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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/5085-Unintentionally-Funny.html
Comedy: June 06, 2012 Issue [#5085]

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Comedy


 This week: Unintentionally Funny
  Edited by: NaNoKit 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

When you try something new, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. That doesn't mean that we should stop trying...

This week's Comedy Newsletter is about taking a chance.

kittiara





Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

You wouldn’t think that overcoming one’s fears could be funny, but sometimes that’s the way it goes. A year ago, I wouldn’t have thought that I’d ever take part in radio shows, and that’s exactly what’s happened.

Back then, I was terribly shy. I hid away in front of my computer, writing the occasional article on social injustice, and, yes, about the guilty pleasure I take in the reality TV show Big Brother. I stood up for the fans of the UK edition, who reckoned that without a live feed Big Brother wasn’t Big Brother but scripted reality (I mean, did you know that the UK edition is the only one without live coverage of any kind? It’s rather embarrassing…). As pleased as I was by the response from the fans, I was less enthused when I was asked to share my views on radio. I’d actually have to speak with someone. And other people would hear me. I was certain that I would mess up.

I delayed the daunting ordeal for a couple of weeks, but eventually I decided that it was worth a go. The worst that could happen was that I’d make an absolute fool of myself and if that happened, well, these people didn’t know me and none of my friends and family would be listening, and if they did for some odd reason, they already thought me nuts for watching Big Brother anyway. I had nothing to lose.

After that first experience of being on the radio, I listened back and I cringed. I thought it had gone reasonably well, but soon realised that for the first five minutes I sounded like a flustered five-year-old girl with an extremely squeaky voice and, quite possibly, with only a single brain cell bouncing around in my skull. It didn’t help that the radio host tried to put me at ease by addressing me as “petal”. It sort of expressed his opinion of me, which had to be the complete opposite of the professional impression I so desperately wanted to make.

The second time they decided to put me on at the same time as a guy from the USA, and without any warning they added romantic music in the background during our conversation, which led to a few puzzled and embarrassed silences, especially on my end. I had actually promised friends and family that I would send them the link to the podcast of the show, certain that I would do better this time around, but I never quite got around to it…

And yet I kept on going. After Big Brother ended, I appeared on a show about another TV program, on a music show, on a charity marathon radio show, and most recently I even sang, with the warning to all the listeners that my singing voice chases my cats away, it’s that bad. And next week Big Brother UK starts all over again, with a bigger and better radio show, without a host who will call me “petal”, and with several celebrity guests who have agreed to interviews.

Perhaps I have become a comedy act. Perhaps I am unintentionally funny. But you know what? I don’t mind. If I can make people laugh, or smile, it’s all good, and I have overcome some of my anxiety.

The moral of this story, if there has to be one, is to not be afraid to try things. That goes for writing as well. I remember trying out different genres on Writing.Com, and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. My work has been called “Shakespearean – but not in a good way” before. One reviewer once stated “I don’t get it”. It’s daunting to post something you’ve been working on, and open a review and spot that it doesn’t contain the five star rating and glowing praise you were hoping for, but that’s how we learn.

It’s even okay to ignore the criticism, and to keep going. Just have fun. Besides, we’re our own worst critics at times, and even though we may cringe at our own performance, it’s weird, but there are always people who like what we do, and who want to keep on reading our work, or listen to us again.

There’s a saying that the only thing to fear is fear itself. I’ve found that to be true. Doesn’t mean that I’m no longer shy – please don’t ask me to do a speech in front of an audience that’s actually looking at me – but I’ve found that it’s worth taking a chance.

Never be afraid to try something new.

kittiara


Editor's Picks

Here are some of the latest additions to the comedy genre *Smile*.

Writer's Block and The Muse Open in new Window. (13+)
I was having a terrible bout of writer's block, so I decided to take it up with my muse.
#1871261 by elizjohn Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1871482 by Not Available.


 
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A Writer's Struggles Open in new Window. (E)
Short story based on a writer's struggle to gather ideas.
#1871455 by Mimizz Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1871639 by Not Available.


 Silly Ideas Open in new Window. (18+)
Uncle and nephew argue about luck
#1870903 by E E Coder Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1870550 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1870520 by Not Available.


Final Assignment Open in new Window. (13+)
An old man relates the details of his final job assignment
#1870378 by Mitchopolis Author IconMail Icon

 
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Ask & Answer

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I wish you a week filled with inspiration!


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