How To Write Comedy: Discover the building blocks of sketches, jokes and sitcoms – and make them work - Softcover

Kirwood, Tony

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1845285255 ISBN 13: 9781845285258

Publisher: Robinson, 2014

Synopsis

First you have to come out with a flow of ideas and decide which ones will work. Then you must give them a tight structure, and then write crisp dialogue which builds in constant laughs. This practical but inspirational book guides new and more experienced writers step by step through the process of each comedy genre. It gives space for your creativity to shine as you gradually build your skills.

Beginning with sketches, the basic building blocks of comedy, you’ll find how you can quickly create great premises, and then structure them into two-minute slices of hilarity. The same techniques will help you write a string of jokes and one-liners.

· A practical guide to comedy as you write it, from creating mindmaps from which to glean your new material, to techniques of structure, characterisation and dialogue which work.
· Covers the distinct techniques and mindsets needed by each genre in turn, in the usual progression of a writer’s career - from jokes and sketches to sitcoms.

You’ll also learn how to find outlets for your work, from submitting to the BBC to staging your own show or filming comedy for the internet.

About this title

About the Author

Tony Kirwood is a writer, teacher and actor. His sketches have been broadcast on TV and radio in Britain and all over Europe and he has produced sketch shows on the London fringe. For the last seven years he has been teaching comedy writing and standup comedy at colleges, writers' weekends and at his own independent venues. His writing students have gone on to success selling material to the BBC, producing radio shows and winning competitions. His standup comedy students have reached the finals of national and London-wide competitions.
Tony's experience as an actor and standup comedian weaves a strong performance strand into the book which has sections on writing for actors and producing your work. Tony lives in London.

From the Back Cover

This hands-on book will take you, step by step, through the stages by which most successful comedy writers develop their craft and careers

This practical but inspirational book guides new and more experienced writers through the process of each comedy genre and gives space for your creativity to shine as you gradually build your skills.

Beginning with sketches - the basic building blocks of comedy - you’ll find how you can quickly create great premises, and then structure them into two-minute slices of hilarity. The same techniques will help you write a string of jokes and one-liners.

· A practical guide to comedy as you write it, from creating mind maps from which to glean your raw material, to techniques of structure, characterisation and dialogue which work.
· Covers the distinct approaches and mindsets needed by each genre in turn, in the usual progression of a writer’s career - from jokes and sketches to sitcoms.

You’ll also learn how to find outlets for your work, from submitting to the BBC to staging your own show or filming comedy for the internet.

Edition details

• Publisher: Robinson
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1845285255
• ISBN 13: 9781845285258
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208