The Good Enough Website: Copywriting and Comedy Writing

“What is one thing we don’t know about you … something that would surprise us?”

When you attend live seminars and networking events, you may get asked this question. Sometimes I say, “I am a huge fan of WNBA basketball.” Sometimes I say, “I’ve done stand-up comedy at open mics….and mostly it was successful!

Philadelphia has a lively comedy scene with lots of classes and energy. So awhile back I found myself taking a class in sketch comedy writing. Now, given that I am a professional writer, you’d think I’d be a natural. But actually my first attempts were more likely to provoke a puzzled frown than a hearty laugh.

When it came time to turn in our first assignment, I knew I wasn’t being funny … but I had no idea how to make my sketch funnier. What I did bring to the table (literally) was a lifetime of writing. I know that first drafts can be horrific … but if you don’t write a first draft, you won’t have a final gem. I know that when you’re stuck, the best thing to do is share, talk and get reactions from other people.

Sure enough, my classmates were polite enough to keep a straight face (not always a good thing in a comedy class) when my turn came to present. And they did give me some great ideas for our second assignment — a rewrite. Our instructor — a comedy pro — knows…