I tend to keep starting sketches then get stuck as it's not a very strong idea. But I do ofetn find I get a good one-liner or gag out of them which I save for use in another sketch somewhere else.
What happens when you just run out of ideas? Page 2
Quote: sootyj @ November 17 2008, 4:37 PM GMTWrite the bad as well as the good.
The bad may teach you more...
I'd agree with that when you first come to writing comedy, but when you've learnt what not to do, why bother writing something that isn't funny?
I don't know if I'm really qualified to give advice on this but I don't think you should worry. 10 sketches in one session seems like a lot to me. I first started writing about 6 months ago and while I haven't written a huge amount in that time I do think I have improved over time. Some days I can right a lot and then sometimes I don't write for weeks. I just wait for the inspiration. The 'Writing Comedy' book by John Byrne (I think) has advice on brain storming / mind mapping ideas which is quite useful. I don't think you will actually ever run out of ideas but it might just take a bit of time for the next idea to come along. I also find that writing for something specific is actually easier as it focuses your mind more.
Quote: Ben @ November 17 2008, 4:50 PM GMTI'd agree with that when you first come to writing comedy, but when you've learnt what not to do, why bother writing something that isn't funny?
Well because one should always be pushing boundries and stretching one's self.
I can't write decent 3 page sketches or songs.
But by trying I force my self to think and work harder.
Depending how you go about writing sketches, brainstorming or something like that seems to go against the 'spirit' of sketches almost.
not in everyone's case, but in mine the 'spirit' of a sketch is a single idea, played out in 100 seconds then it's gone. I think it's hard to engineer those ideas from nothing. Especially thinking 'I'm going to write a sketch now'.
Quote: Ben @ November 17 2008, 4:50 PM GMTI'd agree with that when you first come to writing comedy, but when you've learnt what not to do, why bother writing something that isn't funny?
Write all the shit out of your system, that takes a few years.
If I write something shit (oh, it DOES happen folks 
) I just look at myself in the mirror with revulsion.
Quote: Seefacts @ November 17 2008, 4:52 PM GMTDepending how you go about writing sketches, brainstorming or something like that seems to go against the 'spirit' of sketches almost.
I would agree, I just get an idea and knock it out.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ November 17 2008, 4:54 PM GMTI would agree, I just get an idea and knock it out.
Yeah - how do you write a sketch?
You see, in my eyes a perfect sketch is one idea. One note. And it's played out, and everything ounce of comedy comes from the premise.
A lot of sketches in Critique don't really have a central idea, but are just attempts at lots of funny lines. I personally don't think that sketches (well, ones that I write) should have 'dialogue' as such. Which is why I can't sit and write a sketch from blank*
*Okay, character sketches - something ace like Ted & Ralph - are a different kettle of fish.
Quote: Griff @ November 17 2008, 4:57 PM GMTStarting from a blank page or a blank screen is certainly not a good thing. As Mitchell and Webb put it in the comedy writing guide for the Guardian, "'Anything' isn't a brief, it's a mental wilderness".
I almost never sit down to write a sketch with no idea what I want to write. But if I do, I tend to think "What happened today that was funny? Did someone say something that made me laugh, or was there something weird I noticed while I was out and about?" and see if anything comes from that.
Without a doubt. And that's why worrying about idea is a bad thing, because you try and write from nothing and it makes things worse.
I am with Seefacts on this.
Conscious association of ideas does not work for me, I have to let my subconscious come up with the goods. Usually I think of a situation or a character, then keep that idea in the back of my head, until a funny line or image pops into my mind, then I construct the sketch around that.
Quote: Griff @ November 17 2008, 5:02 PM GMTI'm guessing you're not a big fan of writing for radio, then?
I've never tried it, but it's not really my thing I don't think.
I wouldn't mind doing a radio sitcom though, that's a different kettle of radio fish.
Quote: Seefacts @ November 17 2008, 5:00 PM GMTYeah - how do you write a sketch?
You see, in my eyes a perfect sketch is one idea. One note. And it's played out, and everything ounce of comedy comes from the premise.
A lot of sketches in Critique don't really have a central idea, but are just attempts at lots of funny lines.
There's a lot of truth in that. One clean idea, that's what you need.
If you are not writing to a commission you can do what the hell you like. Sit in the garden with a pot of earl grey tea and admire the babbling brook until inspiration strikes.
If you have a commission and a deadline to meet then I guess you do whatever it takes to get however much material you need ... done.
I can't remember where I heard it but I loved the line recently...
'Women wail. Men work.'
Quote: Matthew Stott @ November 17 2008, 5:08 PM GMTThere's a lot of truth in that. One clean idea, that's what you need.
Or better still, a really filthy one.
I agree that a sketch dshould evelop a single idea, but a skillfully handled digression can work. You can never be too prescriptive about these things.
I only write about once a month...usually during a full moon and after I've killed and eaten a Deer... But I digress.
So I get these doubts all the time as I don't have the self confidence that's built up from writing everyday. Thankfully within a day or two I'll get an idea from somewhere and usually I'll think it's the best idea I've ever had. It usually isn't 
Quote: Marc P @ November 17 2008, 5:21 PM GMTIf you have a commission and a deadline to meet then I guess you do whatever it takes to get however much material you need ... done.
Fleshing out an idea, yes that is about applying your butt to the chair and hitting the keys. But do you get your inspiration while consciously working?
My job involves problem solving, to deadlines, as I suppose do most. I usually solve those problems when I am doing something completely un-work related, like birdweatching, or taking a dump, or trying to get to sleep.
I tend to just stare at the blank page for a while, get annoyed and go watch TV. I then come back refreshed and do it all over again.
*shoots self*