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Here's an overview thread of How To Write Funny by Scott Dikkers ( @ScottDikkers)
a no-frills intro to comedy writing from a founding editor of The Onion.
buy a copy of the book here: https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Funny-Step-Step/dp/1499196121
a no-frills intro to comedy writing from a founding editor of The Onion.
buy a copy of the book here: https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Funny-Step-Step/dp/1499196121
Writing comedy is a craft that can be learned.
Writing differs from funny situations IRL or performed comedy.
In writing, there is no person to sell your humor. All you have is the copy.
Writing differs from funny situations IRL or performed comedy.
In writing, there is no person to sell your humor. All you have is the copy.
But what makes something funny?
"The one essential ingredient in all humor, without which humor cannot take place" -- surprise. You get laughs by surprising people.
Clichés are the anti-surprise -- avoid.
"The one essential ingredient in all humor, without which humor cannot take place" -- surprise. You get laughs by surprising people.
Clichés are the anti-surprise -- avoid.
The 5 categories of prose humor:
1. Kids Stuff - simple jokes found in kids books
2. Conversational - written in author's voice; overt opinions
3. Snark - #2 w added sarcasm
4. Formulaic humor - character-driven; TV/movies
5. Satire - uses humor to say something; Subtext
1. Kids Stuff - simple jokes found in kids books
2. Conversational - written in author's voice; overt opinions
3. Snark - #2 w added sarcasm
4. Formulaic humor - character-driven; TV/movies
5. Satire - uses humor to say something; Subtext
Good comedy writing starts with an opinion - something the writer is trying to say.
The idea doesn't have to be funny but should be distilled down enough where it contains no hidden meaning on its own.
The idea doesn't have to be funny but should be distilled down enough where it contains no hidden meaning on its own.
This value judgement or opinion will be the joke's Subtext - the thought veiled under the humor, the part of the joke "you get."
By allowing readers to add two & two together, the discovery of that secret results in the laugh.
By allowing readers to add two & two together, the discovery of that secret results in the laugh.
How to come up with opinions? Dikkers recommends writing 30min a day stream-of-consciousness style to generate ideas.
A few times a week, go over your Morning Pages to pull out any ideas to short-list.
Funny opinions AND unfunny opinions work best.
A few times a week, go over your Morning Pages to pull out any ideas to short-list.
Funny opinions AND unfunny opinions work best.
Turn the Subtext into jokes by veiling them with one of the 11 Funny Filters.
1. Irony - all about opposites; heighten the contrast by writing the opposite of your Subtext
1. Irony - all about opposites; heighten the contrast by writing the opposite of your Subtext
2. Character - comedic character w 1-3 traits;
common archetypes include the "Dummy, Snob, Everyman, Know-It-All, Lothario, Nerd, Robot, Naif, Bumbling Authority, Trickster;"
create original characters by adding ironic traits or by having that archetype do new things
common archetypes include the "Dummy, Snob, Everyman, Know-It-All, Lothario, Nerd, Robot, Naif, Bumbling Authority, Trickster;"
create original characters by adding ironic traits or by having that archetype do new things
3. Shock - sex, violence, gross-out humor; use sparingly and always with Subtext
4. Hyperbole - absurd exaggeration; use to exaggerate Subtext; often used in one-liners (eg. "the last time I gave a urine sample it had an olive in it.")
4. Hyperbole - absurd exaggeration; use to exaggerate Subtext; often used in one-liners (eg. "the last time I gave a urine sample it had an olive in it.")
5. Wordplay - double entendres; puns, word switches; needs great Subtext to be used well
6. Reference - relatable observations; very Seinfeld (eg. "did you ever notice ___?"; "what's the deal with ___?"); the more unique the reference, the more enjoyable the joke
6. Reference - relatable observations; very Seinfeld (eg. "did you ever notice ___?"; "what's the deal with ___?"); the more unique the reference, the more enjoyable the joke
7. Madcap - silly slapstick (think Steve Martin or Kramer in Seinfeld); works best in service of Subtext
8. Parody - making fun of someone else's entertainment or information product; works best by keeping parody as close to the real thing as possible
8. Parody - making fun of someone else's entertainment or information product; works best by keeping parody as close to the real thing as possible
9. Analogy - comparing two different things to find similarities (eg. Orwell's Animal Farm) making reader aware of connections while keeping one part secret
10. Misplaced - focuses reader's attention on the wrong thing despite obvious 'Elephant in the Room'; trick that makes writer the dope; use something related to Subtext but far less important
11. Metahumor - making fun of humor itself; works when Subtext is related to humor
11. Metahumor - making fun of humor itself; works when Subtext is related to humor
Dikkers offers up a bunch of other humor-writing tips throughout. Some of my favorites:
- Concept is King: the core concept you're writing has to be funny; strength of writing relies on strength of concept
- Concept is King: the core concept you're writing has to be funny; strength of writing relies on strength of concept
-Comfort the Afflicted; Afflict the Comfortable: best targets are usually "the comfortable"; punch-up
-Ruffle Some Feathers: "in satire, if someone's not offended, you're probably not doing it right."
-There's Only One Rule in Comedy: "if they have, it's funny."
-Ruffle Some Feathers: "in satire, if someone's not offended, you're probably not doing it right."
-There's Only One Rule in Comedy: "if they have, it's funny."
a lot more in the book itself;
quick read and super accessible for beginners like me; recommend picking up https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Funny-Step-Step/dp/1499196121
quick read and super accessible for beginners like me; recommend picking up https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Funny-Step-Step/dp/1499196121
