04. Solosode - Writing Lynda Barry's 7 Minute Diary

Cathartic Laughs

Need a nudge to write down your observations more regularly? Grab a pen and paper and try out Lynda Barry's 7 Minute Diary with Em. They will read aloud the prompts and you can capture some images and moments from your day (even if you think your day was boring).
Cathartic Laughs episodes will alternate with an interview and a solosode each week. The solosodes might include free-form stories, writing activities we do together, or anything else that will help the writing process get moving.
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In our last episode, Michelle J. Walker talked about using jokes to get a feel for people when she meets them. She jokes about family, food and class to get a sense of their interests and if they would be judgmental about her way of doing life. These writing prompts and questions are inspired from our conversation. 🐌
✏️ Writing prompts and questions to ponder ✏️

✏️ Notice when you tell jokes socially to get a feel for people. What are the things that you joke about and what reactions are you looking for?

✏️ If you perform stand-up, do you do this on stage? Is there a joke that you tell that pushes boundaries so that you can see how the crowd reacts? Does this change how you approach your set?

✏️ What would happen if you did The 7 Min Diary each day for a week? Try it and let us know!
❎ Writer's block? Listen to more Lynda Barry guide you through a 20ish minute writing exercise via this Youtube video. Try it out! You will be surprised at what you can write. (To repeat the exercise, pick a different noun each time.)
✉️ Do you have a joke you tell that helps you find your way forward through challenging stuff? Email Em at hello[at]catharticlaughs.com and share it. I might read it out on a future episode.

💖 Acknowledgements 💖
💖 Our Sound Engineer on interview episodes is Michelle J. Walker. You can find her at ladysoundstudios.com. Hire her for your next audio project, she will spiff it right up.
💖 This podcast is made possible by a grant from Creative BC and the Government of British Columbia.
💖 The Cathartic Laughs logo is designed by Trevor Cooper. Thanks bro!
💖 Our theme music is by Hakan Eriksson at Pond5.com. Piano music by Lobo Loco with the song entitled Take my Hand - Piano on the album Sky Watch from the Free Music Archive with this non-commercial creative commons license.

💖 Cathartic Laughs is recorded and produced in what is commonly known as Vancouver, British Columbia, on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

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