Help! I need AW comedic members

TrainofThought · Sep 21, 2007

I went to Chicago’s Craigslist looking at jobs and saw this post for comedy writer. I was curious even though I never wrote humor and I'm not that funny, so I sent an email saying I was interested and if he was still looking for writers to contact me with additional information.

The guy responded, “I need a small team of diverse writers to provide a fresh stream sarcastic and humorous content. I will pay writers per agreed submission or if you choose receive a commission each time your content is used. Ok... here is an opportunity to see what you can do.” And then he goes into a scenario about someone wrongly fired from their job… "Good Luck."

I’d like to try it but it's weird he never stated a company, money or if it is going to be published. Should I even bother?

Signed a very confused, ToT

Joe270 · Sep 21, 2007

Hell, I'm stupid, so I dunno.

What would it hurt to try out?

If they put you to work, then ask for money up front. Maybe it's a shot into a 'Second City' sorta deal. Maybe it's a scam.

Play them, damn it, you know how. Get advice here on your moves.

Kick some ass.

SherryTex · Sep 22, 2007

Start with the basics, you know this. 1) the writing is easy. He's given you the set up.
2) Where is this based.
3) What is it for --you can ask these as a means of knowing who the audience will be...urban, suburban, college age, elderly? Are we playing in Pennsylvania or Florida or Texas --it affects word choice, situational descriptions and what people might find as truely funny.

Lay off humor is tricky, so I'd go with the absurd as a means of finding the funny in what is a emotional scene.

Gene, we fired you two year ago...Gene, we're replacing you as we're downsizing. Puts down a gold fish in a bottle. He thinks out of the box.

Rolling Thunder · Sep 22, 2007

TrainofThought said:
The guy responded, “I need a small team of diverse writers to provide a fresh stream sarcastic and humorous content....

Yeah. Good luck on finding those type of personalities here.

brokenfingers · Sep 22, 2007

I went to Chicago’s Craigslist looking at jobs and saw this post for comedy writer. I was curious even though I never wrote humor and I'm not that funny, so I sent an email saying I was interested and if he was still looking for writers to contact me with additional information.

The guy responded, “I need a small team of diverse writers to provide a fresh stream sarcastic and humorous content. I will pay writers per agreed submission or if you choose receive a commission each time your content is used. Ok... here is an opportunity to see what you can do.” And then he goes into a scenario about someone wrongly fired from their job… "Good Luck."

I’d like to try it but it's weird he never stated a company, money or if it is going to be published. Should I even bother?

Signed a very confused, ToT

Yeah, I'd think that the first thing would be that they'd identify themselves and establish their bona-fides. Lots of BS on craigslist, so for all you know it could be a guy with a humor-writing job trolling for free material.

Find out the exact terms of payment etc. (paypal, check, money transfer, if they need your SSN, if they're gonna file a 1099 etc.) and what is expected from each party.

Also like has been said - what the target audience is etc. (but if they had identified themselves better ala showing their site or content services etc, you'd be better able to get a grip on what they want...)

Sounds like some internet content writing deal, so the best thing would be to find out as much as you can about them since it's so easy for an entity like that to "disappear" come payment time.

Good luck.

Rich · Sep 22, 2007

Ask more questions along the lines of the advice given in these posts.

As far as your inexperience in writing humor, maybe you haven't tried yet--humor has many faces.

TrainofThought · Sep 22, 2007

Joe270 said:
What would it hurt to try out?

If they put you to work, then ask for money up front. Maybe it's a shot into a 'Second City' sorta deal. Maybe it's a scam.

Kick some ass.

That’s how I felt at first, Joe, “What can it hurt?” I’ve never written comedy and thought it would be fun and interesting, except if I write this and send it to him, how am I guaranteed I’ll get the money, how do I know he won’t publish somewhere under his name. I do love your enthusiasm and support.

SherryTex said:
2) Where is this based.
3) What is it for --you can ask these as a means of knowing who the audience will be...urban, suburban, college age, elderly? Are we playing in Pennsylvania or Florida or Texas --it affects word choice, situational descriptions and what people might find as truely funny.

Gene, we fired you two year ago...Gene, we're replacing you as we're downsizing. Puts down a gold fish in a bottle. He thinks out of the box.

I agree. In order to write this scenario, I would need to know audience (company, magazine). Thanks for the tips, Sherry.

Rllgthunder said:
Yeah. Good luck on finding those type of personalities here.

I’m looking for a comedic writer saturated with sarcasm, are you available for a piece?

brokenfingers said:
Yeah, I'd think that the first thing would be that they'd identify themselves and establish their bona-fides. Lots of BS on craigslist, so for all you know it could be a guy with a humor-writing job trolling for free material.

Find out the exact terms of payment etc. (paypal, check, money transfer, if they need your SSN, if they're gonna file a 1099 etc.) and what is expected from each party. Good luck.

I’ll definitely send an email asking for additional information (thanks for the checklist). I heard there is a lot of BS on craigslist, but there are also many legit companies and figured if there is a writing job that I can take without experience why not start there. :Shrug:

Rich said:
As far as your inexperience in writing humor, maybe you haven't tried yet--humor has many faces.

You're right, I haven't tried, and it doesn’t hurt to try a different genre.

SherryTex · Sep 22, 2007

Hey Train, come over to the Clinic, We offer pain free assistance in getting that mental funny train of thought into shape.

Jongfan · Sep 22, 2007

Come on ToT.. Sarcasm is our specialty... if it checks out.. be yourself and your humor
will shine ...

TrainofThought · Sep 22, 2007

SherryTex said:
Hey Train, come over to the Clinic, We offer pain free assistance in getting that mental funny train of thought into shape.

Will do. I have to put my funny hat on first.

Jongfan said:
Come on ToT.. Sarcasm is our specialty... if it checks out.. be yourself and your humor
will shine ...

Sarcasm is my specialty. I sent the guy an email with additional questions. We will see.

Soccer Mom · Sep 22, 2007

Anyone who's a Bears fan has to have a sense of humor.

:flees thread:

TrainofThought · Sep 22, 2007

Soccer Mom said:
Anyone who's a Bears fan has to have a sense of humor.

:flees thread:

I'm going to get you and your little dog too. :tongue

JeanneTGC · Sep 23, 2007

Train, here's how to write sarcasm, particularly at this time of year and if your target audience is anyone in Arizona.

Go Cardinals!!!

See? It's easy.

(Seriously, check out ANYTHING before you submit a word of your own writing. And also seriously, do the homework that Prof. Tex has assigned -- it's great practice and you'll be improving and getting confidence in no time.)

Rolling Thunder · Sep 23, 2007

I found a website all about comedic members.

Um...I'd be banned if I post the link.

Soccer Mom · Sep 25, 2007

Rllgthunder said:
I found a website all about comedic members.

Um...I'd be banned if I post the link.

Did it contain a pic or Trish's monkey?

JeanneTGC · Sep 25, 2007

Soccer Mom said:
Did it contain a pic or Trish's monkey?

And, is Trish's monkey a funky monkey?

cray · Sep 25, 2007

JeanneTGC said:
And, is Trish's monkey a funky monkey?

talented.

yes, talented is the word i'd pick. but alas, he's been deleted!

Jaycinth · Sep 25, 2007

...yeah right...as if you expect any of the wet blankets that hang on these boards to be either sarcastic OR funny.

You'll have better luck digging up funny stuff on a body farm.

David Conner · Sep 25, 2007

I found a website all about comedic members.

And all this time I've been so naive when people spoke of "funny bones."

*Then Jaycinth's shovel strikes something solid, deep in the damp, mouldering earth*

TrainofThought · Sep 25, 2007

JeanneTGC said:
(Seriously, check out ANYTHING before you submit a word of your own writing. And also seriously, do the homework that Prof. Tex has assigned -- it's great practice and you'll be improving and getting confidence in no time.)

Where do I get the homework? Is there an assignment posting like Freelance where we write about a topic? For the love of God, someone show me the way.

And for the rest of you, quit trying to hijack my thread. Beat it.

Rolling Thunder · Sep 25, 2007

It's funny to beat comedic members, right?

TrainofThought · Sep 25, 2007

Some members I’ve seen are comedic.

III · Sep 25, 2007

Just send him some amusing emoticons. You're way overthinking this.

Rolling Thunder · Sep 25, 2007

Some members I’ve seen are comedic.

Especially if you can make balloon animals out of them.

TrainofThought · Sep 25, 2007

This isn't quite the direction I was going with 'members'.

What is he supposed to be?

Rllgthunder said:
Especially if you can make balloon animals out of them.

Help! I need AW comedic members

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