19 “improv wisdom, Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up » by Patricia Ryan Madson

Patricia Ryan Madson has taught at Stanford for more than four decades. She founded the Stanford Improvisors in 1991. Her book “improv wisdom” is one of my favorites and one I often return to.

You may be asking yourself what does improvisation have to do with writing, or for that matter, painting, choreographing, writing music, even starting a business. The truth is, engaging in any of these creative acts is in itself an act of improvisation. As a writer, we start with a story, and although we may have a general outline or idea, we make it up as we go along. Have you ever started something, a story, a painting, a dance, and it takes on a life of its own and leads you to a place you hadn’t anticipated. No matter how carefully we may formulate the plot, it can’t help but change as we interact with people and with the work itself. This is the art and practice of improvisation.

This book lays out 13 “maxims” with exercises for For practice. For example the eleventh maxim is “act now”. “The essence of improvisation is action—doing it in real time. We act in order to discover what comes next. We act because we have a purpose or a question. Using action as our first response is not always easy, however.”

One of the exercises with this maxim is “schedule that job you have been avoiding. Write it on your calendar or in. your date book. Set a specific time and show up. Focus on taking the first step. What action will begin the task?...”

Can you think of anything this would not apply to . Each of us has to do this with any project creative or even something as simple as cleaning the bathroom.

I’ve found this little book beyond helpful, and keep a copy around and pick it up from time to time when I need a reminder to jump on stage and give it a try.

Remember don’t look down, don’t look back.

@patryanmadson

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