Skip to main content

Posts

Writing For Sketch Comedy Part 4: Finishing It

  Hey welcome back. Today, we'll finally finish writing a comedy sketch. After 4 long posts, lots of word clouds, and lots of unfunny comedy lessons, it all ends tonight.  We'll pick up right where we left off at the end of page 2 of the sketch.         Finishing Up Page 3 As promised, here is the next page. I mentioned before that I wanted my next beat to sort of explore the "red flags" that the parents saw when they were raising Simon. A big idea for sketch comedy is the mantra: "If this is true, what else is true?" Basically, this means that if you have established some set of information, how can you expand on that with more details and world building that support and reinforce your ideas. The result will often make for good comedy. Here, I've established that Simon is weird for having grounded, realistic, stable dreams. To elaborate on that, I've written that he would write legal documents while other kids played, ask for a briefcase from Santa ...
Recent posts

Writing For Sketch Comedy Part 3: Actually Writing It (For Real)

Introduction Eric again! So last time I promised you we would actually, finally, really get to writing sketches. We've done the brainstorming. We've learned about comedic structure. I think it's finally time we get pen to paper and start writing some jokes. You're ready. FOR REVIEW: I'm writing a sketch about an artsy family coming down on their son for wanting to pursue a stable, if a little boring, career. It's an ironic take on the usual story of having parents act unsupportive of their child's dream to pursue art (I'm sure no small number of you out there can relate). Brainstorming   Before we do actually start writing the script, I need to do one more teensy weensy word cloud in order to flesh out the main jokes or "beats" I have for my sketch. Each beat needs to be related to the "game" of the sketch (check out my last post for more info), and each beat needs to be more exaggerated or "heightened" than the last. Just S...

Writing For Sketch Comedy Part 2: Comedic Structure

Hey, it’s Eric - aspiring comedy writer. I’m here to once again show you my creative process for writing. As I mentioned last post, I'm involved with Generation Sketch Comedy, Gainesville’s Longest Running Sketch Comedy Troupe. Also last post, I brainstormed a few Ideas that I could later flesh out into a full-length comedy sketch. I chose to move on with a sketch about two parents who don't support their child's dream of pursuing a stable, financially viable career - an ironic twist on the conventional story of parents not being supportive of their child's dream to pursue art. Like before, I usually start my writing process by brainstorming with a non-linear word cloud. This time will be no different. Usually, I like to time myself with my phone so that I can focus only on the ideas and not how long I've been writing. I'll give myself around 10 minutes to try and brainstorm some jokes or "beats" for this sketch. Brainstorming Word Cloud 10 minutes lat...

Brainstorming For Sketch Comedy

  Hey, it’s Eric - aspiring comedy writer. I’m here to once again show you my creative process for writing. Generation Sketch Comedy In addition to writing for the Crocodile, I write weekly comedic sketches for Generation Sketch Comedy , Gainesville’s Longest Running Sketch Comedy Troupe. Every semester, we write and produce sketch comedy for an in-person show (pre-Covid). Today I’m going to try and generate some ideas that can later be extended into a full 3-5 minute comedy sketch. In-person Gen Show Time to brainstorm . Unlike the Crocodile, Generation comedy sketches don’t have to be specifically UF or Gainesville-related. This gives me a little bit more freedom with the ideas that I can come up with. I’ll start by brainstorming on a word cloud. My Word Cloud Alright, here it is! Please excuse my poor handwriting; I’m well aware I write like a child. Here’s my word cloud. I start with one word or idea and have that branch off into other words and ideas that I think of, and so fa...

Writing Satire

  Hello! My name is Eric Gorday and I’m an aspiring comedy writer. I want to write jokes for a living. Everyone knows that any joke writer worth their salt has a creative process. I would like to share mine with you all today.  I’m a writer for the UF Crocodile, a satirical media organization, similar to the Onion, that covers UF-related news and topics. Today I’m going to try to write a satirical headline that could be later extended into a full article and posted on the Crocodile website. Alright time to brainstorm! I’ll start with trying to brain dump any and all UF-related stories I’ve heard about recently: Firehouse Subs replacing Subway Protesting Reitz Hyflex Continuous Testing Getting Cleared To Return To Campus Dream Team Long Krishna Lines For Covid Spring Subleases Bright Futures Return University Ave Being Dangerous Alright good, those are some solid topics. ‘Getting cleared to return to campus’ is sticking out to me a little bit, because It’s something that I’ve t...