"Chaos is a ladder" - Littlefinger, sketch writing genius
Thanks so much for that pop structure comparison. Being able to view this through such a familiar lens clicked a whole bunch of things into place all at once.
The "too good to omit" line gives me pause. On the one hand, the famous writing advice of "kill your darlings" comes to mind, but on the other hand given how short sketches are a thing that's too good to not include is probably worth morphing more of the sketch around it than with other kinds of writing. Any advice on how to tell the difference between "Wait, no, this is perfect, it must go into the sketch" and "what we have here is a hilarious joke for a different sketch"?
The "too good to omit" is specifically referring to when I'm writing without an outline. If you're just pulling beats in from an unorganized brainstorm document it can be pretty easy to accidentally leave out something that totally belongs, so it's good to check your sheet to make sure you're not leaving stuff on the table.
"Kill your darlings" comes into play when a good joke doesn't fit into the script. A joke that doesn't belong in the overall piece because it screws with the pacing or isn't on game.
When in doubt, I always include a questionable joke in my rough draft and see how it feels when read aloud and what kind of reaction it gets. If it's unclear I'll ask people directly: does this belong here or is it out of place? Usually you can tell when something doesn't belong. It's not about identifying it, it's about mustering up the will to kill it.
So, other than the obvious (3 people identify it is out of place), how can you identify what isn't working?
I find myself agonizing over something being off without identifying it until I step back and then a week or two later I see it clearly as if I always knew....
This way is fine for me writing a sketch every month or two, or while I'm drafting a book, but it feels too slow for consistent creation.
Does it just get easier/faster with time?
I'm also afraid of becoming numb to my writing faults and thinking my work is better than it is.
I'm recently subscribed and catching up on all the posts - but I love giving yourself 15 minutes-1 hour for brainstorming. I'm sure this is obvious to most people, but I rush through my brain storming sessions, and I think if I actually put on a timer, it will hold me accountable to keep thinking no matter what. I'm very impatient when it comes to ideas, so I appreciate the practical advice :)
I'm glad it helps. I think it's also helpful for people who feel like they AREN'T ready to jump right. Just giving yourself permission to take time to plan can reveal a ton of new, surprising thoughts
"Chaos is a ladder" - Littlefinger, sketch writing genius
Thanks so much for that pop structure comparison. Being able to view this through such a familiar lens clicked a whole bunch of things into place all at once.
Nothing I love more than hearing "a bunch of things clicked into place"
*cue Zelda puzzle solved sound effect
The "too good to omit" line gives me pause. On the one hand, the famous writing advice of "kill your darlings" comes to mind, but on the other hand given how short sketches are a thing that's too good to not include is probably worth morphing more of the sketch around it than with other kinds of writing. Any advice on how to tell the difference between "Wait, no, this is perfect, it must go into the sketch" and "what we have here is a hilarious joke for a different sketch"?
The "too good to omit" is specifically referring to when I'm writing without an outline. If you're just pulling beats in from an unorganized brainstorm document it can be pretty easy to accidentally leave out something that totally belongs, so it's good to check your sheet to make sure you're not leaving stuff on the table.
"Kill your darlings" comes into play when a good joke doesn't fit into the script. A joke that doesn't belong in the overall piece because it screws with the pacing or isn't on game.
When in doubt, I always include a questionable joke in my rough draft and see how it feels when read aloud and what kind of reaction it gets. If it's unclear I'll ask people directly: does this belong here or is it out of place? Usually you can tell when something doesn't belong. It's not about identifying it, it's about mustering up the will to kill it.
So, other than the obvious (3 people identify it is out of place), how can you identify what isn't working?
I find myself agonizing over something being off without identifying it until I step back and then a week or two later I see it clearly as if I always knew....
This way is fine for me writing a sketch every month or two, or while I'm drafting a book, but it feels too slow for consistent creation.
Does it just get easier/faster with time?
I'm also afraid of becoming numb to my writing faults and thinking my work is better than it is.
I'm recently subscribed and catching up on all the posts - but I love giving yourself 15 minutes-1 hour for brainstorming. I'm sure this is obvious to most people, but I rush through my brain storming sessions, and I think if I actually put on a timer, it will hold me accountable to keep thinking no matter what. I'm very impatient when it comes to ideas, so I appreciate the practical advice :)
I'm glad it helps. I think it's also helpful for people who feel like they AREN'T ready to jump right. Just giving yourself permission to take time to plan can reveal a ton of new, surprising thoughts