Withholding: The Secret To Comedy Writing
Column by Peter Derk February 25, 2022
Withholding gets a bad rap from lazy mysteries and lousy thrillers. But it's a great comedy writing tool.
Zac Smith: "Maybe I Think It Just Feels Fun"
Interview by Gabriel Hart
Gabriel Hart interviews Zac Smith about his new collection, "Everything Is Totally Fine" (Muummuu House).
The Swartzwelder Method: Because Writing Should Be Fun
Column by Peter Derk
From the writer of 59 episodes of The Simpsons.
The Horror Punchline
Column by Max Booth III April 6, 2021
How to structure horror fiction with a standup comedian's POV.
Patrick Dennis’s Birthday Banquet
Column by Jessica Marie Baumgartner
Once you meet his characters you'll never forget them, especially Auntie Mame.
Why Isn't More Poetry Funny?
Column by Peter Derk
The greatest poetry question since that one that old dude wrote about which road to take.
What Made 'Roseanne' Great
Column by Peter Derk February 28, 2018
'Roseanne' is returning to TV at the end of March. Can the new season live up to the old? Did we get our fill of the Conners, or do we need them now more than ever?
Sinners and Sharks: An Interview with Married Lit Couple Tiffany Reisz and Andrew Shaffer
Interview by Christoph Paul
I interview married couple, Andrew Shaffer and Tiffany Reisz, on writing, publishing, and who cleans their cat kitty litter.
Life Moves Pretty Fast: How the 'Ghostbusters' Remake Proves Comedies Aren't the Same Anymore
Column by Bart Bishop
A look at Hadley Freeman's book 'Life Moves Pretty Fast' and its discussion of how '80s comedies have changed, with an emphasis on 'Ghostbusters' 2016.
10 Things We Can Learn About Writing from 'You’re the Worst'
Column by Max Booth III September 26, 2016
We dig deep into Stephen Falk's complicated FXX series.
The Deal with the Seinfeld 9/11 Script
News by Peter Derk
The viral, fan-penned 9/11 Seinfeld episode that's...actually pretty good.
Patton Oswalt Plans To Finish Late Wife's Book
News by Peter Derk
Patton Oswalt has announced he will finish the book started by his late wife, Michelle McNamara.
All's Well That Ends Well: On Marriage And Closure
Column by Leah Dearborn May 19, 2016
Will Shakespeare and Jane Austen certainly had no qualms about ending a story at the alter. But marriage has changed over the centuries, and even since the rom-coms of the '90s.
What ‘It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’ Can Teach Us About Writing Dark Humor
Column by Max Booth III February 24, 2016
Learning how to write from one of the most screwed-up shows on television.
Horror and Comedy: Unlikely Bedfellows
Column by Michael David Wilson
A discussion on the most unlikely of companions: horror and comedy.
Bookshots: 'Silver Screen Fiend' by Patton Oswalt
Review by Ed Sikov
A successful comedian/writer/actor looks back at a youth spent with all us people out there in the dark.
Listen Up, Nerds! 5 Lessons from 30 Rock on How to Make Your Characters Down with the In-Crowd
Column by Naturi Thomas-Millard July 31, 2014
"Remember everyone, just don't be yourselves..." and other wisdom from the hit TV show, '30 Rock.'
Bookshots: 'Furious Cool: Richard Pryor and the World That Made Him' by David Henry and Joe Henry
Review by Naturi Thomas-Millard November 6, 2013
The rise and fall of the controversial comic, set against an American backdrop of tumult and change.
Sequel Status: ‘This Book Is Full Of Spiders: Seriously Dude, Don’t Touch It’
Column by Meredith Borders February 15, 2013
David Wong’s follow-up to ‘John Dies At The End’ holds up to its predecessor and then some.
