Have you seen the MTV show, I Wanna Be MADE? It’s all about self-proclaimed losers who become winners by working hard to realize their dreams.
This afternoon, I
wrote thousands of words for my manuscript watched an episode about an socially unskilled, doughy-looking high school senior who asks to be MADE into a prom king. Over several weeks, he works out with a physical trainer, meets regularly with a MADE motivation coach, and undergoes a makeover with a cadre of fashion and hair stylists. Eventually, he
is beaten over the head with enough brickbats realizes that the most important steps to being MADE involves
the approval of his peers getting off the couch, believing in himself, and doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to accomplish his goals.
The show inspired me to think about how much I want to be MADE into a writer. So I took some time to think about the questions MADE wanna-be’s respond to in their auditions, and I’ve included a very condensed version here:
MY GOAL: To finish the first draft of Chapter Two by the end of next week, and to finalize my nonfiction proposal revisions and additions by the end of this month.
WHY I THINK I CAN MAKE IT: Because I have the energy, the time, and the passion. And besides, I have a wonderful agent, friends, and family who believe in me.
HERE’S WHERE I NEED HELP REINVENTING MYSELF: I have sentence-level OCD writer’s block, meaning I worry each line to “perfection.” Then, I get really discouraged because my overall writing is moving forward at a stultifying pace.
Bottom line: I need to be MADE into a writer who’s more confident and productive.
One of the great things about Live Journal is that we are, in a way, MADE coaches — a posse of friends who help each other reach our full potential. So if you’ve got some tips/tricks/ideas you think will help me, would you please leave them for me in the comments thread? With a bit of inspiration and a lot of proverbial perspiration, I hope to have it MADE by the end of this month!
Already, a small disclaimer: I know that too much TV turns productive citizens into passive pod people without ambition or drive — definitely not MADE material. (Hello, MTV, see any irony here?) So, in my own defense, let it be known that I only watched for 30 minutes today, and that was my time-out for lunch. =:)
I watched an episode about a girl wanting to be a cheerleader–I hate to say it, but it was riveting in a sick sort of–I shouldn’t be wasting my time watching this, kind of thing.
Now give me ten thousand words!
I know. It’s very entertaining, in a jalopy-slams-into-the-Golden-Door-Spa kind of way.
Ten THOUSAND words? I’m verklempt, just thinking it! Writing nonfiction is a little different that fiction, I’ve learned. I have to think in terms of segments completed rather than numbers of words.
Writing Tip
Instead of writing in standard prose, pretend you are writing a free-verse novel. Forget about sentences and write in flowing, descriptive, vivid images. Break the lines where it feels right to convey the thought, not where conventional punctuation dictates. Write the entire chapter this way, read it, and then start again from the top, molding it into the sentences and paragraphs you want.
The rush of letting your right brain take over for a little while combined with the freedom to put your thoughts on paper without judgment will give you the clay you need to create your perfect chapter.
Re: Writing Tip
That’s what I need to do: let my right brain take over for a while. I enjoy thinking in metaphors (which is how I like to thread together my chapters), but I lose that joy when my left-brain editor takes over.
For speed: drive on through and finish. Let rest a few days. Pick piece back up and read and make changes that will be clearer after the rest. Repeat.
I tried that yesterday, and it really helped. I promised myself I wouldn’t edit a single sentence until I finished the segment I was writing. Then, I printed it out and put it to bed, so to speak, and went on to the next part of the chapter.
To get MADE, I think you’ll need some TV cameras following you around, a writing coach like, ummm…Toni Morrison to hound you into doing what you should, and a publisher waiting for your finished manuscript. If that doesn’t work…
Set goals and rewards, like “today I’m going to write x-thousand words, and when I’m done I’m going to watch another episode of MADE.” Then, just plow through. If you get stuck or don’t like a sentence, throw a ** or an XX in there, so your brain will recognize that you’ve at least marked it, and won’t forget to fix it.
You can also post your progress and we can cheer you on!
Sounds like a great show, but I’d hate to have the cameras trained on me and my michegas!
I really like your idea about putting place-fillers in where I get stuck. I did that yesterday, and it really helped me keep a better pace. I fret so much when I can’t figure out a word/need a quote/can’t come up with an idea. This strategy helped me move past those temporary obstacles. Thanks for the suggestion! And yes, I’ll take you up on that last part. It helps to be accountable to someone(s) and to get accolades when you meet your goals. Writing is by necessity a solitary profession sometimes, but it’s also important (and so much fun) to work in community, too. Thanks!
I haven’t read that book, but Lamott’s idea makes sense. I need to let go of expectations that the first draft will be good. That’s what ties my creativity up in knots.
“HERE’S WHERE I NEED HELP REINVENTING MYSELF: I have sentence-level OCD writer’s block, meaning I worry each line to “perfection.” Then, I get really discouraged because my overall writing is moving forward at a stultifying pace. Bottom line: I need to be MADE into a writer who’s more confident and productive.”
I could have written this myself. **hugs**
Really? I thought everyone but me worked at a much more rapid pace. Is it wrong to find comfort in the fact that I’m wrong about that?
Thanks for the hugs, Roni. I needed ’em! (Still do…I’ve got to get this chapter written, and SOON.)
I wrote a whole article on the show Made! It was in kidmagwriters.com too :0)
One thing I started to do, which has helped me, is to create a new LJ. I know, you’re probably thinking “WHAT?” But seriously, it’s helped. I haven’t told anyone the LJ name, so it’s just for me. Every day, I post my goals (usually at least 2 or 3, so I can choose what I want to do that day), and then keep looking at it when I’m tempted to go read LJs or goof off. At the end of the day, I update what I did, and then start over the next day.
I never would have gotten my portfolio done for LA without doing that.
Good luck with whatever you try to help you get things done!
Do you have a link to your article? I’d love to read it!!
I love the idea of writing out goals like that. I’m going to do that this week. Thank you!
I sure wish I could have met you at the conference in L.A. I’m sorry that I missed that opportunity. On the bright side, I managed to accomplish quite a bit, which is really important for me and my project right now. The sooner this chapter’s finished, the sooner we can start subbing my proposal. 🙂