Satire and Humor Festival: Monologue Writing: The Humor of the Confusing Speech with Chas Gillespie

The confusing speech seems to be having a bit of a moment in the US today. The arrogant leader bolstering his argument with alternative facts, the angry contrarian telling you why you are wrong in prose that bewilders grammarians, the friendly storyteller whose tale lost the thread several paragraphs ago: these are all signs that you are dealing with a confused monologuist. And oh, what opportunities for humor lie in wait! Drawing upon examples that might include George Saunders, Lydia Davis, Robert Benchley, and Paul Beatty, among others, this class will cover the fundamental concepts of monologue writing and how you can manipulate those concepts to create the sorts of odd performances that communicate more than what's on the page. Useful in a variety of literary fields, this advanced workshop is best suited for writers with some publications under their belts who are looking to try something new.