The Cure to Writer's Block
You may find the answer surprising. (nice clickbait right?)
In Today’s Email: (Read time: 3 mins)
Cure to writer’s block: I found it
[VIDEO]: My favorite joke from a set I wrote in 10 mins
Comic of the week: Indian standup comics, what up?
A question I get often is how do you get over writer’s block?
It’s easy, I procrastinate.
I’m writing this post from a hotel room in Bombay with an hour on hand before I need to leave to explore the city. I release a new post every Wednesday, so I had a whole week, why wait till the end? Especially when I knew I’m going to be traveling and in a new city.
Couple reasons:
I treat this blog as a therapy session because I free write without a topic ahead of time, so I’m able to talk about something pressing that’s on my mind. Typically just after I write this I feel mentally clear and like to wait a couple days to start on something new.
The honest answer: Without the threat of a looming deadline I don’t feel the urge to write something new.
I’ve been this way my whole life, studying for tests, finishing an assignment, packing for a trip. 99% of the time it turns out really well. I think I’m smart enough to know how much time I need to do something well and give myself just that before I have to do it.
But imagine how much better the outcome would be if you gave yourself more time??
Only if I had a new follower for every time someone told me this…
There are some REAL reasons why I chose to procrastinate with writing jokes, however.
The most INTERESTING reason: I USUALLY ONLY FIND NEW JOKES FUNNY THE DAY I WRITE THEM.
This is kinda crazy, but it has happened so often that it’s forced me to consolidate my writing before shows.
What happens is that I’ll write a joke and be in some head space or mood that creates the energy for it AND when I read it again 2 days later I cannot re-create that mood and reading the joke bombs in my mind.
The solution? If I can only write before shows and I NEED to write more
I need to do more shows.
It’s honestly as simple as that, the biggest advice any established comedian will give a newbie is get on stage as much as you can and on any stage as much as you can.
I never agreed with that a 100% because testing new material at open mics or uninterested crowds can kill good material (because you may think it’s terrible, but it wasn’t the right audience)
BUT maybe they say that because all the good comics procrastinate? 🥲
I wrote this bit in a couple minutes before a show. This is part 1 of the entire bit and I’ve never released part 2 because it involved me dancing. 😂
But next week, I’ll release it here just for ya’ll ❤️
Comic of the week
He’s an American India and he’s also the biggest reason I started comedy.
I saw him perform when he had 20K followers in 40 person room at Piano Fight in San Francisco in 2019 and decided I had to try standup comedy.
AND he’s touring! He’ll probably be performing in your city soon so don’t miss out cause tickets will sell out!
https://www.akaashsingh.com/tickets
That’s all for today folks ❤️
- Talk soon Killers!