SHOP TALK WITH WRITERS Ep.19: GARY GULMAN
Dec 13, 2025
In this conversation, Gary Gulman, a talented stand-up comedian and author of the memoir 'Misfit', shares the blend of vulnerability and humor in his writing. He reflects on his early love for storytelling, highlighting the pivotal role of mentors in shaping his craft. Gulman reveals the complexities of adapting his memoir for stand-up, balancing written and spoken voices. He also discusses his future aspirations in fiction, his relationship with his mother, and how writing can serve as a therapeutic outlet.
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Professor's Sentence Changed Everything
- Gary Gulman recounts an accounting-student secret: a professor praised his storytelling and told him to "zealously cultivate" it.
- That single sentence sustained his confidence through years of unrelated work until he pursued writing and comedy.
Childhood Book Revealed Voice
- Gary reads childhood school projects, including an illustrated book The Lonely Tree that earned praise and revealed his melancholic voice.
- The book acted as an early stage for expressing deep feelings of being an outsider and longing for acceptance.
Page And Stage Are Different Crafts
- Gary explains that adapting memoir material for stage requires forgetting the exact text and reworking stories for oral impact.
- He argues stage work uses more tools—body, voice, timing—and needs different pacing than the page.