Tommy Jolly

The only really good place to buy lumber is at a store where the lumber has already been cut and attached together in the form of

furniture, finished, and put inside boxes.

—Dave Barry

The Inquiry Question

How can I make yesterday’s news engaging for today’s audience?

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts . —Will Rogers

Step 1: Provide Breakfast

Quiche is effective! Flavorful

Sophisticated

Healthy

Delivery (of food) is really a combination of two of my favorite activities: eating, and not moving. Jim Gaffigan

Step 2: Set the Bar High

…So that

everyone else

can walk under it

comfortably.

Hard work pays

off in the future.

Laziness pays

off now.

—Steven Wright

Step 2 (Continued):

Go the Extra Mile

Dolleen and Kristen

Photos + Barry Manilow = Inexplicably Awesome

My father carries around the picture of the kid who came with his wallet. —Rodney Dangerfield

Step 2: Believe Everything

Lorraine Wynn Says

She’s fond of

comedy.

She knows brain

research.

She loves the

English language.

Lorraine (Continued)

She knows

cartoons.

She makes

banana dances

accessible to the

general public.

No other

characteristics are

necessary.

Step 3: Write and Share

We wrote. Then we read it.

I guess I just prefer to see the dark side

of things. The glass is always half

empty. And cracked. And I just cut my lip

on it. And chipped a tooth.

—Janeane Garofalo

Step 4: Innovate!

Why read another rewrite of The Notebook when you can read Nick Sparks 2.0?

Summarize a career’s worth of experience in twenty minutes.

Wonder to yourself what crazy David Milch stories our guest might have…

Step 5: You Can’t Sum Up

Writing Time

So don’t try. Just quote somebody:

I think I did pretty well, considering I

started out with nothing but a bunch

of blank paper.

—Steve Martin