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Writing Comedy

The 4 Essential Comedy Writing Secrets For Any Successful Comic

Is it possible to learn to become humorous? Is not a sense of humor some thing that your born with? Can anybody discover the fundamental comedy writing secrets?

These are questions that aren't very easily answered, because the correct response might be both yes and no.

In all honesty, if somebody is graced from birth with a little bit of humor, then they probably have the capability to get funnier. However, if the individual in question has been a sourpuss since day 1, then it is doubtful they'll ever make it as a stand up comic. Actually they'll never develop the required comedy writing secrets to become successful.

Here is the deal, learning to be humorous is one of the most hard writing competencies to learn.

We all are endowed from birth with enough sense to be confused, scared, moody, frustrated, serious, and angry:all components that a great writer uses effectively. You will notice 'funny' isn't on that list. If you're not born with it, then it needs to be found in your surroundings as you grow up, or else it won't be on hand when you create.
Nevertheless, I believe anybody who possesses at minimum a small sense of humor, anyone who likes jokes and wants to laugh, can learn to be funnier. And as a result, they can learn to write more powerful comedy.

Here's a list of 4 important comedy writing secrets guidelines:

Let The Laugh Come Out Of The Character Or Circumstance.

Here's what I mean: a scene ought to be fleshed out 1st, with the humor put in later on as they seem appropriate. If you try to create the scene around the joke, the scenario is nearly certain to fail. More often than not, the joke will screw up the flow of the dialogue, and may actually stop the scene dead in its tracks. The most efficient jokes tend to be the types that develop naturally through the scene. The best humor always originates from completely developed characters with specific (and probably quirky) traits which are dealing with some type of turmoil.

Words With a Hard 'K' Sound Are Humorous.

I initially heard this maxim uttered on the Rockford Files. Jim Rockford was attempting to assist a (rather lame) comedian in a possible homicide scenario. It was a humorous episode featuring a would-be comic who explained to Rockford about the 'K' sounds. He actually grasped some of the fundamental concepts behind good comedy. And he was correct! As evidence, you can watch any great comedy film or any classic sitcom. If you pay careful attention you will find the majority of the jokes depend on the use of a word with these sounds. Neil Simon recognized this truism in his classic movie, The Sunshine Boys. To quote his main character,Willie Clark: Pickle is funny, Chicken is funny, Alka-Seltzer is funny. And, he's right. Humor writers traditionally don't search their brains for 'K' or 'C' sound words to end their jokes, however when hearing the jokes, our minds intuitively choose to chuckle at words with these consonants

Be Specific.

A specific allusion is the greatest thing for a successful comedy routine. The more famous the allusion, the bigger the laugh. Frequently people attempting comedy for the very first time will breach this guideline on a regular basis. They'll utilize the word 'dog' instead of Schnauzer, or Poodle, or Chihuahua. As you can see, the specific breed is funnier than the general word' dog'.
An additional good example of specific humor comes from The Producers. Do you remember the part where Max Bialystok tries to persuade Leo Bloom how poor and needy he is? He shouts at Leo, 'I'm wearing a CARDBOARD belt!' Flimsy belt, crummy belt, discount belt, not one of these are as specific as 'cardboard.' It is a part of what makes the joke so humorous.

Put The Humorous Term At The End.

This rule is so fundamental that many writers neglect to apply it, to their detriment. If there's a humorous sounding word within the punch line, you should arrange the sentence to ensure that the humorous word comes at the conclusion of the joke. Why? Nobody really knows. Lots of what makes us chuckle is mysterious, and possibly beyond our ability of understanding. Even hardened, cynical comedy writers can't always explain the reason why some jokes work and others fall flat. The best guess is that it has to do with rhythm and sound. If a humorous sounding word ends up being last element the audience/reader hears, it seems to reinforce the joke.

I hope you enjoyed this article. Please click the links below for considerably more fascinating tidbits about the world of comedy!

About the Author

Melanie has a passion for comedy, and has a website devoted to it. Http://www.melaniemaloy.com. She has gathered 100's of articles, videos, etc. at this location for the pleasure of her audience. It is her desire to help any budding stand up comic make himself (or herself) more effective. Please click here for more information: How To Do Stand Up Comedy

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Become a Comedy Writer For TV

You may have what it takes to write comedy scripts for television as a TV comedy writer if you're full of witty repartee and you have a great ability to write. Do you dream of helping to create a comedy show for TV? Provided that you have a clever way with words, plus the requisite command of the language, you could be a scriptwriter for comedy TV. You can use this guide as a resource to help you on your way to writing for TV comedies.

Realize what factors make a successful TV comedy. You need to become informed as to how the entire process works before you proceed with writing a TV comedy. Make sure you become familiar with the various roles of the producer, executive producer as well as the show runner. You should find out how many acts are in the structure of the TV show that you would like to write scripts for. You should be able to see if the show is written from an A story line alone or if it also has a B side. You should seek out the advice of someone who can help teach you about script writing and the particular style that your show uses. You should want to learn as much as you can about runners. Each of these terms will be there in your new job as a television comedy writer.

A `spec' is a good place to begin. It will be extremely difficult to gain employment as a TV comedy writer if you have never written such a script before. You need to have samples of your best and most recent work to show prospective employers. A speculative script, or 'spec', will illustrate to a potential employer that you have what it takes to write a successful TV comedy script. This is certainly the easiest, and most sought after way to get into the business is to write a 'spec' for a well known TV comedy. Of course, as the show already exists, this will save you from having to explain the premise and characters of the show to your audience. They will be very comfortable and familiar with this. (If you do decide to pursue a career in TV comedy writing, your task will be writing scripting for shows that already exist anyway.) To let your employers know that you can be creative you could consider writing a pilot script for a new TV show.

Ask others to give you an evaluation of your spec script. Prior to providing your rough draft to your boss, make certain you let several others proofread it. Ask them to check your work and suggest things which will improve your ability to write comedy for TV. (Be sure not to get too emotionally involved with your work. Listen to the critical remarks, accept them, and make the appropriate changes. Your first piece of writing is never the most polished.) After you have made the changes necessary, submit your spec to anyone who will accept it.

Making the transition to living in Los Angeles. If you expect to find a Job Writing comedy for television you should live in or near Los Angeles. If you are serious about getting into TV writing, you need to at least move out to California.

Get your name known. Begin seeking employment. There is much to be gained by networking with numerous network professionals. When trying to get into the TV writing business, it really is all about who you know. To gain more experience be sure to attend writer's events, take classes, join groups and get involved in even small television Writing Jobs. Taking a job as an assistant to a writer will enable you to make some valuable connections in addition to an opportunity to learn what is demanded of a TV comedy writer. If you aren't having much luck with landing a job writing for television, you should think about getting an agent to help.

As job searches go, trying to locate one as a comedy writer for television will be both protracted and hectic. You must be very patient. If you continue to grow and improve your Writing Skills, it will make obtaining a permanent position as a comedy TV writer more obtainable.

About the Author

Tiffany Provost writes about
Media
and
Career tips
for HowToDoThings.com.