Alan Zweibel is a comedy writing legend and example of prolificity to all writers. He's an Emmy-winning TV writer (one of the original writers for Saturday Night Live, co-creator of It's Garry Shandlings Show, that kind of thing), a Thurber Prize-winning author, writer for Broadway shows and Hollywood screenplays, plus writing for himself in some great personal essays.

In this excerpt from the essential Other Network Writers Room series, Alan offers a writing exercise he invented to develop his dialog writing skills and train his ear to differentiate characters voices. It's probably most effective for beginners trying to develop their dialog skills and find your own voice as a writer.

Pick a theme or topic for the week. On Monday write a monolog as if one of your comic idols was delivering the material. On Tuesday write from a different personality's point of view. On Wednesday write for a third, etc. through the week. Alan's examples are a little dated now so update for yourself (although who's to say you couldn't use Mae West or whoever?) and use a theme or topic of most relevance to you.

Our variation is that on Friday you write it for yourself. And on the weekend if you're in LA come try it onstage at the Un-Cab Lab Writing and Performance Workshop.

Use the deadlines. Step up your output. Seize the week!