• Jack Rawlins


    To help myself and others write bawdy comedy and humor, I use the tools, tips and techniques of the pros--and I provide lots of good (and some bad) examples. Hey, it's a learning experience for me too.

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Comedy & Humor Writers Are Rewriters

Posted on February 24th, 2010 by JJR

One of the things that make a good story great is rewriting. Hollie Overton of Poptimal™ ezine covered the recent Writer’s Guild West Awards. Here are two of my favorite quotes form her story posted on February 22, 2010:

When she asked David Shore, writer/executive producer of Fox TV’s House for his advice to new writers, he said:  “Keep writing and writing and writing. Don’t fall in love with your stuff. And keep working on it. Keep rewriting. Rewriting is everything,”

She also spoke with Jon Lucas and Scott Moore who wrote the smash hit movie, The Hangover. “We’re not smarter than anyone else, “they said. “It’s about sitting down and doing it. Grinding it out, over and over again.”

Few writers get it right the first time. Stories need polishing, When you have the luxury of letting it sit for a day or two, come back to your bit with fresh eyes and ears. You’ll see and hear things that should be fixed. Get rid of all unnecessary words. The saying that “Brevity is the soul of wit,” (from Shakespeare’s, Hamlet) is a good guide for comedy and humor writers.

Use as few words as possible. What? You’re getting paid by the word?  Don’t kid yourself. The more the editor has to use his blue pencil to cut the fluff, the less professional you’ll look.

Following is one of my satire pieces that I should have sat on for a few days:

Jill O’Smiley, Channel Lox TV Shanker-Woman

Filed under: Insights & Opinions, Personal Stuff

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One Response to “Comedy & Humor Writers Are Rewriters”

  1. Hollie Overton, on March 1st, 2010 at 1:37 Said:

    So glad you liked my post from the WGA! It was really inspiring hearing first hand what I’ve always felt to be true. Hard work and never giving up is what it takes to make it as a writer (and a little luck can’t hurt either).

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