The Writing of Chris Ernest Hall

Could 1989 A Novel be seen as a cycle of birth, death and rebirth? Tim rules over the summer of '89, but symbolically dies in the fall after the quake, only to be resurrected on fifth floor when he hangs out with the freshman girls.

...came into being in the spring, reigned during the summer, and ritually died at harvest time, only to be reborn at the winter solstice to wax and rule again. The spirit of vegetation was therefore a "dying and reviving god." Osiris, Adonis, Dionysus, Attis and many other familiar figures from Greek mythology and classical antiquity were re-interpreted in this mold. The sacred king, the human embodiment of the dying and reviving vegetation god, was supposed to have originally been an individual chosen to rule for a time, but whose fate was to suffer as a sacrifice, to be offered back to the earth so that a new king could rule for a time in his stead.

Post a scene a  day as I revise them?  Between now and my birthday on July 11th? Would I reach the end by that day? How many scenes are there in 1989? There are about sixty days between now and then. Where would I do? Here? Typepad? Vox? All three? 

CS is told from April's POV, so it begins and ends with her at the beach flats, trying to help rafe. That would be one way to cut stuff out. So would it only be scenes from April's POV? Or is that too restricting?

What's the arc,though? What changes significantly in the course of the day? April experiences a rapprochement, with her mother as the result of her mom helping rafe, who ends up living with them? But that doesn't make sense with the plot of 1989 A Novel.

Maybe the ending is just April learning how much danger rafe is in, but as a stand-alone movie, how satisfying is that? Saves him temporarily, but with no long--term resolution? That might work.

During his creative writing class, Tim gets into writing micro-fiction, stories of 100 words or less. Some if it might be second person from Helen's POV (or "Miranda".) He collects them into a story called "What We Talk About When We Talk About Sex" which are Helen and Jessica talking about sex. (And Lana?)This makes up part of "Something Interesting to Read."

At some point, Tim sneaks into April and Andrea's house and reads her diary, desperate to learn what she is really up to.

So we get to read April's diary all at once.

1. Rivalry over Helen (between who?)
2. Jake trying to arrange for a keg
3. one more

Needs to be epic. But also funny. And memorable. She's one of the most important characters, the one who incites much of the action of the series. 

In a way, she is sort of summoned By Jake's desire? Or Tim's?

One way I thought of, but seems cliched: Jake compaining there aren't enough hot girls on their hall, to Tim, but while he's saying that, Tim stops paying attention, since he has seen Helen, who has entranced him.

That could work, but doesn't feel very original. Kind of teen comedy-esque. Cheezy.

Maybe I should resurrect the scene from Dotcom Faust? Jake and Tim play "ten women" while in the dining hall having dinner (or at a party?) Tim waits and waits, and just at the last possible moment, Helen walks through and Jake is like "you bastard!"

Judah is the guy with the answers. More than Helen, he knows the reason why they are all gathered there. He’s also an unbelievable, decadent partier. He and Helen sometimes sleep together. (perhaps that’s revealed in the first episode.)

What is Judah's agenda? He longs to be free of his curse, but also is afraid of the light. Afraid of being happy.

Also need a hot girl with wicked332/off-beat sense of humor. Kind of Galen-esque, more hot than beautiful, though. Kind of a slut, too. She might not appear immediately—maybe she’s a friend of Jake’s who visits during fall quarter, then transfers? What’s her name? Miranda? Hannah?

Jake is seemingly a ladies man, but deep down needs to be more in a relationship.

Tim is very concerned with morality, but also afraid of commitment. He doesn’t really want to be in a relationship, just sexual experience.

The deadhead stoner character is also one of the smartest and hardest studying. (Name? Davey? Pete?)

Lana is a deadhead girl, but with an odd twist (which is what? She’s a neat freak? compulsive?) Maybe Lana is Asian? Asian neat-freak deadhead chick.

Sophie is the other deadhead girl, whose parents are fabulously wealthy, but she never reveals it. Also a member of minor European royalty.

Helen: beautiful but strangely genuine. Millenia of loss have made her compassionate but also wary. She is careful of getting too close to anyone, and will only sleep with those she knows will not fall in love with her.

Jessica is a "good Jewish girl" but also a stoner and partier, with a somewhat anarchic sense of humor.