Writing advice from the creators of 7 great comedy sites
This week we wanted to share 7 great comedy websites that are useful for writers. In doing so we took the opportunity to contact the creators to ask them to give one piece of advice to our comedy creators.
Beyond the Joke – Bruce Dessau
“Whether you are writing stand-up material, jokes for panel shows or sitcom scripts if your writing is going to be performed don’t just read what you have written to yourself. Read it out loud in front of people or, even better, get somebody else to read it out. It can be painful but hearing your words is one of the best ways of knowing if they are actually funny and make sense. Be prepared to take feedback. However naturally talented you are, however hard you work, be willing to take on board what others say. Reject advice at your peril.”
Bruce Dessau is the comedy critic of the London Evening Standard. On Beyond the Joke he posts news, reviews, and opinion pieces on all things comedy. We enjoy reading his superbly written reviews which will resonate with anybody who enjoys intelligent, distinctive comedy. Visit site
Foot in the Door – Matt Tiller
“It’s really hard to give one piece of advice, but the key thing for a comedy writer to discover is whether or not their material makes people laugh. Not your mum or your best mate but genuine, anonymous people. Does it work in front of an audience? Does it actually contain funny lines and/or physical and visual gags rather than just the idea of something that could be funny? Truly knowing this rather than assuming it can give you confidence to pursue a project and if a script is funny then industry people are more likely to want to develop it despite any other flaws in structure etc. It could be great structurally or a brilliant concept but if the writing isn’t enjoyable to read, watch performed live or filmed then it’s not going to go anywhere.”
Matt Tiller is a TV writer and producer whose ‘Foot in the Door’ blog is full of entertaining and useful insights about navigating the comedy industry. Matt also writes and performs comedy songs like this:
Sitcom Geek – James Cary
“Write Stuff Down – As you live your life, make a note of things that happen as you go, especially unique experiences or near misses. The very act of writing it down probably means you’ll never need to refer to it again. Then, when you’re trying to think of a sitcom plot in a particular area, you’ve got ready made anecdotes to draw on.”
James Cary is a comedy writer for BBC TV and Radio. His blog, and accompanying podcast, Sitcom Geeks, focus on the craft of sitcom writing, and really are a must read/listen for anybody writing comedy. Visit site
Bang2write – Lucy V Hay
“Funny dialogue is obviously very important in comedy writing, but just as important (possibly even more so) are good VISUALS. Good physical comedy – slapstick the most obvious, but not the only tool in a comedy writer’s Arsenal – plus other elements like farce are madly underused in spec scripts. Instead I will receive chains of spoken gags. Some may be hilarious, but as in all screenwriting, characters are what they DO. Whilst we may remember characters like Homer Simpson for his catchphrases, we LOVE him for his madcap antics. Doh!”
Lucy V Hay is the head reader for the London Screenwriter’s festival. Her website, Bang2write, provides writers with practical writing tips. We really like how direct and actionable her advice is. Visit site
So it Goes – John Fleming
“Don’t write for a gigantic audience. Imagine you are talking to one person and being read or watched by one person.”
John Fleming has been a writer, producer and director in the UK comedy industry for 25 years. He organises the Malcolm Hardee Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Festival, puts out a weekly podcast – ‘The Grouchy Club’ and writes a fantastically unorthodox blog on the comedy industry. Visit site
Jan McInnes’ Comedy Writing Blog
“My best comedy writing advice is to ASK QUESTIONS. Run through the who-what-when-where-why-how of any subject your’e trying to write on. This makes you come up with funny answers. . .which can be turned into punchlines. For example, just yesterday I was doing an event in which the person working the spotlight switched it off during one of the speakers’ presentations. We had a lot of laughs that night, when we started asking “why would you switch the spotlight off?” To me, questions are the key to finding the funny.”
Jan McInnes is a successful U.S. comedy writer. In this blog she gives advice on how to find and use humour in any situation – in fact the advice she gives is aimed at anybody who wants to improve their communication. We think her blogs are a useful guide to writers in understanding the mechanics of comedy. Jan has written a book on the subject – Finding The Funny Fast: How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds
Writers helping writers – Angela Ackerman
“One of the best tools in a writer’s arsenal when it comes to bringing humor to the page is a perfectly placed metaphor or simile. In just a few well-chosen words, you can paint a rich, ironic image that immediately distills your comedic idea to readers. Make sure to take your time when choosing a comparison, steering clear of well-used or clichéd pairings, and dig until you find something fresh, bitingly accurate, and unforgettable.”
Writers helping writers is a site aimed at supporting writers in all genres. There is no particular focus on comedy but it has some great tools and resources. It’s especially useful for working on creating rich, believable characters such as the Character Pyramid Tool. Visit site
Have we missed any out? Any sites you find useful as a writer? Let us know in the comments below.