Writers, artists, bold and brave storyteers:
Thank you for joining me in class number one last night! We are on our way, and I am very excited for what’s ahead. Here’s a little synopsis of what we went over, what I’d like you to do for next week, and a few things I think you ought to read.
Just like the dad I’ve never met of a bartender I met once, I write because it’s my way of making sense of the world. It’s a little corner of the universe that’s just for me, where I can process my feelings, where I can make a statement that is strictly mine, whether I share it or not. Maybe this resonates with you as well. But this Roland Bartels guy put it really beautifully, so I’m attaching a snapshot of his words so you can keep them close too. (If I can get my scanner working, you’ll get a better copy.)
Writing is also a way for me to finish a sentence, and if you’ve ever been shamed/bullied/coerced/interrupted into silence, maybe that resonates with you too. In this class, we’re finishing our sentences. You hear me?
Another thing we’re going to do in this class is take this idea right here: “you are only a writer if you are constantly, obsessively, single-mindedly creating content,” we are going to wad it up, and we are going to put it in the trash. It’s false. Observing, listening, daydreaming, napping, procrastinating, doomscrolling, walking: these are all in the job description of a writer. Of course, you do have to sit down and work at some point, but you also have to live. You have to get ideas. You won’t get anywhere on an empty tank. In this job, the daydreamer within you is going to win Employee Of The Month from time to time. Accept it.
Strange as it sounds, writing up a simple TV recap is a good way to develop a constant writing habit (because you have a deadline once a week!), cultivate an audience (because every show has somebody googling about it!) and explore your voice. Remember: you’re never just passively watching television. You’re engaging with art in one way or another, whether you’re watching it sincerely or ironically, so pay attention to what you’re watching and how. There’s information there.
Similarly for a good, old-fashioned rant. What gets your dander up, big or small, significant or frivolous, tells you something about who you are. Also: meditating on what makes you angry and then ripping it a new one with your words? What a pleasure. And, I don’t know, maybe if you look hard enough you’ll find something about life in 2020 that doesn’t sit right with you. Good luck!
Here are this week’s assignments:
First thing in the morning, write for 20 minutes. Do it before you grab your phone and find out what weird plot twists happened in the world while you slept. Do it before you turn the radio or television on. Let your voice be the first voice you hear every day. It helps, especially now.
Write yourself a TV recap! Any episode! We exist outside of time in this class. Pay attention to what you choose and how you engage with it. Put your own self into it if you see a chance. 800-1200 words.
Rant up a storm about the subject of your choosing. From Covid to guys who wear shower shoes in public. Whatever. Word count is flexible here; if you get your point across in 300? Great. I’d keep from going over 2000, though. Just let your fingers fly and do the editing later.
Also, here is some suggested reading in those areas:
TV RECAPS
R. Eric Thomas on Patti LaBelle & Gladys Knight’s Verzuz.
Paul F. Tompkins’ first American Idol recap.
Tara Ariano and Sarah Bunting, pioneers of the form, on 90210, from the book they wrote about the show, lest you doubt that TV recapping can lead to other work.
R. Eric Thomas on Katie Porter’s whiteboard. Not a TV show, sure, but a perfect deconstruction of an important moment, one that is done in a way media people call “voicey.”
RANTS
Here’s one of mine, because the spirit moved me.
Heather Havrilesky’s Ask Polly is a must-read, and Polly’s evil twin Molly is even better. Here’s a good rant (containing recap elements!) with a message you should take to heart as we move forward in this class.
Luke O’Neil is a master of the rant, so much so that he barely uses punctuation.
See you next week! Be safe.
Professor Dave
(The Dynasty folks have been calling me this, and I have decided to lean into it.)