Comments on: How to Write Comedy

on 6/30/2006 If you don't like the idea of launching yourself straight into stand up; write monologues instead. It is easier to write something funny if it's coming out of a totally ridiculous character! That way you can finally progress to stand up when you find the ridiculous part of you.

on 11/22/2005 As you walk through your day, bring a pad and pencil with you, and look for common things in our life that are ridiculous. Something that we all do, or say, or think, or happens to all of us, that doesn't make sense. Once you have this basis for an idea, expand the idea into a paragraph. And remember, every joke has at least one exaggeration. Anything can be joked about as long as there is one exaggeration. But stay away from religion! Write anything you think of down on your pad, even if it's not funny to you at the moment. You'll work on it later. Not everything will be funny. I wrote ten pages over the last month, then asked a friend who used to do stand-up successfully what he thought...Out of about 30 jokes, 2 had potential and were slightly funny. The rest were not that good to him. So a very small percentage will be good, just stick with them.

on 11/22/2005 Try to remember when you've been talking to a group of people and had them all laughing. Think about what you were talking about and how you said it; that's the best way to know your material is funny.

on 11/22/2005 Don't make the kind of jokes that are in kids' joke books. Recount funny experiences you've been through, and change it around to make it a bit funnier. People think that actual experiences are funnier. Then connect the experience with another joke.