I listened to Sally Holloway's paper-based method of writing gags on 'Word of Mouth' yesterday (link below) , but whilst she explained the method well, she didn't actually come up with anything funny.
Does anyone else use an interesting 'method' to write gags?
I listened to some of that show whilst I was driving and I think my "method" (if it can be called that) is closer to John Lloyd's in that I generally pick a subject and then write down as many related 'things' (facts, related subjects, basically anything else that my brain thinks of when I think of that subject) and then you can generally find some humour in the juxtaposition of those different ideas.
Sorry if I've not explained that very well. Logan Murray's book (link below) has some excellent writing exercises and games in it that can really work well.
I once tried creating a formula for writing a sketch. I looked at a Monty Python sketch and broke it down to it's bare components. I did manage to write a new sketch with the result, but it was a bit forced and not that funny.
I generally just formulate ideas in my head. I've tried brainstorming and it doesn't, personally, help me that much.
As stupid as it sounds, so far as gags go, Tim Vine is the kind of comic to learn from. His comedy isn't high-brow, is what appeals to a broad audience and is absolutely rooted to the working clubs where comics cut their teeth in the old days as they were learning their trade.
Quote: Baumski @ December 23 2009, 10:47 AM GMTAs stupid as it sounds, so far as gags go, Tim Vine is the kind of comic to learn from. His comedy isn't high-brow, is what appeals to a broad audience and is absolutely rooted to the working clubs where comics cut their teeth in the old days as they were learning their trade.
I'd agree but only if you want to be a gag merchant like him, Stu Francis, Milton Jones, Gary Delaney, Steven Wright etc.
I love Tim Vine, he's my comedy hero, but if you watch him for any length of time you can see that 99% of his jokes have very definite formulas, basically take a phrase, saying or modern axiom and then write a joke around it. This is how most pun based comedy works.
I often look at lists of homonyms (i.e words that sound the same but mean different things) and then make jokes based around a humourous misdirection involving that word.
E.g heir/hair
I made a will recently, I was told I needed an heir, so I bought a wig.
Not brilliant but it's a joke (and not bad for off the top of my head... hair... wig... top of head... is this thing on?)
Quote: Tony Cowards @ December 23 2009, 10:56 AM GMTI love Tim Vine, he's my comedy hero, but if you watch him for any length of time you can see that 99% of his jokes have very definite formulas, basically take a phrase, saying or modern axiom and then write a joke around it. This is how most pun based comedy works.
It's all to do with structure and that's what makes Tim Vine and others like him so good at what they do.
Quote: Tony Cowards @ December 23 2009, 10:56 AM GMThomonyms (i.e words that sound the same but mean different things)
patronise (i.e. behave in an offensively condescending manner toward)
Quote: Ming the Mirthless @ December 23 2009, 11:29 AM GMTpatronise (i.e. behave in an offensively condescending manner toward)
Agreed, Ming. Look, I can do 'patronise' too!
Quote: Tony Cowards @ December 23 2009, 10:56 AM GMTthen make jokes based around a *humourous misdirection involving that word.
Humor = U.S.
Humour = U.K.
*Humorous = Both
My formula is being a comedy genius.
Sart with a punchline and work backwards. Start with the simplest humblest pun or observation and elaborate/
Quote: sootyj @ December 23 2009, 1:35 PM GMTSart with a punchline and work backwards.
Trouble is, Sootyj - you write 'em backwards.
I don't know if I have a process as such. I will think of an idea to write a sketch about, usually during the course of a normal day. I'm always thinking 'imagine if that happened instead of this' etc. Generally the jokes begin to fall in as I'm writing it out.
I like misdirection. EG....Alan slept and slept and slept. Suddenly, he slept some more...
Quote: Morrace @ December 23 2009, 1:39 PM GMTTrouble is, Sootyj - you write 'em backwards.
kcuf uoy
Apparently, feasting on the brains of freshly-slaughtered comedy writers often helps one's gag writing abilities. Thanks for the tip, btw, Mikey J. 