WritingRaw Editorials

Reality TV

by Rib

What do your call reality TV? Is the news the only real reality television? If so, what about the fair and balanced channel? Is it real? What about entertainment news? Is it real? Is it important? Does it matter if it is important? Is a straight ahead documentary a reality show? Some are pretty factual, some not. Is a game show reality? For that matter, what is a game show? Many so called reality shows seem like game shows. Is the difference in the prizes? There were 'dates' on the Dating Game. Is marriage a prize? So far in writing this, I think instead of being real or giving information, a reality show just makes for lots of questions. Survivor, Big Brother, The real World and the like sort of coined the term as it is known today. We know there isn't always a lot of a actual reality in those. Now, shows like Antiques Roadshow and History Detectives contain factual information and seem to me the safest bet to call a realty show. But I am sure many would disagree. American Idol and the various dancing, talent shows get huge ratings so do they have more clain to the term? They are real people showcasing their real talent. but people can vote over and over. The media can manipulate and possibly sway the votes. Judges can critique and in some cases decide if said act should stay or go.

That really happens but is it fair?

If a scruffy Dylan or a skinny Sinatra had come to our consciousness in this fashion, would we had ever seen them again? Would the masses take the time to appreciate the writing of Dylan or the voice of Sinatra?

Perhaps.

What about shows that enter peoples homes like Kate and those kids or Family Jewels? It is a real home but it sure doesn't always feel real. The specialty shows like top model and Food network star feel pretty real but it has to be hard to suddenly be on and totally be yourself.

Also, when it comes to the party, everybody shares shows… you know the ones. There are programs where there is a lot of screwing going on. This gives the youth of today a bad example to follow. It is unbelievable in the first place that so many young ones are allowed to see this stuff but that is material for another editorial. Kids today will grow up and think this is fun, that this is how to party.

What happened to people getting together for sparkling intelligent conversation and inventive sex?

It isn't all about drunken sloppy oral and doing shots. How about experimenting with cocktails and some real techniques to achieving the perfect orgasm. C'mon people, it is bad enough that these shows - along with the internet - have every detail of their young lives out there… at least class it up. Let us know that you have a brain.

I could do without the term reality show completely. I rarely tune into something that is promoted with that next to it. The concept isn't new. It has always been here. Candid Camera went for real reactions. The original quiz shows seemed real but we saw what happened there. Attach ratings and money and suddenly nothing is real. Thank goodness ratings are down and that garbage like 'The Hills' is winding down. A few popular things in Jersey may linger but the landscape is a diverse place. There is room for everybody. I have high hopes that there will be more room for scripts and new ideas again. And some reality will always be fascinating. I mean we sometimes do need help with a baked Alaska or finding out how much the steering wheel of a '66 Corvette cost. We got a few good new talents out of the genre so we should leave it at that.

*****

The Most Amazing Thing That Happened to Writing Raw in 2009

by WritingRaw Staff

With the start of the New Year, I thought I would sit down and write about our first amazing year here at Writing Raw.

When we started Writing Raw, our goal was simple: to provide writers with the opportunity to showcase their work. What a fantastic idea, right? Man, were we ever wrong on that aspect. The hate mail we received during our first months was astonishing. The "haters" claimed we were destroying the actual art of writing and publishing (if anyone can be published, does this make them an author or just a writer? How can we differentiate "us" from "them?"); that Writing Raw was taking money out of the writers mouth by not offering payment (please, do a search and see how many other sites or literary journals actually pay a writer these days); one "well-known" supposedly respected group even started hating us for having our pictures on the site and how "ugly" we were (this would be so funny if it wasn't TRUE!!).

Anyway, as the hate mail poured in we just took it all in stride and thought - no matter what anyone thinks, we are providing a valuable service to authors who might never have the opportunity to appear in print. Not because they weren't good enough, but because of the current state of the literary world. Compare today with, say, the 1920's and 1930's when the shelves were filled with literary magazines. When I go into the local bookstore and look through their literary magazines, I'm shocked that I can only find about four or five devoted to printing new authors. Hell, there are more magazines out there instructing a writer on "how to write" then there are that will actually publish what has been written.

But, over the next few months… things started to change. I wouldn't exactly say we became reputable, but we did begin growing at an amazing rate. Besides offering online novels, short stories, poems, essays, etc., we started our 7 Question Interviews with established authors, literary agents, and publishing houses… from there the site grew to include book reviews, writing exercises, a store so other's could advertise their self-published books, advertisements and various links for writer's groups and retreats… In a matter of months Writing Raw grew from what we used to call "the YouTube for the literary world" to an entertaining and informative online magazine devoted to all forms of the written word.

And, the best part of all of this - it was FREE!

Well, all of this rambling is a great thank you to everyone who has contributed and reads Writing Raw. Without you, we would never have reached the heights that we have achieved in our first year - and, for this, we offer our deepest love and affection. Thank you… and we look forward to a bigger year in 2010!

All of us here at Writing Raw get such enjoyment every time we publish something new by a fresh original voice… we continue to provide the blank pages for any and all writer's, no matter the genre, to fill… and we will continue to be here in the coming years, helping other's make their dreams come true…

But, you know what… if the site went down today, I wouldn't mind one bit.

Besides allowing well over 100 authors the opportunity to see their work in print… we brought a 30 year old love affair to an end - or would that be a beginning?

As for all the other contributors (whether you call yourself a writer, an author, a poet, or a prince or princess) without you, we would be nothing. You are all wonderful artists - and we wish you continued success and love in all the words you place on the blank pages that we call life.

Peace out

Weeb, Rib and Ditch

The Poker Sisters