Contents of my new blog series: Stand-up Comedy in 25 Lessons

I was going to publish this material as an e-book (hence the snazzy cover above). But then I landed a proper book deal: namely, A Director’s Guide to the Art of Stand-up. So I thought I'd give away this material for free here on my blog.

This text has grown out of notes I write for students on my highly-regarded stand-up course in Soho, London that I’ve run for over fifteen years now. (I also now run occasional courses in Stroud and also online). Details of the next available courses can always be found here. (Plus I have also since written Creating Comedy Narratives for Stage & Screen.)

STAND-UP COMEDY IN 25 LESSONS LESSON 1: WRITING DOES NOT MEAN WRITING LESSON 2: THE WRITING PROCESS LESSON 3: REMEMBERING IT ALL LESSON 4: THE IMPORTANCE OF RE-WRITING LESSON 5: WRITE SOMETHING SPECIFIC FOR THE GIG LESSON 6: STARTING YOUR SET LESSON 7: SET-UP / PAYOFF LESSON 8: MISDIRECTION LESSON 9: USING SOCIAL GAGS IN STAND-UP LESSON 10: TURNING TRUE STORIES INTO STAND-UP LESSON 11: WRITING ONE-LINERS LESSON 12: TIMING LESSON 13: QUESTIONS TO SPARK IDEAS LESSON 14: TRANSPOSITIONS LESSON 15: BATHOS (BIG / SMALL)

LESSON 16: PERSONIFICATION LESSON 17: RULE-OF-THREE, CALL-BACKS & ANACHRONISMS

LESSON 18: COMIC ANALOGIES

LESSON 19: ANALYSING SEINFELD'S CAB DRIVERS ROUTINE LESSON 20: PERSONA & IMPROV

LESSON 21: WRITING & IMPROV

LESSON 22: THOUGHTS FROM A NEWER ACT AND A PRO (ON MATERIAL, GIGS AND SHOWS)

LESSON 23: DEALING WITH HECKLING

LESSON 24: COMPERING LESSON 25: ENDINGS & DEATHS