Alright, so you wanna be a good comedy author, huh? Cool, cool. Let's break it down step by step. This isn't some boring lecture on writing techniques—nah, we're here for the fun stuff. The things that make readers laugh, scratch their heads, and say, "What did I just read?"
1. Find Your Own Voice (But Maybe Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously)
First thing's first: you gotta find your voice. What kind of humor do you like? Are you all about absurd situations, sarcastic quips, or weird wordplay? There's no one-size-fits-all. The trick is to not overthink it—just let the weirdness flow. Don't try to sound like someone else. If you find yourself writing like a famous author or comedian, stop. Take a deep breath, let your imagination run wild, and do your own thing. Your unique voice will give your comedy a fresh spin.
But here's the key: don't take it too seriously. Comedy is like an awkward dance—you can't force it. Just let it happen, and if something feels cringey, laugh at it. Readers will enjoy that you're enjoying the absurdity.
2. Absurdity is Your Best Friend
Here's the secret sauce for great comedy: absurdity. It's like that weird uncle who shows up at family gatherings, says the most random things, and everyone can't stop laughing. In comedy writing, the more ridiculous, the better. Build a world where literally anything can happen, and when it does, just roll with it. The key is to throw logic out the window, but in a way that still makes the reader feel like there's some purpose behind it.
Your job is to surprise them. When you think things are getting too normal—punch it with something out of left field. Picture this: You're writing about a hero who's supposed to be rescuing a princess, but instead of a sword, he's got a giant rubber chicken. Why? Because why not. It's funny, and that's all that matters.
3. Characters That Are Lovably Ridiculous
Your characters are everything. And I'm not talking about well-developed, deeply emotional characters with tons of backstory (unless that's your style, which is cool). I mean ridiculous characters who do dumb things but in a way that still feels... relatable? Yeah, you want characters who make terrible decisions, but you love them for it.
Think about the characters in sitcoms. They don't always learn or grow, but they're hilarious because they're so caught up in their own weird little world. Create a character who might be the world's worst hero—like someone who's so bad at their job that the chaos they cause is the actual plot. It's all about being lovable in their idiocy.
4. Set Up the Joke, but Don't Over-Explain It
Here's the thing: pacing is everything in comedy. Set up your jokes, but don't hit the reader over the head with them. A good joke needs time to breathe. Imagine you're setting up a big punchline. You want to build the tension just right, but then release it in a way that surprises the reader.
Don't drag out the setup for ages. Keep it snappy. And for the punchline? It doesn't have to be some big grand reveal. It can be something small, simple, and completely unexpected. The humor lies in the surprise.
But remember: don't over-explain the joke. Leave a little mystery. Sometimes it's funnier when the reader has to put two and two together themselves, or when you drop a joke without fully wrapping it up.
5. Embrace the Random and the Surreal
One of the greatest things about comedy is that it doesn't have to make sense. The more random, the better. Mix together ideas that would normally never go together—like a flying goldfish and a talking cactus. It doesn't matter how ridiculous it seems as long as it's funny.
Comedy thrives in the absurd, and it's fun to push the boundaries of what's "acceptable" in a plot. Your story doesn't need to follow the traditional rules. You can have a giant monster show up halfway through a dinner scene, or characters suddenly break out into a dance battle because... why not?
The randomness in comedy should feel natural within your story, even if the world around it doesn't make sense. That's the beauty of it. As long as you make it work, the chaos is half the fun.
6. Timing is Everything, but So Is Improvisation
Great comedy requires timing, but here's the catch: don't be afraid to improvise. Sometimes the best jokes come from random thoughts that don't fit into your original plan. If you feel like a joke would work better if it came out of nowhere, roll with it. The key to timing is knowing when to keep things moving and when to drop something unexpected.
Give your characters the room to be spontaneous. Sometimes a little unscripted chaos adds that extra spark. Don't over-rehearse your jokes—let them come out of nowhere, like you just thought of it on the spot.
7. Don't Be Afraid to Fail (It's Actually Kinda Fun)
Not every joke's gonna land. And guess what? That's okay. Comedy is all about trial and error. Sometimes you'll write a joke that feels hilarious in your head but totally falls flat on paper. That's part of the process. Laugh it off, and move on. The next one might be the goldmine.
Don't stress about making everything perfect. A lot of comedy comes from the mess-ups and imperfections. Embrace that. Readers will appreciate it more than if you try too hard to be clever.
8. Know Your Audience (But Don't Overthink It)
Finally, know who you're writing for. Are they into absurd humor? Slapstick? Parodies? Do they like snarky, dry humor, or are they into wordplay? But don't get so caught up in what people want that you stop writing for yourself. Your own sense of humor should always shine through first.
If you start to overthink whether your jokes will land, it's probably going to suck the fun out of it. Trust your instincts. If it makes you laugh, chances are, it'll make someone else laugh too.
So, there you go. The secret to being a good comedy author is all about embracing chaos, finding your own voice, and letting the absurdity take the lead. Keep it light, keep it fun, and most importantly—don't overthink it. Comedy is meant to be a good time, so just enjoy the ride!