“Chopped” and the Write Cut: 5 takeaways for Writers

By Malin Curry

Image courtesy of Conscious Design

Here’s the scene. It’s Tuesday, the work day wrapped up a while ago, one tough run and a quick writing session later it’s 9pm and I find myself heading to my second favorite place in the house. The couch. Ready to tune into arguably one of the most riveting televised events of the week. Another episode of Food Network’s Chopped.

For those unfamiliar with the show, the premise sees four talented chefs who compete against one another by creating dishes and combining flavors from a “mystery basket” which includes things like duran, chicken in a can, lo mein cake and even fuzzy herring pudding. There are three rounds (appetizer, entree and dessert) which each end in an elimination until there are two chefs left. The winner usually walks away with around 10,000 dollars.

There’s a certain allure to Chopped, one that’s enchanted the TV landscape and attracted millions with its spell for years. A type of magic that’s taught me about more than just the right temperature to cook a fondue (375 degrees F, in case you were wondering), but surprisingly helped me to understand more about story and the role writers can play in stirring up their narratives the right way. Here are 5 things writers can learn from Chopped.

1. Know when to follow the story