writing lessons from THE PRICE IS RIGHT

So yesterday, after returning home from my Panera/Barnes & Noble adventures, I settled down on the couch for some quality TV time. You see, I am what they call a couch potato. I don't shy away from the term. I embrace it. Who doesn't like potatoes?

Anyway, the first show to pop up was Let's Make a Deal. I'm not really a game show person. I'm more of a terrible reality show where people get into brawls at christenings type person. But, I was kind of surfing the web at the same time, so I didn't change the channel right away.

I noticed that there was this girl contestant on the show. She was cute with pretty eyes and longish hair and some muffin top. But cute muffin top. Well, the host presented this cute girl with a box. He gave her a clue about what was in the box, but it was in another language and there were some jokes that I wasn't paying close enough attention to get.

Then the host offered the girl $800 or whatever was in the box. She looked around nervously, then shook her head and said, "The box."

"900."

Another nervous look around. "The box."

"1000."

Again, she looks for audience feedback, then chooses the box.

This goes on until the host reaches $2000. I wonder to myself why I haven't changed the channel yet, and I realize it's because I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT'S IN THE DAMN BOX!!!

Since you too probably want to know what was in the box, I'll tell you. It was a car. Well, a picture of a car. The cute girl with the cute muffin top won a car. And I was happy. Then I turned the channel to Real Housewives.

But, more importantly, I learned a lesson about storytelling. In order to keep your reader turning the pages, you have to have a secret. It's a fine line, giving the reader enough information to keep him satisfied but not enough to spoil the whole thing.

Moral of the story? Keep your readers guessing. What's in the box?