"How to escape Writer's Block" by Jim Richardson, Stand-Up Comedy Coach & Co-Writer.

How to Escape Writer's Block:

Jim Richardson offers time-proven tips for writers:
Helps you with your joke-writing anxieties,
Smart phone video camcorder phobias,
And fear of learning how to type!

For today's tips, I am pondering three of the most common student and client issues
•which can clearly inhibit your successful joke-writing potential.

Hopefully, this information will speak to many of you out there.
Relax: this is going to be fun!

Let's get started.

1. How to escape Writer’s Block:

Tip:
Make a contract with yourself to write a specific amount of time every day:
•for the next 2 weeks,
•anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours, or more.

You pick the:
•amount of time,
•time of day and specific place you will write
that is completely free of distractions;
• i.e., no visitors.

The first few days, you may just stare at the computer screen.
Eventually, you may decide that since you are there,
•you might as well write something.

Once you break through that wall,
the next wall to break through?
•Actually writing great material.

Note: once you have written for your promised length of time,
it is ok to keep writing, natch!

After the 2 weeks are up,
if you have kept this contract with yourself,
you can consider increasing the length of time.

But sometimes 50% of the funny stuff you come up with is not written initially:
•on the computer
•or by hand with pen and paper.

If you say something funny in a conversation,
•immediately record it with your smart phone.

Later, upload the recording to your computer
•so you still have access to your initial delivery & attitude.

Then, transcribe the recording since you will eventually need a script
so you can efficiently edit your off-stage utterances
•into something that will work in your comedy act.

I teach:
Beginning-Intermediate-Advanced comedy writing & performance techniques,
and have many exercises that can
augment these two basic approaches to escaping writer's block:
http://www.stand-upcomedyworkshop.com/IntermediateAndAdvancedCourseTitles.html

2. How smart phone video camcorder phobias can cost you
Many lost joke-capturing opportunities:

Three examples of smart phones that can easily shoot video of you in any comedy club, etc.

You may have intertwined joke-writing and computer phobias if . . .

•You only use your computer to:
write letters, send email and maybe dabble in social networking web sites.

•A few years ago, you bought a stand-alone digital camcorder
that can record video with audio
on sale for $200,
then let it gather dust on your shelf.
Why?
Probably because you couldn't figure out how to turn it on or off.
Let alone, how to:
•shoot video of your act or speech every time you perform,
•then save that media file to your computer and
•email a compressed version of your masterpieces to friends and family.

•You are not using your smart phone's built-in:
•writing application,
•plus applications included for recording both audio & video clips.

All three applications can be used when you are away from your computer.
Plus, they are faster and better
•at preserving inspired thoughts
than either your memory or struggling with pen-and-paper.

Since you always have your smart phone with you,
it is perfect for capturing your funny thoughts
that you think up
outside your formally scheduled daily writing sessions.

•Have you been doing the same stand-up comedy act or business keynote speech
for the past 6 months, if not years?
For shame!

8-(

Or perhaps you have not even begun your comedy or speaking career?
Hint:
If you can picture yourself doing comedy or keynote speaking
on a stage in front of a paying audience,
then you are already halfway there.

8-)

3. To type, or not to type:
Is this really a question?

•Many performers cannot type without looking at the keyboard;
a.k.a.: "two-finger typing," " hunt-and-peck," etc.:

Pecking chick, plus: two-thumbs and two-forefinger typing errors.

Having taught both beginning computer and beginning typing classes,
my research uncovered some interesting facts:
•The fastest you can type with eyes-on-keyboard is 25 words per minute (WPM).
But with 20 minutes of daily practice
•doing appropriate speed drills
•designed to also increase accuracy,
in a just few months, you can be typing 60 WPM or higher:

Two views of basic touch-typing without keeping your eyes on the keyboard:
correct fingers-matched-to-correct keys.

Considering that you will be typing scripts throughout your career,
•that small amount of time invested now = months or years of time saved over a 50-year career.

•List your personal joke-writing, video-shooting and typing phobias here: ___________________.
Need more room to complete your personal list of these nagging phobias?
I know you do:
Please phone or send me an email today!

Solution that can end the madness:
What you need is a series of one-on-one sessions
with the Comedy Coach & Co-Writer (me) to:
•rapidly hand-hold you through the joke-writing basics.
•Then, a whole new world can open to you!

Enough with any further delay
in your learning joke-writing and smart phone video shooting techniques:
•I can start helping you today!

Stop being afraid of that little dumb box
•on your desk called a "computer" or
the more fashionable phone, digital assistant, tablet, etc.,
•in your pocket/purse/briefcase called a "mobile device."

You are not alone.
But now is your time to come out of both:
your joke-writing and your technologically phobic closet.

;-)

As a Comedy Coach & Co-Writer,
I specialize in helping folks at any age and
from any educational background to find their way:
•through these writing and technology mazes
•without all that personal anxiety.

My one-on-one consulting guides you to:
•work smarter
•to get you there faster.

Call or email me today for an appointment,
and let's get started!

Your investment for a brighter future:
1) Private one-on-one Comedy Coaching & Co-Writing sessions: $200/hour, rounded to the quarter-hour.
Upshot: your advance payment reserves my time.

2) Private one-on-one Computer & Camcorder sessions: $50/hour.

3) To get started,
take those first baby steps by ordering my $50 audio/workbook package today:
"How to Write a Joke: the 7 basic joke forms"
(See the order form below.)

Not even in California nor the USA?
No problem:
I also work long-distance, both nationally and internationally
•via phone, email and video conferencing.

Note:
Video conferencing is a relatively simple thing to set up.
•Plus, it humanizes the learning experience:
As one of my clients exclaimed in astonishment,
"Jim, it's like you are here, right in my living room!"

Questions?
Ask away!

Jim Richardson
415-877-4424
jim@jimrichardson.com

Jim Richardson, owner
ORGANIZED COMEDY
P. O. Box 992
Mill Valley, CA 94942 USA

Page created: Sunday, March 23, 2014, 2:45 pm PST and last updated Sunday, January 6, 2019, 6:25 pm PST