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Things to Make You Write and Laugh!

By Angela Mackintosh

We’ve all heard the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine,” but how many of us actually make laughter a part of our daily activities? We go to work, school, meetings, tote little ones to soccer practice, dance, sleepovers, and we make dinners, tidy the house, and try to make time to write...but when do we make time to laugh? It’s not too surprising to discover "Children laugh over 300 times a day; whereas, adults laugh only 15 times. This is because children laugh unconditionally while adults do so only if there is a cause," points out the author of Laugh for No Reason.

So, how do we bring the joy and laughter back into our lives? One way to do it is through comedy writing, and another is to spend time doing the things we love—without feeling guilty. I know I have a blast when I go out with my girlfriends and cut loose. Those moments of silliness inspire wonderful ideas and creativity, and they also fuel my soul for a while. I’ll think back on those moments and laugh throughout the day. But those moments can’t tickle your funny bone alone. You must incorporate the joy of laughter into your daily grind. So, give yourself the permission to laugh and enjoy life! We only live once, right? Why not make the most of every moment we have?

Here are some products and things to either help you write funny, or put the laughter back into your life. What we find funny is very personal; so make sure you find out what truly makes you feel happy, silly, and full of joy—then, let yourself laugh!

Enjoy!


Amy Sedaris

www.amysedarisrocks.com

Amy Sedaris makes me laugh. So does her brother, David Sedaris, an author, Grammy Award-nominated American humorist, and radio contributor. But Amy’s characters and acting make me buckle. She’s outrageous, over-the-top, and completely insane! That’s why we all love her though.

She’s probably best known for her character Jerri Blank in Comedy Central’s Strangers With Candy. The show centers on Jerri (Amy Sedaris) who has been a runaway prostitute, drug addict, and a general misfit all of her life. But upon her release from prison, the 46-year-old decides it’s time to clean up her act, move back in with her family, and earn a high-school diploma.

Starting over as a freshman, hapless Jerri returns to class amidst a hostile student body and an unhelpful self-involved faculty—among them pseudo-sensitive art teacher, Geoffrey Jellineck (Paul Dinello); ambiguously gay history teacher, Charles Noblet (Stephen Colbert); and Machiavellian principal, Onyx Blackman (Greg Hollimon)—while contending with a dysfunctional home life that includes her elderly father (Roberto Gari), evil stepmother (Deborah Rush), and bullying half-brother (Larc Spies). This series is not to be missed if you like outrageous humor.

I was delighted when she came out with her cookbook, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. In this hilarious book, Amy shares her tips for throwing parties, being a crafty hostess, and gives practical etiquette advice: “Don’t arrive early unless specifically asked to. But do arrive on time, especially for a dinner party. Depending upon the host, consider practical gifts like toilet paper and stamps. If you want to bring wine, ask the hostess what she is planning to serve and bring a bottle of that. If you want to be graceful in an old world sort of way, send a bouquet of flowers the following day.”

Her advice also includes trying to turn a profit: “Capitalize on the chance to sell things to a house full of liquored up, generous guests. Set up a table of things you are selling for 25 cents.”

Other tips include creating the guest list: “If everyone is the same, the party is a boring convention. Still, you should avoid toxic combinations, like an astrologer and an astronomer, the newly divorced couple, and a serial killer and a drunken teenager.”

The book is partially a cookbook and a guide for entertaining, and a laugh-out-loud romp into the thoughts of Amy Sedaris, who is a blast on all levels. And, the pictures are golden!

Mini Kits
www.runningpress.com

I love these little mini-kits. They make fun gifts and are very inexpensive, ranging from $4.95-12.95. The great part is they actually include a little book full of useful information, so it’s not just a fun toy; it’s also an interactive learning tool. Topics include everything from stress busting to “You Bake ‘em Dog Biscuits.” They have a kit for practically every subject you can think of!

We gave these away to contestants one season and we received great feedback. So, if you’re listening Running Press, how about a donation to our lovely contestants?

Either way, check out their site and see what you discover. You can also go to Amazon to get a bargain, or to find out-of-print kits from vendors.

Comedy Writing Secrets: The Best-Selling Book on How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny, And Get Paid For It

By Mel Helitzer and Mark Shatz


www.amazon.com

If you are interested in comedy writing, this book will help get your feet wet. It includes examples from comedy greats, as well as cutting edge comedians.

There are many different techniques of comedy writing—from one-liners to stand-up—and it has writing exercises so that readers can practice their funny-writing skills!

If you are new to comedy writing, then this is a good book to acquaint you with the basics.

Baron Bob

www.baronbob.com

If you are looking for a unique gift for that special someone, check out Baron Bob to find a variety of gifts that will make you laugh. The site has been featured on CNN, The Tonight Show, and Maxim men’s magazine. It’s their mission to dare to be different by offering items from a wide range of unique, unusual, funny, to pure wackiness.


For example, the Hillary Clinton Nutcracker is the perfect kitchen utility for the politically inclined.

Here’s how to use it:

1) Carefully insert your nuts between Hillary’s thighs and squeeze.

2) Eat the nuts.

3) Repeat again and again for nut cracking bliss. It just takes a little manhandling.

I don’t know about all that, but I’m curiously drawn to purchasing one as a collector’s item.

If you want to relieve some stress, why not try The Screaming Scream Doll, modeled after the popular painting by Edward Munch.

Squeeze the Screaming Doll’s belly and it will let out a little shriek. If you’re an art lover like I am, this may be the perfect desktop toy, or gift for that special someone.

You are guaranteed to find something that will tickle your funny bone at this website. From Van Gogh action figures to sushi soap! Yeah, it’s silly, but we all need a good laugh once in a while, don’t we?

Novelists Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes

By Raymond Obstfeld

www.amazon.com

I love this book and constantly use it as a resource for my fiction writing. There’s a whole section devoted to crafting comic scenes. A comic once said, “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.” Anyone who tries to write comic scenes will soon learn the painful truth of this statement. Thankfully, we have Raymond Obstfeld to guide us through creating comic scenes that pay off. He breaks down comic fiction scenes into several categories: Goofball, Satire, Romantic Comedy etc. and helps us “Squeeze the Moment” by explaining the keys to writing situational comedy, verbal comedy, and comedy from description. There are workbook exercises for each chapter in his book, with example scenes for all genres. It even includes guidance on how long to make a scene, choosing point of view, starting a scene, structuring, and ending a scene.

I can’t stress it enough...if you are writing fiction and need to know how to craft a certain scene, whether it’s romantic, plot driven, action, suspense, or comedy, this is the book for you.

What do you think about our must-haves?  Do you have items you dream to own? We’d love it if you’d share with us and our readers. Drop us a line. Let’s continue to help inspire each other to reach our dreams!


 

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