Comedy-Writing Catch 22.

Here's a thing.

When I was younger, in my early twenties doing real jobs, a lot of my ideas for sketches and characters and storylines etc came from observing the people and events around me. Just an unintentionally funny remark or even a look from a work colleague could make me giggle and thus spark off an idea for a new character or a funny song or whatever, and I couldn't wait to get home and get it written.

And then writing jokes and funny stuff slowly began to become my worklife until I didn't really have time to do 'normal' jobs anymore. Which is the idea, right? But the thing is, I now spend 90% of my waking time sat alone in this office, staring slack-jawed either at my computer screen or out the window. The other 10% is taken up making coffee, watching a bit of telly, making more coffee, taking the dog for a shit, more coffee, and - shock horror - socialising with other humans. Actually about 1% of my time is spent socialising with other humans, if you don't count my wife and kids. Who aren't really human.

You see, I'm literally a hermit. And as the years go on, I find myself growing more and more concerned that because of this serious lack of social stimulation, the funny ideas are going to dry up. I mean, how long can memories keep the inspiration going?

Anyway, I suppose my questions are, what're your thoughts on the subject of a writer's isolation and how it affects creativity? How can it be resolved? Or is it simply a writer's job to look inside him/herself in the absence of external inspiration, and come up with the goods regardless? Am I a big fat smelly Billy No Mates?

I suspect the fact that I'm posting this question to strangers on an internet forum speaks volumes.

Ha. No, I think that's a pretty well recognised catch 22 situation for writers. I suppose, if you really think you're in danger of running out of ideas and inspiration, you'd have to take up some kind of extra activity, like teaching once a week, or joining some sort of sad group.

But I think you can store up enough crap while you're still living in the real world to last you a life-time after you leave it.

I think being shut away alone certainly diminishes the whole spontaneous EUREKA!! kind of ideas, but you can still come up with some good stuff pretty easily if you put your mind to it.

This is why Extras stops being a comedy about an extra who wants a line in a show and becomes a comedy about a man who's suddenly written a comedy series.

There's no solution, the best writing is always done by outsiders.

Quote: zooo @ September 13 2010, 11:41 PM BST

Ha. No, I think that's a pretty well recognised catch 22 situation for writers. I suppose, if you really think you're in danger of running out of ideas and inspiration, you'd have to take up some kind of extra activity, like teaching once a week, or joining some sort of sad group.

View original

I haven't run out of inspiration just yet (I hope!) but if I do, I might have to join that sad group. I couldn't teach though. That would be too mad.

Quote: Godot Taxis @ September 14 2010, 1:16 AM BST

This is why Extras stops being a comedy about an extra who wants a line in a show and becomes a comedy about a man who's suddenly written a comedy series.

There's no solution, the best writing is always done by outsiders.

View original

But Gervais wasn't exactly an outsider when he wrote the first series of Extras was he? Bearing in mind that whole Office thing. Am I clutching at straws? Probably.

Quote: Jebsly @ September 13 2010, 11:46 PM BST

I think being shut away alone certainly diminishes the whole spontaneous EUREKA!! kind of ideas, but you can still come up with some good stuff pretty easily if you put your mind to it.

View original

You seem like a totally tubular hepcat. Perhaps I could come to one of your groovy parties, whereupon you could twist my melon, daddio!

God I'm even getting my cultural references mixed up now.

Marc P does all right and he's never lived in the real world.

Finally some sense from the Chip.

I think there's definitely some truth to it. A little while ago I went to small gathering, the first time in a long time, and I had three ideas in one night, even went and hid to make some notes so I didn't forget.

You can always just loiter in public places I suppose but I do think being around people does help.

View it as a normal job....i.e. 9-5, Sat/Sun off; then get a social life outside those hours

Well stop at five anyway.

I'm starting to experience a little of this. More and more I find myself plundering notes I made during my twenties for ideas rather than drawing from new experience. I think that's only natural though; your twenties (for most) are a carefree period where you get to socialise with lots of people and enjoy a wealth of misadventures. Basic building blocks for comedy. Then your thirties arrive and things change. No more jumping in the back of a van at the drop of a hat to go to some rave on the Sussex Downs. No more three month road trips across the US. No more picking up sticks and moving to South Africa to study wood carving. Not when you've got a mortgage to pay and a partner at home.

I spend my days writing comedy (I'm lucky that no-one at my office seems to mind). I also spend my evenings/weekends doing stand up and shooting sketches. You might think that'd help generate new ideas and fuel my writing. It doesn't. I've found the only thing that helps me combat the fatigue is to take in things that are outside the remit of comedy. Things that involve concentration but aren't about laughs (at least not on the surface). When I'm engaging in something like that, and not deliberately trying to root out the funny, I find new ideas begin forming right away.

A few things I've tried that have helped...

Reading non-fiction:
Marine Biology, Astrophysics, an Autobiography, doesn't really matter - just engage with a subject you enjoy.

Excercise:
I know it sounds trite but you really can't fault it. Getting those endorphins swimming makes all the difference. It's too easy to fall into a mental slump when you're sat in a chair all day. Go for a run. Do some star jumps. Eat some fish - what the f**k do I know?

Taking a class:
I did a drama class a while back that not only taught me the basics of a skill I can use for comedy but was also a good way to meet new people, hear new stories and share experiences I might have otherwise forgotten about. If it's something that's intimidating, all the better - getting outside your comfort zone will energize you and get some new neurons firing.

I guess what I'm saying is, reach for the stars!!!

I'm not sure how much of my real life I plunder when I'm writing. I suppose I must do, but I can only recall one occasion for definite where someone told me an anecdote and I turned it into an actual sketch.

Quote: Lee Henman @ September 13 2010, 11:28 PM BST

Anyway, I suppose my questions are, what're your thoughts on the subject of a writer's isolation and how it affects creativity? How can it be resolved? Or is it simply a writer's job to look inside him/herself in the absence of external inspiration, and come up with the goods regardless? Am I a big fat smelly Billy No Mates?

I suspect the fact that I'm posting this question to strangers on an internet forum speaks volumes.

View original

Can't you go for a bus or train ride every so often and just listen to what other people talk about?

The bus or train idea is a good one.

Families can be a source of inspiration. I tend to pop top the shops alot, even just to browse; if you seem up for it shopkeepers will often chat in quieter places. You can also go and write elsewhere; the pub, coffee shop or library, if you feel you're going mad at home.

It's not rocket science - get off your arse and get out in the real world a bit more!