So you sit down to write and nothing happens. Now what? What causes your creative process to shut down?
There’s almost nothing more frustrating than not being able to write… I was going to say there is nothing more frustrating, but off the top of my head I came up with three: two had to do with passive aggressive ex’s, and one had to do with a phone call to Bank of America…who said there’s nothing to write about?!
One of the keys to learning how to be a comedian, is learning how to write solid comedy consistently. But…
One of the biggest dilemmas we have when we write comedy is that we’re always trying to think of “funny” or “weird” things to write about. That’s not necessarily the best approach. In fact, it’s probably the main cause of your block. Your brain goes into overload trying to think of funny things. So what do you do about it?
Write the truth. Comedy derives from truth. It starts with a simple story about your life.
One of the ways I like to write is by just writing about an event or an idea. Just putting down the facts on paper (or in my case, the computer). My only goal is to tell the story. It’s usually best if the event pissed me off or otherwise triggered an emotion. That emotion is my motivation for writing the story, but it’s not always necessary. I can also write it simply from the point of observation. Ultimately the quirky, odd, weird, stupid things appear, because aren’t they out there in everyday life anyway? The only way to get to them often is to write.
Once I have the idea on the page, I can go back over the material, in a second pass, and start to identify 3 things:
- Analogy
- Word-play
- Reverses
These are only 3 techniques, in the dozen or so available to a comedy writer, but they are extremely effective and can help you take a regular story and turn it into a comedy bit.
Let’s quickly look at each of these:
1. ANALOGY:
Analogy is the process of comparing one thing to another in an imaginary or metaphorical way. If one definition of a joke is “the convergence of two or more clearly identifiable ideas,” then analogy helps you to impose a secondary idea into your story and introduce comedy. It’s “automatic incongruity” and incongruity creates SURPRISE. Once you become familiar with incongruity you’ll realize that it is one of the best ways to learn how to write comedy
Example:
Having sex with my ex was a lot like working on the bench press at the gym; I always had to wipe it down and three guys were just there before me.
You would normally not think of putting bench pressing and sex with your ex together, but that’s exactly what triggers the humor. They don’t normally fit and therefore they create incongruity and in this particular case, clear, visual imagery.
2. WORD-PLAY
Word play is one of the easiest ways to create “plays” or “turns” in your stories. Almost all words in the English language have multiple meanings. You simply take the implied meaning and turn it into a more exaggerated meaning. Because you shatter the expected meaning, you create surprise and have a laugh point within your story.
Example:
I was checking out at the grocery story and the clerk said, “Did you find everything you were looking for?”
I said, “Well, I found the wine and the candles, but I couldn’t find a soul mate. You had Mahi-Mahi, but I’m not into twins.”
The simple play on the word “everything” changes the entire nature of the story. Without spinning the intended meaning of the word “everything,” the story would simply fall flat. Right?
3. REVERSES:
The number one trigger for human laughter is SURPRISE. One of the quickest, most effective ways to get there is using a structure called a “REVERSE.” You simply change the reader’s or listener’s perception of where the story was going, by quickly pulling the rug out from under them.
Example:
I was holding my 9-month old daughter on my lap and she was grabbing at my chest hair. So I wrote down: “My 9-month old daughter loves to grab my chest hair.”
In that sentence we have a very definitive statement. In order to create surprise, we must change the definitive to an assumptive. One of the definitives in the statement is: it’s “my” chest hair. So I ask myself, what can I do to change that to an assumptive? So the statement becomes:
I have a 9-month old daughter. You know what she loves to play with? Chest hair:
So now it is assumed that it’s my chest hair. So let’s play it like that, then shatter the assumption so we have a joke:
I have a 9-month old daughter. You know what she loves to play with? Chest hair:she’ll really pull on it too. I finally had to say to my wife, (pointing at her chest) ‘You might want to get that stuff lasered.’ (You can also use “waxed,” but I found that there were better laughs with the word “lasered.”
So now that you have these techniques, you can apply them to turn your stories into comedy. Tomorrow I will show you a story that was submitted to me by a student and I will show you the process of how I turn it into something funny.
***Please feel free to leave comments. I would love to hear from you!!!***
Great stuff here! Enjoyed your presentation at the World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas last fall, and can’t wait for your weekend seminar in Vegas at the end of this month.
Linda, you gonna start more comedy in vegas since you got a great turnout and applause for your one here in albany?
Thanks for this. It is exactly what I have been doing since I attended your weekend comedy clinic. I think I have about 5 stories written out now and am using the second time around technique to add comedy to two of them. Can’t wait to finish and schedule a one on one with you to go over them before I get up in front of the mic! LOVE IT!
When I try the reverse technique I always end up bumping into something…. but thanks Jerry.
Hey Thanks so much for this…I am ready!
Where have you been all my life? This is a great site!
Bernie will debate Triumph the Insult dog this political season, anywhere! Bernie sez; “Triumph stole my act! And I don’t want it back! Only the cigar!” Bernie will write new stuff Thanks to Jerry!
Gerry Thanks for the comment. Please feel free to leave a comment about a subject or topic you would like addressed and I will do my best to answer it!
Thanks for the link.. Love it
Hi Theresa! Great to see that you’re applying the structures. I look forward to getting together with you for a one-on-one session to review your material and help get it to where it’s ready. Let me know too and I’ll get you up at the Comedy Store to do a 5-7 minute routine.
Jerry Corley okay but my heart just leaped up into my throat!!! Ah well…no fear..only live once. It ain’t brain surgery…if I screw it up nobody dies!!! I LOVE my job!!!!
Theresa rocks. I am a big fan! XOXOX
Theresa Layne – I’m sorry to have to inform you of this but the Los Angeles city police and the coroners office are checking dental records in an attempt to identify a middle aged, deceased white male individual whose decomposing remains were discovered in the back room of an as yet unnamed comedy club this past weekend. A note that appears to have been written by the deceased made mention that he heard a story that had been ” screwed up ” which is alleged to have been written by an actor named Theresa Layne – the authorities have issued an APB and expect to have her in custody soon. A representative from the Johnny Cochran law firm have issued a preliminary statement saying that she is expected to plead innocent and will most likely use the ” If I screw it up nobody dies ” defense. The grand jury is also considering charging her comedy school instructor, Jerry Corley as an accessory but he maintains that he has never claimed to be and/or posed as a small article or item of clothing carried or worn to complement a garment or an outfit.
Theresa Layne You have nothing to worry about. I wouldn’t put you in a position that I didn’t think would flatter you. I know, when you feel the set is ready that you’ll do a great job!
Hey Kevin! Give me a couple of examples and let me see if I can help. Not all material is designed for the reverse. We can try to work it right here on the comment section or you can send me an email or Facebook Message.
Sometime it helps if you can see an example based on your own work, you know?
Yay Belinda! I’m glad you like the post. Look forward to more. I am going to post the actual process of taking a student’s paragraph, applying some of the techniques and helping him to turn an idea into comedy.
Gerry (awesome name by they way), Thanks for the comment. I will continue to put up content that helps you write better and better comedy material!
Hey John! If you’re posting those videos of Bernie calling out Triumph, make sure you share those links! Want to see this dogfight!
Hey Linda! I can’t wait to see you in Vegas in March. Get the word out to everyone you know. I want to pack that room full of enthusiastic comedians, aspiring comedians and writers to help them ad more comedic impact.
Do me a favor and share this link for the Amazing $99 Weekend Comedy Seminar:
http://www.standupcomedyclinic.com/las-vegas-comedy-seminar/
See you there!
THERE ARE A LOT OF FUNNY STORIES BUT WRITERS AND COMUDIES SHOULD STRUGLE AGAINST POVRTY AND WAR.
Thanks for this information, I’m am working towards my first set and the I’ve gotten from you is sure to transform me into a headliner.
It seems I can write humor when I have inspiration. I have been researching the “How to” of starting from scratch. Your article was just in time as my arse was getting sore. Hey now, it was my first attempt after reading you advice. Thanks Jerry!
Tnx a lot sir. Ur lessons are helpn me a great deal
Everyday my comedy improve thax for the infor
That’s awesome! Particularly like the chest hair reversal.
I am doing the exercises of the book changing punchlines. 1 THE iRAQ WAR FIASCO HAS BEEN CAUSING THE PRESIDENT A LOT OF IDEAS ABOUT CENTRAL AMERICAN CHILDREN HIDING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN THEIR DIAPERS
2 the E channel nnI PAID MY DUES TOO IT TOOK ME 3 YEARS TO LEARN ENGLISH BEFOREBEFORE I BECAME A STRAWBERRY FIELD WORKER IN THE STATES. 3 DANCINF WITH THE STARS INVITED JERRY SPRINGER SO WHO IS GOING TO BE HIS PREGNAT TEEN AGE MISTRESS DANCING PARTNER?
6 a car pulled me over he said do you know how fast you were going? I said officer if this piece of yunk car ,can reach more than 60 miles per hour I would like you to write it on a ticket so my friends would believe me when I tell them . stll reading book on page 50 : )
I am doing the exercises of the book changing punchlines. 1 THE iRAQ WAR FIASCO HAS BEEN CAUSING THE PRESIDENT A LOT OF IDEAS ABOUT CENTRAL AMERICAN CHILDREN HIDING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN THEIR DIAPERS
2 the E channel nnI PAID MY DUES TOO IT TOOK ME 3 YEARS TO LEARN ENGLISH BEFOREBEFORE I BECAME A STRAWBERRY FIELD WORKER IN THE STATES. 3 DANCINF WITH THE STARS INVITED JERRY SPRINGER SO WHO IS GOING TO BE HIS PREGNAT TEEN AGE MISTRESS DANCING PARTNER?
6 a car pulled me over he said do you know how fast you were going? I said officer if this piece of yunk car ,can reach more than 60 miles per hour I would like you to write it on a ticket so my friends would believe me when I tell them . stll reading book on page 50 : )
Jerry, thank you for the tips. I love that you wrote for leno! I am a big jay fan, I love studying and learning comedy in general. I’ve been closely following your stuff! And also your comedy stuff lol…I really like your advise. I am strongly considering buying your book. Currently it is much more expensive that other comedy books on the market… College Student problems haha.
I got a chance to audit Jerry’s class a week ago, I truly enjoyed the class. Jerry is real , he is genuine he will make you a better comedian. I came home and signed up for the 8 week course. I have my first feature spot this weekend I know with Jerry’s I will be better.
This is wonderful…….makes comedy very easy and interesting #GodBlessYou