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Well hello there, Danielle here. Venturing back out of the depths of the writing cave. What’s new? This is a quick update about 3 things, including where you can sign up to my Seriously Ridiculous monthly letter—for fellow word-nerds, story fiends and the comedy curious. Craft, inspiration, prompts. To keep you company on your writing journey.  You can subscribe here: https://www.daniellekrage.com/subscribe Or from socials:  https://twitter.com/daniellekrage (newsletter page) https://www.instagram.com/dekrage (Seriously Ridiculous link in bio) And thanks to the fabulous Joanna Penn for the prompt to create a newsletter-y way of connecting with you. We talked about it in her episode of Comedy Masterclass.  https://comedymasterclass.com/podcast/49-joanna-penn-writing-the-shadow Thanks for listening. And if you subscribe, you’re always welcome to hit reply and say hi!

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 set out to interview 52 guests about the craft of writing narrative comedy. Oh my goodness, what an adventure and education. And now I’m at challenge complete. For me, these episodes have become a treasure chest of tools and approaches that I get to apply to my own work. And It’s been a delight to hear from other writers around the world who have found them helpful. You’re always welcome to find me here: https://comedymasterclass.com/contact  

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