Some tips for writing sketch humor
For print humor, you can use some of the same techniques used to write humor for TV, radio, stage, or stand-up acts.
Sketches are usually short and built on characters and a situation or premise, rather than story. But that doesn’t mean you can’t also have a story. Everything is a story of some kind. Even a short joke is a story with a beginning, middle and end.
Comedy writer Gene Perret discusses three forms of the sketch format: The episodic; the progressive; and the bit. In the episodic, everything our hero tries, turns to crap, breaks, or just doesn’t work. The piece is a series of episodes. For example the hackneyed camping trip where the tent fell down, a bear tore the place apart, a skunk stunk up the site, the mosquitoes were ferocious, a snake got in the sleeping bag, the poison ivy, the bugs etc… You could juggle each episode around and it wouldn’t make any difference.
All of these episodes (even though they’ve been done and re-done) can be funny. They can also be mixed up. No order is needed for their chaos. It can still work.
Personally, I like stories. An episodic sketch can be structured to tell a story. Lack of story is a weakness I see in a lot of attempted humor that falls flat.
When you string together a bunch of episodes, you’re already telling mini stories. So why not think story? That way you’ll have a beginning, middle and end.
In a progressive sketch, there’s a natural flow from beginning to end. It must be presented in a logical order. Each part is dependent on what has already happened before you can tell what happens next. To me, this is story.
The bit sketch format doesn’t require a story or plot. It just needs a premise or idea that will sustain the humor. Usually, it’s just one idea. The old Abbott and Costello “Who’s on First,” is a classic bit.
Just remember, a sketch needs a core funny idea to develop the humor. Following is an example of a short bit that might work on stage, radio or in print.
A Minicourse in Intercourse
By Jack Rawlins
”Son, I think it’s time we had a little talk about the birds and bees.”
“Please Dad, I don’t want to talk about them.”
“Why not? You’re 26 and single. You should know what they can teach.”
“Dad, I’m not interested in flying or making honey. And I already have an MBA in marketing communications.”
“But don’t you want to learn about intercourse?”
“Dad, I’m a communications specialist. I have intercourse every day. Sometimes I do it with a whole group of people. Sometimes just one on one. But my real forte is public relations.”
“Every day? With whole groups? Or one at a time? And you do it in public?”
“Exactly. That little four letter verb is my whole life.”
“You mean you’ve devoted all your energies to…ah… to… ah… to… ah?”
“Yes! I’m obsessed with T…A…L…K….the exchange of thoughts and feelings through the spoken and written word. I’m obsessed with intercourse. That’s how I make my living. That’s how I get my jollies.”
“Hmmmm….Well, Son, I’m glad we had this little talk.”
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