Ian Edwards' comedy career started telling jokes during his Burger King drive-thru shifts. Since then he has become a comedy powerhouse writing on shows ranging from SNL to Blackish and 2 Broke Girls. He most recently released his first Comedy Central Special, “Ideas Not Worth Spreading” on July 12th and sat down with Hot Breath! Podcast to share all the secrets to his prolific writing style. These are my top 10 favorite tips from that episode.
1. If they laugh, write it down
If you say something funny in conversation and it gets laughter, then it's funny. Write it down and expand on it later. Do not waste an idea.
2. Audience awareness is not pandering
Ian uses the example of "Squirting jokes might not work in front of a grey haired crowd in the laugh factory in Atlantic City." Have jokes written and ready in your armory for every audience.
3. You can turn a one liner into a story
Every one liner can be expanded. It can be turned into a story with a beginning, middle and end. Make the story personal. what do I think about this topic? How do I feel about the people? This process requires work, research and patience. (See Ian’s Shark Attack Bit)
4. Practice in everyday life
Stand in front of the mirror, sit down and write, type and have real conversations. The art of misdirection can be performed in everyday tasks such as replying to a text from buddy 12 hours after they say “good morning”.
5. Focus on fine details
Pick a single word from a sentence, research it, write more about that word and explore it in front of a crowd. Take them far from where they assumed they were going.
6. Research, Write, Repeat
Research your topic. Research the people, the places and the events. Write everything you know on that topic, keep digging until the topic is exhausted! When you have found out as much as you can write whatever comes out of your head. Something usable will form.
7. A year of tags
Write one funny thing or one tag every day for a year. You'll have 365 tags to play with/added to your bits. Doesn’t have to be killer material, in 365 days you’ll have a lot to work with.
8. Honesty is key
Spending time with Bill Burr and Patrice O'Neill, Ian learned that the best comedy comes from being honesty. Incorporate honesty into your writing.
The following have nothing to do with writing. They struck a chord with me on a personal level when I heard Ian speak so passionately.
9. Fun before money
Ian slept in a car in a 24 hour parking lot in NYC for 3 months. But he was having fun. To Ian, having fun is more important than money. Ian got into comedy to enjoy life, have fun and laugh with friends, not for financial gain.
10. Trust your instincts
Meeting with potential deal breaking industry personnel might sound life changing but if it doesn’t feel right and you’re in a position to be able deny opportunity on your instinct, trust yourself and do what’s best for you.
A Refreshing and Inspirational Comic
There are many tips and techniques shared in this episode. Ian doesn’t hold back in dishing out some of the tools of the trade and one can take a lot of inspiration from this episode, I know I did. I paused the episode at least every 90 seconds to scribble down useful tips. But for every tip or trick Ian divulges it all circles around doing the writing. Whatever way you get ideas on the page, or the screen, play with them and keep pushing. As Ian says himself, a bit is never done until it’s recorded for a special. So I hope after listening you’re as inspired as I am to keep writing, keep digging for new tags, new ideas and new material to bring to the stage and as result bring joy and laughter to those who are in front of you!
Written by: Kieran Hyland
Comic/Writer - Ireland
