What Writers Can Learn From Millionaire Matchmaker

Confession: I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I'm in love with TV.

When I say "in love", I mean obsessed. It's quite sad, really. 

Anyway, I am not ashamed of the TV shows I watch. I love them. Why would they embarrass me?

*blushes*

So. There's one TV show I'd never even imagined could teach me anything about writing. Until it did. And I was PWN'd. 

Which TV show, you ask?

Millionaire Matchmaker on BRAVO

*blushes even harder*

Anyway, Patti Stanger (the woman pictured above) is a matchmaker for millionaires. Her clients run the gamut from uber-nice wealthy people to deranged and frightening wealthy people. The latter is best represented by a woman who received Patti's help on this week's episode. You see, her ideal mate is Matthew McConaughey. And she won't settle for less. Or other qualities in a man. Like, say, an actual personality. 

Being the savvy lady she is, Patti hooked her up with a bunch of great guys who were nothing like Matthew McConaughey... and one Hot Dude. The Hot Dude was a test. To see if Deranged And Frightening Girl fell for his allure. 

And she did.

She picked him over Other Great Guys With Actual Personalities, then they went on a date. Which sucked. But Deranged And Frightening Girl never noticed.

Exhibit A (if you're easily offended, forgive my French...)

Hot Dude: "I'm an asshole."

Deranged And Frightening Girl: "I love assholes..."

...

Let's change the scenario a bit. Deranged And Frightening Girl is actually Aspiring Author. Hot Dude is Hot Trend Of The Moment. Aspiring Author wants to get published badly. Hot Trend Of The Moment might prove tricky to write for Aspiring Author, seeing as they don't read the genre and don't know how to write for it. But Aspiring Author is up for the challenge. Because Hot Trend Of The Moment will get them an agent/publishing deal/uber-awesome advance. 

Aspiring Author writes a manuscript using Hot Trend Of The Moment. Then they query. Then they get rejected. Over and over and over. Aspiring Author scratches head, not sure why this is so.

Here's why:

Hot Trend Of The Moment: "I'm not for you."

Aspiring Author: "I love things that are not for me..."

Folks, I have only one point to make with this post--know your match. You can explore genres, obviously, to find the one that fits best. Or you can fit amazingly well in a TON of genres. But you have to really love what you're writing about. 

Don't fail Patti's test. Say NO to the hotness. 

Unless it was meant to be. In that case, love that asshole all you want :D

Now tell me: is there a genre you think isn't your match??