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

Send us Fan MailNo 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.Get our FREE minicourse Developing a Writing Process, Practice, and Schedule!Join We Create Daily, powered by Patreon, our hub for bonus content, exclusives, discounts, and more resources to support your craft and career.Follow us on Instagram.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 weekHOW WE CREATE RecommendationsFelicia: HGTV’s Mediterranean LifeDria: Financing webinar by Mara McCann to support HONEY CHILE’s programming goalsGeorgette: Inspired by all the Black women getting their flowers during this past award seasonRochée: Cord Jefferson’s Oscar winning speech for his directorial film debut, American FictionLIKE WHAT YOU’VE HEARD? Please rate, subscribe, review, and tell a friend. The reviews really help our podcast reach other storytellers like yourself and be more discoverable across platforms.TAP INSign up for The Opportunity Roundup, our free, signature newsletter.Join We Create Daily, powered by Patreon, our hub for bonus content, exclusives, discounts, and more resources to support your craft and career.If you need help getting back into your creative practice, grab your copy of The Creative Comeback Workbook & Journal.And check out The Lab, our hub for courses and workshops.PRODUCTION CREDITSThis podcast is a production of The Create D