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  • What’s up? How’s it going? Danielle here, with a quick autumn update. My new 52-day challenge! Will I make it? Plus, quick-fire comedy awesomeness. What have you been loving? Tell me all the things…

    https://daniellekrage.com

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

    https://x.com/daniellekrage

    https://comedymasterclass.com/podcast/2-chris-head-comedy-tools-and-frameworks/

    https://comedymasterclass.com/podcast/40-chris-head-how-to-structure-your-30-min-comedy-or-comedy-drama-script/

  • Hey everybody, Danielle here.

    I'm at challenge complete for creating 52 episodes of Comedy Masterclass.

    What happens next?

    As always, you're welcome to contact me here:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

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  • Danielle Krage interviews Becky Holmes, author of 'Keanu Reeves is Not in Love with You'. Becky is also the creator of and voice behind the massively popular Twitter/X account @deathtospinach. Here she shares insights into how and why she uses humour to expose online fraudsters. Plus, what has helped her publish and promote her book.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    02:19 The Concept and Execution of 'Keanu Reeves is not in love with you'

    06:08 Bringing Silly to the Nastiness

    08:01 The Power of Humour in Diffusing Difficult Topics

    10:16 The Widespread Impact of Online Fraud

    12:43 The Publication Process: Lengthy and Challenging

    15:15 Finding an Agent: Networking and Building Relationships

    23:22 Using Humour to Handle Criticism

    26:44 Tips for Confident Public Speaking

    34:44 The Benefits of a PR Background

    39:18 Future Plans as a Writer

    You can find out more about Becky Holmes’ work here:

    Becky’s book (wherever you buy your books) – Keanu Reeves is Not in Love With You: The Murky World of Online Romance Fraud

    https://x.com/deathtospinach

    https://www.instagram.com/deathtospinach

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

  • Danielle Krage interviews Heidi Vanderlee, founder of Positive Jam – a public relations firm specialising in comedy, podcasting, film, live entertainment, and social justice. Heidi has worked in entertainment and PR for more than a decade; in this conversation, she shares insights that will benefit comedy writers and creators.

    Chapters:

    00:00 Introduction to Heidi Van Der Lee and Positive Jam

    03:00 The Importance of Relationship Building in PR

    06:08 Common Mistakes in PR

    08:53 Timelines and Planning Ahead in PR

    12:50 Positive Jam's Focus on Traditional Media

    15:23 Including PR in the Creation Process

    20:09 The Changing Media Landscape

    22:31 Positive Developments in the Media Industry

    25:26 Authenticity and Ideals in Creative Work

    30:20 Catching Attention and the No Press is Bad Press Concept

    33:44 Balancing Attention-Grabbing and Authenticity

    35:35 Trusting Your PR Professional

    You can find out more about Heidi and Positive Jam here:

    www.positivejampr.com

    https://x.com/positivejampr

    https://www.instagram.com/positivejampr

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

  • Danielle Krage interviews Kate Willett. Kate is a comedian, actress and writer who has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Netflix’s Comedy Lineup.

    Kate has also toured with Margaret Cho, featured with comedians like Maria Bamford, and has written jokes for Beavis and Butthead.

    In this conversation, Kate shares insights from making her recent comedy special, Loopholes, and her Audible Original, Dirtbag Anthropology.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    01:19 Dirtbag Anthropology: Exploring Positive Masculinity

    05:03 Balancing Personal and Comedic Truths

    06:19 Feminism and Personal Politics in Comedy

    08:14 The Evolving Definition of Feminism

    10:59 The Process of Creating an Audible Original

    13:47 Filming a Comedy Special

    15:14 Writing and Developing Material

    19:04 Observations from Touring with Renowned Comedians

    20:21 Dealing with Online Pushback

    22:14 Recommendations for Comedy to Watch

    23:10 Writing Jokes for Beavis and Butthead

    25:06 Being Brave in Expressing Political Stances

    26:33 Adapting to the Changing Comedy Industry

    27:53 Future Projects: Another Book, One-Person Show, and New Podcast

    28:23 Prompt for Listeners

    29:39 Where to find out more about Kate’s work

    https://www.katewillett.com

    https://www.instagram.com/kate.willett

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

  • In this episode, Danielle celebrates completing 52 episodes of Comedy Masterclass and is joined by her husband, Jeremiah, as a surprise guest host. They discuss the motivation behind creating the podcast and Danielle’s own thoughts and approaches to comedy.

    Note from Danielle: There are 3 more fabulous guests in this season, so listen out. :)

    Chapters:

    00:00 The Motivation Behind Comedy Masterclass

    06:10 Exploring Different Comedy Styles and Formats

    09:06 The Influence of Media Consumption on Comedy

    11:36 Applying Comedy Techniques to Writing

    23:55 Using Comedy to Address the Darkness in Life

    26:22 Challenging Gender Roles in Comedy with Female Protagonists

    32:59 Overcoming Challenges in the Publishing Industry with Drive and Passion

    37:44 Expanding Creativity Through Learning from Different Comedy Forms

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle website here: https://daniellekrage.com

    Danielle’s Stash: https://daniellekrage.com/stash

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

    You can find Jeremiah here: https://jeremiahkrage.com

    Episodes mentioned:

    Chris Head: https://comedymasterclass.com/podcast/2-chris-head-comedy-tools-and-frameworks/

    Stuart Laws: https://comedymasterclass.com/podcast/7-stuart-laws-surreality-satire-and-stand-up/

    John Truby: https://comedymasterclass.com/podcast/14-john-truby-story-code-and-beats/

    Andrew Kaufman: https://comedymasterclass.com/podcast/13-andrew-kaufman-allegory-and-absurdity/

    Zanandi Botes: https://comedymasterclass.com/podcast/30-zanandi-botes-comedy-horror-for-halloween/

    Ray Bradbury: https://comedymasterclass.com/podcast/44-writing-advice-from-my-favourite-ghost-ray-bradbury/

  • Danielle Krage interviews Kay Stonham. Kay is a comedy writer-performer who has worked extensively across TV, film, theatre and radio. For example, she has written 10 original series for Radio 4, including Robin and Wendy’s Wet Weekend, and Bad Salsa.

    She’s also the Co-Founder of Female Pilot Club , which was founded to amplify women’s voices and give women writers the chance to prove their jokes and characters in the room – as seen in their sold-out read-throughs of comedy pilot scripts to audiences of writers, producers and comedy lovers.

    In this conversation, Kay shares really practical insights and advice for writers wanting to create and sustain a career in writing comedy.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    02:25 Selecting Scripts for Live Performances

    04:45 Developing Scripts for Showcases

    07:09 Pitfalls in Script Submissions

    09:58 Script Consultancy and Considerations

    16:21 Misconceptions about the Production Process

    24:54 Sustaining a Creative Career

    29:29 PhD Research on Comedy Writing and Identity

    39:55 Upcoming Projects and Female Pilot Club

    You can find out more about Kay Stonham and her work here:

    Kay’s website: https://kaystonham.com

    Kay’s agent: https://mmbcreative.com/clients/kay-stonham/

    Kay’s Audible Series: https://www.audible.co.uk/search?searchAuthor=Kay+Stonham

    Female Pilot Club: https://www.femalepilotclub.co.uk/

    Female Pilot Club Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/female-pilot-club/id1598357325

    The previous episode with Chelsea and Emily from Female Pilot Club is here: https://youtu.be/sFXuYQN2cPw

    Previous guest, Lucy Lumsden (Yellow Door Productions) was a judge and sponsor of the live showcase we referenced (along with sponsors Imagine Talent). You can find Lucy’s episode here: https://youtu.be/axiGW8iqMkc

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

  • Danielle Krage interviews Alana Schramm. Alana is a coach who works with the subconscious, the nervous system and emotions, in a way that is really practical, playful, and relevant to creativity. This conversation is a frank and fun dive into what blocks us and what motivates us effectively.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Alana Schramm and her work

    01:27 Negative emotions and creativity

    06:20 Embracing imperfection in writing

    10:57 Changing the relationship with yourself for creative flow

    13:38 Transitioning from high-energy activities to writing

    26:23 The Importance of Making Space and Tending to Our Capacity

    27:35 Embracing the Present and Enjoying Life

    30:08 Exploring the Power of the Subconscious Mind

    32:16 Using Emotions as a Portal to the Subconscious

    38:07 The Role of Self-Compassion in the Creative Process

    43:24 Celebrating Ourselves: The Key to Motivation and Growth

    47:00 Conclusion and Where to Find More Information

    You can find Alana here:

    https://www.alanaschramm.com

    https://www.instagram.com/alana.schramm

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

  • Danielle Krage interviews Neil Martin, Honorary Professor of Psychology at Regent's University London. Neil is the author of The Psychology of Comedy, and in this conversation he introduces and dissects some of the key research and theories in the field of laughter, humour and comedy.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Neil's Background in Comedy

    03:24 The Neglect of Comedy in Psychological Research

    06:44 Gallows Humour as a Coping Mechanism

    08:31 Exploring the Humour Styles Questionnaire

    23:11 The Timelessness of Comedy

    24:27 The Influence of Laughter on Enjoyment

    28:18 Humour in Learning

    29:16 Sex Differences in Comedy

    34:36 Comedy and Mental Well-being

    41:18 Exploring Different Mediums of Comedy

    44:01 The Influence of Sensory Experiences on Comedy

    You can find Neil (including his contact email) here:

    https://twitter.com/ThatNeilMartin

    Neil's Deadpan piece: https://www.the-fence.com/well-theyre-not-laughing-now

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

  • Danielle Krage interviews writer Lana Schwartz, whose interactive book ‘Build Your Own Romantic Comedy: Pick Your Plot, Meet Your Man and Direct Your Happily Ever After’ was named one of Vulture’s Best Comedy Books of the Year.

    Lana has also written for The New Yorker, and is a contributor to The Onion. In this interview she shares her obsession for romcoms and the craft of comedy.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    08:57 Favourite romcoms. Beats and tropes.

    23:37 Building a Career in Comedy Writing

    33:28 Crafting Humour: Specificity, Heightening, and Economy of Words

    37:51 Upcoming Romcom Book and where to find Lana

    You can find Lana Schwartz here:

    https://www.instagram.com/characteractresslanaschwartz

    https://twitter.com/_lanabelle

    https://www.lanalikebanana.com

    https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Build-Your-Own-Romantic-Comedy/Lana-Schwartz/Gifts-for-Movie-TV-Lovers/9781646040056

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

  • Danielle Krage interviews Suchandrika Chakrabarti and Nerine Skinner.

    Suchandrika is a stand-up, who runs the monthly night Good News / Bad News in north London and writes for BBC One's Have I Got News For You. She is taking her second solo show Doomscrolling to Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

    Nerine is an actress, comedian, improviser and deviser whose parodies of Liz Truss have gone viral. She was a finalist in the Funny Women Awards for Content Creator and reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent with comedy cabaret trio, The Dots. She’s currently creating her debut show for the Edinburgh Festival.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    03:07 The Joint Project: Liz Truss’ The Traitors

    06:20 Balancing Structure and Improvisation

    09:21 Finding Inspiration in the News

    13:42 Character Comedy: Tips and Experiences

    19:59 The Joy of Character Comedy

    21:01 Collaboration and Selecting Guests for a Comedy Show

    24:38 Navigating Boundaries in Topical Comedy

    33:22 Preparing for the Edinburgh Festival

    36:27 Creating a Supportive and Inclusive Comedy Environment

    You can find Suchandrika and Nerine here:

    Their joint show - Liz Truss’ The Traitors

    https://www.acesandeightssaloonbar.com/events/liz-trusss-the-traitors/

    Suchandrika:

    https://twitter.com/SuchandrikaC

    https://www.instagram.com/suchandrika

    https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/suchandrika-chakrabarti-doomscrolling

    Nerine:

    https://twitter.com/nerineskinner

    https://www.instagram.com/nerineskinner

    https://www.youtube.com/@nerineskinner

    You can find the Lynne Parker Funny Women episode here:

    https://youtu.be/q4vB86BGCZY

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

  • Danielle Krage interviews writer, creator, and brand builder John Derevlany. John is an award-winning writer, animator, and showrunner who has written or produced hundreds of hours of TV (including for the Jim Henson Company and LEGO). John has also been a game designer, street artist, investigative journalist and played Crackers the Corporate Crime Fighting Chicken for Michael Moore’s TV Nation!

    In this episode John shares learnings from his creative career, and how he now thinks about Super Narrative – his approach to planning a story across multiple media platforms.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    02:05 Founding a Comedy Newspaper

    03:09 Using Comedy as a Defense Mechanism

    04:12 Transition to TV Comedy

    05:40 Working with National Lampoon

    07:25 Creating Crackers, the Corporate Crime Fighting Chicken

    08:47 The Power of Reaction Shots in Comedy

    09:56 Transition to Animation and Children's Shows

    10:38 The Concept of Super Narrative

    15:08 Understanding Super Narrative

    16:00 Differentiating Super Narrative from Transmedia

    24:02 The Need for Innovation in Hollywood

    24:49 Adapting and Pivoting in Creative Projects

    25:15 Navigating Humour and Broad Appeal

    26:04 Considerations for International Audiences

    26:34 Keeping Content Broad and Timeless

    27:02 Challenges with Technological Advancements

    27:49 Creating Characters and Expanding Worlds

    28:18 Using AI for Idea Generation

    28:57 Simplifying Stories and Layering Content

    29:25 Creating a Multitude of Characters

    29:58 The Challenges of Naming Characters

    30:25 The Role of AI in Joke Generation

    31:26 Using AI as a Tool for Creativity

    32:09 The Increasing Speed of Content Production

    33:21 The Importance of Trying New Things

    34:19 The Uncertainty of the Entertainment Industry

    35:28 Take Risks and Embrace Ignorance

    36:36 Being Playful and Creative in All Aspects

    37:35 Finding Inspiration in Comedy and Entertainment

    38:16 John's Website and Projects

    40:01 The Resurrection of 'Squish'

    41:21 Dealing with Fan Obsession

    You can find more about John’s work here:

    https://johnderevlany.com/

    Videos - https://johnderevlany.com/video-trailers-episodes/

    (Including Squish, Legends of Chima, Crackers the Corporate Crime Fighting Chicken, Uke Til U Puke.)

    The "Give me a job LEGO” animation

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZznS4Y06_Cc

    The big, outdoor board game: https://culverland.johnderevlany.com/

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

  • Danielle Krage interviews Ken Pisani. Ken is a screenwriter, TV writer and producer, playwright, comic book author, former cartoonist, and novelist. His novel, AMP’D, was a Thurber prize finalist, and in this episode he takes us behind the scenes of creating this comic work.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    01:18 The Concept of AMP’D

    05:01 Choosing the Novel Format

    06:09 Challenges of Writing Prose

    07:36 Writing Without an Outline

    08:06 Balancing Comedy and Drama

    09:00 Reversing Expectations

    11:20 Writing Situational and Visual Comedy

    12:09 Emotional Impact of the Novel

    13:30 Finding the Balance of Comedy and Drama

    19:02 Creating Beleaguered Characters

    20:08 The Play and Game of Comedy

    21:41 Publishing and Marketing Challenges

    22:03 The Challenges of Funny Novels

    25:02 Dealing with Failure and Persistence

    29:01 The Appeal of Muppets

    33:20 The Humour in Comic Books

    38:18 Recommendations

    You can find out more about Ken’s work here:

    https://www.kenpisani.com

    https://twitter.com/kpsmartypants

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

    https://bsky.app/profile/daniellekrage.bsky.social

  • Danielle Krage interviews Caleb Warren, Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Arizona. Caleb researches and writes about what makes things funny, what makes things cool, and what helps people reach their goals. In this conversation, Caleb shares some of his key findings about humour and how it works.

    00:00 Introduction to Consumer Psychology and Humour

    01:20 How Caleb Got into the Study of Humour

    04:01 Physical Comedy and Empathy

    06:00 Psychological Distance and Humour

    07:27 The Role of Absurdity in Comedy

    08:21 Psychological Distance and Animation

    09:08 The Difference Between Comedy and Serious Settings

    09:39 The Flawed Theory of Surprise in Humour

    10:40 The Relationship Between Surprise and Humour

    11:36 The Benign Violation Experiment

    13:19 The Difference Between Humour and Coolness

    14:18 Coolness as a Positive Deviation from the Norm

    15:10 How Coolness and Humour Overlap

    16:00 The Importance of Autonomy and Enjoyment in Goal Pursuit

    18:27 The Importance of Product in Marketing

    19:54 The Role of Humour in Marketing

    20:20 The Benefits of Humour in Enjoyment and Happiness

    21:46 How Humour Translates and Changes with Distance

    22:44 How Sense of Humour Changes with Age

    23:46 The Evolution of Humour and Cultural Norms

    26:56 Research on Coolness Across Different Cultures

    28:57 The Personality Traits of Cool People

    30:06 The Role of Effort in Coolness and Status

    32:27 The Tension Between Marketing and Coolness

    35:23 The Importance of Being Good vs. Being Cool

    36:54 Caleb's Band and Songwriting

    You can find Caleb here:

    Research website: https://www.calebwarrenresearch.com/ TedX talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxh-ispLUmA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z7hkfkCEno Band website: https://bandoftownies.com/

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

    https://bsky.app/profile/daniellekrage.bsky.social

  • Danielle Krage interviews Dr Eric Maisel. Eric is the author of more than 50 books - many focused on creativity and the creative life - including Fearless Creating, Deep Writing, The Power of Daily Practice and The Magic of Sleep Thinking. He also writes the ‘Rethinking Mental Health’ blog for Psychology Today and is a regular contributor to Mad in America.

    In this conversation, Eric shares insights and practical strategies for writers engaged in a creative process, that by its very nature is likely to include anxiety, doubt and uncertainty.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    00:55 The Role of Anxiety in the Creative Process

    06:19 Using Breathing and Incantations to Center and Ground

    07:36 Accessing Flow State in Small Increments of Time

    09:58 The Importance of a Morning Writing Practice

    11:54 Harnessing the Power of Sleep Thinking

    13:50 Embracing Mistakes and the Doubt in the Creative Process

    15:17 Existential Intelligence and the Search for Meaning

    25:44 Pushing Back Against Authoritarianism and Mental Health Labels

    30:38 Overcoming Self-Censorship and Negative Thoughts

    35:56 Strategic Goal Setting and Productivity

    38:05 Upcoming Books and Projects

    Links

    https://ericmaisel.com

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

    https://bsky.app/profile/daniellekrage.bsky.social

  • Danielle Krage interviews Joanna Penn. Joanna is an award-nominated New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than 40 books across multiple genres – non-fiction and fiction (under J.F.Penn). Joanna is also a podcaster, international speaker, and award-winning creative entrepreneur. This conversation dives into Joanna’s recent book, ‘Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness into Words’.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    01:38 Understanding the Shadow

    05:11 Embracing Your Weirdness

    07:52 Pushing Boundaries in Writing

    09:26 Exploring Family and Relationships

    11:17 The Shadow in Relationships and Writing

    15:09 Continuing Journey of Integration

    19:24 Percolating the Shadow into Writing

    21:27 Exploring the Shadow in Characters

    23:26 The Shadow in Professional Lives

    26:11 Tackling Fear and Judgment

    27:07 Unpublished Work and Building an Author Platform

    29:10 Using Email Lists for Fiction

    31:49 Showing Elements of Yourself as a Creator

    33:51 Examples of Memorable Characters and Their Shadows

    38:12 Where to Find More About Joanna's Work

    You can find Joanna’s work here:

    https://www.thecreativepenn.com/the-creative-penn-podcast-for-authors

    https://www.youtube.com/@thecreativepenn

    https://jfpenn.com

    https://www.thecreativepenn.com/writing-the-shadow

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

    https://bsky.app/profile/daniellekrage.bsky.social

  • Danielle Krage interviews Rosie Wilby. Rosie is an award-winning comedian and creator of the global hit podcast and book The Breakup Monologues. She is also the author of ‘Is Monogamy Dead?’ and toured a trilogy of solo shows investigating the psychology of love. In this interview, Rosie shares insights for how we can use humour to unpack challenging questions.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    01:04 Using Humour to Explore Love and Relationships

    04:08 The Structure and Themes of the Book

    05:20 Writing Non-Fiction vs Fiction

    06:17 The Ethics of Comedy and Vulnerability

    07:42 Navigating Comedy Clubs and Diverse Voices

    09:15 Balancing Personal Stories and Boundaries

    09:50 Writing During the Pandemic and Self-Care

    11:20 Exploring Breakups and Identity

    12:17 The Challenges of Diverse Voices in Comedy

    13:33 Finding Voice on the Page

    14:25 Translating Humour to the Page

    15:58 Seeking Out Unusual Experiences for Writing

    19:27 Crafting Engaging Scenes and Details

    20:40 Listening and Observing

    21:27 Structural Formats in Writing

    22:24 Writing Dialogue

    23:14 Writing Non-Fiction vs Fiction

    24:06 Writing Challenges

    25:12 Exploring Identity and Relationships

    26:11 The Discomfort of Comedy

    27:09 Writing Endings

    28:17 Using Science in Comedy

    29:43 Testing and Organizing Work

    31:35 Comedy Recommendations

    34:47 Where to find Rosie Wilby’s work

    You can find Rosie Wilby here:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1472982282

    https://breakupmonologues.wordpress.com

    https://twitter.com/rosiewilby

    https://www.instagram.com/breakupmonologues

    https://www.threads.net/@breakupmonologues

    https://www.tiktok.com/@rosiewilbyauthor

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

    https://bsky.app/profile/daniellekrage.bsky.social

  • Danielle Krage interviews novelist Ruth Leigh. They focus on her delightful Isabella M Smugge series, and what it takes to create a comic character that you can develop and sustain across multiple books. Ruth is also the author of the Jane Austen-inspired book A Great Deal of Ingenuity, and The Little Book of Unexpected Poetry.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    01:57 Origin Story of Isabella M. Smugge

    06:48 Creating a Funny and Complex Character

    09:45 Developing a Series and Balancing Character Arcs

    11:34 Turning Up the Comedy in the Setting

    14:06 Using Conflict to Drive the Story

    17:30 The Importance of Setting in Comedy

    20:23 Writing Process and Balancing Comedy and Heart

    25:23 Favourite Comic Influences

    29:43 Prompts and Exercises for Writing Comedy

    32:19 Building a Writing Community and Getting Feedback

    34:38 The Impact of Reader Feedback

    35:27 Real People and Names in the Books

    36:47 Overcoming Fear of Events

    37:31 Starting Small and Building Confidence

    38:58 Finding Comfortable Opportunities

    39:06 Where to Find More about Ruth Leigh

    Links

    https://www.ruthleighwrites.co.uk

    https://www.instagram.com/ruthleighwrites

    https://twitter.com/Ruthleighwrites

    https://www.tiktok.com/@ruthleighwrites

    You can find the transcript at:

    https://comedymasterclass.com

    And Danielle’s socials here:

    https://twitter.com/daniellekrage

    https://www.instagram.com/dekrage

    https://bsky.app/profile/daniellekrage.bsky.social