RedHunter2296
Competitive Professional In Being Ignored
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2020
- Messages
- 287
- Points
- 103
Hello everyone
In today's program, I present my tips or guide (I hope) on how to write about comedy.
I will start with a very important clarification, as you already know, humor is subjective, it is not the same for everyone.
What makes one person laugh, to another may just cause indifference, or maybe even anger him or her.
That is why it is said that one of the most difficult things to write is comedy because you need to be incredibly creative.
Before jokes or funny sentences, there are a couple of preparations to be made first.
The first thing to keep in mind:
When to use comedy?
The first thing to consider is it a good idea to make a joke, and what is the intention of the joke?
Is the intention to make the reader laugh?
Or to use it as an instrument with another intention?
A character making a joke, which in the process reveals a bit of relevant information makes it easier to remember than an exposition.
Then, it also depends on the overall tone of the story and the moment within the story.
In a day-to-day story, a romance story, or a school plot, readers expect a light and pleasant atmosphere with the characters, and a greater amount of humor is within the tolerable range.
In a serious, dark story, perhaps even a horror story, readers are not likely to be interested in laughter. But it also doesn't mean that one or two can't slip into the story.
Even in a story where humor is recurrent, readers want the characters to take the situations around them seriously.
Even the funniest person in the world would be mostly serious during his mother's funeral or in the middle of a fight with an almost certain death.
And even in the most serious and cruel story possible, if the characters have a moment of rest, it's normal for them to try to improve the atmosphere in some way... Have you ever seen those jokes that soldiers make when they have free time? well, they are people too, and the idea is that your characters are too.
Comedy can also reveal a character's way of thinking depending on how he or she interacts with it. That character doesn't get angry after his friend plays a joke on him? he's probably patient.
That leader of the soldiers makes a joke just before a dangerous battle? he's probably trying to be a good leader and an optimist.
That beautiful girl gets angry after being told something about her mating? short fuse.
Okay, after stating the obvious, I think we can now move on to the real first step to humor.
Preparing the comedy
There are many ways to do funny things, but an important part of it is being interesting as well as the information, or lack of it, that can make the difference between humor.
The secret is to play with Expectations, both those of the characters and those of the readers.
Changing the outcome they expect is what changes something mundane to something comical.
It can be in any way, whether it is something that people know but readers do not or vice versa.
An example of this is the elevator in the series "The Big Bang Theory". Where the characters know what happened with the elevator and how it stopped working, but the readers don't, and the fact that the characters are constantly refusing to tell the truth, or to tell a different story to what happened, is what makes it funny, that lack of information and unresolved curiosity.
Or when in "Tom and Jerry" the cat eagerly prepares to eat his favorite dish, already imagining the tasty flavor of his food, completely unaware that there is a bomb inside about to explode, which the audience can clearly see.
For a story like a novel, my recommendation is to work on a little "Lore" specifically created for the jokes.
It doesn't have to be complex or super extraordinary, but it should arouse curiosity to know more about it, but be consistent with it, Do something that is recurrently mentioned, don't change the story too much, but don't tell the readers about it for anything in the world!
This can do wonders for creating a kind of wink and a nod with readers every time the subject is mentioned, a little nod from the author.
To create a completely random example, " The bite of '87". where the enormous number of times it is mentioned is in itself a joke.
But let's say it's an anecdote told by a family member, and that every time something bad happens, related to bad luck. Every time someone mentions "The bite of '87", a chandelier falls, a car crashes, the gas stove explodes. Eventually, readers will embrace that anecdote even if they don't know what really happened.
So important to humor are its victims, or in this case the characters.
Another important part regarding expectations is that readers have a preconceived idea about how a character might react, and for that to happen they have to know the character at least a little bit.
Characters with quite a strong character are ideal for this, someone grumpy who we know will get angry when that joke that wasn't directed at him hits him.
But it's also fun when these same characters step out of their own norm (as long as it's a big exception!).
Readers will have their expectations sky high if that character known for being grumpy has been laughing all afternoon at a prank he's set up in revenge, whether it fails or succeeds.
Okay, let's say we already have the location and the characters, now we just need the joke, so what to do?
Well, maybe choose what you want to do, what would work best with what you have.
Types of jokes
The Lack of context or how information is given:
Let's start with my favorite, the lack of context, where something unexplained happens, either to the characters or to the readers. As I've explained before, it's a good way to play with the expectations you have about that particular situation, no matter how serious or relaxed the moment may be.
"I got this at a store for jokers while I was doing research"
"Venus H-0-Terminus fireball, Mexican grandma's special recipe, private infernal reserve chili sauce"
"Prohibited on hospital worlds and space stations"
"Comes with a cooler"
"Is it the one with the rumors?"
"The one who made DeMarco the mute talk and pissed off Gandhi?"
"Yes, the same one!"
"Damn, how did you get that?"
"The waiting list for its purchase was supposed to be exclusively for the best warriors of the angels! is mainly used at the Celestial Security Section summer party for pranks."
"I heard one time a guy was researching making a nuclear reactor using that as fuel and was arrested for terrorism"
Puns and double meanings:
I'll be honest with you, English is not my native language, so I'm not good with English and puns, if you haven't noticed already.
So for this section I want to tell you about things a little bit different, the choice of words and when they are used.
The idea is simple, use words or sentences that have special relevance to the context of what happened, play with the double meaning of things and expectations.
I think that in this case it is better to use an example.
The context:
The protagonist, is a spy, 008, who has just taken a high-speed train, by chance he bumps into his brother in one of the seats and they start talking about trivial matters, their children.
But suddenly the protagonist finds himself with a watch bomb, he doesn't want to unleash panic on his brother, so he decides to hide it while he disarms it.
The humor:
In this case, the protagonist is so nervous about the bomb that he keeps talking about the bomb, which his brother doesn't know exists.
After opening the suitcase I see its contents, It is not good. A motherboard, batteries, batteries, stabilizer, timer, wires, lots of gray mass, firing mechanism, and detonator. This shit was a bomb, a military-grade one. I immediately get to work to disassemble.
"What are you doing, arts and crafts?"
"That suitcase doesn't belong to you, put it back."
"No nothing, just taking apart a thing I came across"
"....."
"Tell me more about your daughter Holly."
"Do you plan to introduce her to your mother?"
"Oh well yes, obviously, of course."
"I just didn't imagine I'd be meeting my mother here."
"This whole thing took me by surprise."
"Well, everyone always gets caught by surprise in something."
"The important part is what do you do when you run into it?"
"You don't want things to blow up and get out of control do you?"
"...."
"Tell me, do you have a favorite color? Red or blue? Maybe green?"
"The blue one, but why do you ask?"
"Not for nothing, just creating conversation"
In this case, the fact that the protagonist mentions things that have two meanings: "a normal conversation"/ "defusing a bomb" and the fact that his brother only sees part of what is happening is what makes this conversation, if not funny, at least amusing.
Overkill Exaggeration:
Another pretty good one, the faster and more violent the situation derails the better, instead of putting on the brakes, just accelerate more with unforeseen things.
The absurdity and the joke will come on its own.
shows how a mundane situation ends up not being so because of unforeseen events, or because of the people who handled it.
After learning my lesson about what not to do with these ex-convicts who call themselves family, I decided to try something simpler. A sack race is a simple activity for kids. Surely there's no way to mess something like that up, is there? The idea is simple, you put yourself inside a bag and start running jumping to the finish line. Since not everyone can participate because legs are needed or at least be taller than the sack, I try to combine it with the traffic light game. Levia has her eyes closed and will sing when she finishes counting she will look at the race and no one has to move, otherwise, she will be disqualified, Tifa will help her to see who moves. And Lisa is completely ordered to lie down on the floor and not to move until the activity is finished. There is a certain Korean series that she loves to watch and she wanted to implement an idea from there.
The simple idea turned into tragedy when my sister tripped and threw a pot of dirt into the living room. I'm sure if she had been paid to do that incredible stunt she would never have gotten away with it. The thunder that was heard in the sky afterward was the roar of the Chancla collecting a soul. The sack race did turn out to be a deadly game in the end.
At this point I'd rather play Jumanji, if there's going to be violence at least I'd like to see animals in the middle of it too.
Conflict:
Sometimes a conflict can be eaten depending on how it is conducted, a battle that is fought in an unconventional way, two people with very marked personalities arguing, a battle that is fought in an unconventional way, two people with very marked personalities arguing.
It can also cause extreme situations at times that are not extreme depending on what kind of expectations you may have about what is going on.
"And for the external debt, I will pay with 2 wood units in the next turns"
"Maria, you owe me gold not wood!"
"Pay the damn money! I need the money too"
"My capital will not be able to complete the seaport before winter because of you!"
"Lisa, your kingdom is in an active volcano!
"What do you want ships for? Where will they sail?"
"Maria, if you do not pay half of your debt before next year I am afraid I will have to sanction your kingdom"
"Mom!"
"You can't do this to me!"
"I'm almost done planting my candy trees!"
"Do you know how much I've spent on research and development?"
"What will my inhabitants eat?!"
"I demand a referendum with all the other kingdoms!"
"The Kingdom of the Fox is in favor of sanctions"
"Atlantis is in favor of sanctions"
"Wonderland is in favor of tougher sanctions"
"The Mermaid Kingdom is in favor of tougher sanctions"
"The Hive Mind is in favor of tougher sanctions"
"The Demon kingdom is in favor of tougher sanctions"
"Traitors!"
"Your citizens eat sugar thanks to me!"
"That's good and all"
"But the help in public infrastructure that Union offers is much more appreciated"
"If this continues your kingdom will soon have to declare bankruptcy."
"As the principal mortgage your land will be mine"
The game, unfortunately, did not last long after that, as the candy kingdom decided to nuke their own territory, twice, before handing over a single gold coin to anyone.
Finally, what are some things not to do in comedy?
To close the topic, my only advice when it comes to not making comedy and jokes is to try not to offend anyone.
It is impossible, there will always be someone bitter who with some strange neurological process will find it offensive and will get upset.
Just ignore him, the humor will not be for him, and probably never will be.
Many funny situations are due to someone suffering in some way, it's natural, don't be afraid to say something that you think will upset someone, it will happen anyway even if you try to be the best person in the world.
You can be Jesus 2 on earth, people will still find a way to get upset with you for something. So why complicate your life?
Better to take things with humor right?
In today's program, I present my tips or guide (I hope) on how to write about comedy.
I will start with a very important clarification, as you already know, humor is subjective, it is not the same for everyone.
What makes one person laugh, to another may just cause indifference, or maybe even anger him or her.
That is why it is said that one of the most difficult things to write is comedy because you need to be incredibly creative.
Before jokes or funny sentences, there are a couple of preparations to be made first.
The first thing to keep in mind:
When to use comedy?
The first thing to consider is it a good idea to make a joke, and what is the intention of the joke?
Is the intention to make the reader laugh?
Or to use it as an instrument with another intention?
A character making a joke, which in the process reveals a bit of relevant information makes it easier to remember than an exposition.
Then, it also depends on the overall tone of the story and the moment within the story.
In a day-to-day story, a romance story, or a school plot, readers expect a light and pleasant atmosphere with the characters, and a greater amount of humor is within the tolerable range.
In a serious, dark story, perhaps even a horror story, readers are not likely to be interested in laughter. But it also doesn't mean that one or two can't slip into the story.
Even in a story where humor is recurrent, readers want the characters to take the situations around them seriously.
Even the funniest person in the world would be mostly serious during his mother's funeral or in the middle of a fight with an almost certain death.
And even in the most serious and cruel story possible, if the characters have a moment of rest, it's normal for them to try to improve the atmosphere in some way... Have you ever seen those jokes that soldiers make when they have free time? well, they are people too, and the idea is that your characters are too.
Comedy can also reveal a character's way of thinking depending on how he or she interacts with it. That character doesn't get angry after his friend plays a joke on him? he's probably patient.
That leader of the soldiers makes a joke just before a dangerous battle? he's probably trying to be a good leader and an optimist.
That beautiful girl gets angry after being told something about her mating? short fuse.
Okay, after stating the obvious, I think we can now move on to the real first step to humor.
Preparing the comedy
There are many ways to do funny things, but an important part of it is being interesting as well as the information, or lack of it, that can make the difference between humor.
The secret is to play with Expectations, both those of the characters and those of the readers.
Changing the outcome they expect is what changes something mundane to something comical.
It can be in any way, whether it is something that people know but readers do not or vice versa.
An example of this is the elevator in the series "The Big Bang Theory". Where the characters know what happened with the elevator and how it stopped working, but the readers don't, and the fact that the characters are constantly refusing to tell the truth, or to tell a different story to what happened, is what makes it funny, that lack of information and unresolved curiosity.
Or when in "Tom and Jerry" the cat eagerly prepares to eat his favorite dish, already imagining the tasty flavor of his food, completely unaware that there is a bomb inside about to explode, which the audience can clearly see.
For a story like a novel, my recommendation is to work on a little "Lore" specifically created for the jokes.
It doesn't have to be complex or super extraordinary, but it should arouse curiosity to know more about it, but be consistent with it, Do something that is recurrently mentioned, don't change the story too much, but don't tell the readers about it for anything in the world!
This can do wonders for creating a kind of wink and a nod with readers every time the subject is mentioned, a little nod from the author.
To create a completely random example, " The bite of '87". where the enormous number of times it is mentioned is in itself a joke.
But let's say it's an anecdote told by a family member, and that every time something bad happens, related to bad luck. Every time someone mentions "The bite of '87", a chandelier falls, a car crashes, the gas stove explodes. Eventually, readers will embrace that anecdote even if they don't know what really happened.
So important to humor are its victims, or in this case the characters.
Another important part regarding expectations is that readers have a preconceived idea about how a character might react, and for that to happen they have to know the character at least a little bit.
Characters with quite a strong character are ideal for this, someone grumpy who we know will get angry when that joke that wasn't directed at him hits him.
But it's also fun when these same characters step out of their own norm (as long as it's a big exception!).
Readers will have their expectations sky high if that character known for being grumpy has been laughing all afternoon at a prank he's set up in revenge, whether it fails or succeeds.
Okay, let's say we already have the location and the characters, now we just need the joke, so what to do?
Well, maybe choose what you want to do, what would work best with what you have.
Types of jokes
The Lack of context or how information is given:
Let's start with my favorite, the lack of context, where something unexplained happens, either to the characters or to the readers. As I've explained before, it's a good way to play with the expectations you have about that particular situation, no matter how serious or relaxed the moment may be.
"I got this at a store for jokers while I was doing research"
"Venus H-0-Terminus fireball, Mexican grandma's special recipe, private infernal reserve chili sauce"
"Prohibited on hospital worlds and space stations"
"Comes with a cooler"
"Is it the one with the rumors?"
"The one who made DeMarco the mute talk and pissed off Gandhi?"
"Yes, the same one!"
"Damn, how did you get that?"
"The waiting list for its purchase was supposed to be exclusively for the best warriors of the angels! is mainly used at the Celestial Security Section summer party for pranks."
"I heard one time a guy was researching making a nuclear reactor using that as fuel and was arrested for terrorism"
Puns and double meanings:
I'll be honest with you, English is not my native language, so I'm not good with English and puns, if you haven't noticed already.
So for this section I want to tell you about things a little bit different, the choice of words and when they are used.
The idea is simple, use words or sentences that have special relevance to the context of what happened, play with the double meaning of things and expectations.
I think that in this case it is better to use an example.
The context:
The protagonist, is a spy, 008, who has just taken a high-speed train, by chance he bumps into his brother in one of the seats and they start talking about trivial matters, their children.
But suddenly the protagonist finds himself with a watch bomb, he doesn't want to unleash panic on his brother, so he decides to hide it while he disarms it.
The humor:
In this case, the protagonist is so nervous about the bomb that he keeps talking about the bomb, which his brother doesn't know exists.
After opening the suitcase I see its contents, It is not good. A motherboard, batteries, batteries, stabilizer, timer, wires, lots of gray mass, firing mechanism, and detonator. This shit was a bomb, a military-grade one. I immediately get to work to disassemble.
"What are you doing, arts and crafts?"
"That suitcase doesn't belong to you, put it back."
"No nothing, just taking apart a thing I came across"
"....."
"Tell me more about your daughter Holly."
"Do you plan to introduce her to your mother?"
"Oh well yes, obviously, of course."
"I just didn't imagine I'd be meeting my mother here."
"This whole thing took me by surprise."
"Well, everyone always gets caught by surprise in something."
"The important part is what do you do when you run into it?"
"You don't want things to blow up and get out of control do you?"
"...."
"Tell me, do you have a favorite color? Red or blue? Maybe green?"
"The blue one, but why do you ask?"
"Not for nothing, just creating conversation"
In this case, the fact that the protagonist mentions things that have two meanings: "a normal conversation"/ "defusing a bomb" and the fact that his brother only sees part of what is happening is what makes this conversation, if not funny, at least amusing.
Overkill Exaggeration:
Another pretty good one, the faster and more violent the situation derails the better, instead of putting on the brakes, just accelerate more with unforeseen things.
The absurdity and the joke will come on its own.
shows how a mundane situation ends up not being so because of unforeseen events, or because of the people who handled it.
After learning my lesson about what not to do with these ex-convicts who call themselves family, I decided to try something simpler. A sack race is a simple activity for kids. Surely there's no way to mess something like that up, is there? The idea is simple, you put yourself inside a bag and start running jumping to the finish line. Since not everyone can participate because legs are needed or at least be taller than the sack, I try to combine it with the traffic light game. Levia has her eyes closed and will sing when she finishes counting she will look at the race and no one has to move, otherwise, she will be disqualified, Tifa will help her to see who moves. And Lisa is completely ordered to lie down on the floor and not to move until the activity is finished. There is a certain Korean series that she loves to watch and she wanted to implement an idea from there.
The simple idea turned into tragedy when my sister tripped and threw a pot of dirt into the living room. I'm sure if she had been paid to do that incredible stunt she would never have gotten away with it. The thunder that was heard in the sky afterward was the roar of the Chancla collecting a soul. The sack race did turn out to be a deadly game in the end.
At this point I'd rather play Jumanji, if there's going to be violence at least I'd like to see animals in the middle of it too.
Conflict:
Sometimes a conflict can be eaten depending on how it is conducted, a battle that is fought in an unconventional way, two people with very marked personalities arguing, a battle that is fought in an unconventional way, two people with very marked personalities arguing.
It can also cause extreme situations at times that are not extreme depending on what kind of expectations you may have about what is going on.
"And for the external debt, I will pay with 2 wood units in the next turns"
"Maria, you owe me gold not wood!"
"Pay the damn money! I need the money too"
"My capital will not be able to complete the seaport before winter because of you!"
"Lisa, your kingdom is in an active volcano!
"What do you want ships for? Where will they sail?"
"Maria, if you do not pay half of your debt before next year I am afraid I will have to sanction your kingdom"
"Mom!"
"You can't do this to me!"
"I'm almost done planting my candy trees!"
"Do you know how much I've spent on research and development?"
"What will my inhabitants eat?!"
"I demand a referendum with all the other kingdoms!"
"The Kingdom of the Fox is in favor of sanctions"
"Atlantis is in favor of sanctions"
"Wonderland is in favor of tougher sanctions"
"The Mermaid Kingdom is in favor of tougher sanctions"
"The Hive Mind is in favor of tougher sanctions"
"The Demon kingdom is in favor of tougher sanctions"
"Traitors!"
"Your citizens eat sugar thanks to me!"
"That's good and all"
"But the help in public infrastructure that Union offers is much more appreciated"
"If this continues your kingdom will soon have to declare bankruptcy."
"As the principal mortgage your land will be mine"
The game, unfortunately, did not last long after that, as the candy kingdom decided to nuke their own territory, twice, before handing over a single gold coin to anyone.
Finally, what are some things not to do in comedy?
To close the topic, my only advice when it comes to not making comedy and jokes is to try not to offend anyone.
It is impossible, there will always be someone bitter who with some strange neurological process will find it offensive and will get upset.
Just ignore him, the humor will not be for him, and probably never will be.
Many funny situations are due to someone suffering in some way, it's natural, don't be afraid to say something that you think will upset someone, it will happen anyway even if you try to be the best person in the world.
You can be Jesus 2 on earth, people will still find a way to get upset with you for something. So why complicate your life?
Better to take things with humor right?
