School Bus Goes VROOOOOOOM

On motivation and beating procrastination

Short & specific comedy writing idea: Riding the train to Crazy Town

Here’s a quick comedy tip on getting weird AF. I’ll occasionally talk to writers who want to write more comedy that’s absurd, madcap, silly, or surreal. 

Maybe these writers are working on grounded and personal stuff, or maybe they’re writing topical, timely humor that’s based in the real world. Or, maybe they’re coming more from the world of Serious Fiction(TM) or personal essay. Whatever the case, these writers feel the pull towards something zanier and more “out there.” That’s an understandable urge. What comedy purist doesn’t love writing that gets weird as hell? 

I have a simple tip for taking the train to crazy town: The audience will gladly stick along for that ride if you get there with a series of seemingly modest leaps.

Here’s an example I love that I’ve quoted before from writer Mike Lacher: 

“[Consider] Seinfeld, where the situation evolves from something pretty normal to something absurd. Starting the show with Newman trying to eat Kramer like a chicken would be too absurd… But when it comes after a series of steps where Kramer starts shaving with butter, Newman reads a book about cannibalism, and Kramer spills spices on himself, it’s pretty funny.” — humorist Mike Lacher.

In short, experiment with starting small and somewhat grounded. Try starting in a place that’s believable.

This does not mean start somewhere that’s entirely plausible or reasonable or that describes the real world or obeys the laws of medicine. 

Is shaving with butter reasonable? No. But I could buy that an eccentric person like Kramer would do it.