How to make a Clay Model: For Idiots

When ever I approach a new claymation, there's always 3 things I focus on:
1. The script.
2. The Characters
3. The layout (Backgrounds, stages, props etc.)

Everything else is second nature. The voices, the storyboards, the editing; I'm just not well planned enough as an individual making claymations all by my self to undertake every aspect.
I'm am foremost an artist. I love writing and love creating works of art. Making them funny, surreal, and interesting to the public make it even better. I usually try to cater to those qualities, but mostly I try to make my mark with new and eventful things like green baboons, and black and gray striped caverns.
Honestly I never start with the script first. I'm a visual artist first, and creating characters is essential for me to write about them. Every "real" movie I made, I always had friends or family perfect for the part. But in claymation I make a character and see what I want to do with him.
First comes the creativity. I love colors so first I cluster as much colors into one animal that I can.
For a green baboon I need:
-Green body frame in the shape of a pear with a long curly tail.
-Green head with yellow skin around the mouth and eyes,
-Huge yellow ears with two small white eyes
-two blue circles for its butt
-and big red lips surrounding razor sharp teeth.
I put it all together and hope for the best. If a color doesn't match I redo it. After that I cut it open and shove a wire skeleton covered with duct tape inside him.
Then I spend about ten hours writing jokes in a short movie with as little dialogue as possible.
And then around twenty backbreaking hours creating a perfect setting for the green baboon to frolic in. This is the most painstaking part as its no fun to spread green clay along the floors, and even less fun paying twenty bucks to do so.
Then film, edit, and everything else and you've got your first claymation. Easy huh.