TED-ED: How to make your writing funnier - Cheri Steinkellner

The video tutorial explores the art of comedy writing, emphasizing the importance of noticing everyday details and using them to create humor. It discusses the role of comedic characters, the surprise element in humor, and the use of mind maps to generate ideas. The tutorial also highlights how real-life frustrations can be transformed into comedy and introduces techniques like the rule of three and punchline placement to enhance comedic writing.

What is a key element in making a story funnier according to the introduction?

• Providing specific details

• Using complex vocabulary

• Adding more characters

• Including a moral lesson

Which of the following is NOT a comedic character archetype mentioned?

• The know-it-all

• The lovable loser

• The heroic leader

• The neurotic

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

• Serious topics

• Predictable outcomes

• Things that are out of place

• Complex narratives

What is a suggested method for generating comedic ideas?

• Avoiding any connections

• Using a mind map

• Focusing solely on facts

• Sticking to traditional themes

What does Will Rogers suggest about comedy?

• It should be avoided in writing

• It is best when it is personal

• It is funnier when it happens to others

• It is always serious

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

• Repeating a joke three times

• Setting up a pattern and then breaking it

• Writing three drafts of every joke

• Using three characters in every scene

Why are words with a 'k' sound considered comical?

• They are rarely used

• They are difficult to pronounce

• They are associated with serious topics

• They catch our ears