Doug Moe's Blog, page 18
April 7, 2017
“The Monster”There were a lot of reasons to hate Alexander...
“The Monster”
There were a lot of reasons to hate Alexander Skarsgard’s character in Big Little Lies. I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say that the main one was that he beats his wife. That’s horrible, of course, and absolutely the main reason to hate him.
But, wife-beating aside, the other reason I hated him was that every other scene was him “playing a monster” to the endless amusement of his kids. I found it EXHAUSTING. Every time his sons came in the room and the writers needed to show that he was a “fun dad” and also [subtext alert] a monster he’d start chasing them and saying “Here comes the *monster*….”
That’s the only move this guy has in his fun dad playbook? The tickle/I’m-gonna-get-you-monster? Not even an I-got-your-nose? Not a pretend-to-play-hide-and-seek-and-then-never-look-for-them? This guy’s a wife-beater AND a boring dad.
March 30, 2017
manvchild:
Between the Sea Lord and French Bulldogs
Right now,...
Between the Sea Lord and French BulldogsRight now, slightly more people (245) are interested in winning a copy of Seduced by the Sea Lord than winning my book Man Vs Child (244). Although I am still slightly more in demand than French Bulldog: The French Bulldog Bible. Caught between the Sea Lord and French Bulldogs: isn’t that an old song?
If you’re a Goodreads user, enter to win! @abramsbooks is giving away 15 copies, but there’s only 10 days left to enter!
Between the Sea Lord and French BulldogsRight now, slightly more...
Between the Sea Lord and French Bulldogs
Right now, slightly more people (245) are interested in winning a copy of Seduced by the Sea Lord than winning my book Man Vs Child (244). Although I am still slightly more in demand than French Bulldog: The French Bulldog Bible. Caught between the Sea Lord and French Bulldogs: isn’t that an old song?
If you’re a Goodreads user, enter to win! @abramsbooks is giving away 15 copies, but there’s only 10 days left to enter!
March 29, 2017
April Fool’s Day was Yesterday
My daughter keeps asking me when April Fool’s Day is. I am running out of hilarious lies.
March 23, 2017
Allow me to read to you
What am I, some kind of shock-jock radio host now?
Close, but no cigar. This is me recording the audiobook version of my new book Man Vs Child (pre-order available now, natch).
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have me tuck you into bed and read to you, then this audiobook is for you. Although good luck trying to get to sleep, since you’ll be laughing your head off.
March 20, 2017
How do you deal with writer’s block?
In the lead-up to my book’s release, I’m answering questions on Goodreads (you can still win a copy here!). I’m not being GRANDIOUS, nor am I trying to Big-Time anyone. I don’t have any special insight, but here’s what I said about writer’s block:
I don’t know if I’ve ever had writer’s block in the way that it’s normally described. I have definitely had periods of not knowing what to write, hating what I’ve written and a probably under-remarked upon problem: "Extreme Noodling.“ "Extreme Noodling” is what I would call the endless brainstorming, noodling, planning, thinking about, worrying over and then never actually writing problem. I have definitely had that problem.
I love self-help books and tricks. Some tricks work for awhile and then stop working. But here’s a few that I like:
1. Ramp up time/crappy writing/journaling/venting: I do a variation on Morning Pages from the Artist’s Way using the wonderful site http://www.750words.com. I use it to just vent and write and really as a ritual to just start writing. I don’t judge it too much, I just try to get it done quickly. I complain, I make to do lists, I just type blah blah blah. I make with the clickety-clack of the keyboard and it helps.
2. "Don’t get it right, get it written" was a piece of advice I got from some screenwriting book a long time ago. I like that. It’s a catchy version of well-known advice. (If you know what book it’s from, let me know)
3. "Seat of the pants to seat of the chair" is the other catchy phrase from that same book. Sit down and write.
4. I can get distracted by almost anything. If I have to look up something on the internet, who knows where I might end up. So I know that if I have to really be writing, I have to turn off the internet. I use a program called Freedom that kills the internet connection for a set period of time. You have to re-boot to get it back, and that’s enough of a pain for me to not do it.
If you have any questions for me about the book, you can ask them here.
March 10, 2017
Working from home in a nutshell
Working from home in a nutshell
March 9, 2017
Win A Free Copy of My Book!Well lookee here, @abramsbooks has...
Win A Free Copy of My Book!
Well lookee here, @abramsbooks has put up a giveaway for my book Man Vs. Child on Goodreads - If you are cheap, but literate, you should enter!
March 6, 2017
Go to a sing-along in a Brooklyn coffee shop, check out a...
Go to a sing-along in a Brooklyn coffee shop, check out a pre-school, hang around at the playground. If no one calls the cops on you for being a creep, you’ll see the same thing everywhere: dads. Dads, dads, dads!
There’s dads like us everywhere these days: changing diapers, pushing strollers, desperately trying to reason with screaming children.
But where are the books for us? Moms have lots of funny parenting books to drink wine to. But most books for dads are either treat us like idiots or they’re full of useful, but boring information.
This book is different. Man vs. Child is about the absurdity of being a dad today: from your blissful pre-baby days through when your kid is off at school, probably talking shit about you. It’s a companion to help you through the hard times, like when you need something to read on the toilet and your phone is dead.
It’s a guide to the really important stuff, like how to dress your baby according to your personal brand and whether you need to make friends with other parents on the playground. It’s a guidebook for smart, funny dads who are still worried about messing up their kid.
I hope you like it. Welcome to the weirdness of parenting.
The book comes out May 9th. You can pre-order it from these fine booksellers:
Amazon
“Doug Moe has written a delightful and helpful book that gives real advice about the Wild West world of raising children.”
- Amy Poehler, actress, comedian, and New York Times bestselling author of Yes Please
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“Thankfully for new fathers like me, Doug Moe knows it all, from little kids doing pee-pee to big kids doing homework. It’s essential reading for dads and future dads.” - Michael Showalter, writer/director and cocreator of Wet Hot American Summer
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“Doug Moe is the second-best father I know. Even if the only thing you get from this book is a good time, then Doug has done more for fathers than any other book of its kind.” - Rob Corddry, actor and comedian, The Daily Show and Ballers
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“I am about to have a baby and I am terrified and feel like an idiot! Then I read Doug Moe’s Man vs. Child! Now, I am prepared to have a baby. I am slightly less terrified and I am still an idiot! Thanks, Doug!” - Bobby Moynihan, actor and comedian, Saturday Night Live
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“Hurry up and buy this book! I didn’t get a chance before my baby came and now I’m screwed! Help! I haven’t slept in weeks and now I don’t know what I’m doing! Dammit, Doug, why didn’t you write this while I still had time to read books??” - Rob Huebel, actor and comedian, Human Giant and Transparent
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“Man vs. Child is a hilariously honest look at parenting that even moms can appreciate. I mean, any book that encourages new dads to ‘vacuum and be nice’ is one I can get behind!” - Ilana Wiles, blogger and author of The Mommy Shorts Guide to Remarkably Average Parenting
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“A taught, erotic thriller. This is a smart, dark look at the human condition, our strengths and our weaknesses. Doug Moe has done it again. I did not read this book.”- , actor and comedian, The League
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“Doug Moe is hilarious. I’d read anything he wrote, including this book, which I read and loved. Doug’s writing is funny and irreverent, which could lead one to think he’s a bad dad, and quite honestly, I thought that for years. “That Doug Moe, he’s one tantrum away from ‘going out for a pack of cigarettes’ and never coming back,” we used to think and not say. But then his wife seemed to be sticking around, and she seems chill, so you gotta think he’s probably OK. Shady dude, though.“ - Jon Daly, actor and comedian, Kroll Show
Doug Moe is a longtime teacher and performer based at the legendary Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, and has appeared in such television shows as Inside Amy Schumer and 30 Rock. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. Get the full scoop here.
Feel free to email me here if you want to talk. For media and publicity inquiries and interview requests, please contact Jennifer Bastien at jbastien@abramsbooks.com.
February 27, 2017
Winter “Break”
Good Day: *Window shopping* - to be able to window shop is a real treat. Our kid is big enough to window shop, i.e. doesn’t need to buy something in every store we enter. Wow.
Good Day: Museums, inspiration, art and not much traffic.
Bad Day: Shit, we are back in the city and we just left. Why.
Bad Day: Bored, bored, bored and yet can’t figure out what to do
Good Day: Get out of the routine, see a fun movie - kudos for salvaging what could have been a 3rd Bad Day
Good Day: On a roll! The zoo, a bike ride, a playdate. #1 Dad award
Bad Day: Bored again, no plan. Why didn’t I make a plan?
Good Day: Great day out with friends!
Bad Day: Burnt out, bored
Bad Day: WTF, is vacation over already?
