Wednesday, 12th August marks the absolute antithesis of midweek woe with the high-summer appearance of the CWIP (Comedy Women in Print) ‘Writing Funny’ podcast.
Ingeniously launched at the time of year when our parched intellects are drowning in beach reads, comedy grandee Helen Lederer and author Chris Manby, chat about how, where and when to finally write that novel you always daydream about.
With their fun version of a masterclass in writing and publishing, this is the podcast for you if you crave a witty and whip-smart guide to the nuts and bolts of getting things done, and of course the holy grail for all writers, how to get an agent and how to get published.
The seven-episode run begins with every writer’s journey, ending with a focus on those covetable CWIP awards and interviews with Alison Steadman, Vicki Michelle, Dawn Butler MP, Nicola Sturgeon, Kathy Lette and more.
Nobody knows more than us here at Funny Women how important creating community is for women in comedy and Ep 2, Finding Your Community, is particularly relevant, as Helen explains: “At the beginning of publishing, women were known to break through by changing their real names to sound less like women, which is all a bit mad when you think about it?
“On the other hand, some form of insanity is guaranteed to make me laugh and the witty novels out there now are bolder and more varied than the days of when authors pretended to be men!
“This in part is by establishing witty platforms and communities where women genuinely big up other women’s humorous work and there is a real celebration of funny narratives whatever style: satire, farce, surrealism, domestic or political.”
Co-host Chris agrees, adding: “Helen and I have been friends for years, but we’ve never really had the chance to sit down and properly talk shop, which turns out to have been a terrible waste.
“Helen is one of the funniest and most astute writers I know, and getting to chat comic fiction with her in a studio strewn with mini-Mars Bars felt like an absolute luxury.”
Writing Funny is a way to make the writers in us feel inspired, connected, and gently tickled into making the first moves into putting pen to paper by people who are there to lift them up too.
Helen adds: “Witty women writers actually like each other. This can only be a win-win. Women use their power to change how we are seen, through wit on the page, writing groups, gatherings, forums, and social media support. It all serves to strengthen the individual talent out there.”
Writing Funny podcast will be released weekly from WEDNESDAY 12th AUGUST 2026 and is available on most platforms. Find out more about Writing Funny from this trailer taster.
