Big Smoke Writing Factory

Big Smoke wishes you all the best over the holidays! See you in 2010.

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Some creativity, warmth and wisdom for these chilly days, with Isabelle Allende's TED talk, 2007.

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London's Wellcome Library offers up for December the Top 10 Tips for Surviving Christmas - 17th century-style.

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Feeling the post-budget blues? Just a quick note: another term of the guest class in Stand-Up Comedy has been added to our 2010 course list. (A comedy showcase from this term's group will be taking place tomorrow in the Exchange, in association with Big Smoke: more details on Facebook.)

And a reminder for those of you doing your Christmas shopping: Big Smoke gift certificates are available online!

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An A to Z of Clichés for Writers to Avoid like the Plague. They're packed in like sardines, these clichés, and way past their sell-by date. You'll be as pleased as Punch if you discover (while lost in contemplation) that you've avoided this poisoned chalice in your writing. Still, sometimes you really can't see the wood for the trees, especially in this day and age. Don't throw in the towel just yet, though; remember to take the rough with the smooth, and practice makes perfect!

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Take a look at Jennifer Blanchard's collection of the 43 most inspiring writing advice posts of 2009.

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To receive our newsletter and keep up to date with any upcoming events and new courses, email bigsmokewritingfactory@gmail.com with ‘Put me on the newsletter mailing list’ in the subject line.

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Developing your Comedy Career: Better Jokes, More Gigs, Bigger Audiences

Whether you are a complete beginner looking to write your first ‘club set’, or a more experienced comedian hoping to tour a successful one-person show, this course is for you. Abie will assess the interests, talents and ambitions of all students, and then build the course around them. Every student will receive individual input on their material and ideas, with suggestions on how to develop and market these into a solo show, where requested. The whole group can also offer insights.

This approach means that the whole class learns from each other's (and the teacher's) experiences, and can offer help or suggestions. A key part of the course is working out what makes you stand out from other comics.
Because of the above, the course content will vary somewhat depending on whether you sign up, and who else joins you. But the kinds of things that Abie can help you with are:

• Stage presence and audience rapport.
• Getting the maximum impact from your jokes, and developing ideas to their full potential.
• Building a solid club set.
• Dealing with hecklers, talkers and inattentive crowds. MCing.
• Translating your stand-up set into an engaging and commercially viable one-person show
• Touring theatres and festivals around Ireland and internationally
• Using the media to build a public profile and market your comedy
• Writing press releases/festival brochure entries for maximum impact
• ‘Cracking’ the Edinburgh Fringe, without losing €10,000 – maximising audiences, minimising expenses.

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Length: 10 weeks
Fee: €250
Guest Teacher: Abie Philbin Bowman

About the teacher
Abie Philbin Bowman has taught creative writing in Trinity College Dublin and at the Irish Centre for Talented Youth. He is also the writer and performer of one of the most successful Irish one-man comedy shows of the decade. ‘Jesus: The Guantanamo Years’ – his debut – took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm. It got rave reviews, completely sold out and was reported by over 30 media outlets, including BBC News, Le Monde and the New York Times. The show then sold out throughout Ireland, as well as touring London’s West End, the USA and Pakistan. (Abie is the only Western stand-up stupid enough to have performed a religious, political comedy in Pakistan during the 2007 State of Emergency). ‘Jesus: The Guantanamo Years’ has since become a top 10 hit on iTunes in Japan and across Europe. Along with his second show, ‘Eco-Friendly Jihad’, Abie has sold out and turned a profit at Edinburgh for three years running. He was dubbed “a rising star” by Time magazine, given his own radio show by i105-107, and boycotted by Ian Paisley’s DUP.

Spring 2010

FRIDAY, 6.30pm-8.30pm, starting February 5, 2010.

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For anyone interested in signing up for one of our upcoming courses, do come along to 7 Lower Hatch St, this Saturday (December 5th), 3pm-6pm, and have a chat with the facilitators about your writing course needs, over (as usual!) a cup of tea.

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Over at the Guardian there's musing about typewriters and writing.

Eason's have free postage on orders over €25 within Ireland 'til Christmas.

Happy December, readers!

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