What’s Up?

It’s June. I’m perceptive, I know! Since we met in May, summer came (and went?) here in the UK, marked by two of my favourite summery things:

The sun will be back. In the meantime, I’ll be swimming in the rain. All good.

Comedy Craft / Story Fiending

I’ve been thinking a lot about tone and tension on the page and screen. It’s a dance that recently had me messaging someone to find out how a new Netflix series ends:

I didn’t want to read the reviews in case there were too many spoilers. But I was also struggling to tell how dark it was going to steer?

I’m very aware that we all have different taste settings that make something feel ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’. For me, humour plays such a crucial role in this mix.

Even then, it’s soooooo subjective. I’m like some super picky honeybee trying to get through the story maze:

🐝Nice bright flowers, but not TOO flowery, and not a whiff of fakery.

🐝Room to buzz, but not so much that I get lost.

🐝 Interest that hooks, but not so stressful it makes me want to whip my stinger out. Are you trying to kill me?

I feel like I’m not the easiest viewer/reader to please, even when the work is really good—I have to be able to hack it in the story maze!

It’s just as much of a dance when I’m writing—if not more—as now I’m both the bee and the maze builder! Fun. (Most of the time.) Fascinating. (Always.)

How do you handle story tension?

The Flip

You know how podcasts are full of talking? (Including mine, Comedy Masterclass). I love that for learning, and for company. But in this one I’m flipping the script…

I’ve made you a podcast with SILENCE. But not the scary, ominous kind.

I’m calling it Storyclub, and what you’ll find is a quick audio welcome from me, so you can settle in. A timed 15 minutes for you to write. Then I’ll high-five you at the end.😊

How does that sound? A joint word sprint, for whenever the heck suits you and your day.

And for those times when you do want words for company—while you wash up or work out (is that just me?)—in this episode of Comedy Masterclass, Eric Maisel talks about both having a morning writing practice and what we can get done in small increments of time. (He also talks about flow, anxiety management tools, allowing things to be mediocre and messy, and more.)

Stash: things I love

Thanks to the fabulous writer Fran Hill for replying to last month's newsletter with a recommendation. (I interviewed Fran about observational comedy here. Since then a lot has happened for Fran, including being runner-up for the Paul Torday prize and releasing her sequel to Cuckoo in the Nest, Home Bird. I read it last month and loved it.) Fran wrote:

📚’I'm reading 'Three Days in June' by Anne Tyler and I really wasn't expecting it to be so funny. Not belly-laugh but wry and sharp.’

It's gone straight on my to-read list, as I love Anne Tyler's work, but for no good reason, I haven't read her writing in a while.

Speaking of sorcery, shout out to my writer friend Abby Cummins, who I lovingly refer to as the Book Witch. I met her on a writing retreat in a castle in Scotland (which was as magical as it might sound). She has a fabulous talent for taking a few things I've been reading and giving me a whole new list—one that's way more unique and special than any algorithm could deliver. Sharing some Abby-rec-magic for anyone who loves comedy + murder mystery—Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, by Benjamin Stevenson. Such a fun voice.

I don't have the same talent for matching. I am more the type who has to sit on my hands so I don't just shove my favourite series in your face—in the hope that we can then talk about ALLL THE THIIIINGS forever more! For example:

I'll say no more for now. But if you do watch it and love it PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I need Patriot friends. And I might mention it every month until that happens? (I can't decide if that is a promise or a threat?!)

Moving on….

Dare Bears

I love that dares can come in all shapes and sizes, and in all parts of the creative process. When I was mulling on this, I thought about Comedy Masterclass guest Becky Holmes sharing how she got all her own blurbs for the cover of her super popular book, Keanu Reeves is Not in Love With You. She gave a great prompt to be a bit ‘cheeky’ and just ask.

If you were going to make an ask or request as a dare, what would it be? And how would you do it?

On a more meta level, I think Sydney Liu, co-founder of CharacterHub has created a fun way to introduce himself and embed some ‘wild asks’. Thanks, Sydney, for letting me share it here and also for the inspiration to make my own!

Creative dare to self: make a fun manual with asks to share in next month’s edition.

Want to do it with me? Let me know if you make one too!  

Until next time,

PS: Thanks for reading my Seriously Ridiculous letter. All feedback is welcome, as I only want to do this if it’s useful or fun for you to read. You can hit reply and it will wing its way to me.

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