Shonda Rhimes Will Publish a Book About Saying 'Yes'

Shonda Rhimes, television goddess, has written a book. Simon & Schuster announced Tuesday in a press release that the first book from the woman who basically runs ABC will be published under their imprint.

Year Of Yes will center around one year where Shonda Rhimes said “yes” to to things that I’m assuming she wouldn’t usually say “yes” to—much like the 2008 Jim Carey vehicle, Yes Man, Budweiser’s ill-conceived marketing campaign, and Skinnygirl Bethenny Frankel’s 2011 self-help book, A Place of Yes. This time, though, it’s Shonda:

In December 2013, Rhimes, the mega-talented creator of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” and executive producer of “How to Get Away with Murder,” was issued a challenge: for just one year, say YES to the unexpected invitations that come your way. Shonda, a self-professed introvert, reluctantly agreed. And the result was nothing short of transformative. In YEAR OF YES, scheduled for publication in November 2015, Shonda Rhimes chronicles the powerful impact saying yes had on every aspect of her life – and how we can all change our lives with one little word. Yes.

No word on who exactly put for this challenge, but I’m guessing their name is either Simon or Schuster—or some combination of the two.

“Saying yes for an entire year turned out to be one of the most amazing decisions I have ever made,” said Rhimes. “It was also a little insane, a lot terrifying and sometimes wildly embarrassing. So this is not a story I ever planned to share with anyone. However, once Simon & Schuster asked me, I had no choice – what else could I say but yes?”

Not sure I fully believe that but, OK girl. Considering that she’s only writing about one year of her life, I’m not sure that I’d file this under the oh-so-crowded memoir label, but I imagine there will be plenty of tales of her successes, failures, and witty commentary on life’s greatest lessons.

I have obviously not read Shonda Rhimes’ book or Bethenny Frankel’s book or seen Yes Man or drank Budweiser since I learned that you can drink beer outside of games of beer pong, but I would like to provide one counterpoint: Saying “no” can be a lot of fun, too.

For example:

Dude in ugly cargo shorts: Hey can I sit here and keep you company?

Me: No

Rando on an airplane: Hey will you switch to my middle seat so I can sit next to my girlfriend?

Me: No

Idiots: Smile, girl

Me: No

IT’S A GREAT WORD IS ALL I’M SAYING.

That being said, seeing how Shonda has got millions of us hooked on some of the most fantastically ridiculous and wholly unbelievable storylines of all time, I don’t doubt that her first print attempt will be much different.