Get it into your body →
I really like this short piece by Kevin Mullaney. He’s talking about improv, but I think it applies equally to standup, writing, or any other creative pursuit that can feel difficult, uncomfortable, and just plain wrong the first few times we try it:
I’m learning to play guitar. It is a tough, slow process. […] The first time I try a chord on the guitar, it may physically hurt. It feels awkward. My fingers can’t make that shape. And if they can make that shape, I might take an inordinate amount of time to switch from that chord to any other. So should I give up? Should I say, “G7 chords don’t work for me. I only play E and D chords.” Of course not.
And neither should we as improvisors. We should be willing to practice new exercises many times before we even judge it to be useful. And we should recognize that we may have to do it again and again across many practice sessions, before the skill becomes second nature. Eventually it gets into our body and becomes a process that we do subconsciously. It will then be as easy as saying a phrase or singing a melody, or playing a D chord.
