Comedians and writers approach their craft differently.
Watch my video below, or read the transcript, to find out the difference.
Hello my lovely writers!
We had the Edinburgh International Festival here throughout August, so there’s been lots of comedy on and a friend recommended I go and see a certain comedian. He was very funny and got nominated for a prize, which I found out when my friend sent me a screenshot and said, ‘Look, he’s been nominated for a prize.’
Next to that comedian’s name was the name of another comedian, a young woman with an unusual name, which I recognised straight away as the daughter of an ex-boss of mine. I immediately went onto YouTube to find out about her because I’d met her once when she was about six and now here she was, all grown up and performing stand-up comedy live on stage.
I said to myself, ‘My goodness, I’ve got to find out about her comedy and what she’s doing. Is she funny? Is she not? What’s going on?’ So I looked her up on YouTube and watched all the clips that came up and, what I noticed was, because she was getting established – and I think this is probably similar for all comedians – she had a set she’d put together and was practising that set.
She’d get up on stage at university gigs and small club gigs – wherever she was touring on the circuit – and she’d perform the same set. It was interesting to see how she’d tweak this and tweak that, pause in different places and put emphasis on different words depending on the audience’s reaction. I could see her watch the audience, trying to gauge their response and work out how they were responding to her and the material.
How comedians and writers approach their craft differently
I’m so glad I don’t have to do that. I am so glad I don’t need to take my early drafts and go up on stage and read them out in front of an audience who, let’s be honest – comedy audiences, particularly on a Friday night – are almost baying for you to fail. They want to see what you’re made of. They want to test your mettle.
Imagine doing that night after night after night. My nerves would be shot. As writers, we’re lucky we don’t have to do that. As writers, we get to sit at our desk in the privacy of our own home and revise and revise and revise and then we can ask people to read snippets of our work and, with it being a writing environment, everyone’s very supportive.
We don’t have a live audience who have had a few drinks baying for our blood and willing us to fail. Instead, we get to do it in a nice, calm, private way where we can take our time, revise things and get them to a state where we are happy to share them.
You’re in your own hands
I thought that was a really interesting thing to share and so, if you are procrastinating about getting started, just know you’re in safe hands because you’re in your own hands. You’ve not got an audience waiting to pull you down as they sit in stony silence and give you no respect or response. You get to do this for yourself.
So, don’t be waiting, don’t be holding on to the story idea you want to share and criticising yourself before you’ve even written anything down. Know that you’re doing it in a safe space and know that the people who you will eventually share it with are going to be supportive and encouraging.
Also, just be thankful you’re not a comedian having to do it live on stage.
Take courage. Take courage from comedians and know that that’s what they’re doing and you don’t have to do that. It’s safe for you to write your early drafts of your novel.
So, go for it. Go ahead and do it. You’ve only got yourself to impress.
Emma xx
Emma Dhesi
Emma Dhesi is a Certified Author Accelerator Book Coach and bestselling author who helps writers let go of perfectionism, self-doubt and writer's block through her signature programme, Unlock Your Creative Block.
She is the host of the YouTube Channel, Emma Dhesi, where she interviews debut and experienced authors alike.
Through her 1:1 coaching programme, Emma helps new authors start and finish their first novel.
Emma provides personal written feedback on their pages and guides them through the emotional rollercoaster that is writing a novel!
