Hello, how goes it? Here's how my 52 day challenge went...(Plus the sweetest, funniest film I have seen in ages.) 

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

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  

Back with you on May 15th. 

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  

Hey lovely listeners. That's the end of Season 5. I'll be back on March 6th with more fabulous Comedy Masterclass guests. 

Danielle Krage interviews Scott Dikkers, founder of the renowned humour site, The Onion. Scott is a New York Times and Amazon best-selling humour author. He has won a Peabody Award, the Thurber Prize for American Humor and over 30 Webby awards. Plus, he has consulted for top entertainment companies like NBC, Comedy Central, and Pixar. Scott’s How to Write Funny series is packed with helpful insights and frameworks for getting humour onto the page. In this episode, he shares both craft and career advice for comedy writers.     Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:21 Building a Brand and the Importance of Stick-to-it-ness 04:18 Crafting Reliable and Repeatable Quality 08:31 Balancing the Clown and the Editor 12:39 The Importance of Titles and Introducing Comedy in Writing 22:36 Misconceptions about Writing Comedy 30:31 Favourite Types of Characters to Write 33:13 Satire and its Impact 36:00 Where to Find Scott Dikkers   Links https://howtowritefunny.com/ https://scottdikkers.substack.com/ https://twitter.com/ScottDikkers https://www.instagram.com/itsscottdikkers   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

In this episode, Danielle shares the writing advice of Ray Bradbury, a writer who has influenced her own writing process. She introduces Bradbury and his book 'Zen and the Art of Writing', highlighting his practical and joyful approach to writing. Danielle discusses two main practices recommended by Bradbury: the 52 Short Story Challenge and the Thousand Nights Challenge. She shares her own experiences with these challenges and offers tips for making them doable and enjoyable.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ray Bradbury 02:08 The 52 Short Story Challenge 15:38 The Thousand Nights Challenge 23:12 Committing to Challenges   SHOW NOTES Zen and the Art of Writing: Essays on Creativity: https://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Writing-Essays-Creativity/dp/1877741094 An Evening with Ray Bradbury 2001: https://youtu.be/_W-r7ABrMYU?si=kGDIee3oMGC51wTY https://daniellekrage.com/10-things-i-learned-from-writing-52-short-stories https://daniellekrage.com/christmas-even/ https://daniellekrage.com/its-hard-being-an-avenger/ https://daniellekrage.com/this-isnt-a-love-story/ https://daniellekrage.com/the-new-life-church/ https://daniellekrage.com/the-last-bite/ https://daniellekrage.com/it-was-for-cerberus/ https://daniellekrage.com/1000-nights/ https://poets.org https://tetw.org  

Julia McKenzie is the Commissioning Editor for Comedy and Entertainment at Radio 4, and prior to that was Creative Director of BBC Studios Audio for 7 years, specialising in comedy and entertainment production. In this conversation, Julia provides helpful insights for comedy writers who want to understand the audio landscape and find ways to get their work produced. 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:06 Starting in Audio and Comedy 08:11 Working with Producers 13:44 Commissioning Process 19:55 Audio Comedy Landscape 27:56 Pilots and Evaluation 33:36 Audio Formats 38:16 Favourite Comedy Shows 39:44 Recommendations and Resources 40:47 TV Recommendations 41:39 Fresh Take on Narration 43:15 Where to Find More   SHOWNOTES: https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning Jokes feed: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001tzf5 BBC Sounds app: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/getting-started-with-bbc-sounds/sounds-intro https://twitter.com/juliaamckenzie Comedy of the Week: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02pc9x6/episodes/downloads Friday Night Comedy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02pc9pj https://twitter.com/dmsareopenbbc

Danielle Krage interviews Lynne Parker, Founder and Chief Executive of Funny Women. She created the organisation over 20 years ago now and has made such a contribution to the comedy community, including producing the Funny Women Awards. In this conversation, Lynne shares invaluable advice for women building their careers and networks in comedy.    Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:10 The Creation of Funny Women 09:45 The Importance of Funny Women 12:24 Supporting Women in Comedy 17:48 Challenges in the Comedy Industry 23:47 Mentorship and Networking 30:18 Taking Comedy into the Workplace 37:10 The Value of Remote Work and Social Interaction 38:29 Creating Fun and Engaging Work Environments 39:52 Running Events for Women in the Workplace 41:46 The Power of Comedy in the Workplace 43:31 Overcoming Gender Stereotypes in the Workplace 45:13 Representation of Women in Comedy 46:42 Challenging Age Stereotypes 48:38 Being Independent Thinkers 49:22 Finding More Information   You can find out more about Lynne Parker and her work here: https://funnywomen.com https://www.herlarious.co.uk https://twitter.com/funnywomen https://twitter.com/FunnyWomenLynne https://www.instagram.com/funny_women 20 years of Funny Women: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001qszl   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 author Fran Hill about ways to develop your observational humour skills as a writer. Fran is a former English teacher, and had a monthly satirical column about education in the Times Educational Supplement. She further shared her experiences in diary form in her memoir ‘Miss, What Does Incomprehensible Mean?' And she published her novel, ‘Cuckoo in the Nest’ in 2023.     Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:19 Starting the Satirical Column 03:09 Observational Humour and Learning 07:30 Transition to Writing 10:26 Discovering the Craft of Writing 11:17 Honing Observational Skills 15:00 Exaggeration and Specific Detail 19:19 Writing Poetry for Special Occasions 24:20 Challenges of Writing Fiction 28:30 Observation, Hypervigilance, and Comedy 34:34 Crafting Poems for Others 38:16 Writing with a Macro Perspective 41:07 The Inspiration for Character Development 41:24 The Power of Setting 42:14 Continual Learning and Growth 42:32 Where to Find More of Fran Hill's Work   You can find out more about Fran Hill and her work here: https://www.franhill.co.uk https://linktr.ee/franhill123 https://twitter.com/franhill123 https://www.instagram.com/franhill123   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 Billy Mernit - screenwriter, novelist and author of Writing The Romantic Comedy: The Art of Crafting Funny Love Stories for the Screen. Billy has served as a story analyst and script consultant at Universal Pictures, an instructor for the UCLA Extension Writers' Program, and has published some 20 romance novels under a female pen name. In this conversation, he shares really practical ways of approaching writing romantic comedy, including in today’s landscape of mixing genres.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:00 Love for Rom-Coms 02:25 The Triangle and the Ensemble 07:43 Favourite Rom-Coms 13:16 The Importance of World 17:48 The Connection Between Image and Theme 25:36 Mixing Genres in Rom-Coms 31:06 Rom-Coms in Series Format 34:07 Personal Development as a Writer 37:14 Music and Writing 10:15 The Importance of Characters in Romantic Comedies 20:30 The Role of Conflict in Romantic Comedies 30:45 The Art of Crafting Funny Love Stories 39:41 Recommendation and Conclusion   You can find out more about Billy and his work here: https://www.instagram.com/mernitman https://billymernit.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    

Back January 10th 2024 with more Comedy Masterclass guests.

In this episode writers Allora Dannon, Camille Le Baron and Danielle Krage share their Christmas comedy recommendations. They discuss TV series, films and books that capture the holiday spirit with a Christmas twist. Whether you love Christmas or not, there's something for everyone in these recommendations. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and How They Met. (Plus, shoutout to the brilliant Temeraire series by Naomi Novik) 01:48 Introducing Allora and Camille 03:00 Recommendation: Home for Christmas (Norwegian series) 05:34 Recommendation: The Spirit of Christmas (film) 08:03 Recommendation: Love Actually (film) 12:03 Recommendation: Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas, Adam Kay (book) 20:43 Recommendation: Little Women (book/1994 film version) 26:02 Recommendation: Le père Noël est une ordure/ Father Christmas is a Stinker 37:08 Social media, online presence and more   You can find Allora here: https://www.tiktok.com/@alloradannon   And Camille here: https://www.instagram.com/camillelbauthor   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 Chelsea Kania and Emily Chase from Female Pilot Club, and they discuss the benefits of entering writing competitions and the development opportunities they offer. From their work with Female Pilot Club’s comedy script call, they share practical tips for developing your pitch, engaging with the advice of industry judges, responding to feedback and development notes, and finding the right fit with mentors. The conversation covers: 00:00 Introduction to Female Pilot Club and Writing Competitions 02:08 The Benefits of Live Script Readings 03:35 The Purpose of the Script Call and Female Pilot Club 05:33 The Importance of Championing Female Writers 07:34 The Development Opportunities in the Script Call 08:08 Tips for Crafting a Succinct and Captivating Pitch 09:34 Advice from Industry Judges on Writing Comedy Scripts 11:05 Balancing Unique Personal Lens and Broad Comedy Appeal 13:49 Tips for Engaging with Script Development Notes 18:04 Considerations for Standing Out in Submissions 20:12 The Value of Script Consultancy and Mentoring 22:33 Finding a Good Fit in Mentors and Consultants 25:45 Staying Centred and True to Your Vision 30:09 Favourite Comedies and Comedy Dramas 32:57 Advice for Writers: Patience and Focus 37:00 Closing Remarks and Script Call Details   You can find out more about Female Pilot Club, their script call, and consultancy here: https://www.femalepilotclub.co.uk https://www.femalepilotclub.co.uk/2024scriptcall https://www.femalepilotclub.co.uk/script-consultancy https://www.instagram.com/femalepilotclub https://twitter.com/femalepilotclub   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 comedy director, coach and mentor, Chris Head. This episode is a deep dive into how to structure your 30 min comedy or comedy-drama script. Then Chris and Danielle play with using the structure to brainstorm a new show. Tactics covered include: Breaking down the 3 main beats that shape your story. Ways to keep your protagonist active. How to navigate phases of play and structuring when writing. Brainstorming a show in real time, using practical frameworks for character dynamics and story beats. Bringing in a B and a C story. You can find out more about Chris’ work here: https://www.chrishead.com   You can find the blog post referenced here (including links to scripts): https://www.comedy.co.uk/pro/inside_track/structuring-your-30-minute-script   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 Johnny Smith, animation and live-action screenwriter and script consultant. His work spans books, TV and film, including Dragon Rider, and co-writer for The Queen’s Corgi, and Gnomeo and Juliet. This conversation includes: Creating rules for your world, using setting, and telling the story visually. Considerations for writing physical comedy. Lessons learned from working with studios and production companies. Ways to approach writing in a partnership. Self-esteem and mental health challenges for writers and creative people. The importance of finding your voice, and writing for you. Advice for having and changing agents. You can find out more about Johnny Smith and his work here: https://www.johnnysmith.co.uk/   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 writers Jane Lovering and Jeevani Charika. They are shortlisted and award-winning romantic novelists in their individual careers, and together they wrote How to Write a Romantic Comedy. This conversation includes: Having pen names and marketing your funny books. Juxtaposition and the unexpected in comedy. Tropes, heroines and diversifying the genre. Memorable endings and twists. The editing process.   You can find out more about their work here: https://books2read.com/u/4AQBgk - How to Write Romantic Comedy https://books2read.com/IPBook - Getting Published is Just the Beginning www.fictiontutors.co.uk Jeevani Charika’s non-fiction site https://www.janelovering.co.uk/ Jane Lovering’s website https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Jane-Lovering/author/B003NYBX9M?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Jane’s Amazon page www.Jeevanicharika.com Jeevani Charika’s website https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Jeevani-Charika/author/B07C6W8Z88?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Jeevani's Amazon page   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 Dave Cohen - Broadcaster, BBC TV writer, BAFTA winner for his Horrible Histories songs, and novelist (Stand Up, Barry Goldman, and soon to be released, Barry Goldman: The Wilderness Years). Dave is the author of The Complete Comedy Writer: Make your Sitcom, Stand-Up, Screenplay, Sketches and Stories 62% funnier. He brings his extensive comedy writing experience to this conversation. Topics covered include: Ways into comedy writing (including children’s TV and radio). The number one requirement for being a comedy writer. Creating comedic characters – the first questions you should ask. Balancing ‘emotional truths’ with ‘permission to lie’. Adding funny to fiction.   You can find out more about Dave and his work here: https://davidjcohenauthor.com/ https://www.davecohen.org.uk/ https://www.waterstones.com/book/stand-up-barry-goldman/david-j-cohen/9781999313821 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BLZXRG5G 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 writer Aaron Starmer, whose young adult and middle-grade novels you can find on so many best-of-year lists, from Time Magazine to the Wall Street Journal.   He’s the author of Spontaneous, also adapted into a romantic black comedy horror film, produced and directed by Brian Duffield (Underwater, Love and Monsters, No One Will Save You). Spontaneous was one of Danielle’s top picks in episode 30 (comedy horror for Halloween). In the interview with Aaron, the conversation covers: Humour and its relationship to tragedy and trauma. Navigating the sensibilities of voice and humour. Non-visual entrances into characters. High concepts and hooks. Writing humour for different age groups. Characters as vessels for jokes. You can find out more about Aaron Starmer and his work here: https://www.aaronstarmer.com https://twitter.com/aaronstarmer https://bsky.app/profile/aaronstarmer.bsky.social   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 writer and creative, Isaac Marion. Isaac is the author of the Warm Bodies series. (Warm Bodies became a New York Times Bestseller, inspired a major film, and was translated into 25 languages.) This conversation about weaving humour with darker themes includes: 1) Exploring different writing perspectives and viewpoints. Where do we set our zoom level? 2) Deadpan and dark humour. 3) What does creativity give us? AND there’s a bonus appearance from Bob the cat.   You can find out more about Isaac Marion and his work here: https://isaacmarion.com https://www.youtube.com/@OuterEdgeOutpost2   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

Zanandi Botes, writer and comedy horror expert, is the special guest for this Halloween show. Zanandi and Danielle share 3 picks each, to give you 6 comedy-horror recommendations, just in time for Spooky Season. They span zombies, mockumentary, anthology and more. You can find Zanandi at: https://www.cracked.com/members/Zanandi https://twitter.com/ZaNandi https://bsky.app/profile/zanandi.bsky.social   You can listen to our previous episode about comedy-horror here: https://comedymasterclass.com/podcast/12-zanandi-botes-comedy-horror-and-twisting-tropes/   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  

Comedy Masterclass will be back on October 25th (with a special Halloween episode!) In the meantime, I would love it if you could help me share the show, in a way that makes sense for wherever you listen/watch - rate, review, leave a comment. Or share with comedy-loving friends, or on social media.    And if you want to message me directly, you can find how to do so at  https://comedymasterclass.com I love hearing what's resonating with you, and how you're applying it to your own writing.  Back soon!  Danielle

Danielle Krage interviews The Blaine Brothers (Chris and Ben) about their work as filmmakers and particularly their approaches to directing comedy. They directed Sara Pascoe’s ‘Out of Her Mind’ series for BBC2 and Sony TV (through Simon Pegg’s production company Stolen Picture) and received both awards and brilliant reviews for their debut feature Nina Forever. In this interview, they share practical lessons learned from their highly creative careers. You can find out more about their work here: https://www.blainebrothers.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/theblainebrothers https://twitter.com/blainebrothers You can find details for Ben’s course (Find Your Voice in TV and Film), and his Substack about stories here: https://thefreeassociation.culmas.io/class/gKYOkrLHFZ6r2GINYJgO?from=component-api https://themidpoint.substack.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 Lynne Murphy, Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sussex. Lynne has a fabulous alter-ego as Lynneguist, with an award-winning blog ‘Separated by a Common Language’. Lynne is also the author of ‘The Prodigal Tongue: The Love-Hate Relationship between British and American English’. In this interview, she generously shares a lot of the tools and approaches that helped her develop the voice of the book, get useful feedback, and make the writing funny and memorable. Plus practical recommendations for other writers who want to bring more humour to their non-fiction work. You can find out more about Lynne Murphy at: https://theprodigaltongue.com/ https://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/ https://twitter.com/lynneguist https://www.facebook.com/lynneguist/ https://staging.bsky.app/profile/lynneguist.bsky.social   And you can sign up for her newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/30d0ffd3a48e/separated-by-a-common-newsletter Or by following the links in her Twitter bio.   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 Adam Courting, a highly curious creative whose experience spans improv, devising, performing Shakespeare and more. Adam has brilliant insights into improv comedy culture - what needs to change, and what we can learn from it. This includes how we can use improv to reshape how we think about traditional roles, and engage audiences in unique ways. You can find out more about Adam's work here: https://www.instagram.com/adamcourting/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/dtrscomedy/?hl=en https://www.acaprov.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 writer Michelle Gallen, whose book ‘Factory Girls’ won the Comedy Women in Print Prize 2023. Michelle has wonderfully honest and practical takes on the craft and business of writing – from developing the voice and point of view of the book, to successfully pitching it to agents and editors. The interview also delves into the opportunities of the adaptation process, and is laced with great real-world advice for writers and comedy lovers. You can find out more about Michelle and her work at: https://www.michellegallen.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 Kevin Tomlinson, theatre maker and Co-Founder of Kepow Theatre Company. Kevin’s extensive training and live experience in so many forms of improvisation (including with Keith Johnstone, Philippe Gaulier, and John Wright) leads to a rich conversation about diverse aspects of long-form improv – both verbal and physical. You can find out more about Kevin Tomlinson’s work here: http://kepowtheatre.co.uk https://twitter.com/KevinxTomlinson https://www.facebook.com/kevintomlinsonuk 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 comedian and screenwriter, Tim Ferguson. They dig into his wonderfully practical book, Cheeky Monkey: Writing Narrative Comedy, to talk about characters, conflict, situation, and simplicity. Tim has so much comedy experience, and wonderfully forthright ways of distilling it down to what matter most if you want to write narrative comedy. You can find out more about Tim and his work at: https://www.cheekymonkeycomedy.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 poet, writer and broadcaster Ian McMillan about how he approaches humour in his work - whether it’s his poetry collections or his beautiful memoir, My Sand Life, My Pebble Life. It’s a conversation rich with insights and stories, delivered in Ian’s unique and delightfully resonant style. Vivid, funny and so inspiring, it’s a truly human way into poetry, storytelling and language. You can find out more about Ian and his work at: http://ian-mcmillan.co.uk https://twitter.com/IMcMillan   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 actor, writer and comedian Holly Hall about the process of making her live solo show, ‘You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.’ Holly was first on the show back in episode 3, sharing her process of going from award winning online sketch ‘When podcasts go wrong’… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHg4za15W9o ….to her commissioned short film, ‘It’s what she would have wanted.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkrkASc4J9s Holly has such an encouraging take on comedy and making work, and shares a great mix of advice and practical suggestions for other creatives. You can follow Holly Hall and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/hollyhallcomedian https://www.tiktok.com/@hollyhallcomedian     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 Ryan North - writer of games, comic books, non-fiction books and more. They dig into considerations for comedy, including Ryan’s experience of writing The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and Danger and Other Unknown Risks. This fun conversation covers – timing, collaboration, translating comedy, crafting jokes, originality, and entrepreneurial approaches. There’s even a bonus joke from ancient Greece! You can find out more about Ryan and his work at:  http://www.ryannorth.ca   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 will be back with regular weekly episodes on Wednesday 2nd August.