Quote: sootyj @ February 10 2009, 6:22 PM GMTFriday 13th was a toughie I got some written and hoped every one else struggled.
I think I need you to get a nasty cold or something!
118 118 Need Jokes Page 35
Any one still writing for them?
I send in a few when I can. Usually in batches of about 3. Usually strong witty one-liner, plus a couple of weaker pun types.
Strangely, quite often, the witty one doesn't make it through.
Presently, I'm working on a lot of other projects, so I don't have so much time for gag writing.
I managed about ten Ghostbusters ones (tried to avoid ghosts specifically) and eight Friday the 13th ones (which I found much harder).
They probably won't use any but they're quite good for your creativity/keeping you writing (obviously for those of us who are less motivated than the machine that is sooty!)
Dan
I almost completely dried up about Christmas time. That said, when I first heard about it I thought I'd struggle to write 10. I was right, but went on to submit the best part of a couple of hundred. Selling two.
The party's over...
And that's the end of that chapter...
"Dear All,
Sad news I'm afraid. Had a call yesterday from Melissa and they are cancelling our service. This means we have a week and half left of supplying them with jokes (finish on Feb 20th). She seemed genuinely contrite and apologetic and said they had a meeting in the morning in which quite suddenly was decided by her bosses that the joke service wasn't making enough money and they were cancelling our contribution. They have plenty of jokes in the vault so "until further notice have suspended the service." She wants to maintain links, keep us in mind for future jobs etc.
From my point of view although I'm a obviously disappointed I've viewed the whole thing as a bonus. I didn't ask for it – they came to me – and its been quite good fun and we've made some money. I think writers have made nearly £20,000 from this which is a lot better than nothing. So it's a shame its finished so suddenly, particularly after they offered me a contract just four weeks ago (indeed we were talking about it on Monday morning as though it was about to happen), but its been fun while it lasted.
I also wanted to thank you for all the jokes you've sent in. this is difficult to say without sounding a little trite but I've just been amazed at people's perseverance but most of all at their ability to keep coming up with funny one liners. So thank you, thank you, thank you.
Finally, we should look to finish on a high. I'd like to keep pushing for great gags right to the end, be totally professional, so we can look back on what we've achieved with pride (I'm genuinely proud of what we achieved against the odds) and also leave 118 with very positive memories of our involvement
Finally, finally, I suspect this is not the end end if you know what I mean.
All the best
Jack Milner"
What are you going to spend your 20k on, sootyj?
Quote: David Bussell @ February 11 2009, 9:43 AM GMT...and we've made some money. I think writers have made nearly £20,000 from this...
*Writes proposal letter*
Dear Soots, I am a Nigerian Princess and my dad died last year. He left me the sum of £5,000000,0000000 but I can't get my hands on it because I don't have bank account. If you let me use your bank to trinfar my funds I shall gave you a cut. I hope oyu consider that powerful opportunity becasue I think it will be good fro us. Let me know waht you are thinking.
Yours Fathfully
Cheif Princess, Brigader, Oldcowisgonnagrazeyour account.
Quote: oldcowgrazing @ February 11 2009, 9:56 AM GMT*Writes proposal letter*
Dear Soots, I am a Nigerian Princess and my dad died last year. He left me the sum of £5,000000,0000000 but I can't get my hands on it because I don't have bank account. If you let me use your bank to trinfar my funds I shall gave you a cut. I hope oyu consider that powerful opportunity becasue I think it will be good fro us. Let me know waht you are thinking.
Yours Fathfully
Cheif Princess, Brigader, Oldcowisgonnagrazeyour account.
Princess Anne sent me a similar letter once.
F**k blast and double damn there was me pretending to be a proper writer and everything.
F**k blast and double damn there was me pretending to be a proper writer and everything.[/quote]
Yes, me too. It was the most cost efficient way I've ever earned money from comedy that's for sure. Damn!
Quote: sootyj @ February 11 2009, 10:10 AM GMTPrincess Anne sent me a similar letter once.
F**k blast and double damn there was me pretending to be a proper writer and everything.
Ha! I sold the grand total of....one, but hey, now I can claim to be a published comedy writer. Yay me 
I sold one too. It was fun.
*relives moment*
Yay!
I thought the quality of jokes was getting better as well, especially when comparing the first lot of tallies I received to the last.
Ah well.
Just had an email 
so that's the cartoon illustration with gag line idea out the window.
Poo to 118!! 
Maybe it was the Friday 13th gags that hexed it...
Oh well. I think we all knew 118 weren't going to want jokes forever.