Ep 6 - So You Want to Be a Comedy Writer?

The Creative Cut Up

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No shortage of laughs, Felicia, Dria, and Georgette cut up with our first ever guest, award-winning writer and stand up comedian, Rochée Jeffrey, as she walked us through her initial resistance to becoming a comedy writer, her fear of being funny on the page, and how she honed her comedic voice.
Rochée will also be teaching The Create Daily Lab’s multi-week class on comedy writing starting April 14. Learn more at https://www.thecreatedaily.com/crafting-comedy.
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A breakdown of our chat:
(00:06:12) What led Rochée to comedy writing
(00:08:20) How TV writing informed Rochée’s skills as a stand-up comedian
(00:10:16) The differences between drama writing rooms and comedy writing rooms
(00:12:13) The differences between writing comedy and writing drama
(00:14:30) Rochée’s fear of being funny on the page and working up the confidence to be funny in her NAACP Award winning scripted podcast, Yes We Cannabis
(00:16:16) How aspiring writers can find their comedic voice
(00:20:11) What development execs look for in comedy writers
(00:22:44) Tips on getting to the root of who you are and ways to bring that into your writing
(00:26:34) The importance of artists dealing with their trauma and living their lives boldly
(00:28:52) The value of people being able to see the connective tissue between you and your work
(00:29:24) Advice for emerging writers preparing for a career in writing comedy
(00:31:43) The benefits of improv classes and why all comedy writers should take them
(00:32:59) How Rochée stays grounded through the rejection and the challenges of the business
(00:34:45) Rochée’s upcoming class on comedy writing at The Create Daily Lab
(00:34:58) Our How We Create segment where Felicia, Dria, and Georgette share things inspiring them this week
HOW WE CREATE Recommendations
Felicia: HGTV’s Mediterranean Life
Dria: Financing webinar by Mara McCann to support HONEY CHILE’s programming goals
Georgette: Inspired by all the Black women getting their flowers during this past award season
Rochée: Cord Jefferson’s Oscar winning speech for his directorial film debut, American Fiction
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