Funny-ish is thrilled to announce that as of today, Xu Mason will be taking over editorial duties for the site as our new Managing Editor! We’re so excited she’s joining us, we thought we’d pick her brain with a few quick questions about comedy, editing, and stock photos.
Hi Xu! I’m so excited you’ll be taking over as Managing Editor of Funny-ish. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background in comedy/humor writing?
I started doing comedy because I was in my early 20s and had just been let go of my consulting job, and was living in a basement in a house with five dudes. Great, lovely souls, but I had to get out of there. So I started taking improv classes at Second City, and then it was iO, and the Annoyance – and then I was performing on a lot of Tuesdays for 3 people in a theater that had to pass around a hat to fix its floors. And I loved it. So I quit my big girl job, and pursued comedy full time (after years of trying just about everything other than comedy because you know, science.)
I was always a hybrid writer/performer. I used to do a lot of sketch comedy. Plus my parents were first gen immigrants, and like many immigrant kids, I got an early start in writing and editing because I had to. But it took until 2020 to really get into my groove. With all my theaters closed down, I felt very unmoored. I had left financial stability to do this comedy thing, and that thing vanished overnight. I was afraid that I would just flail. But instead, I found this incredible online comedy writing community. They were so kind, so giving, so encouraging, and had many a great Twitter dunks. I’m so grateful for that. Truly.
I think about that a lot when I’m reading pieces. Because one of the best parts of this job is getting to read so many wonderful, smart, lovely pieces of funny. It’s easy to forget that when you’re 300 emails deep, and trying to spell check everyone’s name and confirm social handles while wondering what you’ve ever done to WordPress for it to hate you like this – but it’s true. Even if I can’t publish every single piece, what an honor it is to get a little view of so many peoples brains.
As an editor, what kind of pieces are you hoping to see more of on Funny-ish?
Send me your weird pieces. Your “who on earth would like this?” I adore things that you cook up 3AM just before you’re about to go to bed. The ones you finish writing, and think “ok but if I show someone this, they would never speak to me again” – but I promise you that’s the good stuff – the best stuff. So send me that!
What are your biggest pet peeves as an editor?
My biggest pet peeve is when someone is rude. Comedy is mostly a labor of love. A little bit of patience and kindness will get you a lot further then any passive aggressive retort. I’m very midwestern! You betcha!
Finally, choose a stock photo that illustrates how you feel about taking over as Managing Editor.
Just like me, this little opossum is excited to get started. Also just like me, it eats way more trash than it should.
Thanks Xu! We’re so excited to have you on board!
For info on how to submit a piece to Xu, please check out our Submit page.