Quote: Jinky @ May 28 2013, 12:21 AM BSTYeah, keep writing is important but 'getting it out in front of an audience' can be a real eye opener.
I've seen audiences laugh harder at my stage directions than the words themselves.
It really makes you think.
I agree with that Jinky
For me doing a vague bit of drama & stand up once or twice definitely helped with the way I thought about rhythm & timing as well as the kind of things that might get a laugh despite not seeming that funny on a page.
Quote: Jennie @ May 27 2013, 5:02 PM BSTTo the moment you decided you wanted to write, what advice would you give?
I realised I wanted to write in Debenhams in Portsmouth, December 2010. I didn't actually write anything until February 2013.
Those hazy, lazy days of February 2013...
Quote: Tim Azure @ May 28 2013, 9:10 AM BSTThose hazy, lazy days of February 2013...
But since Feb, I've finished a Sitcom (and put part of it in Critique) and started another. The quality isn't where I would want it to be yet, but it feels good to actually be doing something.
Be much more persistent! I tried my hand at comedy writing years ago, then stopped after the first couple of rejections and concentrated on cartooning. It's only fairly recently that I started writing again.
Some good answers in this thread. Without wanting to sound facetious, I think the one thing I'd tell myself would be "listen to advice". We got a lot of advice early on but ignored a lot of it (deliberately or otherwise). With hindsight, a lot of it sank in eventually, but we could have saved ourselves some time by putting it into action straight away.
Having said that, you probably learn better from the things you do wrong than the things you get right, so nothing quite beats "write, write, write" for advice.
Don't try to be Spike Milligan!
I was such a fan of his that I didn't read anything else comedy wise.
I also used to stay up to the small hours writing poetry very much in his vein (apart from the funny) such as my short book entitled, "Simple Poems for Simple Minds".
My late dad, who wanted me to be an auto-electrician tried to inspire me by saying things like, "Only poofs write poetry!".
But I knew I wanted to be a funny man, I just never found out how to be a funny man.
Until I discovered girls, who all thought I was funny.
Yet none laughed. 
I wasted such a long time wanting to be Spike that I didn't be me till far too late.
I'd firstly jump back to 2002. I'd tell my 18 year old self (and very enthusiastic comedy, horror, and sci fi writer) to keep it up properly, instead of writing bits here and there a couple of times a year, and only making serious attempts as of 2009 (a disillusioned 25 year old me who decided not writing was stupid and started writing again, a lot more).
I'd have probably had no significant success but I'd have had that extra 7 years of writing in my life/collection/portfolio.
That 18 year old inspired by Simon Pegg, Kevin Smith, and Joss Whedon, all excited about writing amidst plenty of bouts of mild-to-serious depression should have kept hold of that excitement about writing. The interim years may have been happier.
Mind you more seriously I'd have given myself a stern talking to about the diference between news revue and news jack. Also to be a lot less lazy as a standup and focus on my writing of my routine.
I'd tell myself that putting gags into a sketch might well make it less funny.
First piece of advice to myself? You're not as funny as you think, don't give up the day job 
Quote: Lazzard @ May 27 2013, 10:10 PM BSTPlus get one of those internet blockers that lets you work undisturbed.
You'll get more done in a straight hour than in three if you keep flipping back to this place (or worse!)
Chortle?