Blogs

(Editor's Note: Author and blogger Stacey Gustafson offers quotable quotes from the 2016 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop.)

Alan Zweibel

• "A lot of comedy comes from the same place pain comes from."

• "Fun doesn't happen until it's ready to be seen by others."

• "Once you write something, it's in the hands of a different god."

• His comment to Roger Ebert after his terrible review of North, "Roger, I just have to tell you that I hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate your sweater."

• "What I remember (about North) is the process, how I felt doing it."

• "It's important the we (writers) all get together."

• "Success is a different animal. The victory is important."

• "It's important to get together with writers and share experiences."

• "I love short stories."

• "Adrenaline kicks in for deadlines."

Cathryn Michon

• "Our people are just a hashtag away."

• "Women don't always feel comfortable about their bodies."

• "If you have an idea people really want to talk about, you have the power."

• "What does an independent book store need? Loyalty."

• "The way you make impossible stuff happen, like books, blogs, is your core belief that this is something that needs to be out there."

• "I spend everyday not to be an insecure person…I'm passionate about that."

• "Creating the work is the most important thing."

• "Making short video content to support longer projects is a good idea."

• "We have the power to capture moments now."

• "Grow your audience by listening and responding."

• "The goal is trying to be the most authentic."

• "In the niches are the riches."

Joel Madison

• "The writers' room is like a high school locker room."

• "Comedy is aggressive. It doesn't attract women."

• "Sarcasm doesn't read. It only works orally."

• "Every line must serve story, character."

Wendy Liebman

• "Took me 10 years to get comfortable on stage."

• "You only have control over you."

• "Write everything down; write every day."

• "Perform as much as humanly possible."

• "You need an audience. They help you shape yourself."

• "Get on stage as much as possible. Try a new joke each time."

• "Make it known that you want to perform."

• "Surround yourself with people who believe in your talent."

Leighann Lord

• "Networking is critical. Talk to other comedians. Be ready for those opportunities."

• "Generate content everyday. Twitter, Instagram…"

• "Prepare to be flexible."

• "What if I forget (my lines)? Acknowledge it. Trust yourself. Your brain is going to give you something."

Kathy Kinney

• "Make your own opportunities. Improv skills will help you in every area of your life."

• "Find your voice."

• "Even your own family likes you better when you're on TV."

• "Say yes to everything."

Judy Carter

• "Suck up. Find someone with a similar audience."

• "Do material based on an audience."

• "Be able to have a group that can relate to you."

• "Form a relationship with your fan base."

• "Stand-up is not about being perfect. You must be present. Let the audience in. Audience wants to see you be present."

Jenny Lawson

• "Worst criticism is inside your own head."

• "Awkwardness brings us all together."

• "Success looks different to every single person."

• "I must be the biggest butt of the joke (in my stories)."

- Stacey Gustafson

Stacey Gustafson is an Amazon bestselling author, humor columnist and blogger who has experienced the horrors of being trapped inside a pair of SPANX. Her book, Are You Kidding Me? My Life With an Extremely Loud Family, Bathroom Calamities, and Crazy Relatives ranked #1 Amazon Best Seller in Parenting & Family Humor and Motherhood. Her short stories have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul and seven books in the Not Your Mother's Book series. Her work appears in Midlife Boulevard, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop and Better After 50. She was named EBWW's Humor Writer of the Month. Enjoy her blog, Are You Kidding Me? at StaceyGustafson.com or follow on Twitter @RUKiddingStacey.