15 Comedy Writing Tips Every Screenwriter Should Know
Comedy is one of the hardest genres to write because making people laugh is incredibly subjective. What one person finds hilarious, another person might not even smile at. The good news is that comedy writing is a skill you can develop. After writing comedy for more than 20 years, producing multiple comedy films and series, and teaching comedy writing to screenwriters around the world, I've discovered several principles that consistently make scenes funnier.
Here are fifteen comedy writing tips that can help strengthen your screenplay.
Comedy Tip #1: Riff Before You CommitOne of the biggest mistakes writers make is committing to the first idea they think of.
Instead, spend time riffing.
Riffing simply means brainstorming as many possibilities as you can before deciding which direction to take. During this stage, there are no bad ideas.
Many professional comedy writers call this the "blue sky" phase because everything is welcome. Sometimes the funniest joke isn't the first one you think of. It's the twentieth.
Need help brainstorming your screenplay?
Every coaching session is personalized to your story, whether you're starting with a blank page or rewriting an existing script.
BOOK HERE:
https://www.screenwritingcoaching.com/book
Comedy Tip #2: Keep It SimpleComedy often becomes less funny when it's overly complicated.
If the audience spends too much time trying to understand what's happening, they'll miss the joke.
Focus on one clear comedic idea at a time and build from there.
Simple concepts are usually the easiest for audiences to follow and the easiest for actors to perform.
Comedy Tip #3: Don't Let Logic Get in the Way of FunnyComedy doesn't always have to make perfect logical sense.
Some of the funniest sitcoms and animated shows exaggerate reality or completely ignore logic in order to create memorable moments.
If breaking reality creates a bigger laugh, it may be worth considering.
Comedy Tip #4: Strengthen Your SetupsEvery great punchline starts with a strong setup.
A setup quietly leads the audience in one direction.
The punchline surprises them by going another.
The better your setup, the bigger your payoff.
Comedy Tip #5: Be DisciplinedComedy writing is a muscle.
The more consistently you write, the easier it becomes to generate jokes, funny situations, and memorable characters.
Even writing for thirty minutes a day can dramatically improve your instincts over time.
Feeling stuck?
Coaching provides accountability, realistic deadlines, and personalized guidance so you keep making progress instead of putting your screenplay off until "someday."
BOOK HERE:
https://www.screenwritingcoaching.com/book
Comedy Tip #6: Avoid Topical Jokes
Pop culture references can be funny today but feel dated only a few years later.
Whenever possible, write jokes based on character and situation instead of current events.
Those jokes have a much longer shelf life.Comedy Tip #7: Use the Rule of ThreeThe rule of three is one of comedy's oldest techniques.
The audience begins to recognize a pattern with the first two beats.
The third beat surprises them and creates the laugh.
Comedy Tip #8: ExaggerateComedy often comes from pushing ordinary situations much further than they would go in real life.
Ask yourself:
"What is the funniest version of this moment?"
Then push it even further.
Comedy Tip #9: Give Every Character a Different AttitudeFunny scenes often come from contrasting personalities.
If every character reacts the same way, there is very little conflict.
Distinct attitudes naturally create comedic situations.
Want feedback on your comedy screenplay?
We'll work together on your characters, dialogue, pacing, and story so every scene becomes stronger.
BOOK HERE:
https://www.screenwritingcoaching.com/book
Comedy Tip #10: Don't Kill Your Own JokesOne of the dangers of rewriting comedy is reading your own jokes so many times that they stop feeling funny.
Remember...
The audience is hearing the joke for the first time.
If something genuinely made you laugh when you wrote it, there's a good chance it'll still work.
Comedy Tip #11: Pay Attention to RhythmSometimes changing just one word or moving the funniest word to the end of the sentence dramatically improves a joke.
Comedy has rhythm.
Read your dialogue out loud to hear where the laughs naturally fall.
Comedy Tip #12: Be BriefComedy usually gets stronger as it gets shorter.
Trim unnecessary words.
Arrive at the punchline as quickly as possible.
Comedy Tip #13: Find the GameEvery funny scene has a central comic idea.
Once you discover what's funny, don't simply repeat it.
Heighten it.
Escalate it.
Find bigger and bigger ways to explore the same comic premise.
Comedy Tip #14: Escalate the StakesComedy grows through escalation.
A small problem becomes a bigger problem.
Then an even bigger problem.
The funniest sitcoms constantly raise the stakes until everything spirals completely out of control.
Comedy Tip #15: Stay Ahead of the AudienceOne of the quickest ways to lose a laugh is by allowing the audience to predict the punchline.
Instead, surprise them. Lead them one direction. Then go somewhere unexpected.
Comedy thrives on surprise.
Ready to write a funnier screenplay?
Whether you're writing your first comedy or polishing your latest script, personalized coaching can help you strengthen your jokes, develop memorable characters, and finish a screenplay you can be proud of.
BOOK HERE:
https://www.screenwritingcoaching.com/book
Comedy is one of the hardest genres to write because making people laugh is incredibly subjective. What one person finds hilarious, another person might not even smile at. The good news is that comedy writing is a skill you can develop. After writing comedy for more than 20 years, producing multiple comedy films and series, and teaching comedy writing to screenwriters around the world, I've discovered several principles that consistently make scenes funnier.
Here are fifteen comedy writing tips that can help strengthen your screenplay.
Comedy Tip #1: Riff Before You CommitOne of the biggest mistakes writers make is committing to the first idea they think of.
Instead, spend time riffing.
Riffing simply means brainstorming as many possibilities as you can before deciding which direction to take. During this stage, there are no bad ideas.
Many professional comedy writers call this the "blue sky" phase because everything is welcome. Sometimes the funniest joke isn't the first one you think of. It's the twentieth.
Need help brainstorming your screenplay?
Every coaching session is personalized to your story, whether you're starting with a blank page or rewriting an existing script.
BOOK HERE:
https://www.screenwritingcoaching.com/book
Comedy Tip #2: Keep It SimpleComedy often becomes less funny when it's overly complicated.
If the audience spends too much time trying to understand what's happening, they'll miss the joke.
Focus on one clear comedic idea at a time and build from there.
Simple concepts are usually the easiest for audiences to follow and the easiest for actors to perform.
Comedy Tip #3: Don't Let Logic Get in the Way of FunnyComedy doesn't always have to make perfect logical sense.
Some of the funniest sitcoms and animated shows exaggerate reality or completely ignore logic in order to create memorable moments.
If breaking reality creates a bigger laugh, it may be worth considering.
Comedy Tip #4: Strengthen Your SetupsEvery great punchline starts with a strong setup.
A setup quietly leads the audience in one direction.
The punchline surprises them by going another.
The better your setup, the bigger your payoff.
Comedy Tip #5: Be DisciplinedComedy writing is a muscle.
The more consistently you write, the easier it becomes to generate jokes, funny situations, and memorable characters.
Even writing for thirty minutes a day can dramatically improve your instincts over time.
Feeling stuck?
Coaching provides accountability, realistic deadlines, and personalized guidance so you keep making progress instead of putting your screenplay off until "someday."
BOOK HERE:
https://www.screenwritingcoaching.com/book
Comedy Tip #6: Avoid Topical Jokes
Pop culture references can be funny today but feel dated only a few years later.
Whenever possible, write jokes based on character and situation instead of current events.
Those jokes have a much longer shelf life.Comedy Tip #7: Use the Rule of ThreeThe rule of three is one of comedy's oldest techniques.
The audience begins to recognize a pattern with the first two beats.
The third beat surprises them and creates the laugh.
Comedy Tip #8: ExaggerateComedy often comes from pushing ordinary situations much further than they would go in real life.
Ask yourself:
"What is the funniest version of this moment?"
Then push it even further.
Comedy Tip #9: Give Every Character a Different AttitudeFunny scenes often come from contrasting personalities.
If every character reacts the same way, there is very little conflict.
Distinct attitudes naturally create comedic situations.
Want feedback on your comedy screenplay?
We'll work together on your characters, dialogue, pacing, and story so every scene becomes stronger.
BOOK HERE:
https://www.screenwritingcoaching.com/book
Comedy Tip #10: Don't Kill Your Own JokesOne of the dangers of rewriting comedy is reading your own jokes so many times that they stop feeling funny.
Remember...
The audience is hearing the joke for the first time.
If something genuinely made you laugh when you wrote it, there's a good chance it'll still work.
Comedy Tip #11: Pay Attention to RhythmSometimes changing just one word or moving the funniest word to the end of the sentence dramatically improves a joke.
Comedy has rhythm.
Read your dialogue out loud to hear where the laughs naturally fall.
Comedy Tip #12: Be BriefComedy usually gets stronger as it gets shorter.
Trim unnecessary words.
Arrive at the punchline as quickly as possible.
Comedy Tip #13: Find the GameEvery funny scene has a central comic idea.
Once you discover what's funny, don't simply repeat it.
Heighten it.
Escalate it.
Find bigger and bigger ways to explore the same comic premise.
Comedy Tip #14: Escalate the StakesComedy grows through escalation.
A small problem becomes a bigger problem.
Then an even bigger problem.
The funniest sitcoms constantly raise the stakes until everything spirals completely out of control.
Comedy Tip #15: Stay Ahead of the AudienceOne of the quickest ways to lose a laugh is by allowing the audience to predict the punchline.
Instead, surprise them. Lead them one direction. Then go somewhere unexpected.
Comedy thrives on surprise.
Ready to write a funnier screenplay?
Whether you're writing your first comedy or polishing your latest script, personalized coaching can help you strengthen your jokes, develop memorable characters, and finish a screenplay you can be proud of.
BOOK HERE:
https://www.screenwritingcoaching.com/book