Writing Material...the creative process.

[Chad]

[QUOTE=Frisbee;53486]It is funny to see this post get resurrected. I posted this apparently back in Dec. of 2000. and only now everyone decided to respond to my question???
QUOTE]

I actually resurrected this thread in hopes that someone could tell me if my hat line was original or not. I didn't want to start a new thread since I found one (after some searching) that already worked...call it the forum-geek in me

But, I still don't have the answer! No biggie, I can't claim that I've never used a stock line before...was just hoping that my memory was correct on this particular line.

[Steven Ragatz]

Your line may be original is the sense that you wrote it, but it is an obvious train of thought, so there are going to be many who wrote the same line.

The version I wrote was "If you enjoyed my show, put five dollars in my hat. If you didn't enjoy my show, put five dollars in my hat anyway, there's no reason both of us should have to go home pissed!"

If you're going to write material based on the same premise as someone else, then your going to find major similarities even if you didn't think you directly copied from them.

Steven Ragatz

[Stretch]

I find that "things come to me" after changes in routine. Either more sleep, or less sleep. After a busy weekend, or after a lazy weekend. After a great deal of physical exersize is another example. Often after an emotional high, combined with one of the above changes in routine. Not unusual to wake up at 2 or 3 in the morning with an insight. Writing columns of words, then connecting random words can also work well to spark the creative juices. These are all actions you can take, hope it helps. Cheers!

[Isabella]

On the hat line thought - a lot of people do one about "If you enjoyed my show, put $ in the hat, if you hated it, write your complaint on the back of a $$ bill"

[solrak29]

Its great to resurect such threads as such things change with the times.
Where other things are timeless and do not change. But here you have
people come and provide some insights that perhaps were not throught of
years ago. Or simply you didn't have the number of performers on this site
or consider the thought. There could be a million reasons.


I like this thread as it comes into my mind many times on writing material;
especially comedic material. A lot of folks copy (I used same and true lines
myself), but I think we all try for originality. But even then if you come up
with a really good line/script; I'm sure someone will copy it. So any tips for
that is great.


With that said, I used a lot of different hat lines, but there are not a lot of
guys in my area. But if I were to perform in an area where there is a lot of
performers and they are using stock lines; I would like to be original and have
my own lines ready; to be different. Or should one just stick to stock lines
in this situation?

With all that said, I script my show and rescript it continually for many
reasons. One is to document my creative process and see how my show has
evolved. Another, is to spark the creative process. I also keep something on
me at all times for ideas that pop up out of no where.

[bikerbusk]

New bit I write subject or theme in middle of board , and then with lines branch off from that makeing spider web that all related to first part , then I just try to work out story line for the comedy, magic & story .... It's my process in new bits..