In Mike Sacks's collection of interviews and essays, Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, advises, "I'd avoid reading interviews with writers. None us know what we're doing." And yet, Poking a Dead Frog is a fascinating look at humorists working in television, movies, books, magazines, comics, clubs and more.
Sacks's well-researched questions are geared to each interviewee and his or her work, and he asks for their advice to aspiring comedy writers. There's a disparity in answers, and author George Saunders points out, "The weird thing about writing, is, whatever the question, there's no 'one size fits all' answer." From a limitless combination of influences, backgrounds and training, no two writers have come to their success the same way. Peg Lynch started her Ethel and Albert show writing three- or four-minute fillers for radio in the '30s, while Megan Amram, a writer for Parks and Recreation, was discovered via Twitter. The common instruction in all the responses, however, is to find your own voice. Hollywood script doctor Alan Spencer summed it up well: "You have to pursue your own projects that no one else could write."
Poking a Dead Frog spans decades, dissecting subjects from collaboration to technology. Ironically, most of the interviews won't have readers laughing hysterically; these writers take their craft seriously. But the intimate discussions of comedy in all its forms are engaging, and Sacks's obvious passion is contagious. Whether writers themselves or just fans of funny, humor-loving readers will relish Poking a Dead Frog. --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts