Comedy Writing Tips 1

Tips on Writing Comedy

The following is an essay based on three questions I think can be useful in writing comedy. I am not writing as an expert but as a fellow traveler along the same road you are traveling. Treat this as a buffet. As in all buffets, some things taste good, some taste bad, some things look good but taste terrible, and be careful there may be some rotten stuff on the buffet. So, take what you want and need and leave the rest. I hope some of it may be helpful in your writing.

Now you will notice this is called Tip 1, which one would think means there will subsequently be Tip 2, Tip 3, Tip 4, and so on. Have you ever heard the expression, "Don't hold your breath?" That applies in this situation when you see how long it's been since Tip 1 was written.

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How does one write comedy? That is a question many have struggled with through the years. As a matter of fact cave drawings show the first comedy writer’s work. While we don’t know his name we do know his work. In the first picture there are several cave men with spears facing off a large mastodon. In the second drawing we see all the cave men have run away except one. We can put words to these two pictures. In the first picture all the cavemen except one, that would be the same lone caveman in the second drawing, are saying, “Go get ‘em, Morris, we’re behind you all the way.” In the second drawing the words are spoken by the lone caveman, “Not so far behind me, guys!” He did not complete the third drawing, however I know it would show the mastodon sitting down with his front feet off the ground and a big grin on his face. Protruding from under his rather large rear are two feet, and the word associated with that drawing would be “Splat!” Thus was born the first pre-historic cartoon.

When I attempt to write comedy I set up a scenario and ask the question, “What’s funny about that?” Frequently there will be something funny. Sometimes you might realize there is nothing funny about it. In that case you change something. I remember Milton Berle and George Burns discussing comedy on the Tonight Show. They said some things, such as, names, places, etc. just seem to be funny and some don’t. For example, there is nothing funny about Alexandria, but Peoria, now that’s funny. So, if there doesn’t seem to be something funny about the scenario, change something. As a writer you have creative license to change things to make them more interesting.

A friend told about going to a fast food restaurant drive-through. A sign on the wall by the window advised they had picture menus for those who couldn't read. He asked what was the purpose of the sign and was told anyone who can’t read could request the menu. The question was, “and who’s going to tell a person who can’t read that you have this menu?” Her response, “That’s why the sign is there!” Well, duh!

Another question you can ask is, “How can I make this funny?” Again, there is a situation or event that in and of itself is not funny. However, you can make some changes and go from not funny to funny. Instead of setting the story in Alexandria, put it in Peoria or in my case, Red House, MS, for example. Instead of the guy having a large nose, give him a snozzle or “I mistook him for a Toucan, because his nose was so big.”

I went to the drive-up window of my bank recently and on the little sucker thing that takes the little tube carrier into the bank were some Braille letters. I ask the teller why it was there? She said OSHA required it for blind persons. Now, the obvious question is, how many blind persons drive through to read the Braille lettering? Could you develop a story of a blind person driving up to the bank drive-through lane?

The third question you need to ask yourself is “Who has had success writing funny stuff?” A cardinal rule of success is to follow in the steps of those who have done what you want to do and done it successfully. However, don’t follow in my steps, cause I think I just stepped in something!

You see, that rule kills my first two points, because while I have written some things that some think is funny, nobody has paid any money to read my stuff. So, I suggest that you find funny people who have written and have been recognized for their work. Then read what they have written and consciously ask yourself how do they create humor. And I might add, don’t just read the modern writers or comedians. Study the old guys. Often today’s humor is based on slams and put-downs. That kind of humor has a very short shelf life. Look at the old guys, like Twain, Berle, Burns, Allen, Ray and the likes, who used classic humor. I recently watched some old Red Skelton shows and while the jokes were old, the delivery not very smooth, and they were hilarious.

Actually, I think you can trust what I have written, because the basis of the first five paragraphs was stolen from others who have been recognized. Hey, the epitome of praise is to use others' stuff, and larceny is easier and work! How do you think I learned what I do know? By looking at funny people.

Good luck and have fun writing.