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Originally Posted by Dan Carter  Hey Matt,
Can you share what resources you are using to study the writing process? I just got back from my first ever amateur night and it was AWESOME. I now know I'm better at making fun of my bad jokes than writing GOOD jokes. Most of my laughs came from that. So I realize I have a ton to learn now :P Gotta start putting in the time.
Do you want to be a comedy writer or a really good live entertainer? |
I want to be a comedy writer. I'm primarily interested in writing funny articles, but most humorists aren't outlandish enough for me, so I study a lot of stand-up comedians. So far, I've learned my craft from a few essential books.
Gene Perret's "The New Comedy Writing Step By Step" is my all-time favorite comedy writing book. It's practical and informative, with loads of examples, tips, and techniques. And the man wrote for Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller - he knows how to make the funny. That book practically taught me everything I know about writing jokes. The workbook I'm using for this trial is also by him.
I also recommend Greg Dean's "Step By Step To Stand Up Comedy". He uses a step-by-step formula for his jokes, which works great for me since I prefer those kind of instructions. I prefer Perret's book since he reveals techniques that offer more variety than what Dean uses, but his is a good starting point if you want a mechanical process.
If you can afford a third book, you might as well also pick up "The Comedy Bible" by Judy Carter. I'm not a big fan of her style, but the book outlines a month-long workshop dedicated to landing you two gigs and loading up a bunch of material. If your style resembles guys who act out other people as opposed to one-liners, you might like this book better.
Hell, pick 'em all up if you can and pour over them. It'll give you a great start.
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Originally Posted by SlimJ I also love this idea. I'm curious if your mentality in general will change - ie, if you'll become more light-hearted; laugh more easily. I look forward to your updates!
Jon |
I dunno...I've been acting like a funster for years, but if you know me, you'd know I can get pretty moody when I dwell on certain thoughts. Still, I'd rather NOT be the comedian who talks about suicide at a dinner party, thanks.