Title: Comedy Writing Help
Grogdon - November 22, 2006 12:37 PM (GMT)
I wanna be able to write good comedy in stories and comics so does anyone know any good sites that help out or even just tips on comedy writing from you guys would help too.
The Thought Fox - November 24, 2006 10:49 AM (GMT)
For a start, read Precision's writing on this forum - very entertaining stuff.
I've not tried to write a great deal of comedy, but in my opinion the harder you try to be funny, the less funny you become. I could well be wrong.
As for other sites, no idea, but i shall certainly look into it.
(Oh yeah, and HEEEEEEEY! Welcome Back! Where you been?)
Precision - November 24, 2006 09:23 PM (GMT)
A few tips:
1. Buy “Deer on A Bicycle,” by Patrick F. McManus. It is his how-to guide for humorists. Actually, pick up any book by him. He’s the best.
2. Things that are funny in real life, or even stand-up, will not transfer to print. Unless you are an amazing character writer, situational humor will fail.
3. Use misdirection and practiced exaggeration to shock the reader. Use as few words as possible to describe an exaggerated action, let the reader’s imagination work. They’ll find the humor, so you don’t have to.
4. Wordplay, works wonders. The funniest line I’ve ever read in print (once again my Patrick F. McManus) was, “The teacher fastened a hard, cold eye on me, which is even more disgusting than it sounds.”
captain_IPA - January 7, 2007 08:26 PM (GMT)
try reading some terry pratchett, too. its a different take on humor
DragonLady4 - January 12, 2007 12:50 AM (GMT)
Oh I second the Pratchett thing. His observations on people are spot on.
I just put my own sense of humour in it, usually sarcasm with the odd bit of slapstick and inner monologuing...er...I don't know iof other people like it though. I'm a character writer though *waves*
captain_IPA - January 14, 2007 08:13 PM (GMT)
I dont even attempt to write humor, myself, because all my humor is completely situational "had to be there" moments. it blows my mind that people can write humor at all.
The Thought Fox - January 16, 2007 01:30 PM (GMT)
Same here. Plus, it's easier to express humour with voice, because of timing and emphasis on certain words. I'd say that humour is probably the hardest genre to write for, because no one likes someone who thinks they are funny when they're not.