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UPDATE: I almost forgot to ask. Does anyone out there want a hot towel? Follow the link to find out about a possible benefit of buying pencils. Tell your friends!

It’s an all-strike update entry today, Gentle Readers. There’s just so much to cover!

First, I bought more pencils today. If you haven’t bought your limit yet, might I suggest something? Let’s see how many we can buy before the big Mutant Enemy picket day at Fox on December 7. This action won’t last forever, and it’s nice to have a goal-date, don’t you think?

Second, I’m going to have a very busy picketing week this week. Look for me at the Universal Studios Barham gate early tomorrow morning, then at Paramount at 9 AM on Tuesday to walk with other women Sci Fi writers (look for the group with the pink hats), and then on Wednesday morning, I’m participating in a special walk-with-the-bloggers picket at Warner Brothers with John August, Craig Mazin, and Josh Friedman. Come by and collect us all!

Third, I had a thought today. (No, really.) While the rest of the viewing public is having to withdraw from their shows as, one by one, they slump into reruns, you writers don’t have to. Write your spec scripts (you lucky non-WGA guys, you), and you’ll still get to commune with the characters you love. If you’re going to need a spec of an existing show for next year’s fellowships, this would be a grand time to write one. (Remember not to pick a brand-new show, and also remember, a script is always a more valuable research tool than a completed episode is.)

Lunch: bagels, cream cheese, fruit and teeny-tiny cream puffs

Hi, all. So did you enjoy “Razor,” the new Battlestar Galactica movie? It represents the last bit of Galactica in which I was not involved — the last bit I can watch as a pure fan. I recommend it — it’s packed with chilling and gradual revelations. Great stuff.

On the writing front, Friend-of-the-blog Maggie has called my attention to Pamela Ribon’s fascinating blog. The entry I’m linking to here has a fantastic list of clams and a great discussion that reveals how they sometimes end up in scripts by staffs that know better. I don’t know Pamela, but — Hiya, Pamela! Great work! Her blog looks like a great source of inside info, especially for those of you curious about the room experience. She really captures how in-the-room interactions work.

I’m interested to see that “X is the new Y” is on her list. It highlights the fact that often it’s the form of the joke that gets clammy, even though different variables can get plugged into the equation. I was calling these “clamshells” for a while, and it’s not a bad way to picture it — no matter what you stuff in there, from the outside, it’s a clam.

In strike news, I continue to buy pencils, and I’m looking forward to another week of picketing. HUGE thanks to Gentle Reader Claire who sent me a care packet of strike snacks and shoe liners. Yay!

Lunch: a variety of snacks eaten at my semi-weekly Scrabble game: brie, Fig Newtons, crackers and chips.

Many thanks to the Amazing and Accomplished Ken Levine, whom I’m very proud to call a friend of the blog! Ken actually accomplished the one goal in this business that I most wanted to accomplish: he wrote for M*A*S*H. Ken has been kind enough to put a little piece by me up on his blog as part of the virtual book tour to promote Serenity Found, the book about Firefly/Serenity edited by me.

Thank you, Ken!

CORRECTION: The 10 a.m. Friday rally mentioned in this post will actually be at Fox Plaza 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Century City

I got a chance to talk today to a writer who recently moved from a very dramatic one-hour drama to one that is much more comedic, and is staffed with lots of writers from the half-hour world. This writer is discovering that their pitches — even ones that have to do with the logical structure of the story — are getting shot down if they aren’t pitched in such a way to emphasize the comedy of the situation. This is a common feature of comedy rooms.

In fact, I’ve often seen stories that make no sense defended simply with, “it got a laugh at the table.” End of argument. You can’t argue with a laugh.

So if you find yourself in a comedy room, adjust your pitching style accordingly. Watch, listen, observe what is being valued in the pitches made by the other writers. Pay attention to what “sells” — i.e. gets in the script. If the currency in your room is made out of funny, make sure the bet you slide forward is made out of funny.

Strike: many hearty thanks to Friend of the Blog Kate, who came out to march with me today! Also, to Gentle Readers Lila and Megan, who also showed up to march. Megan even brought delicious turkey sandwiches to share. Yay, Megan! Kal-el and Chris also walked with us again. I’m so proud of my crew and I hope to meet more of you on the line! Do not drop by Universal tomorrow, however, as I will instead be at Fox studios – 10201 Pico – for the huge Guild-wide picket and rally starting at 10 AM. It’s going to be big and wild and everyone is invited! There will be famous actors and (probably) snacks and (certainly) every writer you’ve ever wanted to meet! SEE YOU THERE!

Lunch: delicious Megan-made turkey sandwiches

Hi all! So, how many of you have been singing “Werewolf Barmitzvah” to yourself since you saw it on 30 Rock? I certainly have. It is, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, available in a full version here. I’m not just mentioning it as a good example of solid comedy, which it is, but because it also provides an excellent example of a comedy writers’ room term. Listen to some of the chatter running through the song and you’ll hear an exchange that goes something like this: “I don’t know if the idea of this song can sustain itself for this long. It seems a little sweaty now.” “This whole premise is sweaty!”

“Sweaty”! I’ve actually been looking for a chance to discuss this term, but I hadn’t come up with the perfect way to explain it. Well, here it is. A scene, a joke, or especially a comedic premise is called “sweaty” when the writer has to labor to keep it going, when they have to over-extend a metaphor or make characters say unlikely things to propel a comedic situation. Not every comedy room uses the term, but some do, and it’s a favorite of mine. Add it to the little writer-to-English dictionary you carry with you to your first week on a show!

Strike: A hearty thank you to Friends-of-the-Blog Kal-el and Chris, who brought cheese and cold-cuts and crackers and fruit to the picket line today. It was much appreciated by the hungry hungry writers!

Lunch: cheese and cold-cuts and crackers and fruit

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