The language of stand-up
Mo Fanning looks at the language used when writing stand-up comedy and how this differes from creating a novel or short story.
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Writing
Bestselling UK author Mo Fanning offers tips on how to get published and attract the attention of agents, as well as hints on how to sharpen up your writing. As well as a series of well-received romantic comedies, Mo is a creative writing coach.
So you think you’re funny?
If there’s anything guaranteed to set my teeth on edge, it’s people who yap on about stepping outside their comfort zone. Or anybody who declares themselves midway through a year of saying yes. And yet just yesterday, I experienced toilet-sitting fear as ‘yes’ landed me in the most uncomfortable place going. Was it when I bounded
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Chemo brain and writing
I’m supposed to be editing. Or as I like to call it deleting six months hard work to write a totally different story. Call it chemo-brain or call it the fact I realised just a tiny bit too late I’d written the wrong story, but ‘The Toast of Brighton’ is going down to the wire
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The Tortoise and the Vole
I’m saying short story, but it’s a poem. It’s political and generally reflects my frustration at the state of the UK. But I hope you enjoy it anyway.
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Writing light comedy from a dark place
Everyone says that the best comedy comes from the darkest of places. And that gives me hope for ‘The Toast of Brighton’ – shameless plug alert: this is my upcoming novel – as the past few weeks have felt pitch black. And yet, I believe the words, chapters and story match the hopes I always
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Fifty-denial – why I’m not down with da kidz
I don’t sound right using words like totes I headed this piece as being ‘down with da kidz’ with a knowing nod to irony. I’m about as far removed from being down with anyone under the age of 40 as it’s possible to get. On the rare days I stiffen my sinews and spend a
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The Director’s Cut
Mo Fanning talks about why he decided to rewrite and revamp his 2008 best-selling book ‘The Armchair Bride’ for an anniversary reissue.
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The power of the flashback
You know how it goes. You’re watching a TV show, and all-of-a-sudden the scene changes. Flashback to five years earlier. If there’s one thing to be said for binge watching in the Netflix age, it’s that I’ve thought again about how I tell a story. I’ve always known that a strict chronological timeline turns off
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Project management for authors
There’s that Douglas Adams project management quote about loving deadlines. Especially the noise they make as they whoosh by. With less than two weeks to go before my Christmas short story book was due for release, I decided I wanted to cram in an extra story. You can imagine how this went down with my
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Writing tips: Hatches, matches and dispatches
As Australians vote to allow same-sex marriage, I got to pondering how, when writing, I often base stories around major life events. The Armchair Bride brings former enemies together. Having it all sees the bride flee a dream wedding. My next book will see Evie find new ways to cope when every familiar situation ‘dies’.
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