My friend Kirk Reedstrom recommended two audiobooks from Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Comedy Improv Manual and Finding Your Comedic Voice. They both looked great, but I chose 28 Stand Ups: Best Tips, Bits, and Bombs, because it was the shortest, at 4 hours. Which ended up being a bit of a self-prank, because I listened to it twice: once to absorb it all, and once to take notes for you.
I love the quote about how we’re all doing the same thing, swimming in the same water. Thank you for sharing this list. It’s amazing how much overlap there is across most creative professions.
Thank you for this! I have been taking a break since the end of the summer, when I finished illustrating the second of two books in a row, both of which were started before my 3-year old was born, before pandemic, and were the first books I illustrated while also holding a full-time day job. I was fried.
There's still no shortage of things filling up my time (working, parenting, helping aging parents, sitting on hold for a hour while I try to make a stupid dentist appointment...), but that tickle, that itch to make something is starting to overcome all that fatigue.
And it's always that draw to engage in the process that makes me happy. That's what this post and these ideas remind me of. That's where the joy of it all comes from. The highs and lows are all part of it, but in the end, I always feel lucky to be able to make books.
Thanks for this! It’s funny; I actually talk about stand-up and publishing when giving advice to my friends as well. I was a theater kid, and live theater teaches you a lot about rolling with punches, reading a room, but also the emotional feedback you get from an audience.
As you and others mentioned earlier, there is so much overlap beyond writing and comedy in here--I’m a woodworker, and much of these tips applied to my work building furniture. Especially not comparing oneself to others, staying true to yourself, having fun. (Swearing, on the other hand, can be both cathartic and helpful). Thanks for sharing!
I love the quote about how we’re all doing the same thing, swimming in the same water. Thank you for sharing this list. It’s amazing how much overlap there is across most creative professions.
This was perfect. Thank you so much! <3
Thank you for this! I have been taking a break since the end of the summer, when I finished illustrating the second of two books in a row, both of which were started before my 3-year old was born, before pandemic, and were the first books I illustrated while also holding a full-time day job. I was fried.
There's still no shortage of things filling up my time (working, parenting, helping aging parents, sitting on hold for a hour while I try to make a stupid dentist appointment...), but that tickle, that itch to make something is starting to overcome all that fatigue.
And it's always that draw to engage in the process that makes me happy. That's what this post and these ideas remind me of. That's where the joy of it all comes from. The highs and lows are all part of it, but in the end, I always feel lucky to be able to make books.
So glad you shared these tips! Thanks!
Thanks for this! It’s funny; I actually talk about stand-up and publishing when giving advice to my friends as well. I was a theater kid, and live theater teaches you a lot about rolling with punches, reading a room, but also the emotional feedback you get from an audience.
As you and others mentioned earlier, there is so much overlap beyond writing and comedy in here--I’m a woodworker, and much of these tips applied to my work building furniture. Especially not comparing oneself to others, staying true to yourself, having fun. (Swearing, on the other hand, can be both cathartic and helpful). Thanks for sharing!