Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Although not a traditional literary device, listing is a popular tool in comedic writing and one that Kaling employs often throughout the work. Many of the chapters are structured as lists, but Kaling also uses smaller lists to amplify the comedic tone of the book.

For example, in Chapter 11, Kaling provides a list of female tropes in film and television. A list like the one presented in this chapter allows Kaling to move from one topic to the next quickly, maintaining a fast-paced momentum and offering rapid-fire jokes about each category. Kaling structures chapters around films she would like to reboot, her favorite comedic performances, advice for men, and instructions for the planning of her funeral.

The writer also incorporates lists into other chapters for comedic effect. In Chapter 12, Kaling distinguishes between her own character and Kelly Kapoor, the character she portrayed on the hit television show The Office. For example, Kelly would text in the shower, drive away from a car accident, and write a mean letter to Sheryl Crow—all activities Mindy Kaling would never participate in. Kaling partners listing with both hyperbole and juxtaposition in this section by then listing activities that both she and her character would take part in, including their shared willingness to “fake our own deaths to catch a serial killer” (105).

The use of listing closely mirrors the process of writing in a television writer’s room. In the process of writing a show like The Office, writers pitch ideas in a rapid-fire session. This can also occur on sets where improvisation is encouraged. Writers may watch actors in a scene and then throw out ideas for lines in the moment. The memoir’s lists reflect Kaling’s background as a television writer, allowing her to introduce numerous jokes in quick succession.