Yesterday felt like many days in one. A funeral for a family friend who lived to the grand age of 100, followed by lunch with my dad and a trip to the college where he teaches.
“Are you a student here?” one of his colleagues asked me.
“Paul, she’s 40 years old!” my dad said, laughing.
(To be fair, the man was very far away, but still.)
As we went home, my dad marveled at how quickly the day flew… How was it so late in the afternoon already?
“Pleasant company,” he mused, and I smiled.
These are all things I’ve worked very hard to become: a good daughter, pleasant company, someone who can (from faraway BUT STILL) pass for 22.
I’ve been putting off finishing The Leftovers for some reason. It’s not a lack of interest—more that I knew I’d need some time to dive back into the mythology. Here’s my big takeaway for the week:
Season 3 Episode 2 (Don’t Be Ridiculous) which focuses on the character Nora Durst is a masterclass in understanding what it means to craft an “active protagonist.”
Without flooding your head with too much theory or bias, for me an “active protagonist” is simply someone who makes choices that either bring them closer or further away from some goal. And that, my friends, is one solid way to tell a story.
Nora Durst has been active from Day One—but some of her choices have been so low-key, understated, and unknown to the other characters that you could be tricked into thinking her passive, unconcerned.
Then she’ll do something that so totally surprises you and those choices always give the story a place to turn…
I’ll say no more because if you’re reading this newsletter, there’s a chance you might share my interest in things like character-driven storytelling, the human search for meaning, and Justin Theroux’s abs.
If so, The Leftovers might be the show for you.
I struggle with creating my own active characters. Whether it’s because when it comes to my own life I’m pretty go-with-the-flow or because I’m just a sucker for character psychology, I tend towards writing characters who are introspective first, active second.
So every time I sit down to write fiction, characters, or comedy, I must challenge myself to make my lil’ buddies do all the things I would never do.
FOLLOW THAT CAB!
SAY THAT AWFUL THING!
MAKE THAT TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE MISTAKE!
But as soon as I let them do that, things get really fun. Suddenly I’m out of the brain of Sarah Rainone who must live in our world of action and consequence—and I’m into the brain of someone a little more like Nora Durst.
Nora Durst also lives in a world of action and consequence, but since hers is a fictional world, no one can really get hurt.
Nora Durst picks up the phone and follows a lead.
Nora Durst tricks her employer into bankrolling her personal obsessions.
Nora Durst has a gun in her purse.
What does your character have in theirs?
STAY TUNED…
CAUSE NEXT WEEK WE’LL TALK ABOUT CONSEQUENCES….
Lots of cool stuff coming up this month!
Calling all fans of David Lynch and David Bowie! If you’re in the New York area, mark your calendars for October 25th for Black Lodge/White Noise: an immersive David Lynch and David Bowie Halloween. I’ve been hosting this show as one of your fave characters from Twin Peaks for many years now, and let me tell you: it’s always a great time and a total trip. And the line-up of musicians and performers is: absolute chef’s kiss.
Sadly, I won’t be in New York this Monday, but if I were, I would definitely be checking out Milly Tamarez’s show The Steve Harvey Lifetime Achievement Awards. Milly is a fast-rising star in the New York comedy scene, a creator of Flexx Mag, and one of my favorite comedians these days.
Since I’m in Massachusetts this week, I might be taking a trip north to Salem sometime this week for the Salem Horror Fest. The line-up is pretty amazing (John Waters! Elvria, Mistress of the Dark! Rachel True! The Crypt Keeper!)—and can you believe I’ve never been to Salem???
Finally, my Ayurvedic practitioner hipped me to this free online summit on collective trauma sponsored in part by the Omega Institute. I’m especially keen to hear from Bessel van der Kolk, MD, the author of The Body Keeps the Score.
That’s all I’ve got for ya this week, Saturdenizens. Have a wonderful weekend—may your days be relaxing and your characters active.
xoxo
Sarah