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WRITING MATERIAL FOR STAND UP COMEDY
| Posted on July 23, 2015 at 12:10 PM |
comments (8)
|
A
simple joke formula is: setup
(topic), information and attitude about the topic, punch line. Here's
some things I think about when writing such a joke. First
thing you need is passion. Writing is fueled by passion. Pick only
the topics that grab you, SERIOUSLY grabs you. Investigate
your topic. The more you know about it the more there is to write
about or at least gain ideas. When
you first start thinking about a topic you feel a need to talk about
in your act you are looking for ideas or funny images, not
necessarily to begin writing. Flush out as many ideas as possible
through tangent lists or ballooning. One or two word descriptions,
feelings, images ...on and on. The
idea behind writing is you are simply putting the correct words to
these ideas, not making words form your ideas. Get it? The reason I
say that is some new writers think that if they just start writing
the story or joke will just form. It doesn't. Ideas first, then
write. And if it's stand up comedy you're writing you won't be
writing much. Stand up is emotional and emotions most times are best
expressed in a few words...especially comedy. When
you finally begin to write do just that. Don't worry so much about
editing. As a matter of fact turn the editor in your head off.
Scribble in a hypnotic automatic rant like way, just go off and
record it as best you can, audio recording is especially good because
you capture the PASSION, etc. Remember
that in stand up each topic is like a very short story or play. It
must have a defined beginning, middle and ending that is the punch,
the laugh inducing twist, the trap door....the emotional outlet. Be
clear in your setups, keep it personal as much as possible, let your
audience know why you're talking about what you're talking about and
why you're telling them about it. Consider your audience, they are
after all why you're doing this. Put yourself in their place, ask
yourself if you were in the audience would you understand the setup
and be willing to follow along with your story? Remember
also the audience wants and needs to get to know you. They wish to
feel your attitude and get wrapped up in your world. A
word about punch lines. In
stand up comedy punch lines need to be strong. No puns or cleverness
will do. You may use puns or cleverness on your way to your punches. The
punch must make them spit up. If your punches don't have this kind of
strength, consider rewriting until they do. That is of course, if you
really want to get big laughs. When
a loaded emotional situation is laid out with the right attitude and
passion, a surprise punch will put your audience over the top. That's
not just a joke, that is how you do a killer joke! |