Have you ever noticed how many jokes begin with, “Did you ever notice?” or “What’s the deal with?” These phrases highlight the humor found in ordinary, everyday situations that often go unnoticed. If you’re looking to infuse humor into your story, speech, or screenplay, here are some tips and tricks to help you discover the funny side of life.
All great storytelling, including comedy writing, relies on a few fundamental elements: who, what, when, where, why, and how. These questions have been the foundation of writing since at least the 1st century BC. They require detailed answers, and the more specific the details, the funnier the story becomes.
Think about the books, TV shows, and movies that make you laugh. They often feature humorous archetypes such as the know-it-all, the lovable loser, the bad boss, the neurotic, and the airhead. These stock characters have been around since the Commedia Dell’Arte of late Renaissance Italy and remain timeless. The key to creating comic characters is to identify a flaw and exaggerate it. Alternatively, you can play with opposites, like when the smartest person in the room does something foolish, or a seemingly clueless character outsmarts a genius. As Aristotle famously said, “The secret to humor is surprise.”
This theory suggests that we laugh at things that defy our expectations or seem out of place, such as a frog dating a pig or a lizard selling insurance. A fun way to find incongruities is by using a mind map. Start with a simple word, like “pickle,” and quickly jot down any connections. Who eats pickles? What childhood memories do you associate with them?
Another effective method for generating comedic material is to shift from “what is” to “what if.” For instance, what if instead of a horse, you had a pair of coconuts? Consider other memorable moments in history or literature and imagine them with a twist. Let your imagination run wild, even if an idea seems overdone or silly. What’s obvious to you might be novel to someone else, and the opposite of a dumb idea could turn out to be brilliant.
Comedy often revolves around things that irritate, frustrate, or humiliate us. As Will Rogers said, “Everything’s funny as long as it happens to somebody else.” If you’re having a bad day, imagine it happening to a character you’re writing about, and you might end up with a funny story by the afternoon.
Once you’ve developed your characters and story, here are a few quick comedy writing tricks to enhance them:
Remember, humor is subjective, and comedy is a process of trial and error. Writing involves rewriting, so keep experimenting. Find the flaws, discover the details, insert incongruities, incorporate k-words, and most importantly, have fun. As Charles Dickens said, “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” And, of course, disco.
Think about your favorite funny characters from books, TV shows, or movies. Create your own comedic character by identifying a flaw and exaggerating it. Write a short description of your character and share it with the class.
Start with a simple word, like “pickle,” and create a mind map. Write down any connections or ideas that come to mind, no matter how strange. Use this mind map to write a short, funny story or scene.
Choose a historical event or a well-known story and add a humorous twist. For example, what if instead of a horse, a famous knight rode a giant chicken? Write a short paragraph describing this new, funny scenario.
Think about a frustrating or embarrassing moment you’ve experienced. Imagine this happening to a character in a story. Write a short scene where this character deals with the situation in a funny way.
Write three short jokes or scenes using the Rule of Three, the Punchline Rule, and the Rule of K. Share your jokes with the class and see which ones get the most laughs.
Humor – The quality of being amusing or entertaining, often causing laughter. – The author’s humor in the story made the characters’ adventures even more enjoyable.
Comedy – A genre of literature that is intended to entertain and amuse, often with a happy ending. – Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a classic example of comedy.
Writing – The activity or skill of creating written works, such as stories, essays, or poems. – Her writing improved significantly after she started reading more books.
Characters – The individuals who take part in the action of a story, novel, or play. – The characters in the novel were so well-developed that they felt like real people.
Incongruity – The state of being out of place or not in harmony with the surroundings or other aspects of something. – The incongruity of the clown at the serious meeting made everyone laugh.
Imagination – The ability to form new ideas, images, or concepts not present to the senses. – Her imagination helped her create a magical world in her story.
Observation – The action or process of closely observing or monitoring something or someone. – The author’s keen observation of human behavior made the dialogue in the book very realistic.
Techniques – Methods or skills used to achieve a particular effect in writing or art. – The writer used various techniques, such as foreshadowing and flashbacks, to enhance the story.
Storytelling – The activity of telling or writing stories, often with a focus on engaging the audience. – Her storytelling captivated the class, making everyone eager to hear what happened next.
Laughter – The action or sound of laughing, often as a response to humor or joy. – The book was so funny that it filled the room with laughter.
