Becoming A More Compelling Writer With Comedy
I’m all hopped up on *comedy*.
My Kindle is filled with as many books written by female comedians that I could find, and…
Here’s why THIS matters if you’re interested in becoming a more compelling writer.
A good mastermind friend once told me that copywriters could hone their craft by studying standup comedy.
There's a very simple reason why:
Comedy is the most brutally honest and creative observer of the human experience.
Read Samantha Irby’s books and you will know so much more about IBS, racism, impostor syndrome, bad dates and television.
Read Mindy Kaling’s books and you will understand what it takes to stand out, beat the odds, and thrive at the top of your game amidst loneliness and rejection.
Read Amy Poehler’s book and you will empathize with messy divorces, living broke in New York City, working on SNL while pregnant and how the universe brings the right people into your life.
And the laughs? They're just bonuses.
Comedians have always shown the world that:
We have more struggles in common than we think.
No one gets it right the first time.
Expressing yourself is vulnerable and freaks everyone out.
Writing is no different.
So, if you’re feeling stumped lately and you're looking for inspiration to write so that….
Your audience connects deeply with you
You can share a part of you that’s polarizing
You can tie in pop culture and everyday moments into a compelling story
Ditch the biz books, the sad memoirs and the tough TV shows for a while and take a leaf out of one of these books (they're in the P.S. of this post).
You'll see how you can turn *any* mundane moment into an engaging story.
You'll start to spot the opportunities to write about that you never considered before.
You'll get a refresher on what it means to write in a voice that *everyone* can relate to on a very human level.
And gosh, if you can laugh your tail off while you're at it, I can't think of a reason NOT to read the funny stuff.
I started this binge because it’s been a rough start to the year for, well, everyone.
I’ve heard from multiple people in the last week that they've lost loved ones, fallen sick, had a rocky few months in business, and it feels like collectively, we're treating February as the new January.
THIS ^ is the most challenging place to find the energy, drive and creativity to birth new work, offers or words. And as entrepreneurs, that's what we're here to do!
As a copywriter and new mother who’s trying to piece her brain back together *without* getting bogged down by the constant headlines of the world and dodge each variant like I'm playing minefield, I get it.
(I’m a new-ish coffee drinker now as a result, thanks to my husband who is a pretty rad at-home barista and knows I need the brain fuel more now than ever before.)
Consider this reading strategy a pick-me-up for your heart and head, and a path to find your way back to writing from a space of lightness.
The world is heavy enough.
We need YOU to show up as you are, and if it’s currently hiding behind a blanket of blah, this is an invitation to shake it off for a bit. Take it if you need it…
… And feel free to stay cozy in your blanket burrito if you need to.
You do you. 😘
P.S. Here’s the exact list of books that have filled me with good vibes over the last two months:
Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby
Meaty by Samantha Irby
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Will by Will Smith
Happy reading. 😘