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ERMA BOMBECK WRITERS' WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER
University of Dayton
November 2007
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Dear writer:
programs for humor writers I've ever seen. Judy is author of The Comedy Bible and has
taught standup comedy workshops in Los Angeles for years. Now she's put her workshop
on DVDs -- six hours worth -- and is selling the complete set for $225. The set includes
step-by-step comedy instruction by Judy as well as industry trade secrets from 18 of
Hollywood's top managers, agents, casting directors, bookers and producers. The
DVDs are broken down into three sections: Creating Killer Comedy Material, How Not
to Bomb and Making Money by Being Funny. There's also a bonus CD with writing and
performing exercises.(You can watch clips from the programs here.)
If you want to break into stand-up comedy, you won't find a better place to begin than
Comedy Career in a Box. But even if you plan to stick to humor writing, this is a
must-have program. When my first book was published, I did a lot of speaking
engagements and book signings. I quickly discovered that most of my writing didn't
translate well from the written page to the spoken word. I had to rewrite it. If I had Comedy Career in a Box, the entire process would have been much simpler.
Watching the DVDs, you'll learn the structure of stand-up comedy, which is different from other types of humor writing. Comedy Career in a Box will help you create killer material for all your speaking opportunities, even if you never perform in a comedy club. One of the best parts is getting to see how bad some of Judy's students were at the beginning of her classes -- and how they improved dramatically along the way.
The bottom line is that you'll learn as much from Comedy Career in a Box as you would attending a writers' workshop. It's a great value and one I highly recommend.
Keep writing!
Tim Bete
P.S. Now you can listen to the 2008 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop at home! Here's how.
Latest news...
COMEDY BY THE NUMBERS
There's a lot of books out there claiming that they contain the secret to being funny, but only the authors of Comedy by the Numbers actually know how to crack a joke. Read more.
THE ONION GOES GLOBAL
The Onion releases its second book, Our Dumb World. Read more.
COMEDY FANTASY CAMP
Would you like to spend two days as a sitcom writer?. Read more.
CLEANING UP IN COMEDY
Teresa Roberts Logan is a 'clean comedian' who hosts a monthly Clean Comedy Night. Read more.
COMPETITIVE STREAK HELPS "30 ROCK" SURVIVE
A year ago few people would have bet Tina Fey’s show, “30 Rock,” would last an entire season, let alone take the best-comedy award at the Emmys. Read more.
WILL ROGERS WINNER
Peggy Sanders , a farm-ranch wife and writer from Oral, S.D., won first place in the 2007 Will Rogers Writing Contest.
Humor writer of the month
BRIAN THOMPSON
Brian L. Thompson is a former journalist and weekly humor columnist for the St. Augustine Record in Florida. He has also written for numerous publications in Northeast Florida and won a number of awards over the years, including a feature writing award from the Florida Press Club in 2002. His column and other writings have also won awards from Florida Press, Humor Press, and Readingwriters.com. Visit his Web site.
Book giveaway
Each month we give away a book on writing to a few subscribers to our newsletter. If you're subscribed, you're entered to win! This issue's winners are:
* Laurel Williams
* Kirk Rouse
* Colleen Williams
Who's publishing what?
WORKSHOP FACULTY
TEACHING HUMOR: Mark Shatz will help Wagner College students prepare for its new humor-writing contest by conducting a workshop, Humor Writing 101.The presentation will prepare students to compete for a $1,000 grand prize..
ONE BUSY LADY: Leigh Anne Jasheway Bryant has a new agent, a book coming out with Whole Person Associates called Are You Playing with Me? and a contract for a menopause humor gift book.
SPEAKING OF DEB: Deb DiSandro headed up a Speaker School for her speaker's organization and won Member of the Year.
PAST WORKSHOP ATTENDEES
LOVE SOUP: Award-winning columnist/novelist, Saralee Perel, will have two stories published in the upcoming book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Love Stories. The book will be in bookstores February 2008.
DOUBLE HEADER: Joanne Brokaw's slice of life column appears in Christian Voice Magazine, a national magazine for fans of southern Gospel music. She also has a regular column in ByLine Magazine.
WINDY CITY: Cheryl O'Donovan had a humor essay published in Chicago Parent magazine. She recently landed a column in the Pioneer Press (northwest suburbs/Chicago), called, "Van Mom Strikes Again." She's won a HumorPress placement twice (second and fourth places), and collaborated with Tom Wolferman on a humor book for the over-40 woman, The Estrogen Undeground.
LUCKY LARRY: Meridian Online Magazine published a humor piece by Larry Day. He also writes a regular column for his local newspaper.
OTHER PUBLISHING NEWS
ZANY TALE OF A 14-YEAR-OLD BRANIAC: "Bowl of Cherries," the debut novel from 90-year-old author Millard Kaufman, is full of twisted family dynamics, romantic obsessions and wholly improbable story line delivered in a deadpan voice simmering with mirth. Read more.
Markets, contests and more
ANTHOLOGY CONTEST: Susan Reinhardt and DC Stanfa are seeking submissions for Sex in the Cemetery and Other Bible Stories. Read more.
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS SOUGHT: Christmas Traditions: True Stories of Holiday Celebration will be filled with stories that touch the mind as well as the soul as they take the reader on a magical journey through Christmas—past and present—while giving the reader ideas for traditions they might be interested in adapting in the future. Deadline: Nov. 15. For more information, contact Helen Kay Polaski (Szymanski) at hkpolaski@yahoo.com
NEED AN AGENT? Literary agent Dan Lazar is interested in humor writers who can make the leap from humor, gifty books to larger ideas -- like a memoir or a novel (particulary novels for children). He's also interested in hearing from cartoonists looking to make a leap into writing graphic novels or memoirs.
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP NOVEL: In celebration of National Novel Writing Month (November 1st-30th), The Editorial Department, LLC — the country’s oldest independent book editing company — is hosting a nationwide contest to find and help perfect the next great American novel. Read more.
BOOMER HEART: Howard Publishing is doing another story compilation called Humor for the Baby Boomer's Heart.
Stories should be for boomer's concerning health and fitness, retirement, grandchildren, grown children, aging parents, etc. The payment will vary with the quality of the story ($50-$100) and need for editing. About 800 words. Author retains all rights to the story. Name on the story and bio in the back (30-50 words). Send submissions to Snapdragongroup@aol.com.
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NETWORK WITH OTHER HUMOR WRITERS: Network with other humor writers. Join the e-mail discussion group for past attendees of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop and those who would like to attend in the future. Join now.
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SUGGEST A RESOURCE: If you have a favorite book or Web site, let us know at bete@udayton.edu.
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Copyright 2007, University of Dayton
