The Strategy Behind My Return to Standup

Check out the video and see how I did! 🙊

Hey Bleeders!

Even though I’d been writing comedy since 2011, my fascination with standup wasn’t enough to get me on the stage myself. I didn’t have the balls for it, to be honest. What I did have was a million excuses.

I felt like I was already too old (ridiculous). I used to be an actor, and it felt weird to break the fourth wall (now I prefer it). My ex was a comic, and I didn’t want to invade his territory after our breakup (whatever).

I’m so glad I got over myself because now it feels f*cking amazing to have a whole room of people laugh at my jokes. There’s even a perverse delight in bombing. I literally can’t wait to get back on stage.

But I took a looooong break from standup during the pandemic, and I didn’t want to flub my first show back. In today’s post, I’m going to tell you my exact process for going from completely out of practice to one of the best sets of the night in basically one week.

Check out the video and see how I did! 🙊

Below the paywall, get the full essay with audio clips from my sets where you can literally hear me get better.

All paid subscribers will also get access to forthcoming can’t-miss content, like:

• A reflection on the first semester of my MFA and my thoughts on MFAs in general

• My new Behind the Byline series, where I explain how I nabbed some of my best publications

• The essay I had to pitch 28 times before getting it published and what I learned in the process

• My free workshop in late December to help writers prepare and set goals for 2025 (with a little manifestation thrown in; we love to see it! 🪄)

I’d love to have you join me for all of it! Consider it your holiday gift to yourself… and also to me <3

(Also, now’s the perfect time because there are 62 hours left in my Cyber Monday sale.)