Writing sketches - a discussion?

I've been asked to write a few for consideration to be on the telly box, which although was exciting, I really am not a sketch writer.

I've got a few, and I've written a few over the last few days so have about 8 or 9 which I think are quite strong, but it's very hard.

My issue is what route do you take? A lot of quickie jokes you see in sketches feel like they should be followed by a 'wah-waaa!' noise. Then you get long dialoguey ones that aren't sketches, more sitcom style scenes.

So writers, what's your sketch writing way of . . . Method, that's, it method!

I've been trying to pick a subject and then to write about it, but that's yielded nothing.

It's also very hard ending on a big laugh. Well, the punchline essentially. Maybe starting with that is a better method?

Any thoughts on writing sketches?

A good tip I got recently was to use brainstorming. Start with a broad subject, such as Transport, and then branch off into as many forms of transport you can think of. Then from each one branch off into things that could affect them and then branch each one of them off into the emotions caused by the events. You'll find yourself with a wealth of ideas quite quickly. Also see if you can juxtapose any of the sub-branches with each other.

It's a good way of getting traditional sketches started.

That's good WL thanks.

Start with what you know (where you work, etc); make up an excuse for two characters to have a reason to interact and see what happens.

It's a total waste of time to even start if you are not in a piss-taking mood.

Loosen up and have a go at someone---through your characters.

Allow yourself as much time as you need to get it just the way you want it. If you are unsure about the results, then they suck crusty cock. You MUST amuse yourself first. If you are not amused then it is probably not funny. Keep at it until it makes you laugh.

Don't worry about if it's a sketch or a sitcom type of piece. Just write until you are finished. You may end up cannibalizing it and stitching it into a future sitcom or using it as a stand-alone sketch. It doesn't matter at the moment---just write funny stuff! AND HAVE FUN DOING IT. If it becomes "work" then jump ship and find something else to do until you're ready to have fun again.

Quote: Griff @ March 3, 2008, 3:26 PM

Wow! Sketches on the tellybox! Way to go.

I usually start with a "what if ?" idea (eg one of my current sketches at NewsRevue has Ainsley Harriott and Jamie Oliver cooking last request meals for prisoners on Death Row) and start writing to see what comes out. Which is usually a bunch of crap, but hopefully something to build on.

Then if I am short of gags, I go away and brainstorm some gags on a sheet of A4 and see where I can fit them in. However, a sketch isn't a stand-up routine, and it's more important for the "idea" of the sketch to flow, rather than have it punctuated with random gags, so care is needed with this approach. But you do need some laughs at regular intervals between the setup and the payoff.

I then usually leave it for a day or so to rattle around in my head. Invariably some more ideas will randomly occur to me while I am stuck in traffic etc. which can be incorporated into the original sketch. I might also Google the topic (eg in this case reading websites about capital punishment - very grim) as that often throws up odd unexpected points which can spark ideas.

And yes the final punchline is a real toughie. I've never tried starting with the punchline and working back, but it sounds like an appealing approach.

Good luck anyway. Perhaps if you get stuck you can PM me your producer's details and I could send him some of mine ;-)

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Well, you can only say 'way to go' if they're any good and are used. Which I find unlikely, as I'm no sketch writer.

My problem is a sketch is, to me, one big joke stretched out to say a minute. So I have yo fight my natural instincts to put lots of one-liners in it.

Researching it is good idea, I might try that!

The experts do say that they think of a punchline then do the sketch to fit.

Echo the brainstorm/mind-map idea. If I have a topic, write it in a circle in the middle of the page, then put four 'feeling' words around it in another four balls ('Love', 'Hate', 'Good', 'Bad', 'Weird', 'Boring', etc) and then just draw lines off it with every idea you have ('What's weird about schools is...', 'What's boring about neighbours is...' -- that kind of thing). It's a good way of developing each idea and you (well, certainly *I*) come up with ideas you never would have had.

This is certainly the best way to write sketches if you're given the theme beforehand, rather than 'inspired' by an idea.

Try the method with whatever the current sketch comp is in 'Critique' if you need convincing.

BTW what you said about not putting one-liners into it -- put them in! The biggest laugh should (ideally) be at the end of your sketch, but any laughs along the way are bonuses.

For what it's worth, my concepts are usually quite good and inventive but I find it difficult to end on a big laugh. That said, I prefer my sketches in the Man Stroke Woman/Spoons mould where the camera just pans away quietly allowing the humour to build, not necessarily with the big laugh of The Sketch Show or Mitchell & Webb

Hope this is useful.

Dan

Blimey mate!
Nice one.

Aid and I have been asked the opposite a couple of times.
We've submitted sketches to a number of companies but received the usual (for us!) thanks but not using these at present however we did have a couple of enquiries for a sit-com. Obviously we took the asks as them just generally being polite and didn't follow up (not having a sit-com had nothing to do with it!). Bit naive of me really I suppose.

So All, make sure you never miss a golden opportunity when it presents itself, however intentioned.

Seefacts, Aid is still young enough to progress so I won't let him get too downhearted by your terrific news of late.

We just initially think of a list subjects then write randomly about the first one and see what happens. If it flows, all well and good, if not we discard it and try the next on the list.

For character sketches, my sketch-writing tutor (Tony Kirwood) suggested getting a list of jobs (Fighter Pilot, Traffic Warden, Terrorist, Butcher) on one bit of paper and a list of emotions/tendencies (angry, obsessive compulsive, depressed, pyromaniac) on another and trying them out in combinations. It yielded quite good results on a number of occasions.

Dan

It also helps if it's a subject you have strong feelings about.

One of Mitchell and Webb, I can't remember which, said he found it helped to think of the last thing that made him feel really angry.

As a personal preference, I like lots of little gags building up to a final punchline. Make it more about the journey to the punchline, rather then a set-up.

I always start with a subject that might interest the telly box people - is it a completely open brief? An then apply 'what if?' to typical standard situations that occur between people in that subject. For example, dating: what is the worst thing that can happen to him, her, both of them, the donkey he's hired for the night. what's the worst place you've taken a girl? Up the arse in my case.

Congrats on getting asked though. Things are looking up for you mate.

Quote: ContainsNuts @ March 3, 2008, 4:56 PM

What's the worst place you've taken a girl? Up the arse in my case.

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You've been to Paris? How romantic!

I often start with a regular question, and exaggerate, or ask more questions.

What if your flatmate was a tramp? What if GWB decided to bully you? Supposing the guy from the double glazing company really wouldn't take no for an answer, suppose he had a gun to his head?

Also I often start from the mundane, life in Uni, going to the shops. Generate unfunny but interesting stuff, and mix it up. E.g. Harrods, pound land, and shop lifting unfunny on their own, but quite nifty when mixed together.

Quote: sootyj @ March 3, 2008, 5:24 PM

I often start with a regular question, and exaggerate, or ask more questions.

What if your flatmate was a tramp? What if GWB decided to bully you? Supposing the guy from the double glazing company really wouldn't take no for an answer, suppose he had a gun to his head?

Also I often start from the mundane, life in Uni, going to the shops. Generate unfunny but interesting stuff, and mix it up. E.g. Harrods, pound land, and shop lifting unfunny on their own, but quite nifty when mixed together.

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I completely disagree. Someone shop-lifting in Poundland would be hilarious!