For something different, the challenge of writing a stand up comedy set has been suggested. This could be a tall order - writing such sets may well be one of the most complex forms of writing on earth, who knows? I can remember many years ago my father saying that Gracie Burns of George and Gracie Burns fame was highly likely to be one of the most intelligent women in the entertainment business; that it took brains to be so funny. Anyway at least it's a time limited piece so will hopefully fall somewhere in the region of 500 to 750 words.
The key to writing stand up comedy appears to be drawing upon an issue or event in your immediate life with links to the past, conflicting values, or interests and almost reporting on it, but doing so in a very quirky way. I've found some YouTube videos of stand up comedians I have often laughed at to demonstrate this... Here's one from Fiona O'Laughlin...
The key to writing stand up comedy appears to be drawing upon an issue or event in your immediate life with links to the past, conflicting values, or interests and almost reporting on it, but doing so in a very quirky way. I've found some YouTube videos of stand up comedians I have often laughed at to demonstrate this... Here's one from Fiona O'Laughlin...
On the theme of aging....just because it's a common theme you might like to pick up on...
Here's a fairly gentle set in terms of mid life changes from Mario Joyner on Ageing Gracefully ...
Here is a set from older female perspective from Karen Mills on "Aging - You've Got to Find the Humour."
Here's a more X rated/devastating one from Billy Connolly on Prostate Examinations.
Do you remember Dave Allen? Here's a classic from the late Dave Allen on retirement and aging...
And here are some handouts on writing standup...
Writing Standup (Guardian article)
Comedian's Toolkit (Guardian article)
Writing Comedy Sketches That Work
.... and for further reading, if you want to perform to a crowd and avoid common errors, try Part 1 and Part 2 of 'How not to suck at writing stand up comedy'.
Here's a fairly gentle set in terms of mid life changes from Mario Joyner on Ageing Gracefully ...
Here is a set from older female perspective from Karen Mills on "Aging - You've Got to Find the Humour."
Here's a more X rated/devastating one from Billy Connolly on Prostate Examinations.
Do you remember Dave Allen? Here's a classic from the late Dave Allen on retirement and aging...
And here are some handouts on writing standup...
Writing Standup (Guardian article)
Comedian's Toolkit (Guardian article)
Writing Comedy Sketches That Work
.... and for further reading, if you want to perform to a crowd and avoid common errors, try Part 1 and Part 2 of 'How not to suck at writing stand up comedy'.
The BBC has produced an excellent series on The Art of Stand Up Comedy... here is segment 1 of 10 as a taster (they are all available on YouTube)
BL
