IC ISSUE: Being Doomed vs. Fate
He sees doom and gloom as an inevitable result.  MC helps him to see that fate gives depressions as something to overcome.  However, this is the IC throughline, and if the MC could help him with this in their Relationship Throughline, then maybe his work peers could be a group player or maybe one of the other characters to be revealed later helps him see that.

#132

The first sentence somewhat works…the rest is probably a bit overworked for this exercise. You still need to articulate the storytelling within the context of the appreciation (Issue). So how does Sebastian seeing doom and gloom as inevitable create issues that have an influence on MaryBeth?

Assuming you’ve already left I’ll slightly tweak it to:

Sebastian’s sense of being doomed keeps him from ever being self-sufficient; the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness preventing him from helping himself. Accidents and coincidence only confirm his negative outlook.

I added the Fate counterpoint in there (accidents and coincidence) to help balance out the argument.

This is really turning out interesting…you can see how someone with this doom and gloom attitude would arrive at it from years and years of “studying atlantis” and how that might lead to him feeling “stranded” all the time! So cool…

@jamjam1794 you’re up!

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#133

In response to the earlier question regarding my comment about Sebastian perhaps being imaginary - it was just an idea, nothing definitive.

IC PROBLEM: Stirring Up Trouble for Someone
His strong dependence and heavy reliance on MaryBeth (his only “true” friend) creates trouble for her often. Whether it be calling her for a ride in the middle of the night, accidentally ruining an important meeting, etc. - he just can’t stop himself. He fails to see the chaotic impact of his actions.

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#139

This is OK. There’s something about it that feels off to me, though I’m not sure what. Its why I wanted a day or two to think about it, sorry for the delay. I almost feel like the encoding is the definition of an Influence Character. I think what it is, is that I’m missing the Why? Why does Sebastian feel driven to stir up trouble for someone?

As the Change character this Stirring Up Trouble describes his justification – his baggage – acquired prior to the story. The way you have it written it sounds more like what he does or what we see rather than an actual Problem he will eventually grow out of.

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#140

What? Like Katherine Hepburn in Bringing up Baby? Sebastian is the manic, pixie dream-boy?

#141

Delayed Adolescence would be believable. I have worked with professionals who still had kid traits, silliness, that popped up, occasionally. I was chastised for not fielding things, letting certain things go out signed, instead of changing it as a secretary, way back when. I never saw that Kate Hepburn character that way, though. I see it more Wayne’s World or Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

#142

Yeah, I would not say Katherine Hepburn is the change character in Bringing Up Baby. Bad example
(a few moments later)
Yeah. Bringing Up Baby is in the database and she is the influence character but MC changes.

#143

DISCLAIMER: This is just an article that might provide some context. Feel free to ignore: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/women-who-conquered-the-comics-world/?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=email

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#144

I apologize - I must pull out of this Story Assembly. My father is dying and in hospice and I am the sole caretaker. My next several weeks are going to be full of planning and arranging and disposing. I will still follow as I can - I have learned SOOOO much from this. I hope to be able to participate in the next one. Thank you all.

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#145

Where are we on this? I know Fancy had to bow out. Who is up?

#146

I think JHull is waiting for @jamjam1794 to finish the turn by tweaking IC: causing someone trouble

#147

Apologies on the slow response, I’ve been trying to thinking about the ‘why’.

“IC PROBLEM: Stirring Up Trouble for Someone
Driven by the desire to fix the chaotic mess that is his life (caused by his own lack of self-sufficiency), his strong dependence and heavy reliance on MaryBeth (his only “true” friend) creates trouble for her often. Whether it be calling her for a ride in the middle of the night, accidentally ruining an important meeting, etc. - he just can’t stop himself. He fails to see the chaotic impact of his actions.”

Does this work? He wants order, but instead creates chaos. Or is this too ‘on-the-nose’?