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I first discovered David Sedaris in college.

My boyfriend at the time played “SantaLand Diaries” for me, and from then on I was hooked.

Because when it comes to writing humor, no one does it better than David Sedaris.

Out of all the writers I read, Sedaris is the only one whose stories actually make me laugh out loud as I’m reading.

So here are 9 big lessons I’ve taken away from over a decade of reading and admiring Sedaris’ work.

1. Don’t rely on your memory

One small detail can bring an entire character or story to life.

Here’s the thing though:

Even though you think you’ll remember amusing details, you probably won’t.

Not the really good stuff.

Sedaris recommends keeping an observations journal where you can note down interactions, observations, ideas, and even conversations you overhear.

In fact, Sedaris has kept a diary for more than 40 years, and a lot of his work is inspired by his journal entries.

Use your phone or a small notebook to write down 5 observations a day. It can be about anything — someone’s hairstyle, the tone of their voice, or even the way they sit down in a chair.

For example, the other day an elderly Spanish woman was telling me about her attempt to learn English by watching TV. She gestured as if she was turning on the television by twisting an invisible knob.

If included in a story this one description could tell you so much about someone. It’s those small details that bring a story to life and add layers of humor to your writing.

Here are a few more journaling tips Sedaris mentions in his storytelling Masterclass:

• Record small details that make up your days, even seemingly simple events or facts
• Write every day to get in the habit of noticing the world around you
• Don’t judge yourself! It doesn’t matter if it’s clever or funny — observations are just the seeds than can grow into a bigger story

Which brings me to lesson number two:

2. Avoid this mindless habit

The other day I was waiting for the bus.

My phone was somewhere at the bottom of my bag and I didn’t feel like fishing it out. So instead I just looked around.

As soon as you’re not on your phone you can witness some amusing behaviors.

In the 10 minutes, I was waiting for the bus, I watched a man mop the doorstep in front of his shop, carefully making sure not to wash a single inch past the invisible boundary into his neighbor’s doorstep.

I also recognized a girl I knew waiting across the street for another bus, but she was on her phone, so she didn’t see me.

Point is, when you actively tune into your surroundings you open yourself up to the opportunity of a story or a funny moment showing up.

For Sedaris, the best part of living as a writer is the moment when a story lands in your lap.

But if you’re constantly on your phone, you’ll miss out on these special moments.

3. Adopt this writing mindset

Any writer will tell you this:

Write every day.

Writers like Stephen King famously write every single day, without exception. Yes, even write on his birthday.

And the more you write, the better you’ll get. So don’t worry if the stories you write now aren’t funny or clever, over time you’ll start to develop a sense of your own voice and what works for you.

You can only get to that point if you write every day.

What’s more, the purpose of writing should be to write, not to become famous or get published.

Sedaris wrote every day for 15 years before his first book was published.

So take the pressure off yourself and just write for the sake of writing.

Many famous authors, including Elizabeth Gilbert, held onto other jobs for years after their work was published so they wouldn’t burden the creative process of writing with the pressure of generating income.

Write because you want to, not because you have to.

4. Turn the spotlight on others

Let’s say you’re not a naturally funny person.

Doesn’t matter.

Let other people be the source of humor in your stories.

When you read any story by David Sedaris, you’ll notice he often turns the spotlight on family, friends, his partner, or even a funny conversation he overhears on the street.

He lets them be the stars of the story.

One of my favorite stories from Sedaris’ book Me Talk Pretty One Day is about a conversation he overhears on the Parisian metro between a couple of American tourists.

Here’s an excerpt from the story:

The man turned to the woman, saying, “Peeeeew, can you smell that? That is pure French, baby.” He removed his hands from the pole and waved it back and forth in front of his face. “Yes indeed, he said. “This little froggy is ripe.”

It took a moment to realize he was talking about me.

Me Talk Pretty One Day, David Sedaris

It took a moment to realize he was talking about me.

Sedaris could’ve simply described what happened, but he brought the story to life and elevated it from amusing to hilarious by using direct quotes from the conversation between these two strangers.

The lesson here is this: take funny snippets of conversations and interactions you observe between other people and blend them into your writing.

5. Don’t be afraid to exaggerate

A little bit of exaggeration goes a long way.

You don’t have to stretch the truth to the point where it’s no longer believable, but if you try to imagine the most ridiculous or extreme scenario, you can bring a portion of that into your story.

In fact, some of the best storytellers exaggerate.

We all know they do it, and yet we don’t mind it because it makes the story more entertaining.

Want to see this in action? Take a look at Sedaris’ story SantaLand Diaries.

6. Make fun of yourself first

Many of us believe perfection makes us more attractive to others.

But perfection gets boring. While perfection might catch your attention, it won’t hold it for very long.

What truly keeps someone engaged in your story is emotional honesty and embracing your flaws.

That’s why Sedaris often pokes fun at himself and uses his past experiences and failures as sources of amusement.

Take this snippet from Sedaris’ story SantaLand Diaries:

“I am a thirty-three-year-old man applying for a job as an elf.”

Sedaris’ story is about his experience working as a Macy’s elf when he first moved to New York City. Not exactly anyone’s dream job.

And yet he turned this embarrassing experience into a hilarious and wildly popular story.

Plus, when you’re comfortable making fun of yourself, it opens the door to pointing out other people’s quirks without coming across as conceited and judgemental.

7. Learn to love the editing process

“Revision is often less a matter of rewriting and more about reordering, digging deeper, slowing down here, speeding up there, and giving the reader the guts and odors on top of the skeleton and shadow.”

David Sedaris

One of the most comforting lessons I learned from Sedaris’ Masterclass on storytelling was this:

Funny doesn’t happen on the first draft.

As Sedaris explains, getting a story just right often comes down to editing and rewriting until the flow, words, and structure are just right.

In fact, he often writes an essay 12 to 18 times before sending it to his editor.

Then he’ll rewrite it again.

Here are some tips from Sedaris on what to keep in mind when editing and rewriting:

• Expect the first draft to need major retuning
• Often all of the “ingredients” of a good piece will be there from the start
• Don’t be afraid of “breaking” your piece. Chances are a rewrite will make it better, not worse
• Let yourself be surprised. If your editing takes the story in a different direction, let it go there and see what happens

8. Fire up your words

When you read Sedaris’ work, you can’t help but notice his careful word choice.

The words he selects often have a palpable energy to them. Almost as if they leap off the page and tickle your brain.

“You have to be on fire with the idea of words.”

David Sedaris

What’s more, the simple sentence structure and catchy words make it easy to get drawn into his writing. You really feel like he could be sitting in front of you telling the story.

Here are a few more excerpts from SantaLand Diaries:

“I tend to avoid leaflets but it breaks my heart to see a grown man dressed as a taco.”

“My costume is green. I wear green velvet knickers, a yellow turtleneck, a forest-green velvet smock, and a perky stocking cap decorated with spangles. This is my work uniform.”

Notice the word choice Sedaris uses. To me, words like taco, knickers, perky, and smock stand out.

They’re fun to read and encourage you to picture the scene from a lighthearted and comedic perspective — even if the story itself is about an experience that was embarrassing or difficult.

9. Turn questions into your superpower

When you read Sedaris’ work, you start to notice how a lot of the humor and inspiration come from his interactions with other people.

It could be anyone — a family member or just a random person sitting next to him on a flight.

But these amusing exchanges don’t happen out of the blue, Sedaris generates them by asking interesting questions.

For example, one time Sedaris asked a cab driver whether he’d ever run for government office. Turns out, the chauffeur had campaigned to be a judge 20 years prior. Makes for a much more interesting conversation than the weather, right?

Here are a few of his other go-to questions:

• Do you have any friends named Daniel?
• Do you see a lot of deer where you live?
• Have you ever donated bone marrow?
• Do you like puppets?

When you ask unusual questions, you’ll get interesting answers.

So next time you’re taking an Uber or sitting next to someone on the plane, why not ask a truly unique question?

I’ve found the best way to do this is to relate it to the experience you’re having. For example, if you’re flying to Rome, you might ask:

• Have you ever ridden a Vespa before?
• What’s your favorite flavor of gelato?
• Do you speak any Italian?

It might seem awkward or strange at first, but you’ll be surprised how many people enjoy having unexpected exchanges that go beyond predictable conversations.

Final thoughts

Not everyone will get your brand of funny.

I’m pretty sure many people out there don’t think David Sedaris is funny.

And that’s okay.

The people who do enjoy his humor turn into lifelong fans.

So don’t try to impress everyone or get discouraged if some people don’t get your stories.

If you find something funny, chances are someone else will too.

You just have to keep writing until you find them.