2. YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM4pTlsjHcw No matter how many times anyone says to you - whether you are a writer or in any other job -- "Can I see what you're working on?" And they follow up with: "I just wanna see." or "It's not to judge you." or "I know it's still a work in progress." Know this: those people are liars. I want to repeat this:
"THEY ARE FUCKING LIARS." No matter what you do for a living, don't show people your work until it's the best you can make it. Because as soon as someone sees something you did, they are going to critique it... and you. So, do not ever ever ever ever ever show people your creative work, or any work, until you are
prepared for it to be shat upon.Here's an example of a joke in it's first stage: FOX News is accusing President Obama of showing favoritism for minorities as he appointments new cabinet secretaries. Even worse, he's created the new position of Secretary of Keepin' It Real for Jay Z.
And now, a more polished version: FOX says Obama appointed too many minorities to vacant cabinet posts. Even worse for FOX, Obama's taking Washington off the quarter and replacing him with Tupac and Biggie. The first joke is long... and not punchy. The second joke conveys the same idea... and is better. The point: if someone were judging your joke writing skills, you'd want them to see Joke #2 and not Joke #1. As a side note, you should also have the humility to know that your work might not be the best yet. And that it will improve with colleagues suggestions. Also, it might not. Remember that old saying: "a camel is a horse made by committee?" Yeah, that.