How to Write Celebrity Satire

Satire is a literary genre that's often humorous and utilizes sarcasm, wit and irony. The underlying intent of satire is to draw attention to something that the author thinks is morally wrong, absurd or outrageous. These days, it's often difficult to separate real celebrity satire from celebrity gossip and commentary. By defining what celebrity satire is you'll have an easier time learning how to write it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Make an effort when it comes to your headline. The title of your piece is crucial, because it's the reader's first indication that you've written a mockery of celebrity news rather than an Entertainment Tonight report.

2. Be subtle. A long-winded rant that explicitly points out a celebrity's follies (think Perez Hilton's style) is not necessarily satire. A mock love letter to the celebrity you hate that's heavy on the sarcasm (think Stephen Colbert's style) would be a better example.

3. Get creative with name-calling. If you refer to Britney Spears as a "Pop Tart" and Paris Hilton as a "Heirhead" it will barely register in the minds of your readers because it's been so overdone. Be bold and try to coin a new celebrity nickname-it might just catch on.

4. Separate satire from just plain bitchy. When a writer seems to have a personal beef with a celebrity and doesn't utilize humor, their work isn't nearly as effective as a writer who seems to be a detached observer of celebrity absurdity.

5. Remember your options. If you think the Internet is your only outlet for celebrity satire, think again. You could also write for radio (Howard Stern), TV (The Soup), newsprint (Dave Barry) or the big screen (the Scary Movie franchise).

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.