Improve Your Blog with Improv Rules

Writing can be hard, because we say "no" to ourselves. Improv comedy teaches us to say "yes." Applying the rules of Improv to writing can yield great results.
Presented at WordCamp San Antonio 2016

Transcript

1. #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 1
2. #ImprovYourBlog @alanbush #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 2
3. Alan Bush • Nerd • Dad and Husband • Long-Time Improvisor • Content Creator #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 3
4. Technical Q&A Documentation Rackspace Blog #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 4
5. Rackspace Office Hours Podcast ohpodcast.com #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 5
6. #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 6
7. Beer reviews saflavor.com #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 7
8. ComedySportz San Antonio #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 8
9. Improv Your Blog #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 9
10. The Rules of Improv have shaped the way I approach content creation. — me, figuring out the thesis of this presentation #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 10
11. The hardest thing about writing is writing. — Nora Ephron #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 11
12. No. #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 12
13. Yes #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 13
14. How is Improv like Writing? • Spontaneous • Ephemeral • Made up • Collaborative • A process #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 14
15. Yes #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 15
16. #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 16
17. #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 17
18. Fall, and then figure out what to do on the way down. — Del Close #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 18
19. A ridiculously short1 history of improv 1 I'm only exploring improv in the western world, and I've completely left off Keith Johnstone, Jill Bernard, The Groundlings, UCB, or Trish Berrong - among others - but I'm up against a time limit here. #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 19
20. Viola Spolin (1906-1994) • Theatre games for children • "Everyone can act. Everyone can improvise.” • Improvisation for the Theater • Mother of Paul Sills #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 20
21. Paul Sills (1927-2008) • Compass Players (With David Shepherd) • Launched an entire generation of comedic actors • Co-Founded Second City • Story Theater #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 21
22. Del Close (1934-1999) • Performer and Director • Second City • ImprovOlympic • Truth in Comedy #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 22
23. Charna Halpern (1952- ) • Truth in Comedy • ImprovOlympic • The Harold #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 23
24. Yes, & #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 24
25. Improv Rule 1A: Say "Yes" #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 25
26. Improv Rule 1B: Add Something #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 26
27. Now you're improvising #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 27
28. The End #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 28
29. More Rules Tips #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 29
30. Be specific #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 30
31. What's special about today? #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 31
32. If this is true, what else is true? #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 32
33. Callbacks #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 33
34. Follow The Rules: Agreement • Say "Yes" to writing • There are no wrong ideas • Build on your ideas: "Yes, &" • Have Fun #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 34
35. Follow The Rules: Specificity • More detail, more insight • Readers appreciate detail • Summary is for Twitter #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 35
36. Follow The Rules: What's special about today? • What else is happening in the world? • How does that affect your content? • Follow the unique angle #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 36
37. Follow The Rules: "If this is true, what else is true?" • Find your angle • Spin off additional posts • Increase the amount of content you create #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 37
38. Follow The Rules: Callbacks • Reference your own work • Link to your past posts • Reward your long-time followers • Link to other people's work #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 38
39. The Rules of Improv • Yes, & • Be Specific • What'Special About Today? • If This Is True, What else? • Callbacks #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 39
40. Books about Improv • Improvisation for the Theater - Viola Spolin • Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre - Keith Johnstone • Truth in Comedy - Del Close & Charna Halpern • Improvise:Scene from the Inside Out - Mick Napier • Jill Bernard's Small Cute Book of Improv - Jill Bernard #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 40
41. Local Shows • ComedySportz • Alamo City Improv • The Denials • Missed Opportunity (All Female Cast) #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 41
42. Improv Classes • ComedySportz • Alamo City Improv • The Denials • Missed Opportunity #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 42
43. Questions • What did you learn? • What can I clear up? • How do you plan on applying it? • Find me afterward and chat #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 43
44. #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 44
45. Slides, Resource Guide, and Photo Credits available at albush.com/iyb #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 45
46. Photo Credits • Slide 11: flickr photo by Drew Coffman https://flickr.com/ photos/drewcoffman/4815205632 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license • Slide 18: flickr photo by trickmonet https://flickr.com/ photos/trickmonet/3401178634 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license • Slide 20: Photo from Viola Spolin official website: http:// www.violaspolin.org/bio/ #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 46
47. Photo Credits • Slide 21: Photo from spolin.org: http://spolin.com/? page_id=547 • Slide 22: Photo from Chicago Reader: http:// www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/as-del-lay-dying/Content? oid=1109931 • Slide 23: Photo from iO: http://ioimprov.com/chicago/ classes/instructors/ #ImprovYourBlog | #WCSATX | @alanbush 47