It can be daunting complete something large. (long form improv, a novel, heck even a short improv) Like the saying goes: How do you eat an elephant? One small bite at a time. With larger projects consider each small moment a small story in and of itself. The basic plot of any story I can … Read more
I don’t have much reason to believe I know what I’m talking about when it comes to writing. However, almost a year ago now a friend of mine (Dan Van Dellen .. not to name drop or anything) asked me for some advice on writing a novel. I sent him this e-mail. Today, while cleaning … Read more
There’s a lot of pressure to “be funny” when doing improv. Especially if you’re performing on a stage, with lights and a paying audience. People paid real money to see some funny, so you’d better be funny. That’s a lot of pressure. Unfortunately, this pressure makes us not act like normal humans. The term … Read more
I’ve been performing improvisational comedy for more than 25 years. Only recently I’ve noticed something about getting suggestions from an audience. Here’s the theory; when we’re put on the spot, it’s frightening. Not scary like being attacked by a lion, but there’s the feeling that everyone is looking at you. That you’re suddently the center … Read more
Well, not quite. A little more than 20 years… missed it by a couple weeks. Anyway, way back in February of 1995 a recent graduate of St. Norbert College (that’s me!) had his first full length play produced. The original title was “Dill”. I believe this is also the first full length directing job by … Read more
Hey there. You know how it’s difficult for you to create something. You know, Art of some kind. How it’s difficult to come up with a concept that’s exciting to you, then to teach yourself the skills of whatever craft you’re working for. Then overcoming the self-doubt that whatever you’re going to create. Then actually … Read more
One of the best things about being a writer is quoting yourself. If done right, and people recognize it as a some sort of quote but don’t know it was you who originated it, you’ll seem brilliant. You can’t quote it wrong because you wrote it. If anything you just did a quick re-edit of … Read more
Here’s another in the series of “Bad Stories for Bad Children”. After you read it, I’ll let you know what the original title was, if you’d like to know. Let me know if I made the right choice. “The Carpet was Hungry” I wish there was a way to over-come the crippling loneliness of winter … Read more
About 3 1/2 years ago a couple things happened simultaneously. I turned 40 and my girlfriend of 3 years broke up with me. Guess which one hurt more? The break-up still haunts me to this day. Every other previous relationship I’d had either broke up because I did something stupid and/or detrimental, or I had … Read more