Learn Comedy Storytelling
@rosslcs.bsky.social
I'm Ross, I give one-to-one coaching in the art & craft of comedy for Stand-up, Narrative and Musical Comedians learncomedystorytelling.com
#Actor (Bridgerton) #Writer (BBC) #Stand-up (5x Edinbugh fringes)
20% off for classes bought as xmas presents
#Actor (Bridgerton) #Writer (BBC) #Stand-up (5x Edinbugh fringes)
20% off for classes bought as xmas presents
Classes make the perfect Xmas gift, especially as I'm giving 20% off everything bought by Dec 25th! (Pssst...you'll get the e-voucher in an email, very handy if you've missed the post…)
As Salvador Dali once said “I shall be so brief, I have already finished”
Ross
As Salvador Dali once said “I shall be so brief, I have already finished”
Ross
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
Classes make the perfect Xmas gift, especially as I'm giving 20% off everything bought by Dec 25th! (Pssst...you'll get the e-voucher in an email, very handy if you've missed the post…)
As Salvador Dali once said “I shall be so brief, I have already finished”
Ross
As Salvador Dali once said “I shall be so brief, I have already finished”
Ross
I give one-to-one coaching in Stand-up, Narrative and Musical Comedy - if you (or a writer in your life) would like some help understanding brevity and structural editing let’s set up a free discovery call at learncomedystorytelling.com
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
I give one-to-one coaching in Stand-up, Narrative and Musical Comedy - if you (or a writer in your life) would like some help understanding brevity and structural editing let’s set up a free discovery call at learncomedystorytelling.com
Don’t be afraid to over-write when you’re drafting, but when you’re editing if in doubt always choose brevity.
With every scene or sketch - start it late, finish it early, get to the first laugh as quickly as possible and then the next, and then the next until you’re out.
With every scene or sketch - start it late, finish it early, get to the first laugh as quickly as possible and then the next, and then the next until you’re out.
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
Don’t be afraid to over-write when you’re drafting, but when you’re editing if in doubt always choose brevity.
With every scene or sketch - start it late, finish it early, get to the first laugh as quickly as possible and then the next, and then the next until you’re out.
With every scene or sketch - start it late, finish it early, get to the first laugh as quickly as possible and then the next, and then the next until you’re out.
SUMMARY
When you’re editing always remember that even The Bard’s work gets cut…if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for us.
Then remember why…to bring out the best in the best bits…which for us comedy writers is always about getting bigger laughs.
When you’re editing always remember that even The Bard’s work gets cut…if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for us.
Then remember why…to bring out the best in the best bits…which for us comedy writers is always about getting bigger laughs.
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
SUMMARY
When you’re editing always remember that even The Bard’s work gets cut…if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for us.
Then remember why…to bring out the best in the best bits…which for us comedy writers is always about getting bigger laughs.
When you’re editing always remember that even The Bard’s work gets cut…if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for us.
Then remember why…to bring out the best in the best bits…which for us comedy writers is always about getting bigger laughs.
That’s why we cut Shakespeare plays, not to get rid of ‘bad bits’, but rather to allow the important bits to have the maximum impact!
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
That’s why we cut Shakespeare plays, not to get rid of ‘bad bits’, but rather to allow the important bits to have the maximum impact!
Whether you’re delivering stand-up, or writing a sitcom, your audience need to be ‘primed’ to laugh at your jokes and that’s often something that happens before the joke even starts.
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
Whether you’re delivering stand-up, or writing a sitcom, your audience need to be ‘primed’ to laugh at your jokes and that’s often something that happens before the joke even starts.
What’s less obvious is that you won’t laugh as much at a really good joke, if you’ve just heard a mediocre one.
…Or worse yet a boring explanation of what’s happening in the scene (exposition).
…Or worse yet a boring explanation of what’s happening in the scene (exposition).
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
What’s less obvious is that you won’t laugh as much at a really good joke, if you’ve just heard a mediocre one.
…Or worse yet a boring explanation of what’s happening in the scene (exposition).
…Or worse yet a boring explanation of what’s happening in the scene (exposition).
The more important job of cutting (particularly in comedy) is what we might call…
STRUCTURAL CUTTING
It works like this
They way you react to a joke, depends on how you’re feeling when it starts.
If you’ve just had bad news, you won’t laugh as much as if you’d had good news.
STRUCTURAL CUTTING
It works like this
They way you react to a joke, depends on how you’re feeling when it starts.
If you’ve just had bad news, you won’t laugh as much as if you’d had good news.
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
The more important job of cutting (particularly in comedy) is what we might call…
STRUCTURAL CUTTING
It works like this
They way you react to a joke, depends on how you’re feeling when it starts.
If you’ve just had bad news, you won’t laugh as much as if you’d had good news.
STRUCTURAL CUTTING
It works like this
They way you react to a joke, depends on how you’re feeling when it starts.
If you’ve just had bad news, you won’t laugh as much as if you’d had good news.
Do that for a few weeks and you’ll see the difference. A few months, everyone will see the difference. A few years…you will be a force of nature!
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
Do that for a few weeks and you’ll see the difference. A few months, everyone will see the difference. A few years…you will be a force of nature!
Paying attention to that part of the writing process is the quickest way to get good!
Force yourself to bring everything you write up to your current level…then one day you’ll make a breakthrough and now you have to get everything up to that new level.
Force yourself to bring everything you write up to your current level…then one day you’ll make a breakthrough and now you have to get everything up to that new level.
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
Paying attention to that part of the writing process is the quickest way to get good!
Force yourself to bring everything you write up to your current level…then one day you’ll make a breakthrough and now you have to get everything up to that new level.
Force yourself to bring everything you write up to your current level…then one day you’ll make a breakthrough and now you have to get everything up to that new level.
EDITING
All our writing should be ‘good’ - whatever ‘good’ means at our current level.
You’ll know when something is substandard for you - I’m here to tell you the ONLY option is to re-write it or hit the delete key.
All our writing should be ‘good’ - whatever ‘good’ means at our current level.
You’ll know when something is substandard for you - I’m here to tell you the ONLY option is to re-write it or hit the delete key.
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
EDITING
All our writing should be ‘good’ - whatever ‘good’ means at our current level.
You’ll know when something is substandard for you - I’m here to tell you the ONLY option is to re-write it or hit the delete key.
All our writing should be ‘good’ - whatever ‘good’ means at our current level.
You’ll know when something is substandard for you - I’m here to tell you the ONLY option is to re-write it or hit the delete key.
Directors aren’t making these cuts to get rid of ‘bad’ writing, they’re doing it so that the rest of it can shine!
Cutting isn’t about taking out ‘bad’ stuff…Although we do need to do that in our early drafts!
Cutting isn’t about taking out ‘bad’ stuff…Although we do need to do that in our early drafts!
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
Directors aren’t making these cuts to get rid of ‘bad’ writing, they’re doing it so that the rest of it can shine!
Cutting isn’t about taking out ‘bad’ stuff…Although we do need to do that in our early drafts!
Cutting isn’t about taking out ‘bad’ stuff…Although we do need to do that in our early drafts!
Despite his aphoristic brilliance, Shakespeare…did rather run on a bit!
It’s rare that we stage productions of his works for modern audiences without some serious cuts being made to speeches and even whole scenes!
THIS WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO MAKE CUTS TO YOUR OWN WORK
It’s rare that we stage productions of his works for modern audiences without some serious cuts being made to speeches and even whole scenes!
THIS WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO MAKE CUTS TO YOUR OWN WORK
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 AM
Despite his aphoristic brilliance, Shakespeare…did rather run on a bit!
It’s rare that we stage productions of his works for modern audiences without some serious cuts being made to speeches and even whole scenes!
THIS WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO MAKE CUTS TO YOUR OWN WORK
It’s rare that we stage productions of his works for modern audiences without some serious cuts being made to speeches and even whole scenes!
THIS WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO MAKE CUTS TO YOUR OWN WORK
Hello from the UK...Libby's brilliant isn't it. All our libraries have it - FREE JOY FOR EVERYONE (although not many people even know it exists).
December 19, 2024 at 7:24 PM
Hello from the UK...Libby's brilliant isn't it. All our libraries have it - FREE JOY FOR EVERYONE (although not many people even know it exists).
Classes make the perfect Xmas gift, especially as I'm giving 20% off everything bought by Dec 25th! (Pssst...you'll get the e-voucher in an email, very handy if you've missed the post...)
Ross
Ross
December 19, 2024 at 5:02 PM
Classes make the perfect Xmas gift, especially as I'm giving 20% off everything bought by Dec 25th! (Pssst...you'll get the e-voucher in an email, very handy if you've missed the post...)
Ross
Ross
I give one-to-one coaching in Stand-up, Narrative and Musical Comedy - if you or a writer in your life has a project to FINISH (this side of the summer hols) set up a free discovery call at learncomedystorytelling.com
December 19, 2024 at 5:02 PM
I give one-to-one coaching in Stand-up, Narrative and Musical Comedy - if you or a writer in your life has a project to FINISH (this side of the summer hols) set up a free discovery call at learncomedystorytelling.com
It's nearly New Year's Resolutions time:
- Which TWO projects will you FINISH by next Christmas?
- Which ONE will you FINISH by July 1st?
- Which TWO projects will you FINISH by next Christmas?
- Which ONE will you FINISH by July 1st?
December 19, 2024 at 5:02 PM
It's nearly New Year's Resolutions time:
- Which TWO projects will you FINISH by next Christmas?
- Which ONE will you FINISH by July 1st?
- Which TWO projects will you FINISH by next Christmas?
- Which ONE will you FINISH by July 1st?
SUMMARY
- MOTHBALL anything you can't finish in 6 months
- FOCUS on one project (especially when it's stuck)
- EXPONENTIAL increase in effort is a sign you're doing it right!
- MOTHBALL anything you can't finish in 6 months
- FOCUS on one project (especially when it's stuck)
- EXPONENTIAL increase in effort is a sign you're doing it right!
December 19, 2024 at 5:02 PM
SUMMARY
- MOTHBALL anything you can't finish in 6 months
- FOCUS on one project (especially when it's stuck)
- EXPONENTIAL increase in effort is a sign you're doing it right!
- MOTHBALL anything you can't finish in 6 months
- FOCUS on one project (especially when it's stuck)
- EXPONENTIAL increase in effort is a sign you're doing it right!
THE EXCEPTION
In my 20s I always had a dozen projects on the go. They never got finished, but it did me good as a way to learn my craft.
If you're early in your journey (at any age), project-swapping might be the best thing to do!
In my 20s I always had a dozen projects on the go. They never got finished, but it did me good as a way to learn my craft.
If you're early in your journey (at any age), project-swapping might be the best thing to do!
December 19, 2024 at 5:02 PM
THE EXCEPTION
In my 20s I always had a dozen projects on the go. They never got finished, but it did me good as a way to learn my craft.
If you're early in your journey (at any age), project-swapping might be the best thing to do!
In my 20s I always had a dozen projects on the go. They never got finished, but it did me good as a way to learn my craft.
If you're early in your journey (at any age), project-swapping might be the best thing to do!
EMBRACE THE EXPONENTIAL CURVE
A second draft SHOULD take twice as long as the first. Think of it as a mark of your skill, commitment and understanding of the material that it gets more difficult as it develops!
A second draft SHOULD take twice as long as the first. Think of it as a mark of your skill, commitment and understanding of the material that it gets more difficult as it develops!
December 19, 2024 at 5:02 PM
EMBRACE THE EXPONENTIAL CURVE
A second draft SHOULD take twice as long as the first. Think of it as a mark of your skill, commitment and understanding of the material that it gets more difficult as it develops!
A second draft SHOULD take twice as long as the first. Think of it as a mark of your skill, commitment and understanding of the material that it gets more difficult as it develops!
When we’re project-swapping we only do the initial draft on small parts of a project and rarely get into the structural writing and editing.
It’s a trap, because it feels like we've nearly finished...but we've hardly started!
It’s a trap, because it feels like we've nearly finished...but we've hardly started!
December 19, 2024 at 5:02 PM
When we’re project-swapping we only do the initial draft on small parts of a project and rarely get into the structural writing and editing.
It’s a trap, because it feels like we've nearly finished...but we've hardly started!
It’s a trap, because it feels like we've nearly finished...but we've hardly started!
Sorry to tell you, but with Art - it's exponential curves all the way!
- 2hrs to draft a comedy sketch = 4hrs to edit
- 6hrs to write & edit = 12hrs to rehearse & film
- 18hrs pre-production & production = 36hrs post-production
- 2hrs to draft a comedy sketch = 4hrs to edit
- 6hrs to write & edit = 12hrs to rehearse & film
- 18hrs pre-production & production = 36hrs post-production
December 19, 2024 at 5:02 PM
Sorry to tell you, but with Art - it's exponential curves all the way!
- 2hrs to draft a comedy sketch = 4hrs to edit
- 6hrs to write & edit = 12hrs to rehearse & film
- 18hrs pre-production & production = 36hrs post-production
- 2hrs to draft a comedy sketch = 4hrs to edit
- 6hrs to write & edit = 12hrs to rehearse & film
- 18hrs pre-production & production = 36hrs post-production
EXOPONENTIAL EFFORT
My tech friends love the 80:20 rule of effort i.e. it takes the same effort to complete the last 20% of a project as it does the first 80%.
Tech has a linear effort curve, then goes exponential before launch…
My tech friends love the 80:20 rule of effort i.e. it takes the same effort to complete the last 20% of a project as it does the first 80%.
Tech has a linear effort curve, then goes exponential before launch…
December 19, 2024 at 5:02 PM
EXOPONENTIAL EFFORT
My tech friends love the 80:20 rule of effort i.e. it takes the same effort to complete the last 20% of a project as it does the first 80%.
Tech has a linear effort curve, then goes exponential before launch…
My tech friends love the 80:20 rule of effort i.e. it takes the same effort to complete the last 20% of a project as it does the first 80%.
Tech has a linear effort curve, then goes exponential before launch…