So, most people are obsessed with some type of reality-TV program, right? American Idol, Project Runway, Survivor--what have you. My favorite reality show?

What Not to Wear

I love seeing 80s throwbacks reinvented, love seeing moms getting sexed up, and I *especially* love those who dress too young/old for their age get set on the right path. Plus, Clinton and I went to the same college. What's not to love?

So, I was happily enjoying a mini-marathon of episodes the other day when it dawned on me: What Not to Wear is exactly like a good critique of a piece of writing. At first, you think the story is fine the way it is. You're comfortable with the characters you create, with the style and pacing of the story, and with the themes. Never mind that some of the characters--like tapered pants, Clinton and Stacy's big no-no--don't fit quite right, or that some of the themes stand out as garishly as the colors on an 80s shirt--you're comfortable with the flaws. They're yours.

Then come the 360-degree mirror and the secret footage.

Here--try on everything you own in an environment where you can't hide from the truth. Or, watch yourself and finally see yourself the way other people see you. Frightening for most people. Same goes with writing. Having someone else point out the flaws, show them to you in a bright light, makes you finally regard your work the way that outsider does. And, in most cases, it ain't pretty.

However, once the people on the show accept the Rules and start shopping smart, they see the improvements. It's never without a struggle, though--it's hard to leave those old habits and comforts behind (even if, by God, they ARE parachute pants and glittery scrunchies). Same goes with writing. At first, there's resistance to the suggestions, but then, the more you try out new ideas, the more you open your mind to ways that the story could improve, the better it becomes.

Finally, once Nick and Carmindy show up to do hair and makeup, the magic is revealed: the person who showed up dressed like Madonna in her Holiday video is truly beautiful--there was just too much stuff to see her clearly. And yep, same thing with that story: all those changes bring out what is really good about the structure.

*sigh* I'm all happy and warm inside.