Congratulations on being included in the compilation! Could you tell us about your story in one sentence?
An absurdist coming of age story about a hapless young man and a beleaguered pig on the run.
Have you always been interested in (comic) writing, or did you fall into it unexpectedly? Have you ever kept a teenage diary?
I don’t know when or why it first started but I have stories written for school assignments from when I was in grade 4 or 5 that are firmly rooted in the absurd and surreal. Were they funny? I thought so but I’m not certain my teachers agreed. In an exam paper for a university sociology class, I made an attempt at livening things up with humour, figuring the professor must be bored having to read rote answer after rote answer. I was returned the exam with the comment, “In future, just the information please without the additional commentary.” I guess the answer is that it’s always been in me, appreciated or not, since my youth.
Teenage diary? I think I attempted once or twice in a fancy vinyl covered diary with a teensy tiny lock but ending up boring myself too much to continue. Later in life there was some ‘journaling’, a far more serious affair. Pretty sure there wasn’t a trace of humour in it. I’ll never know because I find them too mortifying to reread.
We’d love to hear about where you get ideas for your wondrous wit? Do you have any tips you could impart to aspiring witty writers?
First off, ‘wondrous wit’ - why thank you! (insert pleased with self grin here). In line with my previous answer about having had a penchant for absurd humour since childhood, I tend to be drawn to the bizarre occurrences in everyday life (there are a surprising number of them) and my brain feels compelled to figure out, Whhhhhhy???! For instance, recently on holiday I pulled into the parking lot of a park where I was about to go on an early morning nature walk. Hearing a noise, I turned towards the one other car, an empty small sedan, and the back trunk (boot for Brits) suddenly popped open and out crawled a groggy young man as if it was the most natural thing in the world that he had been in there crammed next to an icebox and a car jack, presumably all night. Whhhhhhy???! Why not sleep in the back seat? Why not take out the cooler and other items if you have an affinity for sleeping in claustrophobic dark cold spaces? Why was he in a short sleeved tee shirt in 0° C weather?? Intriguing, but also hilarious!
As for tips to aspiring writers, um… Don’t do as I do? It’s the obvious stuff that some of us fall into even though we know better: Don’t put off writing waiting for magical inspiration. Don’t compare yourself to other writers in a way that paralyzes you and negates your own special voice. Don’t allow anything, not the voices in your head or others to stop you from your creative endeavors. Write it, paint it, interpretively dance it. Maybe it’ll be lousy or maybe it’ll be magnificent or mediocre. But one thing it’ll be for sure is something that hadn’t been before you created it, and that’s pretty awesome any way it lands.
Speaking of which, where does your writing magic happen?
I’m lucky to have a dedicated work space in my home. My scattered psyche knows that when I sit in that particular chair, things other than 2 hours of funny animal videos will be focused on. Not that there’s always a payoff but there’s at least a slight chance.
What is the best piece of content by a witty woman you’ve read/watched/listened to/experienced recently?
I’ve just come through a particularly difficult time so there hasn’t been much reading happening lately. But in the midst of it, the arrival of The Book of Witty Women (You go Girlz! Whoop whoop!) and the terrific writing within brought some much-needed uplift and inspiration. So honoured to be part of this collection filled with such talent!
Finally, what does being published by CWIP mean to you? Do you have any advice for other witty writers?
Going back once again to a previous answer, although I’ve at times considered myself to be witty, it’s not an opinion that’s always been validated by others. To now have an official declaration that I can point to for the nonbelievers (boyfriend, I'm looking at you) is very useful. But beyond that, I was thrilled to find an organization/ contest that was looking for comedic writing- something that is virtually nonexistent, especially in the short story category where it’s mostly focused on the singularly serious and earnest without any element of humour. Life’s serious enough, and right now anyway, it’s not a direction I want to go in with my writing. And then, to add a topper on the cake, an organization that’s specifically supporting witty women?! Stellar! And then, to be shortlisted?? For a writer at the beginning of my career (hopefully), it’s such a huge thing; the validation, the support, the encouragement! And then to actually be published?! Whaaa?!! Super fantastic! So grateful to and for CWIP!!
Helen says “Love the fact you have a special inspirational writing chair - perhaps you can lend it out…."
Rita's short story "Hapless" appears in The Book of Witty Women available to purchase now.
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