Comedy Writing Course

Lesson 1 • Comedy Genres and Formats

Maps the landscape of comedy forms—stand-up, sketch, sitcom, satire, and more. Helps students identify which formats suit their voice.

Lesson 2 • What Makes Something Funny

Examines the core mechanics of humor: incongruity, surprise, and subverted expectations. Establishes the analytical lens used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • The Writer's Comedic Perspective

Develops a personal comedic point of view as the foundation for original material. Students identify their natural comedic instincts and biases.

Lesson 1 • Setup and Premise Construction

Teaches how to plant assumptions efficiently so the punchline can subvert them. A strong setup is the prerequisite for every effective punchline.

Lesson 2 • Tags and Callbacks

Introduces tags as secondary punchlines that extend a joke and callbacks that reward audience memory. Both techniques multiply comedic value from a single premise.

Lesson 3 • Misdirection and the Twist

Explores how to lead an audience down one interpretive path before pivoting. Misdirection is the engine of surprise in joke writing.

Lesson 4 • Diagnosing and Fixing Broken Jokes

Provides a systematic method for identifying why a joke fails and how to repair it. Students apply diagnostic questions to their own drafts.

Lesson 1 • Register, Tone, and Comic Contrast

Explores how mixing formal and informal registers generates humor through contrast. Students practice deliberate register shifts within a single sentence.

Lesson 2 • Specificity as a Comedy Tool

Demonstrates that specific, concrete details are funnier than vague generalities. Specificity signals confidence and creates vivid comedic images.

Lesson 3 • Rhythm, Meter, and Comic Timing

Shows how syllable count and sentence rhythm create or destroy comedic timing on the page. Students rewrite sentences to optimize rhythmic punch.

Lesson 1 • Writing Distinct Character Voices

Teaches how vocabulary, syntax, and verbal tics differentiate characters on the page. Students write dialogue that is identifiable without attribution.

Lesson 2 • Ensemble Dynamics and Relationships

Examines how relationships between characters multiply comedic possibilities. Students map ensemble dynamics and exploit relational tension for humor.

Lesson 3 • Archetypes and Subversions

Surveys classic comic archetypes—fool, straight man, trickster—and teaches how to subvert them for fresh results. Archetypes provide shorthand; subversion creates surprise.

Lesson 4 • The Comic Character's Core Flaw

Establishes that a character's central delusion or flaw is the engine of their comedy. Students define a ruling passion that drives every character decision.

Lesson 1 • Writing the Sketch Script

Covers formatting, stage directions, and dialogue conventions specific to sketch scripts. Proper formatting communicates intent clearly to performers and directors.

Lesson 2 • Editing and Punching Up Sketches

Applies revision strategies to tighten sketches, cut dead weight, and strengthen jokes. Students workshop each other's drafts using structured feedback.

Lesson 3 • Character Consistency in Sketches

Ensures characters behave according to their established logic even as the sketch escalates. Consistency makes escalation feel earned rather than random.

Lesson 4 • Sketch Structure and Escalation

Teaches the three-part structure: establish normal, introduce the game, escalate to breaking point. Escalation is the primary engine of sketch comedy.

Lesson 1 • The Sitcom World and Bible

Defines the rules, tone, and constraints of a comedy world through a show bible. A consistent world makes jokes land because audiences trust the logic.

Lesson 2 • Comedy Through Conflict and Stakes

Shows how raising stakes—even in trivial situations—generates sustained comedic tension. Students practice inflating small problems to absurd proportions.

Lesson 3 • Sitcom Story Structure

Maps the A-story, B-story, and C-story structure of a half-hour comedy episode. Understanding structure prevents jokes from floating without narrative purpose.

Lesson 4 • Spec Scripts and Original Pilots

Distinguishes between writing a spec of an existing show and creating an original pilot. Both require mastery of format, voice, and structural discipline.

Lesson 1 • Identifying and Targeting the Subject

Teaches how to select a satirical target and define the specific hypocrisy or absurdity being exposed. A clear target produces focused, effective satire.

Lesson 2 • Ethics and Responsibility in Satire

Examines the ethical obligations of satirists and the consequences of misfired satire. Students develop a personal ethical framework for their comedic targets.

Lesson 3 • Writing Satirical Formats

Applies satirical techniques to specific formats: fake news articles, mock speeches, and satirical essays. Format choice shapes how the critique lands.

Lesson 4 • Satire vs. Parody vs. Irony

Clarifies the distinctions between satire, parody, and irony as writing modes. Misidentifying the mode leads to pieces that miss their target.

Lesson 1 • Developing a Writing Process

Builds a repeatable daily writing practice that generates material consistently. A reliable process is the difference between a hobbyist and a professional.

Lesson 2 • Writing for Collaboration and Rooms

Prepares students for the collaborative dynamics of a comedy writing room. Pitching, building on others' ideas, and receiving notes are professional survival skills.

Lesson 3 • Sustaining a Long-Term Comedy Career

Addresses the professional realities of a comedy writing career: networking, resilience, and creative longevity. Students build a personal career strategy.

Lesson 4 • Building a Comedy Portfolio

Guides students in selecting, polishing, and presenting their best work as a professional portfolio. The portfolio is the primary tool for getting hired.