Hey Story Lovers,
Someone in my neighborhood is giving away three toasters. What’s going on? Obviously, the lesbian who lives there converted three straight women who converted back. Now the toasters have been revoked.
Let me explain: In the 90s, there was this joke that if you converted a straight woman into a lesbian, you’d get a toaster. You know, like if you opened a bank account, you’d get the glass dishes my grandma had.
The comic, Lea DeLaria, said it first. Then, when Ellen DeGeneres’s character, Ellen, came out on her show, her girlfriend got a toaster. Probably only two people on my entire mailing list will get this obscure reference. Please email me back if you know about the toasters.
What I love is reading a story when I get the references. What I don’t love is writing a story with a reference I know most people won’t get. I am so tempted to explain, which sort of ruins the fun.
Here’s one more example:
When my kids were young, we hardly ever ate at McDonald’s. Back then, I had standards. My sister-in-law Isa had different standards and took Tashi, who was about six, to McDonald’s for breakfast. When I asked Tashi what she got she said, “An Egg McMuffin and latkes.”
Get it? I thought this was the funniest thing she ever said, but maybe I have to explain.
Come join the Tips Clinic on NOVEMBER 22, 2025 and let’s talk about voice. What does voice even mean? In some cases it means using cultural references in a story without having to explain—by staying true to your voice—or maybe explaining just a little.
TIPS CLINIC HAS MOVED THIS MONTH—MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
SATURDAY, November 22, 2025
12 to 1 p.m. ET
Zoom
Tips Clinic is $15.
If money is an object, please use this FREE Tips Clinic Zoom link.
All Patreon members, please use the free link.
As always, we have two First Draft weekly writing groups where you write to a prompt and share if you want.
Click here to join Allison Langer Tuesdays 12-1 ET.
Click here to join Margery Berger on Mondays 12-1 ET. The first session is always FREE.
Some news:
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO CATCH the SANIBEL ISLAND WRITERS CONFERENCE. This year, the conference is held at FGCU campus in Fort Myers, Florida.
November 7-8.
Allison Langer and I are teaching our top tips for writing the personal essay. Join us for FREE, Saturday at 9 a.m. All the classes are free and in person and as always, the lineup is stellar. You can take classes in poetry, screenwriting, publishing, and more. Click to REGISTER.
Writing Class Radio just wrapped a show with the University of Miami School of Law. Students learned to tell their personal stories, which can only help when they have an argument to win. Nine competed and the top two won a grand prize of $2,500. The event was sponsored by Larry Silverstein.
If you’re part of a group (students, lawyers, realtors, activists, scientists…) who would benefit from learning how to personalize stories, we got you! Email me andrea@writingclassradio.com or reply to this email.
ALL SIDES OF THE STORY wants YOUR story for a live show. The prompt: What moment or series of events defines who you are politically? The story does not have to overtly state your political point of view. Right-leaning people please submit. Send your best 1,000 words to andrea@writingclassradio.com.
Thanks for reading. And thanks for listening to Writing Class Radio.
Love,
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