While at my daughter’s house, I watched one of the final episodes of this season’s “The Voice”. It was the first time I had watched the show so my daughter gave me a quick recap of how the entire contest works. As a person in the arts, I find it a little unfair that there are no TV contest shows for writers. Sure we have our own competitions, but unless it’s a whale of a contest, our prizes usually include a congratulatory t-shirt, mug or a check that might buy us groceries for a week. Okay, some contests also give out shiny badges that we can display on our websites, books, car windows and first born, but believe it or not, no one asks about our participation in those contests even when we have a sticker that says “First Prize” stuck to our kid’s forehead.
Being the staunch supporter of writers that I am, I have developed my own show for writers. If anyone in Hollywood is watching, please consider this my crude proposal for a new show called “The Writer”. This is how it will work.
Writers of different genres apply to be on the show by submitting an essay or excerpt from a book that he or she has written. The judges and coaches on the show will represent different genres. Each writer will have to perform various feats to show off their skill. They would have to write on-the-spot, original pieces for the judges. They won’t know in which genre they will be writing. See how I am creating suspense and tension? The only thing more exciting than this is paint drying.
The writers will create their work while sitting in the “Well of Words”—a special area on the stage that will emit a dramatic vibe. It will have an ornate desk, laptop, and for inspiration, mounds of chocolate, mugs of coffee and/or bottles of wine. Since it will be a family show, we can do away with the booze… on stage.
So, one judge will randomly select a writer and fire off a topic on which that contestant will write. The writer will then have to produce a 450-word essay in five minutes. Writers will be graded by the coaches on typing style, the number of typos, the amount and creativity of cursing they do during the writing process, and of course, the content. Armed with laser red pens, the coaches will edit away at the essay in front of the TV audience. At the end of the editing process, the coaches either will invite the writer to continue on in the competition or wade into the pool of tears and rejection. Writers who are sent to the pool of tears and rejection are eliminated. There are no saves. I think this ultimate emotional upheaval will make great reality TV.
This process goes on until only one writer is left standing and dry and then he or she is crowned “The Writer of the Year”. Confetti will fly and the coaches will hand over a $500 check because nowadays writers think this is a windfall. Unlike the singing competitions where a recording contract is awarded, there will be no big name publishing contract because in the new rules of publishing in the 21st century, if you are not famous or have no real connections, you don’t deserve a contract.
Who will be the judges? Well, for romance, I would pick Danielle Steel. She is still alive, right? You know what? She doesn’t have to be alive because here is another twist. We can hire the Long Island medium to channel dead coaches to help the live coaches. So, we can have Danielle Steel and Jane Austen for romance, Gene Roddenberry and whoever else is big in Science Fiction, Erma Bombeck and Dave Barry in humor, John Grisham and Agatha Christie in mystery and Stephen King and Edgar Allen Poe in horror. Personally, I can contact Edgar Allen Poe—he follows me on Twitter along with Jesus. Ooh, maybe Jesus will want to do the Christian writing thing – probably not, he’s a tad disappointed in a lot these days.
Remember, this is only a rudimentary outline of the new show. I still have a lot of details to figure out. I think this is a hit. It has excitement, drama, dead people—the works. I hope they bring me on board as a consultant. I’ll bring the wine, caffeine and chocolate.
You had me at offstage booze…the $500 is just the triple sec in my kamikaze. CHEERS to the newest reality show on TV..wait, is underwear mandatory?
We are so easily swayed by free booze. I love the triple sec analogy! LOL
I believe you accidentally omitted an important category: Bathroom and food breaks. When I’m stumped which is every 38 seconds, I go to the bathroom. Then, I meander into the kitchen to stare at the contents of my frig. Sometimes I’ll get a drink, oftentimes I’ll nibble on something and then return to the study. 9 out of 10 times I mislaid my glasses which means I have to repeat the cycle. Perhaps this may turn into an obstacle course for writers on the show.
We could add an obstacle course!
“Well, for romance, I would pick Danielle Steel. She is still alive, right? You know what? She doesn’t have to be alive because here is another twist. We can hire the Long Island medium to channel dead coaches to help the live coaches.” All I have to say is LMAO!!!!
I think the Long Island Madam would be a fun addition to the show. A little paranormal goes a long way!
YES! I wrote about this same topic (for screenwriters though) back in 2012, in my Writing Creatively blog, titled, “Where’s the Talent Competition for Screenwriters?” But one for writer of all genres? Absolutely! If we have to petition the Writer’s Guild of America, I’m with you!
This could totally work! As I read your description, I had “Project Runway” in mind as a parallel — and Fashion Design can’t even shine Writing’s shoes! I say we promote the idea UP! I’m in on the work it’ll take. There are no shortage of potential judges, that’s for damned sure!
No and each season we can switch judges too! I think it has merit. Thanks for reading Pamela!
FUNNY! 😀
I’ll come for the wine, coffee and chocolate.
Can we cheat and use old stuff that we started but never finished?
sure. As long as it’s your work, it will be okay!
Hilarious and intriguing. Let’s do it!
Okay, you can do all the interviews of the writers too!
I feel your pain Don Don’s. I too have been forced to watch The Voice although I think it’s because I was evil in a previous life as well as this life.
Let me in the Well of Words now, now I said!
You are in Bill Y!!
Sounds like a great idea. I’m all for it!
Great!
Count me in! I’ll even supply the tissues for the pool of tears!!
It’s a deal Deb!
I regularly get $500 for writing — my name on the signature line at the plasma center. Then off to the liquor store! This is a great idea.
We can all compete if they do teams. We can be the HO team!
What do you mean when you say the writers are eliminated? Seems rather ominous. Egads. By the way,I tried sending this comment on FB. I hope I succeeded. If not, the message is providing a homing beacon to vicious interstellar aliens.
Oops Paul. I forgot who I am addressing here. For you I will be more specific. Not dead eliminated – just sent home packing!
I’m in! I love your judge selections.
Hi Janie,
Feel free to add your own judge recommendations. Those are not set in stone. Glad you like the idea!! 🙂
Bwahahaha! Finally, a reality show I would watch! And maybe participate in . . . 🙂
I think we writers deserve this show and it would bring attention to the stressful life we live with words.
Sign me up!
okay, Karen. Better get those typing fingers ready! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I think you are on to something!
Keith, I think we can do this. We might need to add some dancers during the writing times so the audience has something to look at. They could be modern dancers. They always look pensive and would fit right in.