Discovering vs. Inventing
The distinction between finding what a scene wants to be through careful attention and listening (discovering) versus imposing a predetermined idea onto a scene (inventing). Most improv traditions teach that discovery produces more authentic, surprising work than invention.
Further Reading
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Truth in Comedy
The Manual of Improvisation
Charna Halpern; Del Close; Kim Howard Johnson
Improvisation in Drama, Theatre and Performance
History, Practice, Theory
Anthony Frost; Ralph Yarrow
Pirate Robot Ninja
An Improv Fable
Billy Merritt; Will Hines
A Subversive's Guide to Improvisation
Moving Beyond "Yes, and"
David Razowsky
The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual
Matt Besser; Ian Roberts; Matt Walsh
Improv Beyond Rules
A Practical Guide to Narrative Improvisation
Adam Meggido
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Discovering vs. Inventing. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/discovering-vs-inventing
The Improv Archive. "Discovering vs. Inventing." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/discovering-vs-inventing.
The Improv Archive. "Discovering vs. Inventing." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/discovering-vs-inventing. Accessed March 17, 2026.
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