Create Humorous or Funny Stories
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What you will learn
- 1Write a humorous story paragraph using a silly character, silly problem, and silly solution
- 2Invent a silly character with one over-the-top, specific quirk
- 3Build a silly problem that grows from the character's quirk and escalates
- 4Resolve the scene with a silly solution that is absurd or out of proportion
- 5Use humor techniques such as exaggeration, specificity, and the rule of three
Mini Lesson
Being funny in writing is a skill — and like every skill, it can be learned. The best comic stories follow the same pattern: a ridiculous character gets into a ridiculous situation and solves it in the most ridiculous way possible. Humor lives in the gap between what is expected and what actually happens.
The three-part funny story structure
- Silly character — introduce a character with one over-the-top quirk or ambition. The sillier and more specific the detail, the funnier. Not "a weird dog" but "a dog who was convinced he was a world-famous chef and wore a tiny chef's hat at all times."
- Silly problem — the problem should grow directly from the character's quirk and spiral in an unexpected direction. Pile one disaster onto another for maximum effect.
- Silly solution — the solution should be absurd, illogical, or wildly out of proportion. It resolves the problem but creates an even funnier new reality.
Humor techniques
- Exaggeration (hyperbole) — push things far beyond reality: "the smoke was so thick it could be seen from three towns away."
- Surprise — set up one expectation and then deliver something completely different.
- Ridiculous specificity — vague things are never as funny as precise things. "A suitcase full of cheese" is funnier than "a lot of cheese."
- The rule of three — list two expected items and then a third surprising one: "He packed his toothbrush, his passport, and a single enormous cheese."
Keeping the character likable
- The funniest characters are ridiculous but earnest — they take their silly situation completely seriously.
- Give your character a specific name and one vivid detail that stays consistent throughout.
Words to know
Humor
The quality of being funny or amusing to the reader
e.g. Good humor comes from surprise and specificity.
Exaggeration
Pushing a detail far beyond reality for comic effect — also called hyperbole
e.g. The smoke could be seen from three towns away.
Quirk
An unusual, specific habit or belief that makes a character silly or memorable
e.g. His quirk was believing he was a world-famous chef.
Absurd
So wildly unreasonable it makes the reader laugh
e.g. He trained twelve tiny parrots to fan the smoke alarm.
Escalate
To keep making a problem bigger and more chaotic for comic effect
e.g. Each new disaster escalated the silliness.
Rule of three
A humor pattern that lists two expected items then a surprising third
e.g. His toothbrush, his passport, and a single enormous cheese.
Ask yourself: Is my character specific enough to be funny? Is my problem surprising? Is my solution more absurd than expected — does it escalate the silliness?
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