Am I Bovvered?

I don't feel in a position to give advice about writing because, technically, I don't consider myself a writer. I've just fallen into bad habits, habits that have now become the way I work and so far no one's asked for their money back. But if I can offer up a few random things it's these: Trust yourself. You have to start with what you think is funny before you can have the confidence to write to anyone else's brief Give a gag three chances to work, if after three (separate) attempts they're still not laughing, bin it. It's not them. It's you. Don't take criticism personally, take from it what's useful. Apply it and move on to something better. And be brave. No one got anywhere by being too scared to open their mouth in case nobody laughed.

Comediene Catherine Tate is going to be talking about her own experiences of writing the funny stuff in the Guardian over the next seven days. (Love her show on the BBC especially when she plays Lauren, as below.)