How Do You Write Funny Dialogue?

Q. I am working on a screenplay. It's my second screenplay, but my first comedy. And while I am able to come up with funny situations and good physical humour, my dialogue is not funny. I would be thrilled with any suggestions you have. 

A. Well, to be honest, I'm not a comedy writer, and I've never tried to be. My writing is always darker, grimmer, more sombre, so I guess I'm not really the guy to ask about laughs!

So I called in a few favours, asked around the friends I have who DO write comedy - asked them to put their mind to describing what they do when they write comic dialogue, and they came up with.... precisely nothing.

Even guys who specialised in comedy, who are famous for their sparky dialogue, couldn't put this process into words in a way that they could really, hand on heart stand by and say - 'that's how it works.'

So I'm a bit stumped. Sorry.

But, you know, the one thing they did all say was that real comedy doesn't really come from the dialogue.

That's how the comedy reaches the viewers in the end of course, but if you just try to write funny lines the odds are you will only ever produce something that is shallow, and unsustaining.

The only recommendation these writer friends of mine all did have was to start with the characters, and look at what they want, and try to introduce a gap between their perception of themselves, and the reality of what they are really like.

Think of Basil Fawlty. Or the boss in The Office. Each time there is a massive gap between the sort of guy they see themselves to be, and the sort of guy we see them to be.  

Maybe that helps a little?  

Hmm. OK. If I don't have much to say about comedy then this person definitely does. One of the great things about the Screenwriting Goldmine is we have access to the real people in the industry. If you want to hear what a real comedy producer looks for then you should take time to listen to this audio interview . It's with Vanessa Haynes, who at the time of the interview was Head of Development at Baby Cow - one of the most successful, and individual, comedy production companies in the UK. Vanessa is great, and she takes time to lay open exactly what she is looking for. Listen to the interview here.

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Julie Stewart     |2009-06-15 11:47:27 I agree with your comment that comedey is not in the dialogue - unless it's standup comedy of course. But in a comdey film or sitcom the comedy is inherent in the situation - not comic characters "say" things that are stand alone funny - they don't see themselves as "comics" - the situation may be normal and everyday to them. In "Father Ted" none of the characters were self-consciously funny - they saw themselves as priests, retired priests and cleaner/housekeepers. It's what they said in conrtext made me wet my keks with laughter ! Reply | Quote 1   0

Anonymous  - Yup!   |2009-10-07 23:46:07 I have to agree! Comedy can't just rely on the writing alone. You need more! Acting, facial expressions, humorous situations or problems is what makes the audiance laugh...not just a bunch of words! I hope you understand what I'm saying! Good luck with your screenplay! Reply | Quote 1   0

SH Webb  - Comedy writing techniques   |2009-10-13 23:33:14 I agree that the comic timing of the performers and the brilliance of the director is what ultimately delivers the laughs, but none of those things mean squat without a good comic script. The best comic shows that stand out to me all include amazing dialogue. I can sit down and read the scripts to Father Ted and still laugh out loud. (Ok, maybe part of that is remembering seeing the shows). But I think that some essential elements that make those scripts funny is that they all had conflict, characters with seen and unseen motivations, thwarted aspirations and dialogue that challenges our expectations. Juxtaposing ordinary situations with dramatic dialogue and vice versa can have a great comic impact as well. So yeah, I think there are definitely techniques that can be considered when writing comedy, Reply | Quote 0   0

Anonymous  - How to be funny   |2009-10-14 19:50:49 I don't disagree with the thread but I do think funny dialog can be created and stand strong based on the writing. So how to do it? Not easy to answer since what is funny is often contextual and even personal. But certain comedy categories such as The Unexpected, NonTruths(lies), Wordplay & Puns can be used in dialog for comedic affect. You may want to look at some books on how to be funny just to kick start your brain with ideas/concepts. Other than that pay attention to the funny conversations you have with friends and why they are funny. Notice how there is alternating comments (like a verbal tennis match) that play off each other building up until concluded with a funny statement. Of course you can also review your favourite funny dialog scenes for inspiration. If all else fails, sit in on Parliament Reply | Quote 0   2

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