What with writing a serious book and TV stuff + normal work and family life...I haven't written a sketch in weeks.
In fact since the operation I think I have forgotten how to be funny.
(Yes, I know I wasn't very funny before hand, but I had my moments) - tried to write something for Newsjack last week, but had no inspiration.
Has this happened to you? How did you become funny again?
This does happen to me and I have discovered it is linked to alchohol. Whenever I have a few beers I lose the ability to write anything remotely amusing for a few days after. This hasn't stopped me drinking I'd hasten to add.
Quote: bigfella @ June 18 2009, 3:06 PM BSTWhat with writing a serious book and TV stuff + normal work and family life...I haven't written a sketch in weeks.
In fact since the operation I think I have forgotten how to be funny.
I often wonder if much of human creativity is an attempt to make up for some feeling of deficiency in our psyche. Van Gogh did all his best work when he was banged up in an asylum, and I've heard the same sort of thing said about Spike Milligan, too.
Perhaps if things are going well for you, you don't have an urge to get whatever it was that, 'being funny' gave you? And perhaps you don't need it?
I certainly don't feel I'm as funny as I used to be. I look back at my younger self, envious of the weird off the wall ideas he'd come up with.
Quote: Griff @ June 18 2009, 3:27 PM BSTStop trying to write for a while and just immerse yourself in stuff you think is funny - TV, DVDs, the Critique Forum, whatever, for a while. Then switch the telly off and get on with other stuff. Eventually a spark for an idea will come. Cliche has it that the best ideas come when you're walking the dog, or in the shower etc., rather than sitting in front of a blank sheet of paper, but some cliches are cliches because they're right.
Good advice. I find reading alot as well helps too.
Quote: Griff @ June 18 2009, 3:27 PM BSTCliche has it that the best ideas come when you're walking the dog
That works for me - although the dogs aren't funny enough.
And the best thing is to try a dialogue. Take a line out of the paper and see how it develops.
I read something the other day about how luck is a reflection of anxiety levels, relaxed people simply see opportunities that anxious people miss; it is similar with comedy, if you are in a relaxed frame of mind you are more likely to spot the potential for comedy. Once you are back in the zone the ideas will keep coming.
I've found that I seem to start coming up with loads of ideas, when I'm struggling to remember an idea that I've forgotten. Then usually, when I do finally remember the first idea, it turns out to have been pretty shit anyway.
Quote: chipolata @ June 18 2009, 3:32 PM BSTI find reading alot as well helps too.
What a beautiful sentence. 
Haha! Didn't even notice.
Quote: Timbo @ June 18 2009, 4:31 PM BSTI read something the other day about how luck is a reflection of anxiety levels, relaxed people simply see opportunities that anxious people miss; it is similar with comedy, if you are in a relaxed frame of mind you are more likely to spot the potential for comedy. Once you are back in the zone the ideas will keep coming.
That's interesting. I wonder if that's why some people who use 'relaxants' seem to find it inspirational.
I've found recently that by far the best way to come up with an idea is to stop consuming other people's ideas for half an hour. Step away from the internet, pretend I have a dog, and go walk the damn thing.
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ June 18 2009, 7:36 PM BSTI've found recently that by far the best way to come up with an idea is to stop consuming other people's ideas for half an hour. Step away from the internet, pretend I have a dog, and go walk the damn thing.
I've found recently that by far the best way to come up with an idea is to stop lusting after other mens's wives for half an hour. Step away from porn on the internet, pretend I have a mistress, and go f**k the damn thing.
Quote: Morrace @ June 18 2009, 8:08 PM BSTI've found recently that by far the best way to come up with an idea is to stop lusting after other mens's wives for half an hour. Step away from porn on the internet, pretend I have a mistress, and go f**k the damn thing.
Didn't Josef Fritzl go down for that?
Quote: Scottidog @ June 18 2009, 8:12 PM BSTDidn't Josef Fritzl go down for that?
Josef Fritzl would probably go down on anything.
"Oh allright, if you incest..."