Writing Muscles

When you first start writing comedy you probably won’t be any good… on a regular basis.

You will have some inspired bits and even get a few laughs. But you will fall on your behind more than once. That is normal.

And it’s freaking hard.

Imagine having spent days crafting something, asking your friends for feedback and they just go: “Meeh. Not funny.”

That is soulcrushing.

And normal.

The faster you get used to that, accept it as a natural part of being a comedy writer, the faster you will progress. And it will get easier. More good ideas. More laughs.

The problem is: In the beginning there will be ninety percent soulcrushing to seven percent that wasn’t that bad and another three percent that was fun!

So let’s manage expectations here.

You are a beginner. Even if you are naturally funny, you need to know how to have an idea, how to put words on paper, capture the magic on stage and deliver it again as if the jokes just came to you in that very moment. And you need to learn how to be on stage, how to adapt to different audiences, how to banter, how to react to technical mistakes, and and and…

In summary: A thousand little things. Even if you are an actor who already knows how to move on stage… Comedy is a different beast. Your instincts will be all wrong. You will adapt faster but still: There will be soulcrushing ahead.

Again: That is normal and part of the process.

Comedy writing is a little bit like losing weight.

Even though you start going to the gym regularly, in the beginning it will seem like nothing happens. And when you lose a few pounds and you see your friends, they probably won’t see a difference.

It’s also very hard to be proud of just starting.

Because the first five meters of a marathon aren’t the problem. Anybody could do that. A toddler could get that far. Except with a toddler he will be cheered on every step he takes.

You won’t be.

But again: That is normal. It’s all about how you feel and how you perceive and value your progress.

Celebrate every little tiny step.

Be the toddler and his parents.

After all you are going in the right direction. You are building up your writing muscles.

And soon they will actually be cheering you on.