Man...I've been down in the dumps, creative-wise, lately. Here, for my edification and yours, is my self-written, very handy tool: WHY NOVELIZING AND IMPROVISING ARE NOT ALIKE!
Improv:
1) Instant gratification! It's a finished product in 20-60 minutes. It takes more time to get glasses at Lenscrafters.
Novel:
1) Been working on the same thing for a year. Most other novelists go longer. I think it's done, but is it ever really done?
Improv:
2) Performed in front of an audience! Instant feedback! Clapping! People telling you what they liked about it.
Novel:
2) "Hi, I wrote this. Please read it and tell me what sucks so I can change it."
Improv:
3) Finite. Cannot go back and change things after it's done.
Novel:
3) Like I said: is it ever REALLY done?
Improv:
4) Me: "Hey, I do improv! With a troupe!"
Other person: "Awesome! Can I come see one of your shows?"
Me: "Yes!"
Novel:
4) Me: "Hey, I wrote a novel!"
Other person: "Awesome! Is it published?"
Me: "No."
Other person: "Oh."
(shift to awkwardness)
Improv:
5) Done with other people! It's social! It builds fellowship! You make friends this way! There are parties!
Novel:
5) Alone. Lonely. The barren landscape of your own damaged soul. All. Freaking. Day.
Improv:
6) A lot of glory through small effort*.
Novel:
6) No glory and a shitload of effort.
In spite of all this, I am trying to work through my Sylvia Period and really do love my novel(s). Philip Horvath is getting so ridiculous and Carol is turning into a huge bully (out of insecurity, of course). I love them.
*I'm not saying that there is no effort put forth in improv. Quite the contrary. For me, though, writing the novel has been a Sisyphean task compared to what I've done in my improv life. A lot of the time I feel like a retard telling people that I've written a novel (like that automatically makes me some kind of hack), but not when I say I'm an improviser.
Boo hoo, tell it to your therapist, Mo.
Posted by Zerd at September 26, 2007 11:03 AM