Wow! Your takeaways about how to apply improv in jazz to writing and editing is quite profound! It's one of those things when I read, I feel like I've never thought about it in this context, and then it feels so obvious. I really enjoyed it. I need to save to think about when I edit my own piece. It's interesting, I think so much of the rules of any kind of improv (musical, story telling, humor) is to create a common language and then from there, a safe space to experiment. When my sister and I do our podcast, we've applied a lot of improv rules to help our chemistry during the recording. We apply "no bad ideas in brainstorm" and "yes and" pretty heavily. We'll call each other out too if we "no but" each other. It's funny, in podcasting now, I can always hear if someone "no buts" their partner. Intuitively, it's a worse experience for the audience. Or even in a conversation with another person. A conversation is improv too in a lot of ways.
> It's one of those things when I read, I feel like I've never thought about it in this context, and then it feels so obvious.
Well, considering how that's the #1 impact I hope to have on people who read my shtuff... Color me extremely pleased.
> I think so much of the rules of any kind of improv (musical, story telling, humor) is to create a common language and then from there, a safe space to experiment.
sheeeeet that sounds like a rule for LIFE
> When my sister and I do our podcast, we've applied a lot of improv rules to help our chemistry during the recording
WHAT that's fantastic. i would be v interested in this list of rules to facilitate chemistry during a podcast recording
> Or even in a conversation with another person. A conversation is improv too in a lot of ways.
Yess!! I'm also obsessed with how to create better experiences in conversations. Rules for conversational hygiene, if you will.
Here's some of my rabbit hole if you're inclined, ordered from lowest time commitment to highest:
Yes to everything! I should do some breakdown of podcast conversations, though the "yes and" may be the big takeaway. And I'm going to bookmark these, I always appreciate your recs and this is a rabbit hole I am excited to go down!
@Joshua I loved this writing so much and just went down this rabbit hole of the links that you shared with Michelle above. It is such an interesting topic to ponder - conversation and how we can work to be more aware and intentionally create better, safer experiences within our conversations. I have spent quite a bit of time learning about active listening and I think a lot of these things tie to various aspects of active listening as well. Thank you for sharing!
Oo i love how you found a link between jazz improv and writing. Having the vobabulary in different artistic, creative pursuits give us the window to access different minds and how they create. And we can definitely learn from other crafts to hone our own!
I actually love the part of editing and packaging my stream of consciousness. I may not have the time or energy to do it for all my pieces and some are just really lightly edited but every time i have a piece that is organised and flows, I find so much satisfaction? Because it was a mess in my head before the writing and editing, and I love to organise chaos into something more manageable.
Oh FOR SURE. I love when I have a piece that is so organized and flowy. It's great!! It's so satisfying especially knowing how chaotic it was beforehand. :D
Wow! Your takeaways about how to apply improv in jazz to writing and editing is quite profound! It's one of those things when I read, I feel like I've never thought about it in this context, and then it feels so obvious. I really enjoyed it. I need to save to think about when I edit my own piece. It's interesting, I think so much of the rules of any kind of improv (musical, story telling, humor) is to create a common language and then from there, a safe space to experiment. When my sister and I do our podcast, we've applied a lot of improv rules to help our chemistry during the recording. We apply "no bad ideas in brainstorm" and "yes and" pretty heavily. We'll call each other out too if we "no but" each other. It's funny, in podcasting now, I can always hear if someone "no buts" their partner. Intuitively, it's a worse experience for the audience. Or even in a conversation with another person. A conversation is improv too in a lot of ways.
> It's one of those things when I read, I feel like I've never thought about it in this context, and then it feels so obvious.
Well, considering how that's the #1 impact I hope to have on people who read my shtuff... Color me extremely pleased.
> I think so much of the rules of any kind of improv (musical, story telling, humor) is to create a common language and then from there, a safe space to experiment.
sheeeeet that sounds like a rule for LIFE
> When my sister and I do our podcast, we've applied a lot of improv rules to help our chemistry during the recording
WHAT that's fantastic. i would be v interested in this list of rules to facilitate chemistry during a podcast recording
> Or even in a conversation with another person. A conversation is improv too in a lot of ways.
Yess!! I'm also obsessed with how to create better experiences in conversations. Rules for conversational hygiene, if you will.
Here's some of my rabbit hole if you're inclined, ordered from lowest time commitment to highest:
Switch response vs support response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y99WZ-3c6zE&t=67s
7 ways you're ruining a conversation: https://youtu.be/tTvlVHLVxLw?t=96
(although I'm a little iffy on Questions (2:19) as a general rule but I see what she means
Good conversations have lots of doorknobs: https://experimentalhistory.substack.com/p/good-conversations-have-lots-of-doorknobs
Making normal conversations better: https://sashachapin.substack.com/p/making-normal-conversations-better
Yes to everything! I should do some breakdown of podcast conversations, though the "yes and" may be the big takeaway. And I'm going to bookmark these, I always appreciate your recs and this is a rabbit hole I am excited to go down!
@Joshua I loved this writing so much and just went down this rabbit hole of the links that you shared with Michelle above. It is such an interesting topic to ponder - conversation and how we can work to be more aware and intentionally create better, safer experiences within our conversations. I have spent quite a bit of time learning about active listening and I think a lot of these things tie to various aspects of active listening as well. Thank you for sharing!
Oo i love how you found a link between jazz improv and writing. Having the vobabulary in different artistic, creative pursuits give us the window to access different minds and how they create. And we can definitely learn from other crafts to hone our own!
I actually love the part of editing and packaging my stream of consciousness. I may not have the time or energy to do it for all my pieces and some are just really lightly edited but every time i have a piece that is organised and flows, I find so much satisfaction? Because it was a mess in my head before the writing and editing, and I love to organise chaos into something more manageable.
Oh FOR SURE. I love when I have a piece that is so organized and flowy. It's great!! It's so satisfying especially knowing how chaotic it was beforehand. :D