How To Write Funny
I’ve never managed to forget these two words uttered by the man in front of me, sitting in the same oven-hot tour van: ‘It’s freezing.’
Comedy is powerful.
One-Sentence-Summary: With a focus on the ‘atom of comedy’ – the single, one-line joke – author Scott Dikkers, founder of The Onion, dissects the art of comedy writing into digestible tips and his 11 funny filters.
I’m currently reading How to Write Funny by Scott Dikkers. Current page: rereading
booboo real-time book rating: ★★★★★ (percentage of books with this rating: 4%)
Welcome to my book review and summary of How to Write Funny by Scott Dikkers. After reading most of this book, I returned to the beginning to re-read it in full. Writing, especially funny writing, will not be overcome by Artificial Intelligence, even a future and actually useable version of it. I judge being able to write funny, as we further get online, to be a truly powerful skill to have; one that I do not yet own.
“..readers are a rare thing. Most people don’t like to read. They’d rather do just about anything else.” (p. 26)
Summary Intro: How To Write Funny
I purchased it to learn how to insert some form of comedy into my non-comedic writing. Then I learned this book is specifically for comedy writers. I reached the author on Instagram and he responded which was cool. Then I realized that I could, in fact, learn from this book. I could use it to make my Tweets more funny. Then I realized that actually, I could use this book for more. So I re-read it. I’m still not funny in person. But now I’m funny on paper.
Scary writing is easy. Just look at Stephen King, who writes a novel over a weekend. So is sad writing. There are existing, vetted tools that will elicit fright or sadness. Blood! An alley at midnight. A child gone too early from an obscure disease, death of a beloved pet, or the breakup of a couple truly meant to be together. This is sad for everyone besides Jeffrey Dahmer.
But funny.
‘Why did you laugh?’
Ask somebody that and you’ll get the following answer: because it was funny.
Funny is complex in its simplicity.
“Because surprise is the core element of all humor, the clichés must be avoided in all humor writing. This is perhaps the most important single thing you can dod to instantly elevate your writing to a funnier level.” (p. 41)
Comedy starts with a simple irreducible opinion with no hidden meaning or subtext: noun, verb, object. Getting old sucks. The opinion is the essential spark needed to create humor. “The more astute and original your opinion, the better your humor writing is going to be.” Then try to apply as many Funny Filters (see below) to the joke without adding many words. “A slight pinch of Shock or Madcap always makes a joke better.” Then proof it to make sure any words can’t be removed.
How To Write Funny Cheatsheet
After going through this funny writing cheatsheet (Subject: air pollution; Opinion: no one cares about breathing bad air), I went from: “an old leathery skin sunkissed man argues in favor of air pollution”
to
“the old leathery-skinned man is as addicted to air pollution as he is a sunburn”
to
“addicted to a sunburn” – still needs work but those four words I think are a start to a future funny joke whereas before the exercise I had nothing.
Categories of Funny
The 3 Methods to Writing a Joke
“In all three methods, the core formula is the same. We are looking for Subtext reinterpreted through one or more Funny Filters. That’s what creates a joke.” (p. 116)
Method 1: Filtering – start with subtext, then filter it through one or more Funny Filters
Method 2: Finessing – start with a joke, or some resemblance of a joke like a funny idea, then refine and finesse it using your awareness of the important of subtext and how the Funny Filters work.
Method 3: Divining – with no idea or notes, use the Funny Filters by themselves to drum up something funny from nothing.
Subtext: The Secret Ingredient of Humor
There’s more conveyed than the literal words. This is called subtext. It’s what someone refers to when they say to ‘read between the lines.’
It’s what the words aren’t saying yet are still being communicated clearly to any reasonably intelligent reader.
“It’s called Subtext because it’s concealed under the text and never revealed except inside the reader’s mind.” (p. 55)
Draw Something
Drawing a little picture to illustrate your message.
Funny Writing Quick Tips
- Concept is king.
- The core concept you’re writing about has to be funny.
- Quantity is the key wot quality.
- Make it accessible (easy to find, read, understand)
- Keep it short.
- Avoid clichés
- writing and comedy are creative; say it in a unique and fresh way
- Proofread
- Have something to say
- Opinions are required. I only write when I feel passion. Often nothing for months, then three pieces in a weekend.
- Put the funny part last
- Know what joke you’re telling, and be sure your reader knows what joke you’re telling
- Always be in control of your message by using clear, intentional subtext
- Comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable
- the target must deserve ridicule otherwise it will seem mean-spirited.
- Heighten contrast (ie to its greatest possible extreme)
- Humor often involves the contrasting of two things and by heightening the contrast to its greatest possible etend, often comes writing is made instantly funnnier.
- Use Verisimilitude
- If you’re copying something, as you often do in satire, you must make it as similar as possible.
- Play it straight
- Meaning don’t laugh at your own jokes
- Don’t fall in love (with your joke or your ego will take a lickin’)
- Be specific
- A specific detail is usually funnier in a joke than a broad description, especially in the funny part.
- If they laugh, you’re doing it right.
- Everybody is going to have an opinion on your jokes and how you can do them better.
- One impossible thing at a time
- with any joke you create a comedy universe that is not right, something is off or heightened, and it’s best if you only have one crazy or imposible thing per joke.
- Keep it simple
- don’t over complicate your joke, just use a Funny Fiilter to give a twist to your one subtextual message and state it clearly and simply
- Ruffle some feathers
- Feel like you’re getting away with something that shouldn’t be said, but remember the comedy should be in line with #10
The funny filters are how the writer thinly veils the subtext allowing the reader to add up two plus two to discover the hidden message. “That discovery results in a laugh. This is how all jokes work.” (p. 64)
You will find some easier to use than others. Do that. But also do try to use them all once in a while.
Funny Filter 1: Irony
What is it? extreme opposites
Example
- dumb aliens
- Alcoholic father disappointed in pothead son
How to use it? write the polar opposite of your subtext
Other notes: sarcasm is similar to irony on that with sarcasm your subtext is more obvious (ie you’re annoyed) but with irony, you pretend to adopt the opposite of your message.
Funny Filter 2: Character
“I don’t get no respect at all. The other night I felt like having a drink. I said to the bartender, ‘Surprise me.’ He showed me a naked picture of my wife. – Rodney Dangerfield” (p. 73)
What is it? a comedic character or archetype with 1-3 clear traits
Example (archetypes): the dummy, the slob, the snob, the know-it-all, the grown-up child, the klutz, the nerd, the robot, the bumbling authority, the trickster, the fish our of water
How to use it? clearly show the character act in accordance with one of the obvious traits
Other notes: archetypes are not stereotypes because they do not target a specific race, sex, or nationality. Do not use stereotypes in comedy writing.
Funny Filter 3: Shock
“The human butt is the single funniest thing in the known universe.” (p. 75)
What is it? anything shocking (sex, violence, wearing, gross)
How to use it? in moderation, and always with subtext lest you are entertaining a 14-year-old boy.
Advanced funny writing: edgy comedy is achieves in on of there ways
- using the shock funny filter in moderation and with astute subtext
- decreasing the amount of time in the equation “comedy equals tragedy plus time”
- Appearing to violate the first half of funny writing tip #10, getting close all while being careful to hit the right target
Funny Filter 4: Hyperbole
“She’s so fat she’s my two best friends.” (p. 79) Joan Rivers used this to exchagerated how fat her target was.
What it is? Exaggeration so absurd it goes beyond the bounds of science and reason.
Example: From Rodney Dangerfield, known for drinking too much (the subtext): I gave my doctor a urine sample. It had an olive in it.
How to use it? exaggerate your subtext
Funny Filter 5: Wordplay
What is it? playing with words in ways beyond their standard definitions
Example: I spilled spot remove on my dog. Now he’s gone. – Steven Wright
What did the frog say to the newspaper coupon? Rip-it.
How to use it? only with good subtext
“Anything worth saying is worth saying briefly.” (p. 36)
Funny Filter 6: Reference
“Ever notice that anyone going slower than you is an idiot, but anyone going faster is a maniac?” – George Carlin
What is it? referring to something that readers will recognize from their own lives.
Grade D – an insider’s joke that will only be understood by a limited audience that’s familiar with the reference.
Grade C – a “callback” or reference to an earlier joke
Grade B – points out things that are in the forefront of everyone’s mind: the latest story in the 24-hour news cycle or cultural touchstone (hawk tauh)
Grade B+ – a reference to more obscure cultural tidbits that we’ve all experienced – modes of speech or ways of being that have become more prevalent recently.
Grade A – any universal observation about everyday life that’s yet to be pointed out in exactly the same way.
How to use it? Come up with unique observations – everything from day-to-day life to broad issues about society, culture or life, and so on in a way that you don’t believe anyone has done before. “Did you ever notice…?” or “What’s the deal with…?”
Funny Filter 7: Madcap
The Three Stoges, Nicholodean’s green slime, Monty Python, Kramer from Seinfeld
What is it? silly slapstick, inherently goofy items, non-sequiters, wacky words
Mapcap is physical humor, but without subtext only children will find it funny (banana peels, rubber chickens).
How to use it? make sure it serves (and even symbolizes) your subtext. It works as the ain’t thrust of a joke, but also as a garnish.
Funny Filter 8: Parody
What is it? aping another entertainment or information product, format or specific presentation
Example: SNL, National Lampoon, or a book titled “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Being a Complete Idiot”
You want to mimic the form but not the content
How to use it? use verisimilitude; make your parody look or sound as much like the real thing as possible
Funny Filter 9: Analogy
What is it? comparing two different things (opposites are best), the more different the better even up to being opposites, and finding their similarities
Examples: Animal Farm,
How to use it? Reveal one thing while keeping the other secret
Funny Filter 10: Misplaced Focus
Ignoring the elephant in the room.
Secondhand Smoke Linked to Secondhand Coolness.
What is it? A pretend lack of awareness of an obvious fact, brought to light by focusing on the wrong thing.
Example: When proposing a solution to the problem of poor children by eating them. Or, when talking about how cool smoke looks referring to the issue of whether second-hand smoke is bad (in the mid 1990’s) instead of the issue at hand.
How to use it? Think of something related to your subtext but far less important.
Funny Filter 11: Metahumor
What is it? making the concept of humor itself the subject or target of the joke.
Example: if your joke doesn’t work (in standup) then you can poke fun at the audience. “Yeah, it’s strange how we humans laugh at stuff. That was funny. I like you guys. Don’t be strange and laugh at funny stuff.”
“I’ve been doing stand-up comedy forever, since women comics would get stage time right before they were burned as a witch. – Jakei Kashian” (p. 115)
Type A – mocks the concept of humor
Type B – intellectually decunstructs comedy with no emotion or laughter
Type C – deriding well-respeocted comedy medical, products, personalities, or cliches
Type D – mocks comedy that’s generally considered unsophiscated, or humor cliches no longer in vogue
Antihumor – when the absence of humor becomes funny. Beware, the audience can bet offended at this if they came to hear jokes.
How to use it? works best with subtexts having to do with humor, but can also be used as a garnish, or a small part of another joke.
Great Quotes
“Lack of motivation is usually a symptom of a lack of confidence.” (p. 18)
“Another way to interpret that story [from The Onion titled Secretary of Agriculture Attends Diplomatic Meeting With Foreign Cabbage] might be that our government is bloated. We have cabinet secretaries who do things and meet with people, but how is that making our lives better? It’s absurd that humans got along just fine doing agriculture for thousands of years before there was a Secretary of Agriculture. In other words, a lot of what the government does is silly and pointless.” (p. 93)
Conclusion: How To Write Funny Summary
It’s so much easier to be a funny writer than, say, a funny friend. If you’re not that funny friend and try to be funny, the audience, or your friends, may misinterpret and, thus, not find it funny. I’ve had that happen many times.
Inside my head, I’m joking, but my facial muscles, my timing, my personality don’t add up to being funny, so it’s often misinterpreted.
Writing takes a lot of those variables away. You can be a funny writer with some practice. Just look at Scott Adams. (that’s a joke..)
“In all these methods, the core formula is the same. We are looking for Subtext reinterpreted through one or more Funny Filters. That’s what creates a joke.” (p. 116)
Did you know I’m an author? I wrote four books on real estate investing, travel, and language learning.
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