@Miggyman
I've been a prolific QOTWer but have only ever won once.

I'm a mediocre writer at best, my own secret is to take an anecdote and dress it up - a bit like putting lipstick on a pig.

If ever you've watched the Two Ronnies and have seen Ronnie Corbett's monologue then you'll see how he takes a simple joke and then builds a backstory round it. What appears to be bumbling is actually very well crafted. The idea is to appeal directly to the audience's imagination.

Some of the other b3tans will have other secrets.

Chickenlady's is all about hard work, redrafting and having great technical ability - as well as her possessing a wonderful sense of humour too. Che is a very engaging and gentle writer, he's got a great imagination and a very descriptive style. Pooflake is a genius. He's got a wonderful style which is in no doubt helped by the fact that he writes songs, but his warped imagination helps in equal measure.

The other poster I thoroughly recommend you checking out is jennynmemonic. She takes simple stories and builds around them intelligently with a wonderful sense of irony and wit.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 16 Oct 2008, 12:32, Reply)