Thursday 19 June 2014

Pineapple?

Here is a little peek inside the mind of a blogger.
"I have only posted twice this week and it's already Thursday. Bad blogger. I need to write something new, but what?"
"Can't think of anything. My life is boring."

[1 hour later, after reading some of my favourite blogs.]

"I got it! I will write about... pineapples."

Huh?

Okay, let me explain. During my hour of blog reading I came across this post: How Improv Comedy Will Make You A Better Writer, Blogger, and Person. What a great title, right? Christy is a writer, a standup comedian, and an awesome blogger. I love her blog because it is interesting, funny, and just a bit different from the rest. She stands out, and I always love to find people who don't fit into a niche. Wild and free, that's what I like!

Anyway, in her post she has some excellent ideas how you can use improv for your writing. Apparently, during an improv show the actors will usually ask for one-word suggestions from the audience. They can then either use that word in their scene or think up a story that has something to do with the word. 

Since I was drawing a resounding blank this morning when it came to thinking up a topic to write about, I decided to give it a go. 

Here is the first word that popped into my mind: pineapple
  
Okay, kids, what to do with that. Hmm. Pineapple, pineapple, apple and pine... oh, I got it!

Let me tell you of the one and only time when I did a little comedic scene myself. Sort of a joke, in front of an audience. 
It was the year 1989. I was 9 years old. Once a year my school did a "folkloric evening" (thanks for that translation, TU Chemnitz) for our parents: songs, little 'comedy'-acts, plays, that sort of thing. We could think up our own act - and unfortunately, my friend and I did. 
Prepare yourselves, friends. Prepare yourselves for being not blown away - what's the opposite of that? Staying firmly in place? Being thoroughly underwhelmed?

Okay, here goes. 

{My friend and I are on stage. She is carrying a brown paper bag. I carry nothing.}
Friend: "Hey, how are you?" 

Me: "Fine."

Friend: "I've got something for you, right here, in my brown paper bag."

Me, mildly curious: "What is it?"

Friend: "Apple seeds. They make you smart! If you eat a dozen every day, you will be the smartest person ever!"

Me: "Really?! I want some!"

Friend: "It's your lucky day! I have a dozen right here, in my brown paper bag. Only DM 5.00 [5 Deutschmark]

I pull out DM 5.00 and give it to my friend. She hands over the brown paper bag, and I start eating. 

Long, meaningful pause. 

Me, suddenly stopping mid-eating: "Hey! I could have bought a dozen apples with the money!"

Friend: "See? It's already working!"

Ba-dah-bah! Throws mic away - my work here is done. 

xo Miriam

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5 comments

  1. Haha...okay, that story is actually kind of funny! And thank you for sharing that brilliant post. It was so much fun to read, and makes a lot of sense. I love that you applied the "yes, and..." to your post immediately. I am going to have to try it...

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  2. Ha, ha :) This was very cute!!! I read that post earlier today!

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  3. Bahahaha! I think you missed your calling in stand-up! ;P

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  4. This is AWESOME! So glad to see those principles actually applied to other writers, and that appleseed joke is 100% SOLID. Keep it up.

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  5. Ha! What a fun post to read at the end of the night! I can totally see you dropping the mic :). How perfect that we're seeing pineapples crop up everywhere this summer too!

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