Successful writing actually involves a lot of rewriting. That's particularly true when it comes to writing jokes or humorous articles.
Sometimes it feels stupid to spend (waste) so much time over fart jokes or the equivalent. But as the late Joan Rivers said, it's important to laugh because life, otherwise, can be so difficult.
I've been thinking about the amount of time it takes to write a 600-word humorous article because I've written three different related articles, with varying degrees of success -- by which I mean whether I like them or not.
But while I took a break from rewriting the three articles, I came across a video profile of Jerry Seinfeld produced by the New York Times entitled, "How to Write a Joke." As experienced, funny and observant as he is, Seinfeld took two years to craft some thoughts about pop tarts into a bit he was proud of -- two years!
I actually found that encouraging. And I'm impressed that someone -- who doesn't have to work -- takes so much pride in the craft.
Here's the New York Times clip followed by an edited version of his thought process in developing that joke. Finally at 2:11 there's final version that Seinfeld delivered on the Tonight Show. Also, here's a link to a lengthy New York Times Magazine profile of Seinfeld, "Seinfeld Intends to Die Standing Up" that's worth reading.
