1)        Words are more significant than people because words have meaning; whereas people are in constant search of meaning.

2)        A story begins as soon as the central character and the reader/viewer meet.

3)        Story is propelled by the desires of the characters, often indicated by action or dialog and best used when not apparent to the reader.

4)        Stand-up comedy material has the same 4 part structure as prose or script writing. 

>>Premise = Genre

>>Set-up = Opening scene

>>Punch-line = 2nd Act Crisis

>>Callback = 3rd act resolution

5) Blogs and articles are “pieces of your mind”; your observations; opposite of immutable truth.

6)   In stand-up, the comic is the central character; the audience the supporting character.

7)  Audiences want to see growth of central character, including the stand-up on stage.

8)   The Rule of Two: Indicating something random in the first act which repeats one time in the second act; the second time gives the first time meaning.  In stand-up, we call this the “call-back”.

9)    Good writing is unpredictable change of emotion.  Same applies to stand-up.

10)   First drafts are often shadows of the real story.  You may think you’re writing about the circus, but in fact you’re writing about the office.

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