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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/11708-Unhinged-Hobbies.html
Comedy: December 14, 2022 Issue [#11708]




 This week: Unhinged Hobbies
  Edited by: GeminiGem🐾 Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter





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Welcome! I am GeminiGem🐾 and I am a regular editor of the Comedy Newsletter. Thanks for stopping by and giving it a read!


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Letter from the editor

UNHINGED HOBBIES
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Are you looking for a way to make your character memorable? If you are also trying to sneak some humor into your story, I have an idea for you. What about giving them a weird or wacky hobby?

According to Dictionary.com, a hobby is an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation. Although stamp collecting or binge-watching NetFlix might fit the definition, it isn't probably going to make your character very memorable. Hey, no hate from me, though, stamp collectors and binge-watchers! After all, I collect jars, so I shouldn't talk. For the sake of your character's development, you might pick something a little less common.

So...what, then? What about extreme ironing, competitive duck herding, or toy voyaging? You can find out more about these and some other unusual hobbies at https://www.kaplaninternational.com/blog/fun-languages/eng/fun-facts-unusual-hob...

Maybe you are already aware of unusual hobbies because you have one or someone you know does. If not, that's okay. You can use it as a mini-research project. For instance, extreme ironing involves ironing different types of clothing while doing extreme things like rock climbing or surfing. I have questions. So. Many. Questions. How do you iron with an electric appliance in WATER? How long of an extension cord do you need to iron while rock climbing? Are you judged on the quality of your ironing?

Competitive duck herding requires working with a herding dog of one breed or another (something they neglected to mention in the article, I noticed). I've personally done it (but not competitively) and it is fun. No, Chihuahuas don't herd ducks, but Collies and Shelties do, and I used to have those breeds back in the day.

Toy voyaging would be a really good choice, at least, I could imagine somebody using it to really good comic effect. I mean, seriously, people. You character gets to travel with their choice of toy. This all by itself presents all sorts of comedic opportunities. The point of the hobby (as far as I can tell) is that you do a travel log from the point of view from the toy. This has dozens of way to bring humor to your story.

If you can't find humor in toy voyaging, then maybe your character might want to geocache. This is a modern day treasure hunt, and it is fraught with humorous possibilities. What kind of daft things did they find? What kind of crazy places did they have to go to find it?

Another angle is to give them an "ordinary" hobby, but work in funny things that happen or eccentric people that your character has to deal with while pursuing this hobby.

I hope you have fun with this. One of my favorite things to do is find a way to make my characters a little bit off center. I may take my own advice (shocking, I know) and add give a character an unusual hobby as well. It sounds like a fun thing to research.


Sparkling GG Chi sig


Editor's Picks

 
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Neighboring Yarn Open in new Window. (ASR)
My neighbor's peculiar hobby.
#2029007 by Jatog the Green Author IconMail Icon

 The Fisherman Open in new Window. (ASR)
Don't go overboard with your hobby.
#1740572 by Octavian Pondrell Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2286326 by Not Available.

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Like Clockwork Open in new Window. (13+)
Orange You Glad You Don't Teach?
#2151488 by Mastiff Author IconMail Icon


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Contest Clues Open in new Window. (E)
List of WdC Writing Contests, Challenges, Activities. Clues To What's Open, What's Closed!
#2221492 by GeminiGem🐾 Author IconMail Icon





LOL


Would you like to be featured in one of my newsletters? I am a regular editor of the COMEDY newsletter and a guest editor of other newsletters. You never know where I might pop up!

I do my initial search for items to feature by genre. Naturally, I start with COMEDY for this newsletter. If you are not choosing the THREE genres your writing can fall into when you are in editing mode of that item, you may be missing out! It is never too late to update all the items in your port. Genre to avoid: OTHER.

 
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Ask & Answer

Comments from my last Comedy Newsletter "Sick And Tired Of Being Sick And TiredOpen in new Window.:

From JCosmos
Love your snarky sense of humor about a serious issue. I have not gotten COVID yet but I live overseas in Korea and have not been doing too much. Getting my next vaccine soon. But it is probably inevitable I will get COVID someday. Good luck. Glad you are feeling better and thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much! I hope you avoid COVID. Keep up whatever you've been doing, since it seems to be working *Thumbsup*

From oldgreywolf on wheels
In June 2021, it was announced that they'd determined if you had a strong reaction to the COVID19 vaccine, then you ALREADY had COVID. (I had to lie about that so the VA would give a 2nd dose. Another strong reaction. A year later, 3rd dose = sore arm.)
Long term COVID sucks more than the no-smell no-food go-away bed phase. And old injuries get worse.
The whole COVID program can just take a long walk off of a short pier, as far as I'm concerned. Not a fan! I don't want to go through that again, either.

From Paul
You’re tired of being sick after how many days?

My partner and I fought it off for 2 1/2 years until she caught it the last week in august. The Paxlovid had her up and feeling great in 6 days, then I started feeling bad and she tested me, positive the first of September. Now 2 months later, 3 ambulance trips to emergency because I couldn’t breathe, 2 hospital stays for a total of 9 days then an oxygen concentrator which I sleep with on because it gave me pneumonia too, damaging my lungs.

I am just now starting to get out to the grocery store and coffee houses for a sit down, I have a portable concentrator too. I’m Leary of driving yet because it’s also effected my blood pressure and I get dizzy because it’s too low. There is nothing to take to raise your blood pressure so I have to wait for my body to get over being sick. Because I can’t drive my partner has to take me to doctors appointments too.

I am so tired of being sick I’m beginning to think that maybe my 80 years is a pretty good run, I’ve lived longer than all my ancestors, and I should just sit and let happen what happens.

I am so sorry COVID was so rough on you! I also hope you will heal and improve. I wrote that newsletter while I was acutely ill with COVID, and honestly I'm amazed that it made any sense at all. Now, a month later, I still have the lingering symptoms of a violent cough and fatigue. I have to work and function despite this, there's no more rest for the weary, lol

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