Finding the Funny: A Guide to Comedy Writing

The video explores the art of comedy writing, emphasizing the importance of noticing everyday details and using them to create humor. It discusses the basic elements of storytelling, such as character and surprise, and provides techniques like mind mapping and the rule of three to generate comedic material. The video also highlights the use of real-life frustrations and the significance of rewriting in comedy writing.

What are the basic ingredients of storytelling mentioned in the video?

• Who, what, when, where, why, and how

• Conflict, climax, and resolution

• Introduction, body, and conclusion

• Characters, setting, and plot

Which of the following is a method for creating comedic characters?

• Finding their flaw and exaggerating it

• Making them perfect

• Ignoring their personality

• Focusing on their strengths

According to the incongruity theory of humor, what makes us laugh?

• Things that are predictable

• Things that are out of place or unexpected

• Things that are sad

• Things that are serious

What is a mind map used for in comedy writing?

• To organize a story's timeline

• To draw connections and find incongruities

• To plan the setting of a story

• To create character backstories

How can real-life frustrations be used in comedy writing?

• By ignoring them completely

• By avoiding them in stories

• By imagining them happening to a character

• By making them the main plot

What is the 'rule of three' in comedy writing?

• A pattern of two similar items followed by a contrasting one

• A rule to use three characters in every scene

• A method of repeating the same joke three times

• A sequence of three identical jokes

Where should the punchline be placed according to the video?

• At the end of the line

• In the middle of the joke

• At the beginning of the joke

• Randomly within the joke

Why are words with a k-sound considered comical?

• They are difficult to pronounce

• They are associated with serious topics

• They catch our ears and are inherently funny

• They are rarely used in jokes

What is the most important rule of writing funny according to the video?

• Always be serious

• Follow strict guidelines

• Have fun

• Avoid using humor

What did Charles Dickens say about laughter?

• It is a waste of time

• It is only for children

• It is irresistibly contagious

• It should be avoided