On a recent episode of Top Chef, judge Gail Simmons commented that one of the contestants was cooking good food, but that the judges still didn’t know who he was as a chef.
Gail’s observation came after this contestant had made multiple impressive dishes, many of which featured recipes he’d learned while working under other acclaimed chefs. While this approach resulted in solid food, Gail’s comment points to something else the Top Chef judges look for: the individual perspective or unique voice that can set creative works—from food to music to novels—apart.
As a metaphor-loving children’s book editor, Gail’s comment stuck with me, especially given the recent prevalence of trope-focused book marketing. Some deal announcements and social media posts can make it seem as if writing a great book is as easy as ordering off a preset menu. One morally gray main character with a troubled past, cynical love interest, and seemingly-impossible goal, please!
This is not to say that story formulas, plot structures, or recipes are unimportant. However, mastering others’ recipes should be a starting point, not a final destination. Just as an extensive knowledge of food, cooking, and flavor is a prerequisite for Top Chef contestants, a deep understanding of character, plot, and style is essential for authors. And when it comes to learning these foundational elements, there truly is no substitute for reading (or, I imagine, eating) as deeply, widely, and thoughtfully as possible. No program, workshop, or instructor can replace the intuitive knowledge and instincts developed through this firsthand experience. As Stephen King put it in On Writing: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
But great chefs and authors don’t stop there. Once a chef has learned the fundamentals of cooking, they must then experiment and refine their personal approach if they want to be able to cook ‘their food’ (to use Top Chef parlance) or to thrill experienced food critics like the Top Chef judges. Similarly, knowing the fundamentals of story and structure allows authors to experiment, to hone their unique voices and styles, and to write stories that redefine conventions and subvert expectations.
To end with another metaphor (and with apologies to Robert Frost): while going off the beaten path may require more course-correcting than strictly following in another’s footsteps, it can also mean the difference between an overly-familiar creation and one that excites even the most seasoned of readers.
Your Editor Friend,
Julie
P.S. A fun kidlit connection: author Corrie Wang’s husband, Shuai Wang, is a contestant on this season of Top Chef!