Comic actor and writer Helen Lederer has told ‘The Sunday Times‘ that she plans to launch a brand new award to recognise comedy writing by women. Speaking to Richard Brooks about finishing her debut novel ‘Losing It’: “I was amazed to find no fiction prize or awards category that specifically recognised humorous writing by women” this discovery inspired the idea for CWIP (Comedy Women in Print).
We spoke to Helen during a break in her busy filming schedule to talk about awards, women in comedy and writing. While we have a category for comedy scripts in our Awards Helen told us“It’s about adding to what’s already there. Having finished my first novel ‘Losing It’ I’ve sensed an interest in a competition for women who write comedy fiction.
[tagline]
While she tells us that CWIP is currently very “embryonic” Helen is no stranger to the world of fiction competitions having been on the judging panel for the Costa Book Awards and theBaileys Women’s Prize for Fiction. So it’s unsurprising that Ben Elton couldn’t help but comment on her debut novel that: “She took her time but it’s worth the wait.”
‘Losing it’ tells the story of Millie, an agony aunt for ‘The Good Women Magazine’. Divorced, in debt and desperate Millie is about to lose her house. When she’s asked to be the front woman for a new diet pill Millie believes that not only will all her troubles be solves – but she might even lose some weight.
Of course weight loss proves harder than she had anticipated and as the photoshoot to show off her new figure approaches Millie wonders if a middle aged woman can have it all.
Helen says the character Millie is based on: “many women I know and me. The inner layers of being bold, being angry and being vulnerable in turn drives the cycle of hope and disappointment – we all want the perfect body, sex life and family back drop which is in fact unachievable. This doesn’t stop us striving…”
She adds that the themes of ‘Losing it’ are “Desperation. Denial. Debt and chaos. Millie lives in chaos, which means she spends more than she earns. Debt is inevitable which makes her angry, but there’s no one to blame except herself. She is scared of rejection, which is so unbearable it turns to anger which she directs on those closest to her.”
The book comes recommended by funny woman Jo Brand who calls it “Funny, witty, quirky…like the woman herself.”
We can’t wait to read it and find out if Millie loses it!
‘Losing it’ is published on 12th February by Pan Macmillan
