As I write the second draft of my memoir, I’m finding the word count is increasing in each vignette.

In some cases I’m doubling the number of words for each vignette I’m working on. If I keep up this pace I’ll probably have about 150,000 words to work on for my third draft.  And hopefully the third draft will be my last – but I’m not holding my breath!

I’m not consciously focusing on a word count at this stage, as this would interfere with the stories I’m writing.  Padding a story to get a higher word count is usually obvious and clunky.

When I was at uni writing psychological practical reports, I’d usually pad out the report to fill the word requirement. But that sort of writing was as exciting as watching paint dry. And it showed, judging by the numerous red corrections splashed across my paper and the average marks I received

Now I’m simply taking my time to reflect and allow the story to unfold naturally. And the letters leap from my keyboard into the stories to form a more cohesive shape, expanding with additional threads that were not in the first draft.

And unlike my psych experience writing reports, my memoir is enjoyable and easy to write.

Afterall, it’s MY story.

Do you remember the Seinfeld epsiode where Jerry and George pitch an idea for a television show which is about nothing?

Well, this post is about nothing. It’s about people who have nothing to say and say it loudly and in your face.

And the media is littered with the usual suspects such as celebrities, comedians, sports commentators and politicians. Now, not all of the people in these groups have nothing to say. But you’ll find more of them than you would in the general population.

I’d love to see a piece of technology that could run sub titles to reveal what the nothing people actually think while they are saying nothing.

For example here’s what would make me sit up and listen rather than throw my remote control at the television set.

Celebrity: My fans mean everything to me – peasants

Comedian: This is a true story! - I’m lying

Sport Commentator: That was a tough tackle  – thug

Politician: My leader has my full support - just don’t turn your back, you mongrel

Hmm, telling the truth.

Wouldn’t that be revolutionary!

Bohemian rhapsody like you have never heard it before.

Click here to view the embedded video.

After this performance he deserves to go free.

Be warned. DO NOT listen to this song or you’ll forever be doomed to sing the Mango  song.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Nothing much worthwhile on TV during the 2000′s except for these gems.

24

Band of Brothers
Boston Legal
Breaking Bad

Carnivàle
Curb Your Enthusiasm

Deadwood
Dexter

Friday Night Lights

Last Comic Standing
Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Mad Men
Malcolm In The Middle

The Office (U.K.)

Six Feet Under
Star Trek Enterprise
The Wire

My shortest list so far and it has nothing to do with the decrease in memory cells over the ages.

More classics from a biased viewpoint.

3rd Rock From The Sun

Cracker

Dame Edna’s Hollywood

Frasier

Homicide: Life On Street

Larry Sanders Show

Law And Order

Northern Exposure

NYPD Blue

Picket Fences
The Practice
Prime Suspect

Seinfeld
The Sopranos
Star Trek Voyager

Twin Peaks

The West Wing

Most of these shows are still worthwhile watching today. Do you agree?

Not much here. I must have been out a lot during the eighties.

Black Adder
Brideshead Revisited
Cheers
China Beach
Hill Street Blues
L.A. Law
Red Dwarf
Roseanne
Thirtysomething
Wonder Years
The Young Ones

Were there really only eleven decent shows on in the 1980s? I challenge you to add any others to the list!

More favourites. Jeez, what happened? The list is getting shorter than the previous two decades. I think I need a transporter to beam me up to the 2000′s.

All In The Family
Are You Being Served?

Baretta
Barney Miller
Benson
Bob Newhart Show

Columbo

Fawlty Towers
Flip Wilson Show

Happy Days

The Invisible Man

Kojak
Kung Fu

Lou Grant

M*A*S*H
Mork And Mindy
The Odd Couple

The Parkinson Show
The Persuaders
The Professionals

Quincy M.E.

Rich Man, Poor Man Miniseries
Rockford Files

Soap
Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour
Space 1999
Streets Of San Francisco

Taxi

What are are your 1970′s favourites? Or are you still stuck in the 50′s and 60′s like me.