Maybe you had some trouble getting started, but now you're beginning to generate material.

Or maybe you're a natural generator, or even an over-producer, and you have too much material.

Is it all even part of the same project? Maybe it’s several different projects?

Congratulations, you've just hit Hurdle #2: defining the parameters of your writing project.
 
If your problem is: “I can’t choose between several possible projects”...

There are several hurdles that almost every writer has to get past in almost every writing project; scripts, books, plays, or even a substantial essay or article.

As a writing coach I've helped many writers and talented would-be writers get over – or around – these hurdles. I've also written over a dozen scripts myself – plus many projects that never got finished because of one or more of these stumbling blocks.

Webster's defines a 'hurdle' as: “an artificial barrier over which racers must leap”. I think the key here is remembering they're artificial blocks, usually psychological, and they're almost always put in your way by you. Of course, they seem - and act - pretty real.

HURDLE #1: GETTING STARTED

You might be one of the lucky ones who has no trouble here. If so you've probably gotten started on way too many projects. If you’re one of those people, you can skip directly to the second hurdle. But if you’re having trouble getting going it’s probably due to one of the following reasons:

“I’m too busy with other things!” aka “I can’t find the time!”

Solution #1:

We're offering a special 2-week session of The Comedian's Way Workshop - A Creative Path for Writers, Performers and Other Creatives.

Get your creativity on track for one-person shows, standup, essays, memoir, blogs, etc. Get comfortable speaking in public, face your fear of being onstage and/or process major life changes. Learn how to tell your story for business or pleasure.

Wednesdays, Jan. 20 & 27, 7-10pm at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center, 1125 N. McCadden Place in Hollywood (1 bl. East of Highland, 1/2 block North of Santa Monica). Only $79 for both classes! Register now. (No audits at the Center, but audit class this Sunday at M-Bar, 1253 N. Vine St., 1-4pm - only $10.)

If you've been having trouble scheduling our regular Sunday classes, or need more gay in your life, take this oppotunity to work with comedy gurus Beth Lapides & Greg Miller.

More info and registration for Wednesday classes

More info about Beth & Greg and the Comedian's Way workshop

Greenlight yourself. Face your fears. Wrestle your demons. Buckle down. Buck up. Use whatever metaphor you like to get serious about your creativity. If not now, when?

SUNDAYS, JANUARY 10, 17, 24, 31, FEBRUARY 7, 21, 28 1-4pm at M-Bar, 1253 N. Vine 90038

Single classes $60
Any 2 classes $110
Any 4 classes $200

SUPER SPECIAL HOLIDAY SALE - Commit to your creativity and get any 10 classes for $400 or any 30 classes for $1000 (that's just $33 each!).

See full-size video on youtube

"FUNNY & MIND-EXPANDING!"
LA Weekly

Beth weaves story, home-spun philosophy and big ideas into an unforgettable evening of inspirational comedy.

BETH NOT METH!!

The LA Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center Presents:

"100% HAPPY 88% OF THE TIME"
One night only
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 at 8 PM
The Renberg Theatre
1125 N. McCadden Place
Hollywood 90038

Net Proceeds Benefit The LA Gay and Lesbian Center's Baby Dragon Fund for Meth Counseling and Mental Health. Tickets only $20. Reservations 323-860-7300 or click here for tickets

Apparently everyone is doing 50% year-end sales. Well, that's a bandwagon we can jump on - and do them one better!

Click here for all sale items including over 40% off workshop classes and over 60% off the mind-opening Writers Room audio series, plus steep discounts on license plate frames and more!

Naughty, nice or jewish - this is a great chance to stock up or snag that creative tool you've been eyeing.

Prices only guaranteed until the end of the year.

David Cross was one of the first wave of performers to work at the Un-Cabaret, also one of the most honest and darkest. The stories about his father that he refers to below are one reason why we started doing theme shows.

In our first year, we happened to book a show that happened to fall on Father's Day, and happened to feature David, Bob Odenkirk and Dana Gould all of whom had... let's call them 'strained' relationships with their dads.

What followed was so disturbingly scathingly funny that it scarred several audience members for life - one had unwittingly brought his father for a night of fun comedy - and made us realize that we had to harness that energy consciously in theme nights like 'Daddy Dearest', 'It's a Mutha', 'Bleeding Hearts' (Valentine's Day), etc.

David, who with Bob Odenkirk, wrote and starred in Mr. Show, has become emblemmatic of a transgressive no-holds-barred style of alternative comedy. He was recently interviewed by Todd Jackson of the excellent comedy blog Dead Frog and was originally posted here. It went a little something like this...

There's still plenty of time to get your creative work on track before the end of the year. There are 2 more classes of The Comedian's Way Workshop in December. Get onstage at M-Bar in Hollywood where you can work on your shows, performance, pitches, patter - or change your patterning.

Work with comedy guru Beth Lapides and me to supercharge your creativity. Or give a really meaningful gift to a creative friend!

SUNDAYS, DECEMBER 6 & 13, JANUARY 10, 17, 24, 31, FEBRUARY 7, 21, 28 1-4pm at M-Bar, 1253 N. Vine 90038

Single classes $60
Any 2 classes $110
Any 4 classes $200

SUPER SPECIAL HOLIDAY SALE - Only guaranteed until the end of 2009. Commit to your creativity and get any 10 classes for $400 or any 30 classes for $1000 (that's just $33 each!).

The Comedian's Way workshop for Writers, Performers & Other Humans is the place to develop your authentic voice and deepest material for one-person shows, personal essays, books, scripts, blogs, or just to have a better attitude about life.

There are written descriptions of the workshop on Beth's site and also here on the Un-Cabaret website, but here's a pretty coherent and entertaining video description of what exactly happens and what you can expect from the workshop.