How to be Exceptional
Stacking the deck in your favour
Yesterday, I launched a new platform. It’s called The Wycliffe Papers.
Why launch a new platform?
Because I’m exceptionally talented.
Wait, what?
I said that to get your attention. And I will explain shortly how you can be exceptional too. Being exceptional is nothing special.
So what is The Wycliffe Papers?
The Wycliffe Papers is all about jokes for those serious about the Bible.
It’s not an original idea. It’s in the tradition of Private Eye, On the Hour, The Onion and more recently The Babylon Bee, which has a religious/pro-Bible bent. The Babylon Bee, an American publication, has become quite political. That’s fine for them. But it’s a turn-off for British audiences who like the Bible and jokes. So I’m writing the kind of jokes that I would like to read.
Moreover, I’m more interested in religious history than contemporary politics, so if you’re looking for 14thcentury hot takes, you’ll find some at The Wycliffe Papers.
Why is called “The Wycliffe Papers”?
John Wycliffe was an early reformer and troublemaker with all the wrong opinions, especially for someone living in the middle of the 14th century. He was not a satirist or comedian like Erasmus or Swift. He was a priest, Oxford don and Bible translator. In fact, his translations of the Bible were not just banned, but triggered a law that made attempting to translate the Bible into English an act of treason.
Wycliffe, then, has a subversive vibe which is handy for comedy which also gives out the right kind of vibes when you’re writing for Bible fans. Wycliffe is deemed to be ‘one of the good guys’ since he doesn’t look so bonkers by modern standards. And he called out the church on indefensible abuses.
Why give jokes away for free every Thursday?
There are two main reasons. The first is that’s it’s fun. I’m passionate about comedy and the Bible. If you’ve followed my work for any length of time, you’ll know I’ve always found the Bible endlessly fascinating – and believe what it says. The more I read it, the more I see jokes, comic juxtapositions and callbacks that actually enhance the meaning. It bothers me that many people, even Christians, consider reading the Bible to be basically homework.
Secondly, I’m trying to build a platform with something where I have exceptional talent. And here we get to the promise at the top.
I’m not exceptionally funny. I’m funny. And experienced. But I am well-informed when it comes to the Bible. I’m the kind of geek that reads big thick commentaries that cost £30-£40. There are very few people as funny as me who are as well-informed and geeky about the Bible – with a passion for writing about it.
In that sense, I’m exceptional.
I’m not trying to appeal to a mainstream audience, religious people, or even Christians in particular. I’m going after an audience that really like the Bible (that is not all Christians, BTW) and really like comedy – and are a bit geeky about both. There are probably tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people, in that category.
If that’s you, hello. Welcome to The Wycliffe Papers. You’re gonna love it.
But why spend the time and energy giving jokes away for free?
Here’s the other thing about English-speaking people who love the Bible and comedy – and are a bit geeky is this: they buy books. I’ve written books. I want to write more books. And I want to write the kind of books my audience want me to write. So I’m trying to find a market for my work.
Why are you telling me this?
The first reason is shameless self-promotion. Quite a few readers subscribe to this blog and my other one, Cary’s Almanac, which is about the church year and all that. So you, my friend, are going to really like The Wycliffe Papers.
The second reason is to ask readers of The Situation Room this question:
In what area could you be exceptionally talented?
One of the most frustrating things about writing TV scripts is that they mostly don’t get made, and are read only by a few people. Almost no-one will enjoy those jokes you’ve sweated over and rewritten. If you want to stay in the game, not go mad and get the buzz of making people laugh, why not find an audience for your work now? They won’t read your sitcom script. Normal people don’t do that.
But what about creating a character? Or writing a funny blog? Or an Instagram channel? Or a book? Or a newsletter? Or a podcast? It’s up to you. Pick something you’re good at - and write or make that.
Are you into off-road cycling? Or beekeeping? Or 1950s B-Movies? Or the Napoleonic Wars? Or Climate Science? County Cricket? Interior Design? Sheep farming? Could you be funny in that space?
If you so, you could be exceptionally talented. The deck is stacked in your favour.
But how could I find an audience?
Finding an audience is hard. You always start small. But it will build: especially if you have affection for a community. If you’re really interested in UFOs to the point where you call them UAPs, a comedy sketch about that world will essentially make everyone look like an idiot. And all the lingo will be phoney and dated. But if you’re a part of that world, you could create something that your community will love.
I’m doing that with The Wycliffe Papers. Whenever mainstream comedy makes jokes about Christianity, there are really predictable and don’t resemble Christianity that any Christian actually experiences. It’s just tropes and cliches. I’m seeking to delight Bible-fans, not a mainstream audience.
How do I build a platform?
It’s never been easier. Substack is so easy, I’m onto my third blog. And it takes care of the monetisation and members’ content and all that. Oh yes, there’s going to be a members’ area for The Wycliffe Papers – for Loyal Lollards. And if you know what a ‘Lollard’ is, you’re going to love the member’s area. (See? I’m finding my niche.) That launches on 29th May (Ascension Day!).
There are also platforms like Patreon and a bunch of other apps for bulding community around your interest and your work. And there are a lot of podcasts and YouTube channels that will teach you what to do: people like Pat Flynn, Amy Porterfield, Stuart McLaren and loads of others.
Think about how you can find an audience to write for. Maybe you should write for them. It beats having your scripts ignored by TV producers, controllers and commissioners. It gives you direct connection with an audience. And it reminds you why you wanted to write in the first place.
Okay. I’m not sure who is asking the questions to whom at this point.
Me neither. Doesn’t matter. I’ve started The Wycliffe Papers. Subscribe. Become a Loyal Lollard from 29th May.
In the meantime, if you want me to read your script and give you notes, that can still be arranged:
I’ve definitely stopped reading Babylon Bee. And funnily enough, it’s exactly the reason you have stated. It’s become about politics.
I like politics. But not everything has to be about politics. And I think that Babylon Bee’s writers have suddenly forgotten that there is a world outside the United States of America.