Once again I didn't make it to everyone's blog. But I hope I've reached most of you by now during the past two weeks. This should be the last really crazy week for me. I'm more than 75% finished, with eighty pages to go. Next week my blog visiting and commenting should return to a more rhythmic schedule with no more midnight comments :)
The other night I was watching a Chopped rerun on the Food Network. I love this show. Four chefs have to make an appetizer, entree, and dessert with four different items in their baskets for each course. Each round is timed and judged on taste, presentation, and creativity. At the end of each round, the cook with the lowest score gets chopped from the line-up. Last chef standing is the winner.
It's like every cook's nightmare. It's time to make dinner. You haven't been shopping in a week, and dinner will be whatever is in the fridge. You pull open the door, and the only four items inside don't go together. At all. And there isn't enough of any one thing to make a meal of.
As I watched, I wondered why I'd never before thought the whole making a meal thing is a bit like writing a novel. We combine things that, on the surface, don't really fit together, add herbs and spices, some TLC, and produce a finished piece.
The Appetizer is the Hook
Full of zing and just enough to make the reader turn the page.
The Protein is the Protagonist
Seasoned well, maybe a little spicy, with layer after layer of flavors.
The Vegetables are the Secondary Characters
These add more texture and taste to your story while complementing the protagonist.
The Starch is the Main Sub-Plot
You know the one I mean ... the one readers have to follow because it's so yummy.
The Sauce is the Antagonist
Concentrated and rich. A little goes a long way.
The Dessert is the Denouement
Everything comes together and the story, like the meal, feels complete.
The next time you prepare dinner, think about how the steps work in your manuscript. Maybe you'll get a new idea or two.
Or maybe you'll just be happy you enjoyed a good meal.
Either way, win-win.
Happy Monday!
= = = = =
The other night I was watching a Chopped rerun on the Food Network. I love this show. Four chefs have to make an appetizer, entree, and dessert with four different items in their baskets for each course. Each round is timed and judged on taste, presentation, and creativity. At the end of each round, the cook with the lowest score gets chopped from the line-up. Last chef standing is the winner.
It's like every cook's nightmare. It's time to make dinner. You haven't been shopping in a week, and dinner will be whatever is in the fridge. You pull open the door, and the only four items inside don't go together. At all. And there isn't enough of any one thing to make a meal of.
As I watched, I wondered why I'd never before thought the whole making a meal thing is a bit like writing a novel. We combine things that, on the surface, don't really fit together, add herbs and spices, some TLC, and produce a finished piece.
The Appetizer is the Hook
Full of zing and just enough to make the reader turn the page.
The Protein is the Protagonist
Seasoned well, maybe a little spicy, with layer after layer of flavors.
The Vegetables are the Secondary Characters
These add more texture and taste to your story while complementing the protagonist.
The Starch is the Main Sub-Plot
You know the one I mean ... the one readers have to follow because it's so yummy.
The Sauce is the Antagonist
Concentrated and rich. A little goes a long way.
The Dessert is the Denouement
Everything comes together and the story, like the meal, feels complete.
The next time you prepare dinner, think about how the steps work in your manuscript. Maybe you'll get a new idea or two.
Or maybe you'll just be happy you enjoyed a good meal.
Either way, win-win.
Happy Monday!
Comments
Don't put too much pressure on yourself on commenting--it quickly becomes overwhelming and makes the whole activity much less fun for you.
Joanne - Yes. I love when it happens.
Talli - Great minds :)
Slamdunk - Commenting can be overwhelming, especially at busy times. But I love reading what everyone says and getting to know them.
Tracy Jo - You have a great Monday, too.
Hart - Ah, there's the secret!
Like brownies taste good...mmm
And congrats on being more than 75% done, you must be so anxious to get to the finish line now. That's awesome. :)
You're doing great with the writing. Woot.
LR - Yes, must taste good. Like those brownies :)
Julie - I'm looking forward to that dessert, too.
Theresa - So close I can almost taste it-LOL
Tara - Two of my favorite things!
Brenda Kay - Thanks!
Stephen - I just ate lunch. No willpower. Good for you!
L.G. - Exactly!
I've never watched Chopped, I'll have to keep an eye out for it. Does this mean I like protein driven fiction?
VR - Protein Driven Fiction - LOL! I love it :)
Julie - Yes! Exactly. Like cuddlefish and gumdrops.
Alex - Yes!
Very clever analogy. Thanks for sharing.
Donna
Love the cooking analogy - some of my manuscripts seem to have been in the oven forever!
Btw, if you pop down to my blog sometime (http://manicscribbler.blogspot.com/) you might find a tasty little surprise awaiting you.
Lyn -x-
Janet - That's what we all hope!
Holly - Thanks.
Clarissa - The Cooking Channel here is an offshoot of the Food Network, which Chopped is on. Hope you find it!
Lyn - I have some of those :)
I'll zip over right now!
It sounds like you're making great progress on your project. Keep up the good work.
Tossing It Out