Meet Jamee Damron-Larson who got her start in public speaking and writing through stand up comedy. Throughout her career, Jamee has made countless audiences laugh and has also spoken professionally to women’s groups and young females comics. Now, she’s turning a new leaf to pursue a different but related passion – writing.
Jamee joined Book Pop Workshop in March 2021 ready to write and publish her first book about her grief journey after her mother’s passing. We sat down with Jamee to hear more about her book-writing and storytelling process.
“This is not a book with statistics, charts or a fancy app. This book is a friend, the kind you crack open a bottle of wine with and just talk, then ugly cry for hours, only to find yourself suddenly laughing hysterically over something completely inappropriate you did during the throes of grief,” Jamee said. “I am a flawed, funny person and this is my story.”
What inspired you to pursue speaking and writing?
I have always loved public speaking. Stand up comedy took that to a whole new level. I began writing my own material and discovered my inner writer. The rest well….we’ll see.
Who is your main audience?
For my book, it’s young adult to mid-thirties. For stand up, it’s all shapes and sizes.
What is a struggle you’ve encountered as a thought leader and how did you overcome it?
Honing a particular focus. Jokes come from my personal life but also what’s relevant at the time. So, it’s easy to become distracted from an overall theme to guide my audiences.
What is one of your proudest accomplishments so far in your speaking or writing career?
Walking out onto the main stage of the Comedy Store – the hardest, most famous stage in America and bringing the house down!
What is a goal are you currently working towards and how is it going?
To finish the book and then segue into speaking. I’m currently giving myself a C-. This is my first book and I’m sitting on it like a mother hen afraid to let her baby go!
What is something you love about speaking or writing? Why?
The experience of connecting with a crowd of people is other-worldly. When the entire room bursts into laughter over something you’ve said, it’s actually an intimate conversation. Every person in that room is participating in one conversation.
What tip do you have for people who want to write or speak?
Just start! Don’t overthink it. If you want to try stand comedy go to a completely strange, anonymous place and do a five minute set. If you bomb, you’ll never see them again. More importantly, you did it and get to laugh about it when you’re old.
What advice would you give your 10-year-old self?
Don’t rush. I was always in such a hurry for everything. I am fifty years old and feel like I’m just getting started.
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