CLOG - Comedy Literature Only Group discussion
Introductions
Nice one, AndyChap.Don't you think it's a bit spooky that I happened to mention Wodehouse and the Wodehouse prize-giver pops up with a huge compliment for TAS? Well I think it's spooky. Perhaps I have a special power to invoke stuff. Let's give it another try ...
I think Rob Gregson should be given a knighthood.
It's now just a matter of waiting and acting surprised when he tells us the news.
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When Rob gets knighted, which I think he definitely will now, do you think he'll make us call him Sir? Or do you think he'll be cool like the Knights who say "Ni"?
I'm more concerned about how he will be able to type wearing a full suit of armour with chain mail gauntlets.
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Andrew wrote: "Corben wrote: "G.W. wrote: "are there book awards for comic novel (not comic books!) writing? "Yes ... the 'Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize'. Our very own Andrew Chapman would almost certainly..."
Wowzer! Review / comments don't come much better than that ... unless there's a ten shilling note also in the envelope.
Way to go, Andrew.
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By the way - the weirdest thing happened this morning. I gathered in the post as usual but there was an unexpected parcel amongst it, with a small CLOG incorporated into the franking mark. I opened it and found one of those white sleeping cap things so beloved of Ebenezer Scrooge, Laurel & Hardy et al. The only difference was that it had a sort of fold-down bit at the front that you could use to cover your eyes. I certainly hadn't ordered it so I checked the delivery note but there it was, clearly marked for my attention, with no return address.
"One night-hood" it read.
You wouldn't know anything about this, would you?
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Way to go, Andrew.."
Yep. High praise indeed. I was very chuffed. Yesterday was a good day for people saying nice things about my writing.
And Rob, I don't know what you're talking about. No one in this room is responsible. Now, excuse me while I hide in this cupboard and whistle quietly to myself for a while.
Hello again folks. I've been away (long story), but I'm sort of back now. Hope to get more involved from now on.
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Welcome back, Will. I hope everything is okay.
Welcome back indeed. Nothing much has changed in your absence.
How'z this for a comedy book trailer?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiPDR...
I kind of screwed up, I didn't write to genre. :-P I've also got an audio book coming with more than 40 different voices. That was a major pain in the ass to coordinate. I guess the book is considered "funny", I would've been happy with just "amusing".
Hi Eric,sadly there is no genre dedicated to the sort of things we write. We had a debate a while ago and decided that we would need to lie if we were to get the attention of publishers.
Nice trailer by the way. It put me in mind of the Bonzo Dog DoDa Band.
Ah Viv Stantial. Anyone remember the wonderful Sir Henry at Rawlinson End?
Mr Savage Cushions wrote: "Ah Viv Stantial. Anyone remember the wonderful Sir Henry at Rawlinson End?"How could we forget? I've got the radio play and the video - what a classic.
Dear Clog-peopleI apologise for my recent absence. I am going through a personal hell at present which prevents any possibility of creativity or serious consideration of others' work. I hope, my friends, that you will not forget The Flatpack Observer. It, and I will be back.
Wishing you all health and inspiration
Savage, (Roger)
Mr Savage Cushions wrote: "Dear Clog-peopleI apologise for my recent absence. I am going through a personal hell at present which prevents any possibility of creativity or serious consideration of others' work. I hope, my f..."
Sorry to hear that. Hope everything sorts itself, ma man.
Some things are more important than being funny. Soon however, I wish that statement be turned on its head.
May the woggle be with you.
CEETEE.
Sorry to hear that. Personal hells are not fun. I should know. I've had a few.Wishing you well and a speedy return.
Sorry to hear about your troubles, Mr C. The Cloggers are here when you're ready to resume Flatpacking.
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Same goes here. We'll be here when you're ready to return. I hope that's sooner rather than later.
Hi all,I thought I’d join up. Some of you might remember me from Authonomy days. Since then I’ve become a serial evictee from writing sites, being present for the demise of WriteOn as well. I’m now at Wattpad (https://www.wattpad.com/user/MauriceArh) which is actually not that bad. After an initial impression that the site was overrun by teenagers I’ve warmed to the place and it does seem to produce a steady stream of unsolicited reads, which is all I really ask.
I think I qualify for CLOG. I mean, I am a comedy writer of sorts, though I’d never claim to be a comedy only writer. But there are jokes. Whether I’m a writer of literature or not I will leave for others to decide.
I’ve also recently read Rob’s The Other Book of the Dead. I don’t think that’s a qualification for joining as such, but if you haven’t yet then you probably ought to.
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I'm sure the others will introduce themselves in due course, and I've no doubt some of them will be familiar. If anyone gets over-familiar, just let me know...
Former Authonomites might recall White Matter, which is wry, intelligent and wonderfully written. Clever near future sci-fi with a philosophical leaning, and not a tinfoil catsuit to be seen.
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I remember Authonomy, we used to regularly get CLOG members in the monthly top 5, not that Harper Collins ever took any notice of usHere we write, read and generally support each other. Welcome aboard.
Hi James, Andrew. Did I know you in the old Auth days? James I remember, Andrew I'm guessing went under a different name. (I recall an Andy Paine, but the books on your web site look different.)At the risk of flagrant self-promotion, downloadable copies of White Matter are on my web site (https://mauricearh.wordpress.com/). I put it up temporarily for someone on Wattpad but will take it down again soon in case a publisher counts it as prior publication. Is it? I have no idea, though given the site's visitor stats it shouldn't be.
Maurice wrote: "Hi James, Andrew. Did I know you in the old Auth days? James I remember, Andrew I'm guessing went under a different name. (I recall an Andy Paine, but the books on your web site look different.)A..."
Hi Maurice. Andy Paine is here with us, and keeps the same upside down waking hours as yourself. He's busy trying to clear a plot of land, but every time he picks up a stick and throws it away it comes back to him.
I've just grabbed your book, and in exchange you can get two of mine at http://www.thebigginhillsociety.talkt...
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A..."
I wrote under my own name, or maybe AndyChapWriter, I can't remember. I was only there for the final 6 months leading up to its demise.
Maurice wrote: "Hi all,I thought I’d join up. Some of you might remember me from Authonomy days. Since then I’ve become a serial evictee from writing sites, being present for the demise of WriteOn as well. I’m no..."
Hi Maurice.
Welcome>
I'm Cee Tee, the Second Lord of Procrastination and Broken Promises. I'm a sssllloooowww reader and even more slothful writer. But my intentions are good - better than my credit, at any rate.
Rob wrote: "I would have thought that most publishers would be happy to see that a book has already earned some positive market feedback."You'd think, wouldn't you. But there are some, Amazon's Kindle Singles is one, that have this restriction. I'm guessing it's something their lawyers made them say.
Cee wrote: "Hi Maurice.Welcome>
I'm Cee Tee, the Second Lord of Procrastination and Broken Promises. I'm a sssllloooowww reader and even more slothful writer. But my intentions are good - better than my credit, at any rate."
Hi Cee. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
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There's my latest, but after that, what have we got in the pipeline?
Maurice, anything you want to put up for review? Or anyone else for that matter?
To misquote: I feel the need... the need to read.
I've been scribbling a story, but I think the uncriticized keyboard virgins should have priority.
I've been stop / start for many weeks now. More 'stop' than 'start' it has to be said. I'm determined to kick on, so maybe I should give myself a deadline of two weeks from now(in fact let's just say 14th August as I have a US promo around the 10th) to have an updated version with a few new chapters ready for comment. Bet you can't wait. ;)
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No harm in opening more than one thread...
Sadly nothing to post at the moment. Still stalled pending inspiration.How does critique work here? Is there a place you can post stuff? Or do you just point people to somewhere else, which in my case would be Wattpad?
If anyone does want some feedback I'm happy to give it a go.
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How does critique work here? Is there a place you can post stuff? Or do you just point people to somewhere else ..."
I've got a list of most (active) members' email addresses so you can send to them privately. I'll email you the list so you can do that yourself. If there are others who want a copy but aren't on the list, they can give you their addresses directly.
So basically, the process would start by you creating a new thread on CLOG, using the title of your book/collection of short stories etc. You'd then invite anyone to read and comment, just as James did earlier today. (See 'Percy's Predicament'.) People then respond and you send the draft accordingly. Then, they'll (usually) comment via the thread. That way, you get their feedback and other reviewers can see it, so they can avoid repeating too much of the same thing. Equally, other people's comments might prompt them to agree with / counter certain observations.
Sounds good. I'll send you my e-mail offline.All I need to do now is actually write something.
So, mon braves, I have a goodreads giveaway of signed copies of The Last Roundhead on at the moment, and from tomorrow for 4 days Roundhead will be free on kindle. So if you havent already read it (why the bloody hell not) now's your chance to get it for nowt.https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
I should say that the giveaway is UK only...
Andy wrote: "Damn it! First the ashes, now this."Blame Turnball! I mean its not his actual fault, but...
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Thanks Jemahl. I got myself a copy. I'm reading Jim's 'Percy's Predicament' at present, alongside another book, but I'll read and review it as soon as I can. I've re-read the first two chapters and found them every bit as entertaining as I remembered from the days of Autho.
Andy wrote: "Damn it! First the ashes, now this."I think its also free in the US and Oz, Andy.
Cheers Rob, hope you enjoy it! reviews - good or bad- are very welcome.
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I think its also free in the US and Oz, Andy.
Cheers Rob, hope you enjoy it! reviews - good or bad- are very welcome."
Oh, it won't be bad...
4.5 out of 5 stars average from 70+ reviews across Amazon, Goodreads and LibraryThing.Check out my latest blog post for a couple of new excerpts from The Miracle Adjuster.
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
If any bloggers, reviewers or promoters out there are interested in taking a look at The Miracle Adjuster please just send me a message.
CLOG - Comedy Literature Only Group
Books mentioned in this topic
Small Stories: A Perfectly Absurd Novel (other topics)The Sprouts of Wrath (other topics)
Pussy Planet and Other Endearing Tales (other topics)
Unreliable Histories (other topics)
The Endless Land (other topics)
Yes ... the 'Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize'. Our very own Andrew Chapman would almost certainly have won this ..."
I really need to start sending things to people don't I? I don't really get on with all that business. Give me a glass of whisky and a blank page and I'm happy for hours. Doing anything with the product at the end of it is where I fall short.
Interestingly (and I'm quite chuffed with this) the man who gave out the prize last year, for the Wodehouse Prize, was a Comedy Biographer called Jem Roberts. Anyone heard of him? He did the official biographies of Black Addder, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, Douglas Adams, and now he's working on Fry and Laurie. The people he spends his time with in the writing of these books would make any comedy nerd die of jealousy.
Well, exciting news everybody. He sent me a message today on Facebook with a quote for The Accidental Scoundrel. -
'Anyone disappointed that Hugh Laurie's second novel never turned up will be glad they picked up The Accidental Scoundrel and gave it a damn good reading.'
It's been a good day.