A straightforward, often humorous workbook approach to comedy writing as creative problem-solving. In it, veteran Hollywood comedy writer John Vorhaus offers his tools of the trade to writers, comics, and anyone else who wants to be funny. Among these indispensable tools are Clash of Context, Tension and Release, The Law of Comic Opposites, The Wildly Inappropriate Response, and The Myth of the Last Great Idea. Readers will learn that comedy = truth and pain (the essence of the comic situation), that fear is the biggest roadblock to comedy (kill the ferocious editor within and rich, useful comic ideas will flow), and much more.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This and Vorhaus's other book on writing, "Creativity Rules" have been invaluable in helping me write more shapely fiction and I immediately recommend them to anyone who tells me they want to write, too.
His ideas on story structure are presented in a fun and funny way, but whenever I approach other books on writing I feel like Vorhaus got there first with this light little book, before all the guys with their deeply important mythic cycle breezeblock-workbooks hung around their necks -- and he got there with a smile on his face.
His principles on comedy in this book have given me what feels like X-ray vision when it comes to watching popular culture of any kind. This is someone who's been paying close attention to how story, humour, and thinking work, and he's given us all his crib notes.
His ideas on story structure are presented in a fun and funny way, but whenever I approach other books on writing I feel like Vorhaus got there first with this light little book, before all the guys with their deeply important mythic cycle breezeblock-workbooks hung around their necks -- and he got there with a smile on his face.
His principles on comedy in this book have given me what feels like X-ray vision when it comes to watching popular culture of any kind. This is someone who's been paying close attention to how story, humour, and thinking work, and he's given us all his crib notes.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Houndog
Format:Paperback
I wish these books would be more specific in their title's. You get 'Comic toolbox', 'comedy writing' etc. all of them pretending to cover every comedic possibility. The truth is this book is a largely about old sitcoms and screenplays. Some of the additional 'tools'that you might use for stand-up etc are only given one paragraph and are only presented as ideas rather than giving a real grasp of how to use it. Interesting in places but a 'comic toolbox' it is not!
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By olly
Format:Paperback
I have read and re-read this book in its entirety, and in my view is invaluable if you want to become a more confident writer/performer or just want to have a deeper understanding of what humour actually is. The author offers many exercises for the reader to complete. This built up my confidence and made me realise that you can make a whole bunch of boring and mundane parts of life into supremely comedy sequences.
First the basics of what makes us laugh are explained. The book then moves into defining how to make your comic characters and to forget about why you think a certain aspect is unfunny.
After this the book is split up into seperate sections depending on which field of comedy you wish to pursue, be it sitcom, sketch, stand-up, and, ahem, practical jokes (it is hard to show sarcasm through text).
The end of the book applies to every comedian, helping you to perfect your work, and ultimately selling your material.
Unfortunately the book is not prfect throughout. Most explainations of certain comic situations involve the use of a 1980's film or tv series, so if you are under the age of, say 25 like me (or, if you didn't watch American shows of the 80's) I would strongly suggest buying Mel Helitzer's Comedy Writing Secrets, 2005. Apart from this I strongly recommend this book, trust me you can't go wrong.
First the basics of what makes us laugh are explained. The book then moves into defining how to make your comic characters and to forget about why you think a certain aspect is unfunny.
After this the book is split up into seperate sections depending on which field of comedy you wish to pursue, be it sitcom, sketch, stand-up, and, ahem, practical jokes (it is hard to show sarcasm through text).
The end of the book applies to every comedian, helping you to perfect your work, and ultimately selling your material.
Unfortunately the book is not prfect throughout. Most explainations of certain comic situations involve the use of a 1980's film or tv series, so if you are under the age of, say 25 like me (or, if you didn't watch American shows of the 80's) I would strongly suggest buying Mel Helitzer's Comedy Writing Secrets, 2005. Apart from this I strongly recommend this book, trust me you can't go wrong.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just stunning - an invaluable book
This book should be on every writers book shelf. And you should read it constantly. Galton and Simpson territory. Read more
Published 2 months ago by David Peers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Great book! Good for starting your understanding about humour's essentials and getting you started to notice what's funny in life. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Teemu
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for screenwriters
Great book for screenwriters with a lot of exercises, that are very practical and useful. i would recommend this book for students and professionals as well, looking to add humour... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Evgenia
4.0 out of 5 stars
Academic approach to writing
Mr. Vorhaus's real tool (if you'll excuse the expression) is that he's very good at analysis. This book does a broad sweep of some classic old sitcoms and screen plays or `telling... Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2010 by Sally Holloway, Author: Joke Writing (Serious Guide to)
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very funny book about being funny
I have read lots of similar books but this one definitely stands out. Why?
1) Full of practical, fun, inspiring exercises - more of a workbook than a theory book. Read more
1) Full of practical, fun, inspiring exercises - more of a workbook than a theory book. Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2010 by Di20
4.0 out of 5 stars
toolbox
really well written, really enjoyed reading it, was simple as well as
the methods it explained the different types of comedy was great. Read more
the methods it explained the different types of comedy was great. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2009 by kami
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excllent compact guide.
This book was recommended to me by a BBC producer when I started trying to write comedy. Yes it's simplistic, but it works. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2008 by john
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good- but use it wisely!
Doreen has never been a confident public speaker but last summer she was faced with the daunting challenge of delivering a speech in a local debate. Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2007 by Wayne Redhart
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW!
This is a thoroughly recommended book. I used to struggle at parties for things to talk about, which used to make me feel awkward, this book has opened my eyes and now I can make... Read more
Published on 21 May 2003 by Adam Gutteridge
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great way to make your sitcoms and screenplays funnier
This is the first book I bought on comedy writing and it managed to dispel my skepticism. Like the other review on here Chapter 7 is great and also the chapter on sitcoms is... Read more
Published on 10 April 2000 by N. A. Bhatti
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