how to write funny short stories

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How to Write Funny Stories

Last Updated: April 18, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 210,861 times.

Humor is an important part of everyday life. People use humor to help ease tense situations, relieve stress and sadness, and bond with others over a good laugh. If you have a great sense of humor and you're interested in writing, you may be wondering how to combine your talents. Writing a funny story is not as hard as you might think, so get started on your manuscript and let your comedic tales bring laughter to others.

Funny Story Help

Planning Your Story

• Observational humor involves pointing out humorous or mundane situations in everyday life, as well as poking fun at others, often in a playful manner.
• Anecdotal humor focuses on humorous personal stories, which may be slightly embellished for comedic effect.
• Burlesque involves caricature and imitation, often with exaggerated characteristics.
• Dark (or gallows) humor involves death and other types of misfortune, often with a comically pessimistic viewpoint.
• Dry (or deadpan) humor uses a lack of emotion or expression to deliver funny material.
• Farcical (or screwball) humor uses skits or satire involving highly improbable circumstances, often with exaggerated reactions and frantic movements.
• High (or highbrow) humor involves cultured or intelligent topics/themes.
• Hyperbolic humor uses excess and exaggeration for comedic effect.
• Ironic humor involves either a split from normalcy or a situation in which the audience knows more than the characters know.
• Satirical humor points out a person's or society's weaknesses and downfalls with comedic effect.
• Self-deprecating humor features the comedian or storyteller making fun of themself.
• Situational humor employs some elements of farce, screwball, or slapstick comedy to make fun of everyday situations.
• Slapstick involves acting out mock violence or bodily harm through physical comedy.

• Brainstorm ideas. If you're stuck, try watching funny movies and reading funny stories for inspiration.
• Write down strange or funny situations you've experienced in the past. Don't worry about making them funny right now. Just write out what you can remember about the experience and why you found it humorous.
• Choose a vivid setting that your audience will be able to imagine. They'll be better able to understand the humor if they can imagine the setting. The setting itself doesn't have to be funny (though it can be), but it should make sense for the characters and plot you're creating.
• Think about what you ultimately want your story to say. What will the overarching point of your story be? Is it a story about overcoming adversity? Is it a commentary on modern society?

• Your story's conflict should create tension. Because it's a funny story, that tension may be funny itself, or the circumstances around it (how it builds, or how it is resolved) could be humorous. Most commonly, the way you resolve the tension in a comedic story will provide much of the humor.
• Additionally, always create some kind of stakes. A good story has some outcome on the line for the characters, which may be funny or tragic (but needs to be realistic).
• Sketch out the rising action, climax, and falling action. The climax is typically the high point of tension, and the rising and falling actions build up and relieve that tension (respectively).
• In the Chris Farley movie Tommy Boy , for example, the conflict is the risk that Tommy's evil mother-in-law and her secret husband will sell the business and get away with it. The tension arises from that conflict as the narrative builds to a point where everything must be resolved.

• First person - this is where a story is told using "I," "me," and "mine." It's one character's subjective take on the events of your story, and the narrator is usually either the protagonist (the main character) or a close secondary character telling the protagonist's story.
• Second person - a story told in second person is told directly to "you" (without any "I," except in dialogue). The reader imagines herself as being part of the plot, with the action written in the following manner: "You follow him down the stairs, and you're surprised at what you see."
• Third person omniscient - this is where an omniscient (all-seeing and all-knowing) narrator delivers the story, without ever referring to an "I" or addressing the reader as "you." The reader comes to understand the events, thoughts, and motivations each character experiences.
• Third person limited - while told in a similar narrative style as third person omniscient, third person limited only offers insights into the thoughts/feelings of one character. The narrative follows the protagonist and delivers the world as he/she experiences it.

• Let's say your story is about a man who is invited out to lunch. He shows up to lunch wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops, plus he brought his dog. However, the restaurant turns out to be an upscale 5-star eatery with a dress code. Although the situation itself might not seem funny, it's a great source of humor because it flips your expectations. By contrasting the classy restaurant with the man's casual attire, you can set the scene for readers and help them relate to the character's funny situation.

Mine your own unique experiences for inspiration. "It's always good to take something that's happened in your life and make something of it comedically."

• Remember that there are many different kinds of humor. Your characters might be sarcastic, dumb, observant, and so on.
• The Three Stooges program offers a great example of funny characters. Their style of humor was predominantly slapstick, but much of the humor arises from their personalities, quirks, and reactions to both situations and each other.
• Let each character's humor arise from his or her personality, and be consistent with that character's traits.
• Don't worry about crafting the character's entire backstory yet (though you will have to do this once you begin the actual writing process). For now, focus on getting a clear idea in your head about what the characters look like and how they behave.

Writing the Story

• A good first paragraph should hook your reader's attention and interest.
• Don't worry about making the beginning funny; you can always insert humor during the revision process. Focus on engaging the reader by evoking the scene or situation.
• Try incorporating something unusual, something unexpected, a striking action, or an interesting conflict in the first paragraph. This creates tension and a sense of urgency, and the reader will want to continue.

• Always know more about a character than you'll ever actually use in the story. Flesh out the character in your head before you begin writing so that he or she will feel real to you and to the reader.
• Brainstorm what makes this character unique. Consider what he looks like, his hobbies, temperament, phobias, faults, strengths, secrets, defining moments/memories, etc.
• Make sure you convey four main characteristics to your readers: a character's appearance, actions, speech, and thoughts. Any other details can support those characteristics, but without those four your character may not come to life for a reader.

• Many people find that humorous stories/anecdotes are funnier than an actual joke. Jokes can elicit a laugh, but they're short lived and generally less memorable than a true story of embarrassment or mistaken identity.
• Don't just stop at your own personal anecdotes. Mine your previous conversations with friends, family, and coworkers, and try to incorporate their moments of humor.
• David Sedaris is a great comedic writer who uses personal anecdotes as a jumping off point to talk about the comedic (and at times tragic) aspects of human nature and experience. Try reading his essays online or pick up one of his many books for inspiration and examples.

• Use specific details that illustrate the point you're trying to make. Instead of telling the reader a character is sad, show him crying and running off to be alone.
• Let the reader assemble the pieces of the scene or event on her own. This will help the reader feel your emotions more genuinely.
• Be specific and use concrete descriptions. Avoid the abstract or intangible, and instead focus on something the reader can imagine seeing, hearing, touching, or feeling.

Revising Your Story to Make It Funnier

• Find a new and interesting way to say something familiar. This can be very funny, and it also keeps your readers on their toes. [9] X Research source
• Try using funny adjectives in your descriptions. Again, the focus should be on saying something in a way that surprises or delights the reader.
• Many comedians find that words with a hard "k" sound (like "car" or "quintuplet") simply sound funnier. The same is true for words with a hard "g" sound (like "guacamole" or "garrulous")

• Use similes and metaphors that evoke familiar images. [11] X Research source For example, you might say something like, "Making it through this week will be about as easy as painting an elephant's toenails; I hope I make it out alive."
• A simile is a comparison that uses "like" or "as". An example of a simile would be, "Your love is like a flower."
• A metaphor is a comparison that describes something as though it were actually something else. An example of a metaphor would be, "My heart is a pounding drum."
• A humorous comparison might be something like, "He danced like a horse drunk on wine...but he was still a better dance partner than I was."
• Try out different comparisons until you find one that is effective and makes you laugh, then test it out on someone else to see if they find it funny.

• It's okay to poke fun at others close to you (your friends, family, etc.). But if you just hammer on them without taking a jab at yourself it may come across as mean or arrogant.
• Worrying about offending others can stifle your comedy. [13] X Research source Making fun of yourself lets readers know it's okay to laugh along with you, since no one else is being unfairly targeted.
• Talk about personal experiences, things that have happened to your friends/family/coworkers, and any other aspects of your life that have brought you funny stories - just be sure to bring the mockery down on yourself at least as much as you make fun of others.

• Let your readers discover the humor of your situation on their own. That will make for stronger storytelling, and it will let your jokes land better for the reader.
• This ties in with the "show, don't tell" rule. Just as you showed your reader a scene or a character with skillful description, you should likewise show your reader the funny description or action sequence without saying it was funny.

• The rule of threes relies on pairing two similar ideas/events/people together so that the reader recognizes a pattern forming.
• Once the reader expects the pattern to continue, you deliver a third idea/event/person that goes in a direction the reader did not expect.
• This works best with groups of three because it's a low enough number that most people will easily remember each item, but it's also just enough items that the reader will come to see a pattern and expect it to continue.
• As an example of the rule of three, you might say something like, "I don't know what's wrong with my dog; I've taken him to obedience classes, I learned how to discipline him, but he still hasn't helped me meet anyone at the dog park."

• Comedic timing may involve an element of surprise, misdirection, or simply building suspense in order to let a funny line land at the best possible moment.
• An example of comedic timing might involve writing something like, "This dating tip always works and it will drive your partner crazy...except for when it fails."

• Don't lose focus of what your story is actually about. It can be a very funny story, but it needs to be a strongly-written story first.
• Try to limit the use of humor throughout the story. That way, when a funny line really lands well, it will be memorable and exceptionally funny.

• It may be helpful to set your story aside for a few days before approaching it to edit and revise. When you look at your story with a fresh pair of eyes, you're more likely to catch the mistakes that you might otherwise have missed.
• Consider having a friend read your story, and ask for feedback. You should also ask your friend to circle or underline any typos, grammatical/syntactical errors, and weak or unresolved segments of the plot.

Expert Q&A

• Consider writing a parody. Parodies can be very funny, and it might be easier because you start with an existing storyline. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Make your stories unpredictable. Always try to predict your readers' expectations and deliver something totally unexpected. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Remember, ideas won't come to you on your own. You need to be patient and find your own inspiration. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Don't overdo your humor. Too many funny parts crammed into a single story might overwhelm or even bore a reader. It's better to make a few funny parts count, and they'll be more memorable and draw more laughs. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 0

Things You'll Need

You might also like.

• ↑ http://www.dailywritingtips.com/20-types-and-forms-of-humor/
• ↑ http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative1/shortstory/
• ↑ http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/how-to-write-funny-dialogue-what-i-learned-writing-storming/
• ↑ http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/how-to-mix-humor-into-your-writing
• ↑ http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/may02/seven-steps-to-better-writing-humor-5026
• ↑ http://writetodone.com/how-to-write-funny/
• ↑ http://thewritepractice.com/four-commandments-to-writing-funny/

About This Article

The key to writing funny stories is to come up with funny scenarios and using comedic language to describe the action. Choose a vivid setting for your story to take place in and come up with a funny incident for your plot to build off of. For instance, the setting could be a high school gym and the inciting incident could be a football player dressed as a cheerleader at a pep rally. Introduce your characters by describing who they are and what they look like so your audience can imagine the situation. Your descriptions themselves can be funny and help you set the scene. Try detailing 2 things that shouldn’t normally go together or describe the absurdity of how a person or place looks. Avoid actually telling your readers that something is funny. Instead, let the humor in the situation and the characters make it funny. For tips about how to work in funny anecdotes into a story, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write Comedy — Tips, Techniques & Script Examples

A sk any creative writer what the hardest genre to write is and they’ll probably tell you that it’s comedy. That’s because story structure can only bring you so far in comedy writing – the fact of the matter is that if you aren’t funny, you aren’t funny. So how do you become funny? Do you read joke books? No! Like everything else, you practice until you become perfect – well, not perfect per se – most comedy writers would be happy with just okay. We’re going to show you how to write comedy, with script examples from 21 Jump Street and Curb Your Enthusiasm , but first, let’s define comedy writing.

Guide to Comedic Writing

What is comedy writing.

In simplest terms, comedy writing is a genre of writing that is intended to be funny. There’s much more to it than that, but first and foremost, the chief goal is to make the audience laugh. Let’s watch a quick video to hear one of the most successful comedy writers of all-time, Jerry Seinfeld, explain the basics of comedy writing.

Writing Comedy  •  Jerry Seinfeld on How to Write a Joke With The New York Times

Comedy writing is something you don’t see people doing. It’s a secretive thing.

— Jerry Seinfeld

As Seinfeld suggests, comedy writing is a very secretive thing. One reason why is because most comedy writers feel like their material has to be perfect before it’s presented. 

Think about it this way: let’s say you write a dramatic stage play. There’s no way to tell if the audience hated it – except if they fell asleep, then I’d say it’s fair to say they hated it. Now let’s say you write a comedic play. If the audience doesn’t laugh at the jokes, then you know they hated it.

You know, they know, everybody knows – a joke that doesn’t land is a special type of shame . It’s for this reason that comedy writing can feel so personal. The most important thing to remember is that nobody is funny 100% of the time, but by taking inspiration from some of the best, we can improve our craft.

Comedy writing doesn’t have to be a solitary craft. Due to the advent of the internet, comedy is more collaborative now more than ever. This next video explains how the Lonely Island sketch “Dear Sister” helped to usher in a new era of comedy.

How to Write Comedy  •  How ‘Dear Sister’ Changed Comedy by Karsten Runquist

The difference between Seinfeld’s traditionalist advice on comedy writing and Karsten Runquist’s new-age analysis is that one says that comedy is achieved by plot ; the other says that plot is achieved by comedy. Think of memes for example: what makes a meme funny? Well, I’d say memes are funny because somebody doesn’t “get it.”

A meme is like an inside joke between millions of people – but once it breaks out of that “inside” bubble, then it ceases to be funny. This teaches us something essential about comedy writing; almost always, somebody has to be the butt of the joke. No matter how big or small, somebody has to be made fun of. It’s this very notion that makes comedy writing so difficult. 

Rules of Comedy, Explained

Tips and tricks for writing comedy.

One of the most difficult aspects of comedy script writing is finding the right person to perform it. You could write something really clever, but if it’s performed in a tone that’s incongruent to what you mean, then it’s not going to sound funny.

So when writing any sort of comedy, don’t be afraid to add emphasis. That’s true in more ways than one – emphasize the punch-lines to your jokes, emphasize specificity, and emphasize contradictions. 

Like any type of writing, comedy writing relies on conflict . In this scene from Meet the Parents , the family patriarch Jack interrogates his daughter’s boyfriend Greg. Pay attention to how screenwriters Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg entice us with character conflict.

How to Write Comedy  •  Watch the Meet the Parents Lie Detector Test Scene

I wanted to look at this scene for a couple reasons. The first is that it’s a great structural example of how to put together a comedic scene. The mean dad, clueless boyfriend trope is just that... a trope. So how do the writers make it feel refreshing and new?

Well, it starts with emphasis and exaggeration. Jack isn’t just any dad, he’s a former CIA operative. And Greg’s not just a clueless boyfriend, he’s a walking bad-luck charm. So in a structural sense, this relationship is primed for comedic conflict.

Here are five great tips for writing a comedy scene:

• Take a typical situation and exaggerate it
• Let tension build
• Use specificity
• Embarrass someone
• Finish with a bang

Now let’s see how Meet the Parents  utilizes these five strategies.

• Greg is visiting his girlfriend’s family. This is a typical situation – and at some level, it’s something we can all relate to. But it’s exaggerated by Jack’s CIA background.
• Say you’re the writer of a story like  Meet the Parents  and you have a great structural conflict between two characters (Jack and Greg) – how do you take that tension and build it? Well, start by putting the two characters in close proximity.
• Specificity is a double-edged sword in comedy writing. Notice how Greg is wearing Jack’s pajamas with the little JB insignia on the chest-pocket? That’s funny. Notice how there are a bunch of pictures of Jack undercover in the CIA? That’s funny. And it’s funny because it’s not forced on us.
• Jack embarrasses Greg by asking him uncomfortable questions. Situationally, this is funny, and it’s elevated by Robert De Niro’s great deadpan delivery. 
• Like Jerry Seinfeld said, always save the best joke for last. It’s an expectation in comedy writing that you’re going to end with a bang. In this scene from  Meet the Parents , it’s when Jack asks Greg if he watches porn.

WRITING COMEDY TIPS

How to make your script funny.

Would you believe me when I say there’s a secret technique you can use to instantly make any scene funnier? No, that sounds too good to be true! But alas, it is.

The technique known as irony  – which is defined as being the opposite of what we expect – can turn any scene on its head.

How to Write Comedy  •  21 Jump Street Screenplay

21 Jump Street went through a lengthy rewrite process. In this revision of the script, undercover cops Jenko and Schmidt arrive at a scene somewhat akin to what we see in the original tv show. There’s nothing wrong with the scene as it was originally written – but the final version of the scene shows just how much a difference irony can make.

Here, Jenko takes the lead, expecting to command the crowd like he did in high school. But as Bob Dylan famously said, the times are a-changin’. 

How to Write Comedy  •  Watch 21 Jump Street 

We expect Jenko to be considered “cool.” But instead, he’s condemned. Conversely, we expect Schmidt to be considered “lame.” But instead, he’s celebrated. This is irony . This character dynamic makes 21 Jump Street feel refreshing. If you’re considering writing a comedy script, think about how contrived character stereotypes can be subverted with irony. 

Writing Comedy Taboos

Things to avoid in comedy writing.

Most comedians will tell you that no topic is off-limits in comedy writing. And although that may be true, just remember that it’s really hard to make certain things funny – and you’re not going to win audiences over making jokes about taboo subject matter. 

We’ve all heard the saying “read the room” before, but how do we “read the room” when we’re writing alone? Well, one way is to take notes when you’re out in public, then transcribe them into a routine, sketch, or scene later. If you know Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm , then this process may sound familiar.

This next video explains Larry David’s writing process for Curb in further detail.

Comedy Writing Techniques  •  How to Write Comedy Like Larry David by StoryDive

The reason I bring up Curb in regards to “what to avoid in comedy writing” is because Larry David is a master of navigating that ever-so-delicate line. Take this clip from Curb Your Enthusiasm Season Nine, Ep. 8 for example.

How to Write Humor  •  Study Perspective in this Curb Your Enthusiasm Clip

In this montage scene, a Muslim investigator looks into Larry’s past to see if he deserves a fatwa. In each part of the montage, a delicate subject matter is addressed. Why is it funny? Well, it’s all about perspective. In Curb Your Enthusiasm , Larry is consistently made out to be the bad guy. By framing him as the good guy, we see the ludicrousy of the show’s situations in a new light.

Don’t be afraid to play with perspective. Sometimes, the comedy of a scene is found in a perspective you would’ve never guessed. Consider framing your comedic situations in different ways.

This experimentation will often help you find the best angle to present your jokes.

Comedy lessons from Gene Wilder

We touched on a lot of the foundational aspects of comedy writing, but there’s so much more to it than what we went over here. In this next article, we break down how to direct actors, with special emphasis on how Gene Wilder changed comedy. By studying Wilder’s comedic style, we can learn a lot about how to be a better comedy writer.

Up Next: Directing Comedy Actors →

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Quick links on this page:

• introduction
• comedy should be used to support an amazing story
• how to use humour in stories
• things to avoid in comedy writing
• learn from humorous films and books
• humour is subjective
• funny stories
• useful links to other comedy resources

Introduction

This post contains lots of comedy writing tips and advice to help you pen a successful funny short story.

I’ve used some real-life humour writing examples, taking extracts from my own published stories to clearly illustrate how the tips were used in practice to achieve success.

I’ve also highlighted some common mistakes made by authors trying to write humorous tales so you can avoid them.

ha ha ha haaa ha haah haha ha ha hah he heh heeeee ha haaaaaa he

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Comedy Should Be Used to Support an Amazing Story

Writing comedy isn’t easy. Many authors struggle to place humour so it sits naturally and unobtrusively within a story.

I run and judge To Hull & Back , a humorous short story competition offering a £1,000 top prize. Because of this, I’m fortunate to read all sorts of different styles of comedic stories from writers residing all over the world. The best funny short stories I read all have the following in common:

The writer uses humour to support a great story.

They do not try to be funny for the sake of being funny.

Think of a story like a roast dinner. The main focus is the meat – beef, lamb, pork, chicken or whatever. Gravy is used to compliment the meal. In this analogy, the story is the meat and the humour is the gravy.

If the beef is chewy, or the chicken dry, an awesome gravy is not going to make the meal enjoyable, even if it’s cooked by Nigella Lawson.

A story is the same. The characters need to be excellent, the plot gripping, the idea original and engaging, the presentation professional. The humour should simply complement the story, giving it style and making it more enjoyable to read.

The same principle can be applied to any style or genre of writing. For example…

Just because you have a vampire, a derelict castle, some screaming virgins and copious amounts of gore, does not mean you have created a horror story filled with suspense and intrigue.

Just because you have a handsome hero who can drive really fast without crashing, stand in the middle of gunfight without getting shot and blow shit up without hurting any innocent bystanders, does not mean you have an entertaining action thriller.

The story itself – its subject matter, its moral, its meaning – is the most important aspect of any successful tale.

me looking stunning with lights on my head, ho ho ho

How to Use Humour in Stories

I find the best way is through:

Let’s look at these individually. I’ll use some real-life examples in this section.

If you give your characters a sense of humour – particularly the central character whose viewpoint you are likely to be writing from – their voice can add a comedic tone to the story in a natural way. For example, they might make funny observations about events, the situation or other characters and use amusing synonyms.

In my story ‘ Devil’s Crush ’, the main character, Joshua, has a strong sense of humour – it’s all that’s allowed him to keep his mind after losing his legs at war in Afghanistan. This allowed me to add a tinge of dark humour to the story, despite its serious subject matter.

In the story, Joshua encounters a demon. This is his description of the demon when it first appears:

I know the demon is a he because he’s naked. He’s a he with the right to be proud of just how much of a ‘he’ he is. His skin is the colour of burnt rust, his body slender yet muscular and he wears a goatee on his chin more like the animal it is named after than a man. His two horns are long and curved like warped blades of molten rock, his hairline a mass of flickering flames and in his eye sockets are two glowing coals which ping and hiss like the embers of a dying fire in the breeze. He is the source of the acrid stench which fills the room.

The second sentence in this paragraph delivers an element of humour without detracting from the description. This comes from Joshua’s voice – the way he sees and describes things. As the story is told in the first person, I used this tone throughout. It’s not laugh out loud hilarious; it simply adds an amusing undertone that helps engage the reader. Joshua’s sense of humour also helps develop his character, adding depth and believability to a fantasy story in a subtle manner.

The situations characters find themselves in can be amusing. This is often used very successfully in sitcoms.

The danger here is making the situation slapstick in an unbelievable way, with characters acting out of character or a plot being manipulated to generate a laugh. This can feel unnatural and disengage a reader. While common in sketch shows, this is not appropriate for a short story. Readers expect more depth.

When writing, I find it’s the way the characters react to the situation that makes it funny, not the situation itself.

An example can be seen in the video below. This is a very famous scene from the UK sitcom Only Fools & Horses .

Del falls through the bar - famous Only Fools & Horses clip

It’s the way Trigger (played by Roger Lloyd-Pack) reacts to the situation after Del (played by David Jason) has fallen over that makes this so funny.

Here’s an example from one of my stories. In ‘Shot in the Head and Left For Dead’ the main character, Dave, is in a band. He’s playing at Wembley Stadium in London and half the crowd have turned into zombies. It’s the way Dave observes, describes and reacts to what he’s seeing that makes the situation amusing.

There’s a gore-fest of pandemonium going on in the audience that would make Quentin Tarantino proud. Half of the crowd are trying to eat the other half’s brains. The ones who are reluctant to have their heads ripped open are trying to run away and, or, kill their attackers with anything they can use as a weapon, including bits of other people. Things couldn’t be redder – it’s like a tomato puree production factory.

Before I can fully digest the scene, a mass of smoking devilry dives out of the sky and starts munching zombies like a ravenous bulldozer. It’s about the size of a three-bed semi. Its teeth are as big as buses and it stinks like sulphur.

I look at the rest of the band. None of them seem to be zombies, although it’s always hard to tell with the rhythm section. At the side of the stage I notice two of the roadies eating one of the sound guys, while my guitar tech is using a spare Les Paul to try and behead what used to be our A&R man. Everything is turning to shit faster than swill through a pig.

I grab Maiden’s arm. "Fuck the fuck," he says. "What the bastard?" Eloquently put. Kind of sums up what I was thinking.

"Noise," I scream. "We need to make lots of it."

He looks at me like I’m mental. To be fair, he might be right. Bollocks to it. This zombie-monster-fest is coming to an end. Now.

The events that are occurring are fantastical. Dave’s voice brings humour into the situation. The characters are confused, not acting quickly, which seemed believable to me. While the situation might be so ludicrous it’s amusing, the characters remain in character – they don’t act how I want them to act; they act how they should, given what’s happening around them.

I often write without excessive plotting as I find this allows me to develop characters naturally in this manner. I always write with an end in mind (it helps steer a plot in the right direction) but don’t plan the detail. It works for me. Why not try it yourself?

What characters say and how they react to what is said can be very funny. Dialogue is the method I use most frequently to add humour into a story.

‘Death of a Superhero’ is a story that contains a lot of amusing dialogue (it isn’t available to read online, but is in the 1st To Hull & Back short story anthology or you can hear it on YouTube ). While what is said is amusing, the main purpose of the speech is to reveal the story and develop characters.

In this story the main character is Death. He is faced by a recently deceased woman who is pretending to be Batman.

“You’re listed here as Doris Claymore,” he said.

“Never heard of her,” said Batman.

Death reached out and stroked the decaying blade of the scythe that rested against his desk. “This is quite simple, Doris. To progress peacefully into the afterlife, you need to confirm your name. It means I can be certain of who you are, what you’ve achieved in life and, therefore, where you should spend eternity.” Death dished out his best glare. As glares go, it was pretty impressive. In the past, it’d made stars think twice about shooting. “Can you tell me your real name please?”

“Already told you. I’m Batman.”

“How can I put this politely?”

“No need to be polite,” said Bat-Doris. “Got skin as thick as armadillos, us crime fighters.”

Given the invite, Death decided to be blunt. “Not only is Batman fictional, he…” Death left a pause which he hoped would scream with meaning, “…is a man.”

“You have breasts.”

“They’re pecs.”

“No, they’re breasts,” said Death, “and Lycra does little to mask their magnitude. I feel I should add that Batman was always depicted as an athletic individual, at the peak of physical fitness. Clearly, you’re not.”

A tear trickled from beneath Doris’s mask, suggesting her skin might not be as thick as she’d led Death to believe. “OK,” she whispered, “point taken.”

Despite the scythe, the rotting cloak and the distinct lack of flesh coating his crumbling bones, Death was a sensitive individual. He disliked causing upset. Most people found the experience of dying traumatic enough, without him being disagreeable.

In a more gentle tone, he said, “Good. What’s your real name?”

“Bruce Wayne.”

As you can see, the dialogue in this extract helps to develop character and reveal the plot, making the reader want to find out what happens next. Death and Doris have clear voices – Death has an underlying sense of humour, while the humour is Doris’s words come from her defiance to admit the truth. The question is, why is she behaving like this? Well, if you read (or listen to) the whole story you’ll find out.

'Death of a Superhero', a funny short story performed by Christopher Fielden

Things to Avoid in Comedy Writing

Being funny for the sake of being funny.

Don’t try and be funny for the sake of it. Humour needs to evolve and present itself naturally. If you chuck in a slapstick moment when your story doesn’t need it, it can disengage the reader.

For example:

Arthur is the central character in a story. He’s having to come to terms with how he’s slowly losing his wife to Alzheimer’s. The story is written in a humorous style – Arthur is an amusing character and his sense of humour allows him to find ways of dealing with the pain his wife’s situation is causing him.

If, during the story, Arthur is at B&Q and needs to urinate but is so desperate that he decides to use a display toilet and gets caught by a member of staff, is that funny? Does it fit?

Well, it depends how it’s handled.

If the situation is placed in the story to generate a laugh via bared willies in a busy shop and inappropriate torrents of urine, then no. The reader will not be able to suspend their disbelief. They will disengage from the story and ask questions like:

• Why didn’t Arthur just go to the toilet provided for customers?
• If he was that out of control of his body, wouldn’t he just wet himself?
• Why am I reading this story? I think I’ll stop…

The act Arthur is performing wouldn’t seem realistic or believable. Yes, I’ve seen very similar situations presented in stories submitted to the short story competition I run many times.

However, if Arthur acted like this on purpose, to gain attention or help, and the B&Q staff member was a kind young man named Jim who wanted to help Arthur, then the situation and their conversation could be presented in an amusing manner. It would have a point and add to the story, revealing character development and plot. In this situation, it’s not the bared willies and public urinating that’s funny, it’s the resulting conversation and reason behind the situation occurring in the first place.

Bodily Functions

In everyday life, farting, poo, wee and snot will always be funny. However, in writing, these subjects have been covered comprehensively for decades by extremely talented writers and actors. It’s very hard to come up with an original way of inserting amusing bodily functions into a story.

I’m not saying don’t do it, I’m simply saying be very careful if you do – make sure your story requires Grandma to fart, for example, rather than just putting it in there for the sake of it.

Because Pauly (a good friend of mine) is a teacher, I’ve been lucky enough to judge a children’s humorous writing competition for his school. 95% of the stories kids aged 7-9 write involve farting, poo, wee, vomit and/or snot. That’s what children find funny.

Bear that in mind when writing for adults. While some of us still smirk when we drop a violently aromatic guff in a confined space shared with a loved one, it doesn’t always translate into a gripping focus for a story’s plot.

When I judged the competition for the school, I did this short video for Pauly to show the kids. I thought I'd include it here as it's about humorous writing.

me, talking about comedy writing

Avoid clichés. When you read a lot of short stories, like a magazine editor or a competition judge might, you encounter a lot of clichés – the same hackneyed phrases, used time and again (see what I did there? I’ve highlighted it in blue in case you missed it…).

Clichés become clichés because they are commonly used. This means they are not original. They do not help a writer create a unique voice. They do not engage a reader. They are unlikely to help you become a published author. More often than not (I did it again, did you notice?) they will lead to stories being rejected.

Cliché doesn’t just refer to common phraseology. It also refers to overused themes and subject matters. For example, I find a lot of older writers tend to write about people struggling to come to terms with retirement:

• Wives that find their husband’s constant presence annoying
• Husbands who decide to take up DIY to fill their time and make hilarious (often not…) mistakes
• Couples realising they have grown apart now their children have left home and try to do something about it

I see these types of stories a lot in the competition I run. If you’re going to tackle a subject matter like this, you must come up with an original angle.

Below is a video by InkTears CEO Anthony Howcroft. It’s entitled ‘How to Win a Short Story Competition’. It’s worth watching the whole thing, but pay special attention to tip number 1.

Exclamation Marks

Exclamation marks do not make your writing funnier. If you use more than 1 at a time, they do not exponentially add hilarity to the previous sentence. In fact, they can have the opposite effect.

In my experience, many writers overuse exclamation marks, especially when trying to write comedy. There is plenty of advice on this elsewhere and opinions do differ. Still, the best comments I’ve seen are by Terry Pratchett and Elmore Leonard which were shared by the Guardian on Twitter.

The humour in a story should be natural and obvious. Exclamation marks should not be necessary for a reader to understand the joke. I don’t use exclamation points at all in my own short stories. When I edit the To Hull & Back humorous short story anthology every year, I remove them all. Am I right to do so? Feel free to discuss in the comments below.

Canadian author, Olivier Breuluex, recently took me up on the offer at the end of the previous paragraph. Our discussion was interesting, so I created a blog post from it. You can read it here .

Learn From Funny Films & Humorous Books

You can learn a lot from others. When you read a funny book, or watch a comedy film or TV programme, enjoy it, but ask questions:

• What makes you laugh?
• Is it the situation?
• Is it something someone has said?
• Is it how people interact?
• Is it the strength of character?
• Is it gags and jokes?

I find watching funny scenes a second time allows me to appreciate the techniques used to make someone laugh. First time through, it makes you chuckle. Second time through, ask yourself why you found it funny. You can then apply the same techniques to your own writing.

The authors I’d suggest reading are Terry Pratchett, Tom Holt and Douglas Adams. Yes, I like funny fantasy stories, and these gentlemen are the best in the field. Whether you like their style or not, you can learn from reading their work.

Here are a list of the funniest books I’ve read:

• A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
• Paint Your Dragon by Tom Holt
• Puckoon by Spike Milligan
• The Discworld Novels by Terry Pratchett (I think there are 44 novels in total – see reference here )
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (and all the sequels) by Douglas Adams
• The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend

TV Programmes

I think Only Fools and Horses is a great TV series to study. The stories are good, the characters incredibly strong. It’s usually the way they interact and talk to each other that makes the situation funny. John Sullivan had a talented way of switching from quite an emotional scene to something funny in a natural way. You can learn a lot building character from watching that programme – Del Boy and Rodney are incredibly strong and identifiable.

Others that have wide appeal and have been very successful:

• Absolutely Fabulous
• Fawlty Towers
• Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
• I’m Alan Partridge
• My Name is Earl
• Only Fools & Horses
• Police Squad!
• The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
• The Simpsons
• The Vicar of Dibley

Well, there are many. The ones that make me laugh the most are:

• Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
• Blazing Saddles
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Dr. Strangelove
• Dumb & Dumber
• Ghostbusters
• Monty Python’s Life of Brian
• Shaun of the Dead
• The Big Lebowski
• The Blues Brothers
• The Man with 2 Brains
• The Naked Gun
• The Pink Panther Strikes Again
• The Producers
• There’s Something About Mary
• This Is Spinal Tap
• Trading Places
• Wayne’s World

Humour is Subjective

It’s worth mentioning that humour is subjective. What one person finds hilarious might irritate another. You can never hope to please everyone when writing a funny story, so don’t try to. Select an audience and try and appeal to them.

For example, I tend to write fantasy stories, and add the humour via the methods described in this post. It’s not ‘laugh out loud’ hilarious humour, it’s more subtle and underlying, often giving the stories a dark undertone. This doesn’t appeal to everyone, but I have been successful with the style and had a lot of stories published.

So don’t give up if one person doesn’t like your work. Listen to a wide range of opinions before deciding whether your use of comedy works or not.

Funny Stories

There are a lot of comedy short stories available to read for free in the short stories section of the site. Many are written by me, but there are some by other authors. I am now publishing work from other writers. Please visit my submissions guideline page to learn more.

As a measure of quality control, every story featured on my website has been previously published, either through short story competitions, magazines or writing journals. So each story has been successful and deemed as being publishable by professional editors and competition judges.

Accompanying each story you will find information about how and why it was successful. This is to help other writers learn and apply tips and advice that are proven to work to their own writing.

You can also read lots of humorous short stories in the To Hull & Back anthologies. So far I’ve released two. At the time of writing I’m currently in the third year of running the competition.

You can learn more about the anthologies via the links below:

• To Hull & Back short story anthology 2016 contains 29 humorous short stories
• To Hull & Back short story anthology 2015 contains 26 humorous short stories
• To Hull & Back short story anthology 2014 contains 27 humorous short stories

Useful Links to Other Comedy Resources

Below are some useful links to other posts about writing humour.

• How Do You Write Good Comedy? by the Independent – features tips from comedy writers like Andy Hamilton, Graham Linehan, Holly Walsh and Ross Noble
• Comedy Writing Tips by the Guardian – concentrates on comedy script writing

How To Write a Short Story, Get Published & Make Money

If you found the information in this post useful, you might like my book ‘ How to Write a Short Story, Get Published & Make Money ’.

It contains lots of very detailed information about my experiences of writing funny short stories and getting them published. I use a lot of real-life case studies in the book, showing the reader whole stories rather than extracts, so they can fully understand how I used the different tips and advice to achieve success. I also share details of how much money I’ve made through writing, giving readers a clear idea of how much work is involved and what they can expect to earn from their own writing.

As always, your comments are welcome and I do my best to reply to everyone.

Please use the form below.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy .

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Shirley M I spent yesterday learning how to write horror stories so here is another option, many thanks.

Chris Fielden Thanks, Shirley. Good luck with your horror writing :-)

Steph M Useful, thanks Chris. I'm up to over 33,000 words now on my book Top Hat Man. Phew.

Chris Fielden Thanks Steph.

That’s excellent news about the book – quite an achievement. Congratulations :-)

Chris D Hey Chris, I have actually been thinking about the issue of comedy in the modern age a lot... there is an awful lot of political correctness out there and it is interesting to me to see that things that people of our age find (found?) funny severely disturb younger people. I have a number of different projects in various states of disarray no doubt some of which could get me tarred and feathered in certain quarters.

Paul B Thanks Chris, I'm going to start working on a humourous piece this week so thanks.

Chris Fielden Chris - I know what you mean. I tend to ignore being PC – I think it can go too far sometimes. As long as you laugh with others and not at them I think you can poke fun at most things without causing offence. That’s what I like to believe, anyway!

Paul - excellent, good luck with it :-)

Mark F Nice!

Jan D Hello Chris. Humour, as you so rightly say, is subjective. Fantasy and Science Fiction attempts at humour leave me cold. As does resorting to foul language. Wee and poo jokes are hilarious to children and old boys.

I think humour should be used to break down political, cultural and religious barriers. Let's all laugh at ourselves and others. Beneath every successfully funny joke lurks something sad or serious. My interest (I'm 65 soon) is in comedy script writing.

Wishing you continuing success with your short stories.

Chris Fielden Hi Jan, thanks for commenting. I agree - using humour to break down barriers is a good idea.

I wish you the best of luck with your script writing endeavours.

Chris D Thanks for the reply.

I was working all weekend on a long story (10,000 words!) which I have been attempting since 2013 and will eventually finish. In your experience, is there any kind of market for stories of such a length? It has the same kind of realism as your story about the war vet - it's just much, much longer. I know it is sort of a grey area between the short story and novellette/novella family, so I don't want to waste my time sending out to magazines that don't consider that length of story. Any advice most appreciated!

Chris Fielden Hi Chris. The market for stories around the 10K length is a bit limited – most competitions and magazines ask for anywhere up to 8,000 words. But there are magazines out there (and a handful of competitions) that accept stories of that length. You’ll just have to do a bit of research I’m afraid.

Luckily there are some good lists on my site which can help you get started :-)

Margaret M Dear Chris, thank you for your writing advice.  Do you like David Sedaris? I met him in Bournemouth and he was so... nice.  I am a sad elderly (66) woman, with almost constant hip pain and MS. Husband has ME, so you can imagine the fun we have some days.  I write most days and will enter your  To Hull and Back Competition.  At present have RSI, but what's life without whimsy? LOL

Chris Fielden Hi Maggie, sorry to hear about the MS and ME. I'll look forward to reading your entry :-)

Aimee J Hey Chris. Sorry for being a bit of a bother, but does sarcasm generally work well in regards to making a situation humorous?

Chris Fielden Hi Aimee. It can do - it depends on the situation, characters and plot. Just ask yourself whether sarcasm fits and adds to the story.

I think it's subjective really, so there isn't a yes or no answer to that question I'm afraid.

Billy C Thank you for this.

Chris Fielden No problem, Billy :-)

Jeanne J Hey Chris, do you know you're 'shot in the head...' link goes to a pink shopping site? Anyhoo, hope to send you something funnier that.

Chris Fielden Hey Jeanne. Hmm... nice shopping site. Looks like the old site the story used to be on has been hacked so I've removed the link.

Thanks for letting me know - muchos appreciated.

Cheri J Very helpful, thank you!

Chris Fielden No problem, thanks Cheri :-)

Nick B Hi Chris. Brilliant article. I'll be coming back to refer a number of times. As it happens, 2 of my favourite authors are Douglas and Terry. I love the Discworld series - especially those involving the Night Watch characters. I've just started writing again after a 10 yr break. I'm doing fantasy and attempting comedy with it. Two firsts for me. Thank you. Hope I can produce something you would be proud of.

Chris Fielden Thanks very much, Nick. It sounds like we have similar tastes when it comes to reading.

I like the Night Watch stories too. I saw a stage production in London and Paul Darrow (of Blake's 7 fame) played Sam Vimes. It was great.

Anyway. Good luck with your writing. I hope the 10 year break gave you lots of time to come up with some good story ideas :-)

Wesley W It seems I've been making people laugh anyway. I'm wondering, I've got a pile of flash fiction that might raise a laugh, and am thinking I might try one of them.

Chris Fielden Always nice to hear from a fellow humourist, Wesley.

Good idea re flash fiction. There are an ever growing number of opportunities for very short stories. I list many opportunities for flash here .

I hope that's helpful - good luck with your stories and submissions.

Linh N Do you know any comedy podcasts?

Chris Fielden Hi Linh. There are hundreds of them...

I'd recommend just doing a Google search so you can find some that appeal to you.

The BBC is quite a good place to start.

Zoe I This helped me learn a lot of things about writing comedy stories, thanks a lot to Christopher.

Chris Fielden You're welcome Zoe :-)

Ellie A The bottom two links in your "Useful links to other comedy sources" section no longer work.

Chris Fielden Thank you for letting me know, Ellie, very much appreciated. I have removed the offending links.

The copyright of the stories and content published on this website remain with the author.

Christopher Fielden and all the other contributing authors published via this website have asserted their right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the authors of these works.

The stories and articles on this site are provided for you to read free of charge subject to the condition that they are not, by way of trade or otherwise, copied, lent, sold, hired out, printed or otherwise circulated in any format without the author’s prior consent.

How to Write a Funny Story that Makes People Laugh: A Guide

Writing a funny story seems like a mountain of a task. You want your words to sparkle with humour, but how do you make everyone laugh? That’s the challenge many face. Crafting a story that’s genuinely funny can feel overwhelming, yet it’s a goal many aspire to achieve.

The good news is humour is all around us – in the little moments of daily life, in the twist of the unexpected. You don’t need to look far to find the ingredients for a story that will bring smiles and laughter. It’s about seeing the world with a fresh perspective and weaving those observations into your narrative.

This guide is here to show you how to Write a Funny Story. With practical advice and clear examples, we’ll help you understand how to write a funny story that resonates with readers. Stay tuned to learn how to blend humour into your writing seamlessly.

Table of Contents

What is a Funny Story

At its core, a funny story captures your attention with its unexpected twists and humour that springs from clever wordplay and the absurdity of everyday life. When you write a funny story, you’re essentially crafting a narrative designed to make you laugh, often by poking fun at the quirks and oddities we all encounter. It’s not just about stringing together a series of jokes; it’s about building a world where the comedic effect arises naturally from the situations and the characters themselves.

A well-written, funny story leans heavily on the unexpected. You might think you know where the plot is heading, only to be surprised by a sudden turn of events that flips the script in a hilarious way. This element of surprise, combined with witty language and a keen observation of the mundane, sets the stage for laughter. Whether it’s through exaggerated scenarios that highlight the ridiculous or through sharp satirical takes on modern life, the goal is to reflect the world in a way that allows us to laugh at it and ourselves.

How to Write a Funny Story

To kick off your journey in writing a funny story, you’ll want to explore both manual techniques and the use of a funny story generator . These tools can help you craft humorous narratives that resonate with readers, blending spontaneity with structured comedic elements.

It’s about finding the right balance between creativity and technique to make your audience laugh.

Manual Technique to Write a Funny Story

To write a funny story, you’ll need to zero in on a hilarious concept that resonates with you.

Mastering comic timing is crucial; it’s all about when to deliver that punchline for maximum effect.

Then, spice things up with unexpected twists and a dash of dark humour or exaggeration to keep your readers hooked and laughing.

Finding Your Funny Concept

Finding a funny concept that clicks with your audience is the first crucial step in crafting a hilarious story. As a comedy writer, you’ll want to explore absurdities in everyday life, developing comedic repetition and suspense that keeps readers engaged.

Take notes from comedy books and shows, and don’t shy away from using funny shticks.

Mastering Comic Timing

After identifying a concept that tickles your funny bone, mastering comic timing becomes your next crucial step in crafting stories that truly resonate with laughter.

To write funny prose, consider these points: – Experiment with different types of comedy. – Incorporate unexpected twists. – Use clever word choices. – Draw from everyday situations.

Mastering these elements can elevate you from a writer to a comedic writer, ensuring your stories leave readers in stitches.

Crafting Unexpected Twists

When crafting a funny story, mastering the art of unexpected twists can keep your readers on their toes, eagerly turning pages for more laughs. As a writer, surprise them with outcomes they never saw coming.

Set up anticipation, then deliver a surprising punchline. Use misdirection to amplify the humour, making something truly funny.

Utilizing Dark Humor

You’ll discover that diving into the depths of dark humour can transform even the bleakest situations into comedic gold. To write a story that stands out, consider these techniques:

• Find comedy in the unexpected and morbid.
• Use irony to twist tragic situations.
• Explore the absurdity of dark subjects.
• Learn from stand-up comedians how a good story needs balance.

This approach ensures your story remains engaging and memorable.

Exaggerating for Effect

Exploring the darker corners of humour paves the way for the art of exaggeration, a technique that amplifies laughter by making the ordinary extraordinary.

You’ll often find exaggerating for effect turns a simple ice cream drop into a catastrophic event.

Readers come to see the world in a hilariously skewed way, as you’d tell tales where mountains are made from molehills—literally.

Keeping It Tight and Succinct

Crafting a funny story requires keeping your prose tight and succinct, ensuring every word contributes to the laughter.

• Tell the reader only what’s essential, cutting the fluff.
• Embrace the art of brevity, a lesson from English literature.
• Remember, keeping it tight and succinct is an important part of the humour.
• Study comedians like Trevor Noah, who master this technique.

Leveraging Current Events

Incorporating recent events into your funny story can instantly make your content more relatable and engaging for readers.

Imagine people find an email address in a storm drain, sparking a city-wide treasure hunt. The absurdity reflects life’s unpredictability, making your audience chuckle at the bizarre situation.

Use such real-world oddities to connect humour with the familiar, keeping your narrative fresh and amusing.

Drawing Inspiration From Others

To kickstart your journey into writing a humorous masterpiece, draw inspiration from the absurdities and hilarities that life throws your way. Here’s how:

• Explore what drives you nuts or strikes you as ridiculous.
• Read humour and drama to broaden your inspiration.
• Play with comedy subtext and hidden meanings.
• Brainstorm funny ‘what if’ scenarios.

Let these steps guide your creative process, injecting fun into your stories.

Writing With Prompts

After drawing inspiration from the amusing quirks of life, let’s explore how writing with prompts can unlock even more laughter in your stories.

Prompts nudge you toward unexpected twists, encouraging clever wordplay and irony that delights readers. They’re the perfect tool for experimenting with comedic timing and pacing, pushing you to mock the mundane or satirize society with sharp, relatable humour.

Editing for Enhanced Humor

Experimenting with language, like puns and wordplay, can significantly enhance the humour in your story’s editing phase.

• Utilize irony to spotlight the unexpected.
• Tailor jokes to fit your audience’s taste.
• Use misdirection for surprising twists.
• Embrace and amplify your unique sense of humour.

Keep it tight, punchy, and aligned with what makes you laugh.

You’re not just editing; you’re refining your comedic voice.

Using a Funny Story Generator

You might wonder why you’d use a Funny Story Generator as part of your writing process. These tools can offer you a wealth of creative ideas and unexpected twists that can make your story more engaging and humorous.

They’re especially beneficial when you’re stuck or looking for a fresh perspective to inject humour into your narrative.

Why use a Funny Story Generator

Diving into the world of funny story generators can unlock a treasure trove of hilarious, unforeseen plot twists and characters for your next comedic masterpiece.

• A generator can provide wacky, unexpected story ideas.
• It offers humorous twists and turns you mightn’t think of.
• Great for brainstorming comedic characters and situations.
• Sparks creativity, finding humour in everyday life.

Benefits of using a Funny Story Generator

After exploring the world of funny story generators for unexpected plot twists and characters, consider the advantages of incorporating these tools into your writing process. Here are the key benefits of using a funny story generator:

• It provides instant inspiration to overcome writer’s block for humorous writing.
• Generates funny scenarios, characters, dialogues, and plot situations.
• It saves time spent manually brainstorming comedic story elements.
• Structures engaging narrative arcs conducive to humour and jokes.
• Creates quirky, amusing characters that readers will find funny.
• Injects fresh humour, jokes, and comedic concepts into your process.
• Alleviates pressure by outsourcing some creative responsibilities.
• Renews excitement over craft with the influx of humorous ideas.
• It allows faster, funny story creation so you can focus on comedic delivery.

Tips to Write a Funny Story

Why not kick off your funny story with a concept that’ll have your readers hooked from the get-go? Starting with a hilarious premise sets the tone for the entire narrative, ensuring your audience is in for a treat. But crafting a story that keeps them chuckling requires more than just a funny idea.

Here’s how you can sprinkle humour throughout your writing:

• Inject your story with comedic repetition and suspense. It’s not just about what happens but how you tell it. Repeating a funny scenario in unexpected ways or building suspense before a comedic payoff can amplify the laughter.
• Embrace the absurd and observe everyday life for humorous inspiration. Sometimes, the most mundane situations or thoughts, when viewed through a comedic lens, can become incredibly funny.
• Don’t be afraid to make fun of yourself. Self-deprecating humour isn’t only relatable but also disarming, encouraging your readers to laugh along with you.
• Cut unnecessary words and use exaggeration judiciously. Brevity is the soul of wit, and a well-placed exaggeration can transform a mildly amusing story into a side-splitting narrative.

To craft an engaging and amusing narrative, it’s essential to explore elements that genuinely amuse you. Integrating the type of humour that resonates with you, incorporating unexpected plot twists, and leveraging wordplay can significantly enhance the comedic value of your story. It’s crucial to vividly depict amusing situations rather than merely describing them, ensuring a clear visual and emotional connection with the audience. Opting for originality and avoiding clichéd jokes will also contribute to a fresher and more captivating story. Characters should be placed in exaggerated yet somehow familiar predicaments, elevating everyday occurrences to a level of ridiculousness that provokes laughter. Maintaining a concise narrative, drawing inspiration from the peculiar aspects of daily life, and aiming to constantly surprise both yourself and your readers are fundamental strategies. This approach not only makes the story more enjoyable but also helps maintain the audience’s interest throughout.

A humorous story captures the essence of comedy through its narrative, engaging readers with situations and dialogues that evoke laughter and amusement. These narratives serve as a delightful diversion from the routine, often incorporating unexpected twists to entertain and engage the audience. Their primary aim is to highlight the lighter side of life, offering a comedic perspective on everyday situations. Through skilful storytelling, humorous stories provide an enjoyable reading experience, reminding us of the joy found in laughter and the importance of not taking life too seriously. This genre of storytelling is particularly effective in adding levity to our daily lives, making it a cherished form of entertainment.

To initiate a narrative effectively, it’s imperative to captivate the readers’ interest immediately. This can be accomplished through the introduction of a distinctive character, the initiation of an engaging dialogue, or the presentation of a unique situation. The opening serves as a pivotal opportunity to engage your audience, and it should be approached with creativity and thoughtfulness. Consider what elements are most effective in drawing you into a story and endeavour to incorporate those into your own narrative. It’s crucial to create an opening that’s both compelling and indicative of the story’s overall tone.

To initiate the process of crafting a story from the ground up, it’s essential to begin with an element that captures your interest. This could be a compelling character, an intriguing scene, or a challenging dilemma. It’s advisable to record all initial thoughts, regardless of their preliminary nature. This allows for a brainstorming process that can yield unexpected and exciting ideas. Subsequently, outline a rudimentary plot to establish a direction for the narrative. This plot can serve as a roadmap, guiding the story as it unfolds. It’s important to acknowledge that the initial draft isn’t expected to be flawless. Its primary purpose is to serve as a foundation upon which the story can be refined. So, don’t worry about perfection at this stage. Throughout the writing process, allow for the development and transformation of characters. This can lead to unexpected and enriching directions for the storyline. Characters are the heart of a story, so giving them room to grow and change can make the narrative more engaging. Engaging in the creative process with a sense of exploration and enjoyment is crucial. This mindset allows for the creation of a captivating and immersive world that will draw readers in.

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Comedic writing: How to write a funny story

Comedic writing is hard to master, but understanding types of comedy, what makes a funny story work, the visceral ‘huh’ and more will help you connect with your readers’ funny bones.

• Post author By Jordan
• 2 Comments on Comedic writing: How to write a funny story

Funny, comedic writing is hard. Senses of humor vary in what people find amusing. Read a guide to how to write a funny story. Explore types of humor and comedy genres, humor writing tips from stand-up and comedy icons, and examples of different types of comedy writing. Bear in mind that these funny ideas and elements can be incorporated into just about any genre as well. The funniest writing comes from universal experiences that we are all familiar with. 

14 types of comedy

One of the challenges of comedic writing is that there are so many distinct types of humor. Read a quick breakdown of fourteen types:

• Jokes are short stories or one-liners that consist of a setup and a punchline. For instance, ‘My grandfather has the heart of a lion and a lifetime ban at the zoo’ ( via Bored Panda ).
• Situational comedy or sitcom is a type of humor that draws laughter from funny and absurd situations (e.g. farce which often features ludicrously absurd situations). Michael Frayn’s play Noises Off (1982), in which a technical rehearsal for a play keeps going wrong, sending its director into a rage, is a great example.
• Romantic comedy or romcom is a comic movie (or book) that finds humor in the development of a romantic relationship. When Harry Met Sally (1989), starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, is a genre-defining romcom.
• Dark comedy , also known as black comedy, is humor that finds the funny side in darker or more tragic subject matter. Caimh McDonnell’s A Man with One of Those Faces (2016) combines crime, murder and comedy.
• Cringe comedy is a type of humor that derives its laughter from awkward characters and situations, guilty pleasure, and personal distress. It falls under dry humor. Larry David’s HBO show, Curb Your Enthusiasm , is a peak example of this.
• Satire is a type of comedy that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to expose society’s stupidity, bigotry, or other vices. Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer is an example that uses humor to satirize but also indict the Vietnam War.
• Parody is the imitation of a writer’s style or genre with intentional exaggeration for comic effect. Tim Burton’s alien invasion spoof, Mars Attacks! , and Henry N. Beard and Douglas C. Kenney’s Bored of the Rings , which satirizes Tolkien’s epic fantasy cycle, are examples of this.
• Self-deprecating humor is when a comedic writer pokes fun at themselves. For example, they might use embarrassing experiences as material. David Sedaris’ comedic memoir/essays often find humor in his OCD, embarrassing childhood stories, and other self-deprecating subjects.
• Insult comedy is humor based on true, painful, or exaggerated observations about others. The comedy roast is a perfect example of this. Jeff Ross’ roast of Bruce Willis showcases this type of humor [warning: Strong language].
• Physical comedy is humor that uses the body, techniques such as mime or clowning for laughs. The films of Charlie Chaplin that use slapstick are an example.
• Surreal comedy is humor that uses absurdism or dream-like logic for laughs, such as Monty Python’s ‘dead parrot’ sketch .
• Wordplay plays with language, such as a pun or double entendre . Ex: Mae West’s quip: ‘I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond.’
• Blue humor is adult, often provocative, sexual or deliberately in bad taste. For example, Mae West’s bawdier inversion of a popular saying, ‘A hard man is good to find.’
• Anti-humor uses bathos or anticlimax . The expected punchline is replaced with something simple, unfunny, or painfully obvious. The so-called ‘dad joke’ is an example – ‘A man walks into a bar … ouch.’

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Comedy genres in literature

What are the main comedy genres in books?

Satirical or political comedy

Think of Joseph Heller’s 1961 satirical anti-war novel Catch-22 . It follows anti-hero Captain John Yossarian and examines the absurdity of war and military life:

What is a country? A country is a piece of land surrounded on all sides by boundaries, usually unnatural. Englishmen are dying for England, Americans are dying for America, Germans are dying for Germany, Russians are dying for Russia. There are now fifty or sixty countries fighting in this war. Surely so many countries can’t all be worth dying for. Joseph Heller, Catch-22.

Comic essays and memoir

Comedic essays and memoir remain popular. Geoff Dyer is an example of an author in this category, having authored books such as Out of Sheer Rage : Wrestling with D.H. Lawrence , about all the ways the author avoided writing a book about the writer D.H. Lawrence. It is part- catalogue of procrastination, part-travelogue:

London is the worst. Lawrence realised this in 1916: London was ‘so foul’, he reckoned, that ‘one would die in it in a fortnight’. Since then it’s got even worse. Now it’s the world capital of flu. The sky in London drizzles flu, it rains flu. People from all over the world go there and get flu. Whether they come to see the changing of the guard, or to take ecstasy at raves, they all end up getting flu. Geoff Dyer, Out of Sheer Rage: Wrestling with D.H. Lawrence .

Some non-fiction writers are just naturally funny, such as Bill Bryson and David Sedaris. Here the comedy is in the writing. Let’s look at an example from Bryson’s The Road to Little Dribbling: 

One of the things that happens when you get older is that you discover lots of new ways to hurt yourself. Recently, in France, I was hit square on the head by an automatic parking barrier, something I don’t think I could have managed in my younger, more alert years. There are really only two ways to get hit on the head by a parking barrier. One is to stand underneath a raised barrier and purposely allow it to fall on you. That is the easy way, obviously. The other method – and this is where a little diminished mental capacity can go a long way – is to forget the barrier you have just seen rise, step into the space it has vacated and stand with lips pursed while considering your next move, and then be taken completely by surprise as it slams down on your head like a sledgehammer on a spike. That is the method I went for.

Comic genre spoof and parody

Many funny books spoof a genre and its silliness, clichés, habits.

In Bored of the Rings , Frito (Frodo’s namesake) wonders whether he could just throw the One Ring down a storm drain and be done with it.

Comic fantasy is one type of genre hybrid that often uses parody. Sir Terry Pratchett is widely considered the master in how he lampoons elements of the fantasy tradition, such as outlandish worldbuilding elements, fantasy races, and plot tropes.

The humor category on Amazon shows just how eclectic comedy is in its inspirations and niches. From ‘Business & Professional’ through ‘Cooking’ to ‘Urban Legends’.

Many of the current humor bestsellers (as of March 2023) have some kind of censored curse word in the title (contemporary comedy often falls back on the un subtle art of not giving a f**k).

How to write a funny story: From comical concepts to comedy gold

As the types of comedy writing outlined above remind us, comedic writing runs from the deliberately lame to the edgy and risqué.

Read tips on how to write a funny story with ideas from of comedic writing in English in books, film and TV.

For a story to be funny, the concept must first hold enough potential for comedy.

Repetition and suspense are common ingredients of funny writing (and dramatic irony).

Zhubin Parang (producer and writer on The Daily Show ) says ‘the visceral ‘huh?’ is a key comedy element.

How and why do your favorite comedy books, TV shows and films make you laugh? Take notes.

A shtick is a comic routine, style of performance or gimmick (e.g. Diane Morgan’s shtick pretending to be an uninformed, idiotic interviewer).

In comedic writing, producing more material than required lets you choose the best jokes.

Browse through comedy titles for ideas (such as David Sedaris’ Me Talk Pretty One Day or the Tolkien spoof Bored of the Rings ).

There’s that saying ‘brevity is the soul of wit’. Don’t make the path to the punchline too convoluted or meandering ( unless that in itself is the joke ).

Let’s expand on the comedic writing tips above.

Start with a funny concept

Just as a magical fantasy story starts with a fantastical concept, a laugh-out-loud story starts with a funny concept.

Scott Dikkers, founder and longest-serving editor-in-chief of the satirical news site The Onion , wrote a series of guides to comedic writing.

On comedy concepts, Dikkers says:

When you write humor, the core concept you’re writing about has to be funny. The core concept is, in fact, the most important part of your writing […] You need to be able to express your concept in a single line or sentence, with as few words as possible. Scott Dikkers, How to Write Funny: Your serious, step-by-step blueprint for creating incredibly, irresistibly, successfully hilarious writing , location 162.

How can you find a funny concept?

There are many ways to develop a comedy idea:

• Draw from life. What’s an absurd or funny-in-hindsight situation or experience that’s left you in stitches?
• Go where there’s feeling. What drives you nuts? What has always struck you as ridiculous, ludicrous, bizarre, infuriating? Many comedic writers turn bugbears and pet peeves into comedy routines. See Diane Morgan, ‘Boys are Always Popular when they’re Murdered’ , for example. Or Hannibal Buress on why jaywalking is a ‘fantasy crime’ .
• Read humor and drama. The wider the web of your inspiration, the more sources to draw on and the wider your field of reference.
• Play with comedy subtext. Comedy has subtext. For example, ‘getting’ a joke such as that Bored Panda joke about the grandfather who has the heart of a lion (and a lifetime ban from the zoo) requires us to understand the subtext (that ‘to have the heart of’ something has figurative and literal meanings). What laugh-bringing realization will your next funny line hinge on?
• Brainstorm funny ‘what if’ scenarios. What if a man tried to return a dead parrot to a pet shop (as in Monty Python), for example. What if absolutely everything at a funeral went wrong (to hilarious effect)?

Additionally, try writing your comedy concept as a single line as Dikkers advises. If you must explain the concept in paragraphs, it may be too convoluted.

Another important note to consider is that sometimes funny stories or anecdotes are funnier than actual jokes. See how you can incorporate these funny stories into your writing.

Joan Rivers, on channeling strong feelings into comedy:

Every comedian is furious. Age makes me angry. I’m unhappy at not being able to open packages anymore. I’m angry that libraries have gone. I hate children on planes. I’m very shallow, so they tend to be little things. To be honest, I think I was probably angry the day I was born, you know, about diapers or something. Joan Rivers, interviewed by The Jewish Chronicle, October 29 2010.

Comedy writing exercises

To find a funny story idea, try this exercise by humorist Donna Cavanagh:

Write down memories of past embarrassing moments and see if you can turn mortification into mirth. Donna Cavanagh, How to Write and Share Humor: Techniques to Tickle Funny Bones and Win Fans , 2016, Location 415.

Another exercise to find a funny story idea: Write down three things you find funny. Imagine a scenario involving who, what, why, where and when for each. Try to write a funny story idea as one sentence.

Example: 1. Funny orchestra mishaps [ Ed’s note: Funny incidents such as a brass player sneezing into their trombone ]. 2. Awkward situations that just get worse. 3. Human foibles.

Scenario sentence: A trombone player who’s allergic to dust is called upon to play in a historical building last swept in 1983 and the concert is a series of mishaps culminating in him sneezing into his trombone in the slow movement.

Develop comedic repetition and suspense

A lot of the success in comedic writing for stage or film lies in comedic timing. What are two kinds of timing in humor writing, two building blocks of funny stories? Comedic repetition and suspense.

Repetition in comedic writing

Repetition at its simplest level is like the ‘knock-knock’ joke’s structure of call and response: ‘Knock-knock… who’s there?’.

In comedic writing, elements that add hilarity through repetition include:

• Characters’ catchphrases, tics, and quirks. The way Elmer Fudd’s difficulty saying ‘r’ in Looney Tunes, for example, makes it funny when he starts ranting about Bugs Bunny and ‘wascally wabbits’.
• Repetition with surprise or comical circularity. For example, in the cult TV series Twin Peaks , James asks Donna, who’s visiting him in the sheriff’s holding cells, “When did you start smokin’?” when she lights up a cigarette. Donna replies, “I smoke every once in a while. Helps relieve tension.” James asks, “When did you get so tense?” to which Donna replies, “When I started smoking.”
• Running jokes and gags. Popular in humor writing for TV series in particular, running jokes ( such as Buster Bluth’s extra-mural lessons that haven’t taught him much at all in Arrested Development ) get finessed and added to with repetition, brought up and revisited in new contexts in a way that adds to their hilarity.
• Recurring theme. For example in the 1990s/early 2000s sitcom Frasier , it’s clear to us, and the rest of the cast, that Frasier’s brother, Nyles, is smitten with Daphne. But Daphne remains unaware of this, and this theme runs throughout the series until – spoiler alert! – Daphne and Nyles finally get it together.

Suspense and nervous laughter

Comedic writing shares something in common with mystery/thriller writing: The build up of anticipation, or suspense .

Campy slasher films, a sort of comedy-horror genre, often make audiences laugh. It’s the nervous laughter that ensues when characters make foolish choices that make viewers want to yell at the screen (‘Don’t go into that creepy house!). ‘Person makes stupid choice’ is an endless fount of comedy ideas.

Suspense in comedy builds from waiting for the punchline or left turn, the outcome of that choice.

If suspense in dramatic writing means anticipating the bad, in comedy, it’s anticipating the hilariously or embarrassingly bad (for example, waiting for parents’ reaction to their new son-in-law accidentally breaking a beloved relative’s urn in Meet the Fockers ).

Observe and embrace absurdity

Comedic writing draws on observing – recognizing – the absurdity of everyday life.

It may be the Sisyphean (a task that can never be completed) aspect of work or relationships, for example.

In an existential comedy scenario , a chef perhaps keeps getting a meal sent back to the kitchen by a fussy table with exceptionally petty demands, until she explodes in a comical or cringeworthy way.

Many jokes in stand-up and other forms of comedy writing have become clichéd (such as jokes about airline food being terrible) because they repeat what we know to be true. Fresh humor, by contrast, often makes the familiar experience or scenario (e.g. ‘meeting the parents’) seem newly absurd.

Often in comedic writing, there’s a thin line between pain and laughter. The schadenfreude or voyeuristic pleasure of others’ misfortunes becomes funny because its relatable. We feel the pain of the kid bowled over by the Labrador on the beach. Tweet This

Ed ‘s note: A friend would tell the funny story of going to an ice cream shop where a very disinterested shop worker leant on the counter, chewing gum. “You want a cone or a cup?” she muttered, after he’d made his choices of flavors. “Cup, please,” he said. She paused, chewed a bit. “Don’t have.”

Bizarre and absurd situations are goldmines for existential and other types of comedy showcasing human foibles, miscommunications and vices. Tweet This

Comedy writer and producer Zhubin Parang speaks of the ‘visceral ‘huh?” moment – ‘situations that don’t go the way they should, or people who respond to an event or idea in a different way than they should’, as in the ice cream shop example above.

This is something to mine for funny writing ideas .

Take notes on comedy books and shows

🗣️ What are your favorite funny books and TV shows?

Tell us your recommendations in the comments. You can learn a lot from comedy shows and stand-up comedy you enjoy about comic writing devices such as setup and punchline, or the unexpected turn. Tell us a funny anecdote. 

Comedic writing exercise: The anatomy of laughter

Take a piece of funny writing or a stand up segment and ask the following questions:

• What devices is the writer using for humorous effect? Is there wit and wordplay? Satire? Clever repetition? Irony?
• How does the writer use language to comedic effect? Is there a mix of high and low (e.g. formal and slang) language? Do they curse? Is there exaggeration or understatement?
• What part of the story or script did you find funniest? Why? Was it an unexpected word, phrase, outcome, revelation? An everyday object or experience the comic reframed in a new light?

Explore funny shticks

The word ‘shtick’ means ‘a gimmick, comic routine, style of performance, etc. associated with a particular person’ ( Oxford Languages ). It is of Yiddish origin, from the German word for ‘piece’, st ü ck .

In comedic writing, creating a character with a shtick supplies a range of scenarios to fill with funny material.

In the series Cunk on Earth , for example, Diane Morgan’s shtick is the setup that she’s an uninformed interviewer narrating a historical documentary about human history – art, culture, religion, conflict.

Her fictional character, Philomena Cunk, asks Oxford and Cambridge professors questions such as, ‘When the Egyptians built the pyramids, did they start at the top or the bottom?’

There are several funny aspects to the character that make up the shtick, including:

• Random anecdotes she throws in about ‘my mate Paul’ who gets into all kinds of tricky situations
• Deliberate mispronunciations (such as pronouncing ‘The Bible’ as ‘The Bibble’ or the ‘Soviet Union’ as the ‘Soviet Onion’)
• Responding with slang and ‘low register’ to academic interviewees who use much more formal language (e.g. ‘Yer jokin’!’ or ‘Are you havin’ a laugh?)
• Running bits/gags (every episode references and plays a segment of Belgian producers Technotronic’s song ‘Pump Up the Jam’, with funny and nonsense text overlays stating random or made-up facts)

Think of one of your favorite comical characters from fiction. What sayings, habits, physical gestures, and other quirks make up their ‘shtick’? Think of Douglas Adams’ aliens, who torture humans with their terrible poetry.

Talking of characterization, remember that even humor writing has to have realistic characters. TV sitcoms often have really silly characters, too silly to be believable. Think of the 1980s sitcom, The Golden Girls, for example. Rose Nylund (played by Betty White) is the daffy one, rather too gullible and naïve, which played into the humor of the show. While popular with audiences, her characters borders on being on the wrong side of believable. 

Write surplus comedy material

A good piece of advice on how to write a funny story Dikkers gives in his comedy manuals is this: Write more material than you need.

Just as stand-up comedians don’t share the jokes that don’t make it on stage, comedic writers – whether writing fiction or screenplays – don’t share the pages that didn’t make it to the final draft or production. Tweet This

Blooper reels are extra.

The benefits of brainstorming and churning out ideas , multiple options, are:

• Digging deeper than the ‘easy’ laughs. Churning out lines gets the obvious ideas out the way. Comedian and actress Wanda Sykes shared with Kevin Hart in a podcast that her audience expects more than the easy, obvious joke (and that bringing her self – her politics – to her comedy helped her create funnier, more original material)
• Surplus comedic material to select the funniest jokes. Zhubin Parang, who was head writer for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah , says, ‘You always need to tighten, tighten, tighten. Every first draft has way too many words, extra thoughts or side ideas.’ Writing extra material gives this tightening process more material to work with

Hint it’s funny from the title

Think of titles of comedic fiction and non-fiction, such as:

• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
• A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace
• Sombrero Fallout by Richard Brautigan

These are titles with wordplay (e.g. Fisher’s play on the phrase ‘wishful thinking’), absurd humor (the idea of a hitchhiking guide to a place so gargantuan), droll and random humor.

Your title is an opportunity to both signal that your book is a work of humor writing, and to signal its contents (e.g. Fisher’s memoir hinting at the memoir’s one subject of substance addiction).

Make it accessible and easy to read

Finally, effective comedic writing doesn’t need ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ and highfalutin’ convolution. (Unless it’s the Ben Elton -penned sitcom about Shakespeare and his trials and frustrations, Upstart Crow ).

There is an accessibility of style often to comedic writing. We mostly get the joke (without excessive explanation). Except in a brand of ‘random’ humor that relies more on a ‘visceral huh’ than ‘setup’ and ‘punchline’.

Mostly, style services the humor. Savage, biting satire is concise and punchy. Screwball and madcap comedy goes off the rails more.

In the Irish comedy series Derry Girls , there’s a wordy uncle named Colm who drives everyone mad with his long-winded, meandering storytelling .

This ‘shtick’ recurs as a plot device (the group of school friends who are the main characters use him to get out of being arrested for trespassing, for example).

The humor here is in how inaccessible, uninteresting, and infuriatingly boring Colm’s stories are. It’s a good reminder that there’s always an exception to the rule. However, the situational humor when characters are stuck with Colm is easy to read – the absurdity of getting trapped in a conversation you don’t want to have is a relatable, comedic situation.

Think how you can slip one-liners into your story. Even if a story is serious and gritty, you can lighten up the tone by inserting humorous bits and pieces in a story. Clever wordplay and puns can add humor to your writing. Look for opportunities to play with language, incorporate double meanings, or create humorous juxtapositions of words.

What is your style of humor in your every day life? Use your natural sense of humor. Think how you can inject that into your own writing.

🗣️ What’s a funny book or show you found relatable and why? Tell us in the comments

Join Now Novel for writing feedback on your next humor piece, writing webinars, story outlining tools and more.

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Related Posts:

• How do you write a story using three-act structure?
• How do you write a dystopian story? 5 tips
• How to write the middle of a story: 9 tips

Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town.

2 replies on “Comedic writing: How to write a funny story”

This was so fun! I especially enjoyed “highfalutin’ convolution” 😁 Here’s one of my favorites: “Every book is a children’s book if the kid can read!” ― Mitch Hedberg

Haha, I love that, Margriet. Thanks for sharing.

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How to Write Comedy: Tips and Examples to Make People Laugh

So you want to write comedy? But you’re not sure you can make people laugh? It’s a valid concern: being funny doesn’t come naturally to everyone. 

But humor is a great way to grip the reader and make them feel emotionally attached to your story, so, understandably, you’d want to include it in your writing. In this article, we’ll cover all the essentials you need to know to strike a humorous chord and get your audience chuckling.

What is Comedy?

There are different types of humor and humorous writing. Which one you write will depend on your personal style. Let's have a look at some of those types.

Types of Humorous Writing

What kind of medium do you want to write comedy for? Did you know that there are many kinds of humorous writing, both meant for the written medium, as well as types adaptable to the screen for audiovisual mediums? Here are the most common ones:

• Stand-up: A stand-up comedy features a single comedian, up on a live stage, telling humorous stories to make the audience laugh.
• Sketch: A sketch is a short humorous scene performed by a group that usually lasts a few minutes, but can last up to ten minutes. These are generally recorded and played back on TV. 
• Improvisational: Improv is a form of (usually comedic) theatre where the plot is made up on the spot. The actors come together without much previous planning and simply bounce off of each other to make the audience laugh.
• Short story: Short stories in comedy are just like short stories in any genre. Usually, over 1,000 words, they typically focus on a single plot, and develop this plot to the max, playing on every detail to make the reader laugh. A short story can be intended for reading or adapted to the screen.
• Novel: If you’re looking for an ongoing laughter experience, comic novels are your friend. Works of fiction or based on the author’s life, this type of comedy requires an extended plot, or many plots and characters getting thrown into the mix together, to form a novel-sized work.
• Comedic TV shows: Also known as sitcoms, we’re all familiar with these and everyone has their favorite - from Seinfeld to Friends, Scrubs, or Big Bang Theory, we all love a comedic TV show. 
• Movies: A full-length feature generally lasting ninety minutes or longer, comedy movies are a very popular medium in the comedy genre. These days, you can find comedy movies to suit all tastes. 
• Social media: Yes, it’s true! The digital age has seen emerge a new type of comedy - social media comedy. This isn’t a new thing. Remember the Vines craze? Those six-second video clips designed to make people laugh? Nowadays the trend has moved over to Reels on Instagram or TikTok videos, but the idea is still the same: short videos posted on social media platforms to get people to chuckle.
• Musical comedy: A musical comedy is a story told mostly through music, for entertainment purposes, and to make the audience laugh. These can be performed live on stage, or pre-recorded for airing on TV.

This list of comedy types is not exhaustive, and these works could be fiction or nonfiction, or even a mixture of the two. It’s helpful to know which medium your piece of writing is going to end up being because you’ll need to know whether your audience is going to be reading it, viewing it, or hearing it, as this will affect the delivery. It will also affect the structure of your piece, and this requires planning.

For instance, if you’re writing comedy for a stand-up show and you have several characters in your story, the delivery of each character is up to you and you only, versus in a movie where you can rely on actors.

In a sketch, the storyline will primarily focus on one specific incident, whereas a stand-up will require some sort of story arc.

Different Types of Humor

As well as different kinds of comedy writing, there are also different kinds of humor. Here are a few:

• Topical: Using current events to make people laugh
• Satirical: Poking fun at the faults of society, organizations, and people and using them for comedic effects.
• Bodily: This one's fairly self-explanatory. You guessed it: farts, poop, and other bodily functions are used to make the audience laugh.
• Dark: Using topics typically seen as serious, painful, or taboo to make jokes.
• Wordplay: A witty type of humor that uses words in a clever way to twist them into puns, double-entendres, and other hilarious results.

We won't go over all the types of humor here, as there are many to cover. But this should give you an overview of a few types you might identify with. It can be helpful to decide what your type of humor is. This way you can watch other comics in the same genre and use their material as inspirational, and educational to help you with your own progress as you write comedy.

Elements of Funny Storytelling / How to Be Funny

When writing a comedy, many different elements come into play, and you mustn’t underestimate the importance of any of them. Humor is a very fine affair, after all. 

So what exactly you should pay attention to? Keep on reading, as that’s what we’re about to dive into.

The Importance of Characters When You Write Comedy

You’ll want to settle on your characters fairly early on, as these play a big role in your story. After all, they’ll be the ones delivering the lines and the emotions.

Relatability 

Firstly, you’ll want to make them relatable. “Relatable to whom?”, we hear you ask. Relatable to your audience. So think about who your audience is. Think about what they struggle with in their daily lives. Think about the things that pull at their heartstrings, what frustrates them, and what they get up to each day. This will help you create characters that your audience can imagine being. 

Laughter is a response to an emotion, after all. 

If your audience feels like the characters really get them, they’ll relate to them. They’ll feel sad for them, and they’ll laugh with them. 

Credibility 

The other key to writing great characters in a comedy is to build them a personality. And remember to have them act how they would act, not how you would like them to act. They must be credible. Your audience has to believe that they really would act the way that you’re having them act. 

We recommend basing your characters on real people you know. You don’t have to name them, of course, and we aren’t recommending you reveal their secrets and private life to your audience, but there’s a real benefit to cherry-picking parts of people’s personalities that you meet throughout your life. Comedy material is everywhere, friends! Plus, this will help you steer clear of stereotypes and cliches. 

If you have one person in mind when creating a character, try to think of other people you know who resemble them. It can be tricky to write comedy as it can quite easily veer into the grotesque if the characters are unrealistic, and you’ll lose your audience.

Self-deprecation

Using your own life is also a great source of comedic material. One particular way this is often done is through self-deprecating humor. This means poking fun at your character traits, physical aspects, or even misfortune. A great example of a self-deprecating character is Chandler, from Friends.

This helps the audience really relate to you, or feel superior to you, which is a commonly used technique to get the audience on your side. 

Be careful though, using yourself as the butt of a joke is risky business. There’s a fine line between a little light-hearted self-deprecation, which can be hilarious, and being straight-up tragic, which can just make your audience feel uncomfortable and sorry for you. 

Avoid crossing that line by using self-deprecating humor sparingly. Rather, sprinkle it throughout, rather than making it the central focus of your story. 

A balancing act

If your story includes more than one character, you’ll need to think of how these characters bounce each other out. If you have villains, you’ll need good guys. Is one character super uptight and well-presenting? Include another who’s maybe a little unhinged and always puts their foot in it. 

And then think about how these traits would interact with each other to create humor.

The Skill of Storytelling

Storytelling is a talent that you are either born with or not. And if you’re not… that’s just too bad! 

No, we’re joking of course. You can totally learn it. 

Storytelling comes in handy in so many situations - not just when you write comedy. From marketing to getting a job, or even educating others, your ability to tell a good story can have a big impact. When we say “tell a good story”, what we really mean is telling a story the way your audience wants to hear it.

Put it this way. Imagine you’re interviewing for a job as a salesperson, and you have experience as a waiter and teacher. At first glance, it might seem that your experience is irrelevant to the job you’re applying to. But depending on you tell the story, you can change the interviewer’s perception. You could tell them, for instance, about the way you excelled at upselling desserts to your customers or the times you had to help them decide what to order by assessing their needs and recommending the best dishes. 

You could also tell them how in your role as a teacher, your negotiation skills were often required in order to manage a classroom full of children, and good negotiation skills are key to a sales role. 

Can you see how if you went into that interview with no idea how to tailor the story to the interview, there’s a very small chance you would walk away with that job? It’s the same thing with comedy. Know your audience, understand what they want to hear, and tell them a story. 

How do you do that? Practice, friend. Practice. 

Practice telling your stories out loud 

Do this in front of a mirror, or record yourself to listen back so you can hear how you sound. Is your story fun to listen to? Do you sound funny when you tell it (this is important if you’re writing a comedy that you’ll be narrating out loud)? How’s your timing and rhythm? 

Practicing beforehand also enables you to experiment with different props, gestures, and styles. Again, this is helpful if you’re going to be on stage, for a stand-up show for example.

We also recommend practicing in front of friends or family. Choose people you know will be honest. Get their feedback, and implement the changes they suggest, if you find the advice to be valuable. 

Use writing prompts to practice

Storytelling is a muscle that needs to be exercised. You could try using prompts to write a new story every day. This way, you’ll practice a range of different scenarios, and grow more comfortable over time. We promise your stories will become more and more elaborate; you’ll surprise yourself!

Educate yourself

There are an endless amount of books, Ted Talks, online courses, in-person classes, and other educational resources to help you learn - and excel at - any skill. Use them! That’s what they’re there for. 

Learn from the pros

This somewhat carries on from the previous suggestion - watch the pros and learn from them. Watch a comedy every day, observe the storytelling techniques they use and the way they inject humor into the story. Practice the same techniques.

Talk to others

Your story has characters, right? What better way to create believable and relatable characters, and use them to tell your story than to know and understand people?

Talk to them, ask them about their experience, how they would react to a given situation, and so on.

Authenticity

We all tend to think that we’re the only ones who feel the way we do. You’d be surprised how many people can relate to your story. Authenticity can be felt, and people warm to it. Be open about your experience of life and you’ll attract your people.

Be controversial

Many steer clear of controversial topics because they can really divide a room. But controversial issues tend to be emotional for people, as they’re tied to strong feelings. And getting into people’s feelings is a great storytelling technique and an even better way to get people to laugh - if you get it right. 

Use everyday topics

Think of all the sitcoms you know that just use everyday storylines to highlight the absurdity of … well, life. And that’s what we love about these shows. That’s what makes them funny. 

How to Use Humour in Stories

There are some well-known techniques that you can use when you write comedy that’ll help get the audience on your side and crack a smile. We’re outlining some of these below, so you can use them in your own writing. 

Create a predicament

As Judd Apatow notes in his online masterclass, “Difficult circumstances lend themselves to comedy.” Create a predicament for your characters. Have them make a bad decision that gets them into a sticky situation. And build your funny storyline from there. Remember to keep their reactions realistic though, based on the personality you’ve given them.

This is similar to creating an inside joke with your audience. Carefully place pieces of information that you’ll later pull out again to deliver a punchline. Careful not to wait too long though - you want your audience to know what you’re referring to. 

Don’t abuse callbacks though. Three or four times in a show is funny, any more begins to feel old and recycled.

“Reforming” 

Reforming is a technique used a lot in comedy where you twist a cliche. In other words, guess what the audience is going to expect, and build up the story so they continue to think that is the direction you’re going in. Then, at the last minute, throw them a curveball and transform the cliche. 

Plus, incongruity is hilarious.

Use funnier alternatives

Some words just sound funnier than others. When you go back and read through some pages you wrote, see if you can’t swap out some of the words for something funnier. We also recommend you make a list of the funner alternatives, and over time you’ll have a repertoire of funny words.

Choose the appropriate build-up

We’ll keep this one short and sweet: the longer the build-up, the bigger the payoff should be.

These should get you off to a good start. Now, moving on to one of the most important aspects of writing comedy.

Want to Write Comedy? Consider Your Audience!

Who are you writing for? This is an incredibly important question to ask, as it will inform the kind of jokes you tell, and how you deliver the humor in your piece. 

If you want to write comedy, you need to know humor is subjective.

What does your audience find funny? What is their lived experience each day? What do they struggle with? 

And as you practice, it’ll pay to note what your audience does find funny. How many laughs does a particular joke get? Don’t get too attached to jokes you find hilarious; if your audience doesn’t laugh, the joke might have to go.

Things to Avoid When You Write Comedy

Finally, we’re going to cover some common mistakes that you should avoid when writing comedy. These could save you a few awkward moments; you’re welcome! 

Going overboard

If you’re too over-the-top, you could come across as silly, or grotesque. Or worse, you could overpower the plot. Trust that your story is funny enough to entertain and make people laugh. If you try too hard your audience will see right through your act.

Underdeveloping the story

Puns and unfortunate situations aren’t enough by themselves to make a comedy. Just like scary monsters aren’t enough to make a horror. The story is what makes the success. Relatable characters, realistic situations, authenticity, and all the things we’ve covered in this article. Those are the elements that’ll help make your story great. 

Omitting the background

Does your audience need some context to understand the intended meaning? Is it necessary for the joke to land? If so, make sure you provide that. You can build this up throughout the story, or give the information they need when the time comes.

Being an imposter

If you’re trying to write comedy in a style that’s not your own, or be funny in a way that isn’t true to you, this will be obvious. Your audience can smell this a mile off.  This is why it’s so important to explore and nurture your funny side, through practice, education, and other recommendations we provided earlier.

Giving up too soon

Writing comedy isn’t a piece of cake that you can dust off in an afternoon. It’s all too tempting to watch the end result and assume the process was easy and the comedian came up with the puns in his sleep. The reality is that a lot of thought and hours, even weeks of refining have gone into each and every show. 

Haven’t you noticed that stand-up comedians only release a new show every few years? And the same can be said for any type of comedy - or any art form, for that matter. They are few and far between. 

Waiting until you’re ready

If you wait until you’re ready, you might never start. Get writing, practice, refine, and then - and we can’t stress this enough - get your material before an audience. You need to see how people react to your stories in order to know if your jokes are landing. We recommend an open-mic night. Nothing like performing in front of a group of strangers who are unprepared and raw, as you know their reactions will be genuine.

Final Thoughts

We hope that you have found this article helpful and that you feel you have some tools now to write comedy. 

Most of all what we’d like you to take away from this is to practice, practice, practice. And then get yourself out there.

And remember, don’t give up, persevere, get advice from people who are ahead of you in the game, and support from loved ones around you. Take time to refine your craft. Writing comedy is an art, and art doesn’t happen overnight. 

Good luck, you've got this!

Learn More:

• How to Write a Monologue: Tips and Examples
• How to Write a Postcard (Tips and Examples)
• How to Write Height Correctly - Writing Feet and Inches
• How Long Does It Take to Write 1000 Words
• How to Write an Inequality: From Number Lines or Word Problems
• How to Write a Letter to the President (With Example)
• How to Write Like Ernest Hemingway
• How to Write a Follow-Up Email After an Interview
• How to Write a Formal Email
• How to Write a 2-Week Notice Email
• How to Write an Out-of-Office (OOO) Email
• How to Write a Professional ‘Thank You’ Email
• ‘Most Definitely’: Meaning, Proper Usage, and Alternative Phrases
• 'Weird' or 'Wierd': How Do You Spell 'Weird'?
• Grammar Book: Learn Basic English Grammar

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September 13, 2021

Allison Raymond

Everyone enjoys turning red in the face and struggling to breathe for a few seconds after a hilarious experience. Laughter lightens your mood, reduces stress, and even improves your immune system. On a relational level, humor helps you connect with others whether you’re swapping anecdotes in the same room together or reading a character’s wisecracks from a printed page. Humor makes stories more engaging overall, as well as balances out tenser scenes.

I love writing humor, but I have a confession: I’m not particularly funny. It’s a skill I had to develop, and no matter how serious of a person you are, you can too. Humor offers a lot of creative freedom because the form it takes will differ from story to story. However, jokes aren’t immune to falling flat and neither are comic relief characters to acting corny. Through practice, I’ve learned two tips to avoid those failures.

1. Focus on What Cracks You Up

If you’ve ever giggled over a snarky meme or a slapstick scene in an animated film, you have a sense of humor—which means you can gauge the dialogue and incidents that might amuse readers too. Your taste in humor is an effective starting point, as it will often come more naturally to you than other styles. Are you fascinated by wordplay? Do you binge stand-up comedy to relax after a rough day? Let those interests influence how you incorporate humor into your stories.

While you’re experimenting with ideas, ask for outside feedback . If you can entertain a group of your friends, you’ll know you’ve succeeded. They may even be able to suggest types of humor that hadn’t occurred to you, or they’ll warn you that your tactics aren’t appropriate for your intended audience. After all, morbid jokes don’t belong in a children’s book, nor bathroom humor in a romantic drama. And YA tends to lean toward sarcasm rather than highbrow witticisms.

Fortunately, you have a wide variety of options to choose from, and each one can be adapted to any genre.

Verbal Humor

When a writer wants to liven up a scene, the delivery of a punchline is usually the first possibility that leaps to mind. But unless a character tells a joke in the flow of a conversation, it’ll likely feel forced. Besides, verbal humor extends far beyond clever one-liners.

William Shakespeare, Lewis Carrol, and Charles Dickens interspersed puns throughout their work, a technique that’s still popular today because of its versatility. Wordplay can complement both narration and dialogue, as long as it’s used sparingly. Clichés will annoy readers, though, so aim for originality .

A running gag is another approach that carries the extra benefit of deepening characterization. In the Harry Potter series , Hagrid’s habit of mumbling, “I shouldn’t have told you that.” after blurting confidential information undergirds his forgetful and blabbermouthed nature. In the TV show Full House , Stephanie Tanner’s iconic exclamation, “How rude!” reveals her sassy personality. When a catchphrase is repeated just enough to stay familiar without wearing out, it will endear the character to the audience.

Last but not least, you have sarcasm, but since readers can’t hear the speaker’s tone, conveying it may be difficult. You’ll need to rely on body language and facial expressions to indicate that a character is kidding. If he praises his older sister while twisting his lips, then he doesn’t mean what he says. The other character’s response can provide clues too. She may fire off a retort, cringe, or snicker.

The best method, however, is hyperbole. The sarcasm will be immediately recognizable, as in this exchange from James Patterson’s School’s Out—Forever . After Max gets caught in a lie, she snaps back with exaggerated shock and concern.

     “Now, Max, I think we both know your parents aren’t missionaries.”

     I opened my eyes wide. “No? Well, for God’s sake, don’t tell them. They’d be crushed. Thinking they’re doing the Lord’s work and all.”

Situational Humor

As I’m sure you’re well aware of, this brand of humor has its own TV genre: the sitcom. But what you may not have considered before is that your favorite shows can supply endless inspiration for your own stories.

One episode that I’ll never forget is in the first season of Friends . Chandler gets locked in an ATM vestibule with supermodel Jill Goodacre. Although Chandler is famous for his snark, he’s so freaked out in this moment that his bumbling thoughts, comments, and actions take over instead. He smiles at Jill but stares too long, which gives her the impression that he’s leering. Later she offers him a piece of gum, and when he tries to blow a bubble, he accidentally spits it onto a table across the room. He rushes over to cram the wad back in his mouth, only to realize after chewing it that it’s not his gum. He chokes as the studio audience roars with laughter.

A character’s circumstances can also go askew when an assumption or stereotype is overturned. Irony is an incongruity between a statement or norm and the actual reality, and I can point to no better example than the opening of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice : “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” The line that comes next suggests that men are generally apathetic to matrimony, whereas women are preoccupied with it. The contrast between this “truth” and the behavior of the characters wraps the entire story in irony .

Subverted Expectations

The fastest track to humor is the element of surprise. To send readers into stitches, all you need to do is the opposite of whatever event, reaction, or description they believe is ahead. This will require setup, such as asking a question with a seemingly predictable answer or quoting the beginning of a cliché. Then you can tack on an unforeseen (yet fitting) outcome like these:

• She skimmed the items on her shopping list: bread, milk, eggs, and a pet dinosaur. Her son had scribbled that last one.
• The early bird gets a caffeine addiction.
• You can’t judge a book by its movie.
• “Are you nervous about this week’s wrestling match?” he asked.  I snorted. “Why would I be? My opponent is twice my size and strong enough to bench-press a rhino. I won’t even have to flex a muscle before I lose.”

2. Don’t Rely Solely on a Comic Relief Character

No matter what tickles your funny bone, it can’t compete with that uncle of yours who manages to get lost in his own hometown, or that friend who misuses big words because she reads everything except the dictionary. Real-life discussions, foibles, and misunderstandings create comedy. When writers attempt to replicate that in fiction, they typically resort to a comic relief character . Unfortunately, for every Luna Lovegood (from the Harry Potter series), a dozen Jar Jar Binks (from Star Wars) crowd the page and screen. When comedy is a character’s entire personality, and he doesn’t advance the plot— maybe he even derails it —he’ll come across as a nuisance.

Although Star Wars fans can list many complaints against Jar Jar, Luna Lovegood escapes censure. Luna is more than a collection of bizarre conspiracy theories. She has passions and experiences that shape her, and her unique perspective enables her to help her friends with their escapades. Most importantly, she isn’t the only source of humor. Fred and George are pranksters. Neville is clumsy and shy. And the arguments between Harry, Ron, and Hermione never leave room for a dull moment.

Instead of making one character responsible for your story’s humor, give several members of your cast a chance to be the laughingstock . Some characters may rattle off one-liners while others prefer battles of wit or playing practical jokes. When you build humor into character interactions, the resulting scenes will be more authentic and relatable.

Humor is meant to bring people happiness, yet it unnerves many writers. Don’t get so uptight that you can’t savor the process! When you enjoy the humor in your story, readers are likely to as well. So embrace your inner comedian. Tuck in lots of surprises. And spread the humor between your characters instead of packing it all into one. Soon you’ll realize that humor is as easy as pie. Both are much less challenging to make once you know your favorite recipe.

Allison Raymond has been captivated by stories for as long as she can remember. She was only eleven years old when she came to recognize writing as God’s purpose for her life. Although many years have passed since that moment, she has never doubted this purpose. Instead, she chooses to spend her time working hard to make her dream of becoming a published novelist a reality.

Allison grew up in Virginia, Illinois, and Oklahoma. She now lives in Missouri, where she is attending college in pursuit of a degree in Secondary English Education. In the future, she hopes to become a high school English teacher to share her passion for storytelling with aspiring young writers. Currently, she shares this passion on her personal blog and in a large number of her daily conversations.

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I gotta say that The Wingfeather Saga is one of the funniest books out there. So. I think that’s it. XD

Yes!! I think Andrew Peterson did a great job using a bunch of different techniques listed here.

Ah, writing humor in fiction is *so* hard for me. Pithy Facebook statuses or a funny story with a group of friends comes easy to me. But write it into a scene? You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ll have to keep these tips in mind, though!

Awesome post, Allison! I love how you focus on so many different types of comedy. I often find myself stuck on only one or two.

“The early bird gets a caffeine addiction.”

Couldn’t help but crack a smile at that one XD

I also love The Hero’s Guide To Saving Your Kingdom. Christopher Healy’s opening lines just makes you bowl over with laughter!

Thanks for the amazing article!

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101 Hilarious (or Slightly Amusing) Comedic Story Prompts

Do you need some help conjuring compelling comedy ideas? Sometimes reading simple comedic story prompts is the easiest way to find them.

Most writers are often asked,  “Where do you get your ideas from?”  A majority of the time, writers find it difficult to answer that question.

We get our ideas from a plethora of sources — news headlines, novels, television shows, movies, our lives, our fears, our phobias, etc. They can come from a scene or moment in a film that wasn’t fully explored. They can come from a single visual that entices the creative mind — a seed that continues to grow and grow until the writer is forced to finally put it to paper or screen.

In the spirit of helping writers find those seeds, here we offer 101 originally conceived and hilarious — or at the very least, slightly humorous — story prompts that you can use as inspiration for your next horror story.

They may inspire screenplays, novels, short stories, or even smaller moments that you can include in what stories you are already writing or what you will create in your upcoming projects.

Check our our other story prompt lists here!

1. Two opposing football coaches from rival schools fall in love with each other.

2. A man is afraid of everything.

3. A mom is obsessed with wanting to be popular amongst her teenage daughter's friends and peers.

4. A past arcade game champion from the 1980s quits his job to travel the country getting high scores on classic arcade game consoles.

5. A world where cats and dogs rule Earth.

6. Mark Twain is transferred into the future to experience what life is like now.

7. Someone believes that they are an amazing athlete, but nothing could be further from the truth.

8. A character desperate for a job accepts a position as an interpreter, but can't actually speak the native language.

9. A bigot's soul is transferred into a minority's body.

10. An egotistical genius is suddenly stripped of their intelligence.

11. An unethical CEO of a superstore is ordered by the court to work a month as a cashier.

12. A cowboy is forced to work in the corporate world.

13. A male mermaid falls in love with a female castaway.

14. Mrs. Claus is forced to deliver presents on Christmas after her husband runs off with a stripper.

15. A janitor enacts hilarious daily revenge on the students that mock him.

16. A man finds a loophole to enter the Miss Universe contest.

17. A disgraced angel who hates humans is forced to live amongst them.

18. A mother and her teenage son switch bodies.

19. The world's unluckiest man.

20. An Uber/taxi driver picks up a doppelganger.

21. A world where everybody suddenly tells the truth no matter what the consequences.

22. A pastor is accidentally sent to Hell for a missionary trip.

23. A talented but laid-off chef is forced to take a job in a fast food joint.

24. A group of promiscuous high school friends decides to live like do-good virgins to win the heart of a new student.

25. What if Romeo and Juliet hated each other?

26. Someone dies, only to see that their childhood wish of returning to life as a dog comes true.

27. Someone that faints at the sight of blood becomes a vampire.

28. A man discovers that's he's actually a robot.

29. An alternate universe where adults are the children and kids run the world.

30. A man suffers from a strange mental disorder that forces him to communicate only through puns.

31. High school friends of the opposite sex vow to marry each other by 40 if they're still single — only to finally reunite at a high school reunion and discover they can't stand each other, but don't want to be alone.

32. A tone-deaf singer trying to make it as a performer.

33. An egotistical Dungeons & Dragons player wakes up within the world of their campaign.

34. Pranking gets out of hand in an office building.

35. A man finds any way he can to get his wife to divorce him — but none of it works.

36. A marriage counselor that has been married five times.

37. The world's worst beekeeper.

38. The world's worst soccer player that is only on the team because their father coaches.

39. An otherwise innocent priest is disenchanted with the church, quits, and decides to make up for lost time by sinning — but their conscience is making it very difficult.

40. The world's worst hunter.

41. The angel and devil on one's shoulders are actually real.

42. A man afraid of the water decides to confront his fear by visiting the world's biggest waterpark.

43. A man afraid of clowns decides to confront his fear by attending clown school.

44. A woman is literally afraid of her own shadow.

45. The country's funniest comedian decides to run for president as a joke — and wins.

46. The world of enthusiastic parents and coaches during a week-long soccer tournament.

47. A group of childhood friends reunites for their 25th reunion only to learn that each of them has undergone drastic changes in their genders and sexualities.

48. A character obsessed with Tom and Jerry cartoons is thrust into that world.

49. The son of a secret agent is nothing like his father.

50. A princess from another country decides to go incognito and attend an American college.

51. A prince from a male-dominated society comes to America.

52. The opposite of vertigo — the fear of being too close to the ground.

53. A woman has Sinistrophobia — the fear of objects to your left.

54. A millennial who can't detach from technology is forced to go camping.

55. A romantic comedy about two dogs that fall in love against all the odds.

56. Someone that hates horror movies because the characters make stupid mistakes is thrust into a world where those scenarios play out.

57. Dogs and cats, living together.

58. The frog that was turned into a prince turns back into a frog after the princess divorces him.

59. A millennial who can't detach from technology is transported to 1980s.

60. A hipster who wishes they could live in the simpler times of the 1800s gets their wish and realizes how hard that life really was.

61. A Little House on the Prairie fan wishes they could live in that world and realizes how hard that life really was.

62. A TV personality is a fake Shark expert on a Shark Week show.

63. A popular TV Chef that can't really cook is hired by the White House to cook for the inaugural ball.

64. An egotistical President of the United States decides to pull a publicity stunt for the upcoming election — he wants to be the first president in space.

65. A family wakes up to discover that their dog, two cats, and two frogs can now talk.

66. A family is transported to the land of Oz only to be mistaken as witches because of their smartphones.

67. Unappreciative twin brother and sister are transported into the bodies of their father (brother) and mother (sister) at their birth and get a taste of what it was like raising twins.

68. Unappreciative twin brother and sister are transported into the bodies of their father (sister) and mother (brother) at their birth and get a taste of what it was like raising twins.

69. Parents travel into the future to see what their children are like — and the results are not that great.

70. Grandparents welcome their six grandchildren for a week's vacation; only the parents never come back.

71. A group of children start an underground candy factory and run it like a drug cartel.

72. A group of soccer moms start an underground cupcake factory and run it like a drug cartel.

73. A bunch of bored fathers that binge The Sopranos decides to start a suburban mafia — but they are a far cry from gangsters.

74. A farmer decides to open a knock-off of Disneyland, complete with lackluster versions of Pirates of the Caribbean , The Jungle Cruise , It's a Small World , and many other iconic Disney rides.

75. The competitive world of belly flop competitions.

76. The competitive world of cannonball diving.

77. The competitive world of adult go-cart racing.

78. The competitive world of minigolf tournaments.

79. Neighbors living in Midwest suburbia decide to get into the lucrative world of internet couples pornography.

80. A white family wants to open up a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.

81. A group of children obsessed with 1980s movies decides to remake the classics.

82. A group of children playing hide and seek in their basement discover old VHS tapes and have no clue how to play them — leading to an adventurous journey of mystery and discovery.

83. A middle school decides to run school elections like the presidential race and prove to the world how childish adults in the political world really are.

84. A grownup butt dials their childhood phone number. Guess who answers?

85. A priest, a rabbi, and a monk walk into a bar.

86. The world's worst fistfight between two suburban dads goes viral.

87. A world where humans evolved from sloths.

88. A white-collar prisoner does everything he can to return to prison when he's released at an old age.

89. A spoof of The Shawshank Redemption where the protagonist is an idiot that makes the most stupid mistakes and gets caught at every escape attempt.

90. The world's easiest prison to escape.

91. A hardcore rapper that actually didn't grow up in the hood.

92. A mom that has had enough of her spoiled children and husband plans a vacation for herself.

93. A man and his best friend, his dog, switch bodies.

94. A woman and her best friend, a cat, switch bodies.

95. A movie buff that is sick of body switch movies actually switches bodies with someone.

96. The competitive world of the Summer Redneck Games —classic events include the toilet seat horseshoe toss, watermelon seed spitting, mud pit belly flop.

97. The competitive world of Quidditch.

98. The world of Renaissance fairs.

99. The world of cosplayers.

100. A 25th high school reunion committee decides to do an adult prom, leading to mirrored drama from twenty-five years ago.

101. A blogger trying to concoct a list of 101 hilarious (or slightly amusing) comedic story prompts runs out of ideas when he reaches the end of the list.

Share this with your writing peers or anyone that loves a funny story. Have some prompts of your own? Share them through comments on Facebook posts or Twitter retweets!

Keep writing.

Ken Miyamoto has worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison for Sony Studios and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.

He has many studio meetings under his belt as a produced screenwriter, meeting with the likes of Sony, Dreamworks, Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers, as well as many production and management companies. He has had a previous development deal with Lionsgate, as well as multiple writing assignments, including the produced miniseries  Blackout , starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Haylie Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric La Salle, and Bruce Boxleitner. Follow Ken on Twitter  @KenMovies

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50+ Short Funny Stories That Will Crack You Up In 60 Seconds

I curated these funny stories from funny Tumblr stories . Get ready for a hurricane of LOL as you read all these funny short stories.

1 . Now that’s what I call stupid : In my junior year of high school, this guy asked me on a date. He rented a Redbox movie and made a pizza. We were watching the movie and the oven beeped so the pizza was done. He looked me dead in the eye and said, “This is the worst part.” I then watched this boy open the oven and pull the pizza out with his bare hands, rack and all, screaming at the top of his lungs. We never had a second date.

2 . The fake report card : I failed the first quarter of a class in middle school, so I made a fake report card. I did this every quarter that year. I forgot that they mail home the end-of-year cards, and my mom got it before I could intercept with my fake. She was PISSED—at the school for their error. The teacher also retired that year and had already thrown out his records, so they had to take my mother’s “proof” (the fake ones I made throughout the year) and “correct” the “mistake.” I’ve never told her the truth.

3 . All the fish : I went to this girl’s party the week after she beat the shit out of my friend. While everyone was getting trashed, I went around putting tuna inside all the curtain rods and so like weeks went by and they couldn’t figure out why the house smelled like festering death. They caught me through this video where these guys at the party were singing Beyoncé while I was in the background with a can of tuna.

4 . How to win at video games : When I was little, I would go on Nickelodeon.com all the time and they had this game similar to Club Penguin , except it was called Nicktropolis . And if you forgot your password, a security question you could choose was “What is your eye color?” and if you got it right it’d tell you your password. So I would go to popular locations in Nicktropolis and write down random usernames who were also in those areas, and then I would log out and type in the username as if it were my own and see which of these usernames had a security question set to “What is your eye color?” (Which was most of them, since it was easy and we were all kids). I would then try either brown, blue, or green, and always get in, then I would go to their house and send all of their furniture and decorations to my own accounts. And if I didn’t want it, I could sell it for money.

5 . Drama at my drama class : One time my drama class’s teacher had gone home sick so we were just put in a classroom with a movie to entertain us for the period when an alarm went off. None of us were sure if it was the fire alarm or the lockdown alarm, so we all head out into the hall to check and no one’s out there, so we head back in and climb under our desks as is lockdown procedure. Cut to an hour or so later when a teacher bursts in and nearly dies of relief because the school was on fire and we were the only students not accounted for and half the faculty and fire department had been searching for us for ages. Literally, the whole school had filled with smoke while we’d kept super safe under our wooden desks.

6 . I drew a penis with a glue stick on the whiteboard : My whole class once got detention because I drew a penis with a glue stick on the whiteboard and when the teacher went to wipe off the board all the fluff came off and stuck to the glue. I never got in trouble for it because my whole class found it too funny to tell the teacher it was me.

7 . The day my teacher stole my headphones : During my sophomore year of high school, we were doing silent work and my history teacher said that we could listen to music but if it was too loud he would “break our headphones.” so I’m doing my work quietly with my music on low, and this obnoxious kid sitting next to me had his music really loud. I could hear it over my music but ignored it. My teacher thought it was me. So he comes up to me & ripped my BRAND NEW Apple headphones, looking ruthless. He suddenly realized it was the guy next to me and he was completely embarrassed. He came in the next day with a new pair and an apology note taped to them. He couldn’t look me in the eye for the rest of the year.

8 . Oh—semen : When I was in high school, I was pretty quiet around people who weren’t my friends. The high school’s wrestling coach also taught geometry, and he was my teacher. This resulted in a lot of wrestlers skipping class and barging into our classroom to hang out and not get in trouble. One day, seven wrestlers come in yelling about new wrestling uniforms, and how excited they were. When they go over and pull out the uniforms, the whole class is kind of side eyeing them. Even without what I mention next, the suits look funny. I mean, it’s tight royal blue Spandex with a suspender style top. Absolutely funny already. But the wrestlers grab the uniforms and rush out of the room to go change in the bathroom, and come back to show them off. Which, is also hysterical because Spandex hides NOTHING; you could see all of their junk.

Anyway, we live in a town called Ocean City. It’s commonly abbreviated as “OC”. On the back of the Spandex uniform, it says Ocean City Men in large letters. Except… they used the abbreviation. On the back, it says OC MEN. Which isn’t awful, but then I sound it out in my head. OC MEN. Oh—semen. I almost spit out the water I was drinking.

I looked around frantically, trying to find out who I can tell, because I didn’t have any friends to tell in this class. I turn to the girl next to me, and I had no idea who she was and had never talked to her before. I told her what I found and we both cracked up.

The whole time she saw me as the quiet teacher’s pet who was shy as hell. The first words out of my mouth were “It says oh semen.”

We’ve been best friends for 7 years now.

9 . Ow, my shit! : When I was a kid, I was always excited to learn new vocabulary. When I was in first grade, my teacher taught me that “shin” was another word for leg.

Later that day, I was walking with my mom, when I tripped and hit my leg on the ground really hard. I yelled out “OW, MY SHIN” although my mom heard “OW, MY SHIT.” She started yelling about how that was a bad word and we didn’t say that word, and she was going to wash my mouth out with soap. I was a crying, bawling mess of a child, to the point I was doing that weird cry, stutter, hiccup noise. She paused in berating me and said “Who taught you that word?!” Of course, I told the truth and said “M-m-my teacher t-t-t-taught me that word!” and she started ranting about how she was going to call the school and get that teacher yelled at.

I tried to explain, “T-te-teacher said that shin meant leg I’m SO SORRY ILL N-N-NE-ne-never say it again.” My mom got quiet and realized her mistake. “…What did you say?”

Of course I started crying harder and I said “NO it’s just a test you’re going to wash my mouth out with soap again.”

When I finally calmed down enough to say it again, my mom apologized and to this day I always say “shin” loudly just to see her face blush.

10 . I swear to God he levitated : I have a friend who I’ve known since I was very little. One day, when he was six, I was at his house when he got this absolutely god-awful stomach pain. I mean, he was literally writhing in pain. So, his mom took him to the doctor’s office, where the doctor took one look and told her to take him to the ER. She feared something along the lines of an intestinal rupture. About half way to the hospital, my friend suddenly let rip the loudest, most powerful fart any of us had ever heard. I swear to God he levitated. We thought the upholstery in the car seat had ripped. After a good 30 seconds of intense farting, he looked at his mom and said, “I feel all better now!”

11 . We don’t have a fucking doorbell : So a couple years I moved out of state with a boyfriend. Was super excited about it but with reason had anxiety about being so far from friends and family. One of the ways my anxiety was coming out was with nightmares and night terrors. I’d wake up violently sitting up in a cold sweat, gasping and whatnot. On one particular night I had woken up the sound of our doorbell ringing. Which at 4 in the morning is fucking nerve wracking. So I shook my boyfriend fully awake and told him I heard the doorbell and to go check it because I was scared. He quickly jumps up. Puts on clothes and grabs a bat. Goes all the way to the front door and opens it. I, scared shitless, am peeking around the corner watching it all go down. I see him step outside and I nervously await the verdict of the situation when I hear him call out to me. “Babe?” And I respond real shaky, “Yes?” He stands in the doorway with a real frustrated tired look in his eyes and says, “We don’t have a fucking doorbell.”

12 . The whole school thought I was going to star on Drake and Josh : In second grade, I told everyone that I was leaving school before next semester to move to Hollywood to play Megan’s cousin from Vermont on Drake and Josh . At first I just told my best friend, but then the whole school found out. I had people coming up to me and asking me for my autograph and a teacher even asked for a picture with me. When I showed up on the first day of school in third grade, I told everyone that the show was going off the air after the season finished (even though I had no knowledge of when it was ending), and so they wouldn’t need me. AND THE SHOW ENDED AFTER THAT SEASON AND EVERYONE BELIEVED ME UP UNTIL LIKE 6TH GRADE BUT NOW MY BEST FRIEND WILL NEVER LET ME FORGET ABOUT IT AND I’M SO ANGRY.

13 . Classroom Chaos : So in 8th grade I used to read during class a lot. At the time I was reading an Artemis Fowl book, and for some reason I had two copies of the same book. So one day in my English class we were reading this other book (which I had already finished reading three days earlier), I was reading my own book and when it was finally my turn to read, I had no idea where we were. So the teacher took my book away, I found my spot, read the part and passed it to the next person to start reading.

So after I read my part, I took out my second copy of Artemis and picked up right where I left off. Skip a few minutes ahead, gets back to my turn to read, and again I don’t know where we are. So teacher takes a look at me, sees the book in my hands, then back to her desk obviously confused for a second. But shrugs it off knowing it’s me she’s dealing with (I’ve caused similar problems like this before), takes my second book and puts it on her desk, and makes me read my part.

Now my friend that sat two chairs down from me was also reading Artemis at the same time as me and with a quick look to him he knew exactly what I was planning. He took it out and passed it over without hesitation. I opened to a random spot and just pretended like I was reading. (At this point it was just to mess with my teacher.)

So skip forward again and my teacher sees me with the book again and says, “How many of those do you have?” I gave my smartass remark as “enough.” She took away that book, too. But now at this point I was out of books, and the rest of my class knew it. But the teacher didn’t know I was out. So she continued with her lesson and another friend of mine took two of her books and switched out two of the Artemis books on her desk to make them look like they were still there.

He passed the books slowly around the room, one at a time, until they were back to me. Then I took one out, opened to a random spot and just kept it open, waiting to get caught. I silently signaled to a few people in class and they started laughing. The teacher looked at what they were laughing at and saw me with yet another book. She looked at her desk where there were seemingly 3 Artemis books and saw me with a 4th. She took it, walked back to her desk, put it down, turned around, and saw me with the second book that got taken back on my desk!!!

The teacher thought she was going to win this game but underestimated my teamwork with my classmates. So the second she came over to me to take the seemingly 5th book, another classmate took back the other two books from her desk and split them up—sending one to me one way, and the other another way.

The teacher was very flustered and laughing hysterically at this point and there was no more teaching going on. The entire class was also going ballistic trying to see who would win. It was just a game of “How many books does this one 8th grader have?”

So at the end of the class she thought she had taken 11 books from me. I took pity on her and told her what was really happening. I told her that I had already read the first book, and all the teamwork that went on. We were both laughing and making jokes. In the end she agreed to let me read my own books as long as I kept track of the actual book we were reading. (Meaning, I ask the person next to me tell me when it’s my turn and they point out my spot to read so I don’t actually have to keep track.)

14 . Victoria’s no longer a secret : So my oldest brother Ethan doesn’t like wearing pants while at home, he wears boxers (because he’s a gentleman) but REFUSES to wear pants.

So one day we’re all just chilling on the couch when Ethan comes in wearing his boxers. My younger brother Eric asks if he can take off his pants too and Ethan says yeah, just make sure you have clean underwear on.

Eric leaves the room, goes upstairs, comes back 3 or 4 minutes later without pants in my underwear, and not just any underwear; Victoria’s Secret, MY VICTORIA’S SECRET (only girl in the family).

Ethan is laughing his ass off, Nate (next oldest brother) is rolling on the floor, and I’m just sitting there like WTF.

My dad chooses the best time to come in with guests, when one of his 10 year old sons is standing in the living room wearing his only daughters frilly Victoria’s Secrets, his oldest isn’t wearing pants, and the other two sons are on the floor dying.

The neighbors haven’t come over since.

15 . My favorite teacher : One time in 6th grade we were at recess and while I was running to my friends, I just so happened to kick a HUGE rock (keep in mind, I was wearing flip-flops so it hurt like hell) and without thinking, I shouted at the top of my lungs “MOTHERFUCKER!” And with my god-awful luck, my math teacher was sitting at the bench right BESIDE ME. He then took me inside to what I thought was yell at me but he just couldn’t stop laughing and sent me back outside with a literal candy bar. He is still my favorite teacher I’ve ever had.

16 . Lotion boy : One time in my chemistry class, while the teacher was talking, this guy asked loudly, “Does anyone have any lotion?” The teacher stopped talking as some girl gave him some hand lotion.

The guy proceeds to slowly rub the lotion on his face as the whole class watches him in confusion.

The teacher asks him what he’s doing, and he responds with “I forgot to moisturize this morning” and puts even more on his face.

The teacher asks him to go to the hall to finish his moisturizing because he’s being a distraction, and after about 10 minutes he still hasn’t come back in, so someone opens the door to check and he’s still smearing lotion all over his face. He finally comes back in and hands the girl her lotion, and he’s used up half of it. Now people call him lotion boy.

17 . I never got to eat my Pringles : Okay, so this was in fourth grade, and I was in this class with all these dumbass kids.

Here’s the back story: My parents usually pack me fruit for a snack, but on this day they packed me like half of the leftover Pringles from the day before, you know, in that cylinder container. I was really excited since I LOVE PRINGLES. But when recess came around so I could take MY Pringles and go eat it outside, they weren’t in my bag. I started scoping the area, trying to find my Pringles. I call the teacher, she tries to find them but she can’t either. Than this thought comes to my mind—What if MOIRA STOLE IT?

Moira was this chubby girl in my class that literally ALWAYS wore this purple princess dress that should be classified as a bad Halloween costume (seriously) and was known for being a bitch.

Being the judgmental 9-10 year old I was, I straight out concluded that she must’ve stolen my damn Pringles. I just tell my teacher, “Well too bad, I’ll just go out for recess now. It was just PRINGLES.” Being a little angel. So I stomp out of the class and start searching for Moira. I’m talking checking areas, finding witnesses, wasting my time. So after a solid 10 minutes, I find a group of these kids crowded at the side of one of the portable classrooms. I rush over to see what it is. The kids were eating Pringles. Barbecue flavored Pringles. MY PRINGLES. I start raging as I smack the Pringles out of the kids’ hands and start ripping people away from the main source. And in the middle of all the kids, sat a smug looking MOIRA with my PRINGLES. I look all mad and rip the BLOODY EMPTY CONTAINER OF PRINGLES OUT OF THE DAMN BITCH’S FILTHY HANDS. By now even dumbass Moira knows what’s up, she’s a goner. I would’ve murdered her at the very least, but a supervisor saw us and ran over.

Moira was forced to apologize and I was forced to accept her damn apology.

I never got to eat my Pringles.

To this day I’m sure she fears my cold dead hands, ready to rip her lying face off.

18 . Why my parents can’t take me seriously : So one time I was home alone and it was around dinnertime when I decided to make myself something to eat. I opened the freezer and dug around until I found what appeared to be chicken nuggets in an unopened plastic bag that for some reason, didn’t have any cooking instructions. Thinking that my parents must have thrown away the box for box tops, I called my mom to ask how long and at what temperature to cook chicken nuggets. She told me both of them, I laid out about 20 on a tray and stuck it in the oven, setting the timer before I walked out of the kitchen. When it was almost time to get my chicken nuggets, I walked into a cinnamon scented kitchen. I searched all over that kitchen, trying to find the cinnamon scent, leading me to the oven. I decide to turn on the oven light to see if maybe my mom had stuck some cookies in the oven and forgot to bake them, but instead, I find that the tray my chicken nuggets were on has cookies on it instead! As I’m trying to process what just happened, I hear the front door open and my mom shout delightedly, “Ooooo what’s that smell?” She walks into the kitchen and catches my confused expression. That’s when the spark ignited and she realized exactly what had happened. Somehow in some form, I had accidentally baked snickerdoodles. And that is why my parents can never take my cooking seriously.

19 . Painting a roller coaster : So in my junior year of high school I got a project to make a roller coaster for my physics class. Everything was going fine until the day my partner and I had to paint the thing. We were in my garage spray painting the tubes and these two guys come marching up to the house across the street and start yelling at the top of their lungs, beating on the door. Now let me say in my defense the neighborhood I lived in was in south Dallas and it’s still not a safe place. Well I called the police, closed the garage and parked myself in front of the dining room window. Long story short the police showed up in full gear broke down the door and brought out the two boys at gunpoint. And that’s the story of how my entire block found out that the abandoned house had new owners.

20 . Jellyfish fiasco : So when I was like 9 I went to this aquarium thing and it was a pretty amusing trip overall. But then suddenly I just kind of saw these jellyfish without any tentacles floating around in the water and was like “oh cool.”

The next day at school, the teacher asked us what we had done over the weekend. Now normally I never raise my hand. But I did this time. I fucking did it this time. The worst possible time. So I raised my hand and everyone was obviously shocked to see my hand up in the air so the teacher said “yes?”

and after confirming the fact that she picked me I said

“I saw this jelly fish in the aquarium and I thought it was really cool because it didn’t have any -testacles-.” and then like the classroom just emerged with so much laughter and I had no clue what was going on so I pleaded my friend to explain what was so funny I mean even THE TEACHER WAS LAUGHING AND I WAS GOING WTF.

So eventually my friend explained to me (it literally took 2 hours of convincing) and then ofc I was pretty embarrassed but the thing is the fucking teacher then asked me if she could tell this to the other teachers and that’s the story of how I switched schools.

21 . Eighth grade games : So when I was in the eighth grade, science class was the most boring hours of my life. Everyone would play games on their computers (we used computers to take notes) but would play them in a super sneaky manner (volume down, looking at the board so it looks like you’re taking notes, etc.). I wasn’t one for playing games during class but I was soooo bored…so I searched up Pac-Man on Google and started playing (I didn’t know what else to play).

So I started playing and just my luck I didn’t check how high my volume was….IT WAS ALL THE WAY UP. I started panicking because the game noises were excruciatingly loud. I kept playing and got eaten by a ghost almost after I pressed the start button (my hands were shaking like crazy)….my strict science teacher looked me straight in the eye..

22 . I literally “fell” for him : Since my crush sits behind me in class, when we stood up to do the pledge I stood up too fast and I stumbled over to him so to not fall on the ground I reached to grab his desk but I accidentally GRABBED HIM and I ended up falling on top of him and we both screamed. Luckily I didn’t hurt or crush him. My teacher and everyone else started laughing and I got so red afterwards. Now when we stand up for the pledge, he moves all the way to the back of the room away from me…

23 . 5th grade teacher : In fifth grade, my teacher loathed me. She would do anything to make me cry and sent me to the principle’s office any chance she got. Don’t believe me? I’m left handed. So still, to this day, I get my hands confused. On this particular day, we were doing the Pledge of Allegiance and I had put my left hand to my chest (it’s supposed to be your right hand over your heart). She got mad at me, telling me that I wasn’t being ‘patriotic’ and sent me to the principal’s office. The principal and I were quite aquatinted at this point and so I told her why I was sent back to her office again, and she laughed. And laughed. I didn’t find it funny at all, I mean all the kids in my school thought I was a delinquent so they didn’t want to be my friend. My principal wrote on the back of my hands, L and R. What I didn’t realize was that she wrote L on my right hand and R on my left hand. She did the same to hers. Then, she walked me back to the classroom, and made our whole class redo the Pledge with our ‘right’ hand, with me leading the class, and it was one of the happiest moments of my elementary experience.

24 . In the closet : OK, so one time when I was really little I had a best friend who was kinda strange but so my mom got a call one day asking if she was over at my house because they couldn’t find her and so they call again about two hours later to ask if we could help look for her and so about three hours of looking we had basically covered the entire neighborhood and they were about to call the police and we decided to check their house one more time and my mom went into her room and found her completely naked and sleeping on the top of a super tall shelf in her closet.

25 . Cringey! : My best friend and I are super weird, and whenever either of us see an attractive person we tend to take a picture of them and send it to each other, because why not?

Anyway, I was on a cruise ship with my grandparents, and I spot this super cute guy a couple years older than me. Naturally, I freak out a little, & I whip out my phone. Bare in mind I’m sat next to my grandparents in the middle of a crowded lobby.

So I open my camera, take a picture- and guess what?

THE FUCKING FLASH WAS ON, WASN’T IT?

I make eye contact with thus cute guy, look at my Grandparents who both look extremely disappointed, and a few other people are looking at me. Obviously I left the room immediately.

26 . Sporting goods : So I have this health teacher who is really insane about exercise. This woman has done ironman triathlons, and talks about going to the YMCA at 5:00am.

Yeah she’s crazy.

Basically we have this project to pick a health goal to do for a month. Things like drinking water or doing squats. For that you need some motivation so we were talking about physical things to reward ourselves with.

She decided to tell us about her sporting goods fetish, where she goes into a store and buys a bunch of gear like they were books. In the middle of this she suddenly goes, “I really like Dick’s” Realizing what she just said, she turned red and in a more quiet voice goes, “please don’t tell your parents.”

27 . How bugs feel : When I was about 5/6 my mom and stepdad bought my sister and I bikes for Easter. After church they were like “do you wanna learn how to ride them?” And I was like??? Duh?? I had finally gotten the hang of it and I was riding around the circle showing off, and my mom was like “say cheese” so I look over at her for a second and I FUCKING RAM INTO A CAR AT FULL SPEED. A parked car that I didn’t even see, like at all, so I just rammed into this car and I fell off my bike and I was crying and all I could think about was “this must be how bugs feel” like they’re flying around living life and then SPLAT. Looking back that was my first existential crisis

28 . In dreams : I’ve always had super vivid dreams and it takes me a while after waking up to realize that they’re not real. Sometimes, it’s a disappointment but generally I just forget about it and move on. Now, in 6th grade I had one really close friend who I never actually got into a fight with. One night, I had a really vivid dream where my friend and I had this huge falling out over something that I can’t even remember now.

I was really good at holding grudges because I was not a forgiving child, so for three weeks I completely ignored my best friend in anger to the point where she started crying in front of the teacher and he asked what was going on. Of course, as I’m telling the story I realize the events were super weird and that it was all a dream. I fall silent and just look at my friend who’s still extremely upset and don’t know what to say because I had fucked up so badly.

29 . Sniffing candles with my best friend : So my best friend and I were in a super market and there were a lot of new candles. They all smelled strange so we started to think about names we could give them ‘grandma’s toilet cleaning agent’ or sth like this. Whatever I guess we sniffed to much candles because we started laughing very hard and I lay on the floor and my best friend fell into to pasta shelf which made us laugh even more and louder and people were already staring at us. Suddenly my brother’s best friend stood behind us and from this day he’s thinking that I’m taking drugs.

I just sniff candles with my best friend to burst out in laughter.

30 . Skull lover : So I was sitting at a lecture when I feel like being stared at, and in the corner of my eye I see this really handsome guy, who’s literally just staring at me. I don’t think much of it and continue to listen to the professor. After the lecture the guy comes up to me, and lays his hand on head and I’m like “eeeehm, what are you doing” and he stares me dead in the eyes and says “I’ve never seen such a gorgeous skull” and then he turns around and leaves.

31 . All glowed up : After the final bell, my friend and I were walking to our buses after school through a crowded hallway. We were talking about childhood and reminiscing about old memories, and we somehow started talking about which people became hot since middle school. My friend mentioned this guy named Keenan and I said “Yeah, he is pretty hot now,” and my friend practically screamed “DUDE HE GLOWED UP SO HARD!” (“Glowed up” means I guess like someone became attractive). Anyway, right as she said that she turned her head and he was RIGHT BEHIND US (this is so so very cliché but I swear to god there he was). Anyway, right as she saw him she screamed “OH! HE’S RIGHT THERE!”. And OF COURSE he heard her, but it was so awkward so he just walked past us looking down at his phone and my friend fell on the ground from embarrassment.

32 . Chinese class : I took Chinese at school as a freshman. On one particular day, we didn’t have anything to do in class since we had gone through the whole curriculum for the semester. Our teacher wanted us to watch a Chinese movie in that free time, and I just so happened to watch one recently on YouTube. I offered to find it, and my teacher let me use her computer, that was connected to a Promethean board so that the whole class could see what I was doing on the screen. After a couple of minutes of searching, I couldn’t find the movie since I didn’t know the exact title, so I logged into my YouTube account and decided to find it in my history. When I opened my history I was mortified since stupid me had forgotten that being the awkward virgin that I was at the time I had searched up tutorials on kissing and making out that previous night. The whole class was hysterically laughing, my teacher was extremely confused, and I almost cried as I scrolled past all the kissing tutorials and finally found the movie. I went back to my seat and didn’t speak to anyone in class for the rest of the week. I still haven’t lived it down.

33 . Coca-Cola disaster : A couple years ago my friends and I were going to see a movie in the theatre at the mall. Instead of paying the ridiculous movie theatre prices for pop and candy, we decided to go to target to buy some stuff. This was when Coca Cola started to put people’s names on their bottles. My friend told me she had seen a bottle with my name on it inside this bin of Coke. I was weirdly excited since I hadn’t gotten one with my name on it yet. After I had bought the drink, I opened inside target, and it exploded EVERYWHERE. The pop was at least five or six feet in diameter. I watched as people passed the mess and made looks of disgust. Imagine if I had opened it inside of the theatre…

34 . Panic! at the pothole : Once upon a time I had a friend that was going to a Panic! At The Disco concert and she promised me she would face time me so that I could watch with her. So she messaged me at like the middle of the night telling me to answer her FaceTime call but I was at my neighbors house (which also happened to be my cousins house) so I started running out the door and my sister followed me behind and was chasing after me. She asked me where I was going so I started running as fast as I could screaming “WE HAVE TO GET HOME, IM NOT GONNA MAKE IT! I NEED TO SEE, WHY CANT I SEE!?!”

Keep in mind that it’s like midnight right about now but I’m running and halfway through screaming. I stepped inside a pothole in my neighbor’s lawn and completely fell in mud but I got right back up and kept running, muddy as hell, trying to get to my house while my sister was dying from laughter behind me. That’s not even the sad part, the sad part is my friends phone died so I just sat there with mud all over me at the dining room table staring at my blank phone just waiting. I waited for almost two hours, refusing to take a shower even though the mud was starting to dry up. This was two years ago and to this day every time my sister sees the pothole she starts dying from laughter.

35 . The toilet phase : When I was younger, around 3 or 4 years old, I had a phase of flushing things down the toilet. I would flush McDonald’s toys I didn’t want anymore or change I had found in my room. the biggest and most hilarious thing I ever dumped was a gallon of milk. one day I was bored and was looking around in the fridge low and behold there it was, a new gallon of milk. my tiny body dragged the bottle on the floor all the way to the bathroom. I opened the cap, let it go into the toilet, and flushed. I thought I was smart enough to let it go unnoticed but I’ll never forget what my dad yelled out when he walked in. “why in the hell is the water white?!“ my mom found the empty carton and just stared at me.

36 . My mom’s thong : One day when I was 3 I decided I wanted to be like my mom and wear “big girl” panties. I sneakily went through her drawer and grabbed the first thing I could find – a thong (I didn’t know what it was at the time). She didn’t know until we went to breakfast with some friends and took me to the bathroom. She still won’t let me live it down!

37 . Slappy trails : One time in fifth grade, I was walking back to class from the bathroom. Before I continue, I should specify two things.

1. My classroom was literally just around the corner from the bathroom, next to the lockers.

2. There was a boy that I had a crush on for the past year in my class.

Now for whatever reason, I was swinging my arms around in a wild half-windmill motion. Don’t ask me why, I was just filled with child-like glee I guess. So there I was, swinging my arms dramatically, then just when I got to the corner…

I had accidentally slapped someone in the face. It took me a second to realize who it was: my crush.

I was mortified, but he just started laughing. To this day I can probably cite that as one of my top clumsy/socially inept moments.

38 . The ramen incident : I have decided to remain anonymous to protect my identity from the foolishness. last night, I became hungry and decided to make some ramen. I removed the various packets from the bowl, added the flavor and vegetables, then put the bowl in the microwave.

After about a minute or two, I realized something was wrong. A terrible burning smell had filled my kitchen.

I opened the door to my microwave and…low and behold…I had neglected to add water. There was some smoke coming from the bowl. Not wanting to waste the ramen, I went to the sink and added water, which filled the room in acrid smoke for several seconds. I then returned the bowl to the microwave and cooked it for two more minutes before attempting to eat it.

Well….It went okay for a little while, until I discovered a globule of blackened noodles which had turned into some sort of strange crystalline substance yet seen in nature by humankind. I had a change of heart.

39 . First phone accident : When I was in the 6th grade my parents decided I should get my first cell phone because I was going to middle school now and things were different. It was a pink little slide phone where you’d slide it sideways and have the texting keyboard and all. I took decent care of my phone and never needed a replacement. Well, flash forward to Memorial Day weekend. My family and another family went camping up in Pennsylvania for the weekend. Well, one of the days we were up there my buddy, Oliver, and I decided to take the kayaks out on the lake. Genius me, decided she wanted to listen to the 4 Selena Gomez songs I had on my phone. I thought it would be a brilliant idea to put my phone in a plastic bag to protect it from the water. When we got back from kayaking I took my phone out only to find the bag was submerged in water. We had no rice or anything to save my phone so we tried laying it out to dry, not even 15 minutes later it starts down pouring destroying my phone even more. My mom ended up giving me her first flip phone which didn’t even have a camera or the option to have music or photos transferred. Lesson learned.

40 . Little thief : When I was around four or five I was with my mom at this store buying some Christmas gifts. as we were leaving I saw these little plushy dinosaurs that fit perfectly in my hands. I grabbed two of them and stashed one in each of my pockets. my pockets were so small that they made me look like I had two rumors on each of my hips. I still remember the rush of energy I got from actually leaving the store undetected. well, when my mom and I got to the car, she found them and called the store back and made me apologize. I had the absolute worst social anxiety when I was a kid so I was a absolutely sobbing, telling this poor employee how horrible a person I was. like I was having a mental breakdown, it was so bad my mom apologized to me afterwards and bought me a nice milkshake!

41 . Driver’s license : So I was at the local DMV to get my driver’s license when my dad pissed off the lady at the counter. turns out she was the lady that had to do the actual road test with me. We get in the car and I thought I was doing pretty well, until she starts freaking out? She has me pull over, tells me I’m the worst drive ever. after yelling at me, she demands I go back to the DMV. and the rest of the time she is on her phone. When we get there, there is a state trooper waiting for me. gives me a field sobriety test. Literally had to take a sobriety test when I tried to get my license. At least I passed one test that day.

42 . That one time I got lost : So about a year ago, I was in Phys. Ed class, and we went around the neighborhood for a jog at the beginning of each class. I hadn’t done it before because of medical reasons, but the teacher evidently forgot about it. I’m incredibly bad with directions and easily distracted, so I lost sight of the rest of the group and went completely the wrong way. I ended up being lost for TWO AND A HALF HOURS. the best part is that I single handedly changed my school’s Phys. Ed policy.

43 . Popcorn : My sister, mother, and I were waiting in a long line at the Sam’s Club food court. The entire time I was waiting, I was mentally rehearsing what my order would be “one slice of cheese pizza please”, my mind was repeatedly screaming at me. when we got up to the cashier to pay, I got distracted by his cuteness so instead of asking for the pizza, I confidently said “one popcorn please”, which SAMs Club food court has none of. Once I realized my mistake, I screamed out “noooo”, loud enough for 50 people to look at me. embarrassed, I ran away and my mom and sister had to bring me the slice of pizza from my finding place in the freezer section. To this day, I beg people to order for me when anyone remotely attractive is working the cash register.

44 . 50 shades of butt : So to begin my story I should tell you that I work at a Medical Spa as front desk and my job entails mostly computer and customer service related tasks. however, I am also there to assist the on shift technician, obviously not with the lasers as I am not certified, but with well…helping shaving clients to prepare them for their treatment. So this particular Saturday I was asked to help shave a client’s back, which was fine it’s part of my job and I just needed to be professional about it and it’s something I’ve unfortunately had to do before as well so no big deal right? wrong. So I do the usual I put on my gloves grab a razor and begin assisting the tech however much to my surprise (and displeasure) the tech suddenly pulls down the client’s pants and underwear to which I am greeted with a hairy behind. It is all I can do in my power to keep from laughing from sheer shock. I’ll spare you the details but let’s just say it was not totally normal colored…trying to stay professional I then had to proceed and hold the clients butt cheek taunt to shave it. I finished as through and quick as I possibly could and booked it the hell out of the room. Later when I had to book the clients next appointment neither of us could look the other in the eye because of that traumatizing encounter. I will probably never be able to live down the moment I looked at the multicolored butt right in the crack.

45 . Thanks, Mrs. Miller, you the best : One time way back in sixth grade math class I had to fart really bad. Me being the idiot that I am decided that it would be silent. Big surprise it wasn’t. The only person talking was the teacher and she was interrupted by freaking cannon fire farts. She said she was disappointed I couldn’t hold it in and proceeded to tell a story of how she taught a famous athlete who did nearly the same thing.

46 . Weed birthday : Last year, during class, my algebra teacher let us listen to music while we did our classwork and whatnot. So, I was just jamming, being super confused on this one problem and I look up from my paper to ask my friend how to do it and EVERYONE is intensely looking back and forth between me and another girl with their fingers on their noses. As you can imagine, I was super confused. So, naturally, I also put my finger on my nose. Everybody yelled “OHHHHHHHHHH” and turns out, it was a “nose goes” thing and the other girl had to ask the teacher if she’d ever smoked weed on her birthday because it was 4/20…

47 . That time in freshman year : So I was always the person who’d try to leave class really fast so I wouldn’t always being paying attention to some very crucial surroundings. So I’m sitting in math class where our teacher makes us put our book bags against the wall to the side of the room. The bell rings and being that kid that wants to get out I don’t bother putting all my stuff away and I just grab my RED backpack and I’m gone. I get all the way to my science class and set the book bag at my desk when LO AND BEHOLD it’s not my backpack. It’s another ALSO RED backpack that I had mistakenly took in my rush to get to science. So I have this mini freak out at my friend Seth sitting next to me. As a freshman and quite socially inept I decide not to really do anything about it until lunch which was next block. I had some paper in my arms from last class so I decided to use those and figure out everything during lunch instead of making a scene at like literally the first week of my high school career.

So we go into science class and since it’s the first week we’re always doing the scientific method lesson before anything else. My teacher asks the class for a problem we can apply to it right? Well guess who raises his hand? SETH. Now my teacher adored Seth so he gets called on and you know what his answer was?? “what if you accidentally stole someone’s backpack? like, you thought it was yours and you didn’t mean to take it” and my teacher was like why don’t you tell me more about this so Seth goes “oh it’s not my problem it’s HERS” and POINTS TO ME. Complete mortification. and even then my teacher was confused thinking I had just come up with the problem but no. only if. I hold up the stolen backpack and my teacher had the most dumbfounded look like I have never encountered someone that failed at life more than you. so he calls my math teacher yada yada I get my backpack. the worst part? We ended up continuing with that scenario and took notes on the scientific method using the very problem that I had created. my hypothesis? If I wasn’t a complete fail then I’d be able to get my own bag properly.

48 . Virtual-reality self-prostitution : I used to play a game called Phantasy Star Universe and I would be my own pimp AND my own hoe. I had my main account (let’s call him Dudeman) and my hoe account (let’s call her Galchick). so there was like the main floor area and people would like try to sell nudes for money (in-game, not IRL) and I was like “nobody actually does that… do they?” so I made Galchick and I took off her clothes so she was in her underwear, and then I said ONE thing on the main floor and some guy took the bait right away. he invited me back to his house and I was like “omg I’m sorry, I’m new to this! how do you transfer money?” and he did it to show me how… and then he asked for my character to teabag his and moan into the mic, and I was like a 15 year old boy, so instead… I just blocked him and took the money. that’s when I realized my one, true calling. I did it for months and I’d transfer the money from Galchick to Dudeman and all my friends wondered how I had super good gear. I miss that game everyday…

49 . A full sun : After an exhausting, weeklong festival I was getting a lift back home in a car full of my friends. We were coming up over a mountain road with a really beautiful ocean view just at sunset.

I’ll never forget the outburst that followed when I said “wow it’s so beautiful, and it’s even a full sun!”

I momentarily forgot that only moons have phases, and that the sun is generally always ‘full’ … my friends have never let me live it down.

50 . Socially awkward fail : So one day I was walking around, just chilling with my friends when I see this guy reading a book. He was new there but the book was a book I read and LOVED.

So naturally I approach this boy hoping to make a new friend and bond over the series. Being the socially awkward fail I am I planned out ahead of time what I’d say: “Hey, we’ve [my friends and I] wanted to come over to say hi cause I say you were reading a book I liked and I hope we can talk more in the future.”

Once we got to him I panicked and just had to blurt out “We’ve come to hello you.” and I think my voice cracked and I almost started to cry.

Never gonna talk to them again.

51 . Don’t sit on cold ground : So a couple weeks ago, me and my friends were sitting on this cement kind of pedestal (as we called it) It’s basically the steps up to the portable. (classroom that no one uses) and this weird supply French teacher comes up to us and says: you shouldn’t be sitting on this ground, it’s too cold and it’s bad for your ovaries. I asked her how or why and she said that if children sit on cold ground their ovaries will freeze and that we won’t be able to have kids. Now it’s an inside joke between us about not sitting on cold ground.

52 . Gay teacher : So about a year ago we had to do a speech about something we were passionate about. These would then be recorded to put on the school website. I decided to do one about gay rights as it was not yet legalized in my state. I decided to mention that I was gay during the speech, which wasn’t that much of a surprise to people. In the end it went really well.

Then a couple of hours later, during lunch I was walking past the staffroom to get to the lunch hall when I heard my speech being played, being curious I stopped and I heard them replay “I am gay myself actually” a couple of times over. Out of the corner I could see my 6th grade teacher give my computer studies teacher 10 dollars. Then suddenly, I sneezed really loudly, the teachers turned around and saw me standing there.

My 6th grade teacher has pretty much gotten over it but my computer studies teacher refuses to make eye contact with me.

53 . Foreign student trauma : When I first moved from Lithuania to America I was 5 years old and didn’t speak any English. On the first day of kindergarten I was crying so much that my teacher picked me up and let me sit on her lap, meanwhile the rest of the kids sat on the carpet in front of me and watched me cry while she explained to them what was going on (in a language I didn’t understand). Our school was 3 buildings put together, and the pick up was at the “blue” building but my classroom was at the “red” building, so they put a sign over my neck that said “I don’t speak English and I’m going to the blue building” and sent me away to follow a crowd of other kids. I’m still traumatized…

54 . His face looks like the best chair : So there’s this really hot kid in my creative writing class. And everyone knows I like him.

But one day, he walked in looking like a freaking GQ model, and I accidentally out loud whispered “Shit, his face looks like the best chair” and the girl who sits in front of me turned around and said “WTH, that’s freaky and gross” and she moved her seat.

She gives me weird looks every time she sees me now.

55 . Never wear a dress in Chicago : So when I was younger, my aunt was kind enough to invite me to come along with her to Chicago for my cousin’s paintball tournament. I had never been to Chicago before, so naturally I had to go see the big city.

Just like any other girl, I wanted to get all dolled up before walking around in front of people. I wore an extremely soft red dress that I was in love with, and some wedges.

One thing that Chicago has plenty of is vents, and I ignored them because the ones in my city are never on. This was a mistake, because I just so happened to walk over one that was on. Only to be met with steam hot enough to burn leg hair off, and my dress being blown up to my neck around hundreds of other people.

56 . SonofabitchAdam : I used to babysit this little boy who was a real handful. He was always in trouble and it seemed like every time his dad had to call him it went like this…

Dad finds disaster left by Adam.

Dad yells out, “Son of a Bitch! Adam!”

One day I have to pick up Adam’s older brother at school. A Catholic school.

His teacher, a nun, sees adorable little Adam with his chubby cheeks and face like a cherub and asks him his name and he answers flat out, “SonofabitchAdam.”

57 . As it turns out, I am gay : When I was around 9 years old I was starting to get confused about my sexuality so I would always look up “Are You Gay” quizzes on our family computer because I was scared and confused, and my mom eventually saw the searches in the history and confronted me about it. I lied about it and said I had accidentally clicked an ad. As it turns out, I am gay. 

January Nelson

January Nelson is a writer, editor, and dreamer. She writes about astrology, games, love, relationships, and entertainment. January graduated with an English and Literature degree from Columbia University.

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Home / Book Writing / Funny Writing Prompts: 50+ Ideas to Get Your Started

Funny Writing Prompts: 50+ Ideas to Get Your Started

Books, novellas, and short stories that can make readers laugh are always in high demand. After all, who doesn't like laughing? Some say it's the best medicine. But, as any stand-up comedian will tell you, comedy is hard.

Luckily, with the right premise, you can craft a funny story that will make readers hungry for more. And that's just what these funny writing prompts will help you do. 

• Tips on using comedy in your writing.
• Some humorous books to read for inspiration.
• Funny creative writing prompts.

Table of contents

• Know Your Genre
• Humor Through Character
• Keep Things Natural
• Make it Relatable
• Read Humorous Books
• Funny Writing Prompts
• Test Your Funny Book Idea

Tips for Funny Story Writing

Humor is subjective, so a funny story that gets one group of people laughing may not elicit so much as a smile from another group. That's okay. As a writer, it's important to know that not everyone will like your work. But with the tips below, you can position your comedic story (or scene) for the ultimate effect . 

Humor shouldn't be relegated to only comedies. In fact, authors in all different genres use humor to enhance their stories. But before you start shoving jokes into your work in progress, consider the norms of your genre. What do other authors do? Do you even need comedy in your book? If so, how much? 

Even works that are considered comedies aren't all jokes. There need to be peaks and valleys in your story. Because if you're trying to make the reader laugh all the time, they won't be able to catch their breath and settle in for another laughing fit. 

One of the best ways to convey humor is through one of your point of view (POV) characters . Maybe your normally stoic main character has a funny habit of breaking the tension with an offhand remark or a silly phrase that he says at the most inopportune moments.

Likewise, you may create a whole character whose main purpose is comedic relief. This doesn't have to be a POV character, but it can be. An inside joke between two characters can also work well, provided the reader is in on the joke!

Readers know when they're being played to. So if you're being funny just for the sake of it, they'll be able to tell. The humor in your novel or story should have something to do with plot, character development , or story. In other words, comedy should arise naturally from the aspects of your story. 

There's nothing wrong with wanting to make readers laugh, but forcing it will often backfire. 

Most successful stand-up comedians make the mundane hilarious. They take the doldrums of everyday life and provide a new perspective or spin on them. This also works well in storytelling. Sometimes the funniest thing is the one that makes people go, “Oh yeah, it is like that!” 

Whether it be observations about social media, a popular book or TV show, or a twist on the daily grind, it's possible to find comedy all around us. 

You can't expect to sharpen your comedy writing skills without first seeing how other authors do it. The books below are just a few to consider when studying the craft of comedic writing. 

• Anything by Christopher Moore (fiction).
• Anything by David Sedaris (memoir). 
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
• Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
• Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
• Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
• Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
• My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Formatting Has Never Been Easier

Write and format professional books with ease.  Never before has creating formatted books been easier.

Pick a funny writing prompt from the list below to get the creative juices flowing. Since there's a wide range of uses for comedy across all genres, not every prompt below will be suitable for an entire novel. Some are designed to start off a scene or a short story. Others you can use to break through writer's block by writing a poem or a funny anecdote. Do with them whatever you will. They're yours to use freely!

1. Write a scene in which a man is arguing with some unseen character. At the end, it turns out it's his dog. What is the conversation like? Why is it happening?

2. Think about your favorite thing to do on vacation. Now write about a character who's stuck doing that thing over and over again in a time loop.

3. Start a story about two hitmen haggling over who gets to assassinate the known crime lord. 

4. What would happen if animals could talk to humans? If this was normal, what would the world be like?

5. Explore the implications of a modern high school student who finds him or herself alive before the internet was invented. 

6. Start a story in the middle of a bank robbery in progress. But the robbers are elderly men who can't stop bickering. 

7. What would happen if a demon invaded the body of a highly neurotic and eccentric person? Turns out, the demon inside the person allows them to live how they always wanted, but the demon wants to leave. 

8. Write a romance about two people who connect over their shared love of extreme ironing. 

9. Explore the world of a stunt woman. She continues to put her body on the line for the work, but inside she thinks she's the biggest wimp in the world. 

10. In a world of superheroes, the villains have their own support groups where you get to see a very different side of them. Turns out, the villains may not be the real villains of this story. . . 

11. A new drug hits the market that makes everyone happy. Unfortunately, your protagonist is happiest when she's miserable. What does this new “happy” world look like through his eyes?

12. A young man suddenly becomes a viral sensation for his comedy routine. But the sudden fame is more than he can handle. Much more. 

13. Write about a local neighborhood watch group filled with zany characters who must solve the mystery of the missing garden gnomes. 

14. Write about a supervillain's parents. What are they like? Are they proud of their son or daughter?

15. Write about a high school student who learns she can disappear whenever something really embarrassing happens to her. Does she use this newfound power for good or bad?

16. Your protagonist stumbles upon proof that we live in a simulation. How does this change his outlook and actions? Does he try to tell the world?

17. Explore two best friends who are participating in an ongoing prank war that's getting way out of hand. 

18. Start your story with an argument between two rival business owners who eventually become fast friends. 

19. Follow a protagonist who goes outside one day to find that everyone is naked—and looking at her like she's the crazy one. 

20. Start your story with a character successfully outwitting Death to stay alive for just a bit longer. 

21. Write about a doomsday prepper who prepares for every eventuality . . . but this one. 

22. Write about a character who thinks their television is talking to them by name. 

23. Write about a wedding in which everything goes comically wrong—and how the wedding party rallies to make things okay in the end. 

24. Write about a utility worker who stumbles on an underground society of mutants in the city sewers. 

25. Write about a group of friends who get together once a year to fight each other. Why do they do it? What do they get out of this strange fight club?

26. Start a story in which a character is trying to reenact something they've seen on YouTube – with hilarious consequences. 

27. A bumbling father takes it upon himself to deal with the petty crime in his neighborhood. But he stumbles upon a hilarious conspiracy enacted by the homeowners association. 

28. A professional athlete starts having terrible luck, both on and off the field. He does everything he can think of to break the bad streak. 

29. A billionaire CEO decides after a near-death experience to give all his money away. But there are a whole bunch of people who do whatever they can to convince him otherwise. 

30. A woman who's about to be married to an “okay” guy finds a love letter in the mailbox. It has been mailed to her by mistake, and she takes it upon herself to deliver it to the real recipient. 

31. Write about a group of scammers getting into a con war with another group of scammers. 

32. A group of vampires goes on vacation only to find that their arch-enemies the werewolves have laid claim to their favorite spot. 

33. Artificial Intelligence robots are rolled out, but a software glitch makes them act like bumbling idiots who inadvertently threaten the collapse of society. 

34. There's something wrong with the world. Something's just a little off. But your character can't quite figure out what it is. 

35. Explore what it's like at a national liars convention. 

36. A girl realizes she's in a horror movie. But she also knows that she's not the final girl—she's one who dies in the first half!

37. A group of cowboys on a cattle drive in the 1800s wind up getting attacked by bumbling aliens. 

38. Write about a wildlife television show host who's constantly getting attacked by animals. 

39. Write a time travel story in which the character keeps trying to fix her love life only to keep getting thwarted—by herself. 

40. Write about a 4th-grade teacher who wins the lottery and decides to retire. But then her class shows up and begs her to come back to teach them. 

41. Explore a character who can't help but dance every time her favorite song comes on. She lives in perpetual fear of hearing the song while in public. 

42. An irresponsible man ends up having to take care of his five nephews and nieces after tragedy strikes. He learns to be responsible very quickly. 

43. A woman obsessed with American 1970s culture gets the chance to travel back in time. 

44. A man gets a hilarious text message from a random number. Thinking it a clever salesperson, he goes along with the messages. But things soon get way out of control. 

45. After being told, rather rudely, that he tells the same stories over and over again, a man drops everything and goes on an adventure to get some new stories to tell his friends and family. 

46. The utterance of a random word makes a brainwashed secret agent go into assassin mode. Only she turns out to be the worst assassin ever. 

47. A woman who thinks she has the best idea for a new product quits her job in spectacular fashion, only to learn that someone else has already had the idea. 

48. Write an embarrassing poem from one of your characters’ point of view. Why did they write the poem? What did they write it about? What would happen if someone happened upon it?

49. Write a spoof of The War of the Worlds in which the aliens all develop terrible allergies, which only makes things worse for the humans. 

50. Write a few diary or journal prompts for your main character from when they were a teenager. (If they are a teenager, all the better). Make sure to add some cringe to the entries!

Hopefully, the creative writing ideas above have given you some inspiration to use for your next book or short story. You can even take inspiration from a funny joke, your favorite book, or a funny thing you saw on YouTube. Professional writers will tell you that ideas are a dime a dozen. It's the execution that really makes something shine. So pick a fun writing prompt and get to work!

When you're ready to take your writing career forward by publishing your book, it's a good idea to ensure there's a market for your story . And the easiest way to do this is with Publisher Rocket.

You can think of the information you get from Publisher Rocket as the foundation for your writing career—whether you write comedy, drama, horror, or more than one genre. 

With Publisher Rocket, you get insights directly from Amazon on:

• Keywords – Metadata to position your book on Amazon.
• Competition – Allowing you to see what's selling and how stiff the competition is.
• Categories – So you know where people who are looking for books like yours go to find them.
• Amazon Ads – Helps you quickly configure a list of profitable keywords for running ads.

Check out Publisher Rocket here to get started.

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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The short story is a fiction writer’s laboratory: here is where you can experiment with characters, plots, and ideas without the heavy lifting of writing a novel. Learning how to write a short story is essential to mastering the art of storytelling . With far fewer words to worry about, storytellers can make many more mistakes—and strokes of genius!—through experimentation and the fun of fiction writing.

Nonetheless, the art of writing short stories is not easy to master. How do you tell a complete story in so few words? What does a story need to have in order to be successful? Whether you’re struggling with how to write a short story outline, or how to fully develop a character in so few words, this guide is your starting point.

Famous authors like Virginia Woolf, Haruki Murakami, and Agatha Christie have used the short story form to play with ideas before turning those stories into novels. Whether you want to master the elements of fiction, experiment with novel ideas, or simply have fun with storytelling, here’s everything you need on how to write a short story step by step.

How to Write a Short Story: Contents

The Core Elements of a Short Story

How to write a short story outline, how to write a short story step by step, how to write a short story: length and setting, how to write a short story: point of view, how to write a short story: protagonist, antagonist, motivation, how to write a short story: characters, how to write a short story: prose, how to write a short story: story structure, how to write a short story: capturing reader interest, where to read and submit short stories.

There’s no secret formula to writing a short story. However, a good short story will have most or all of the following elements:

• A protagonist with a certain desire or need. It is essential for the protagonist to want something they don’t have, otherwise they will not drive the story forward.
• A clear dilemma. We don’t need much backstory to see how the dilemma started; we’re primarily concerned with how the protagonist resolves it.
• A decision. What does the protagonist do to resolve their dilemma?
• A climax. In Freytag’s Pyramid , the climax of a story is when the tension reaches its peak, and the reader discovers the outcome of the protagonist’s decision(s).
• An outcome. How does the climax change the protagonist? Are they a different person? Do they have a different philosophy or outlook on life?

Of course, short stories also utilize the elements of fiction , such as a setting , plot , and point of view . It helps to study these elements and to understand their intricacies. But, when it comes to laying down the skeleton of a short story, the above elements are what you need to get started.

Note: a short story rarely, if ever, has subplots. The focus should be entirely on a single, central storyline. Subplots will either pull focus away from the main story, or else push the story into the territory of novellas and novels.

The shorter the story is, the fewer of these elements are essentials. If you’re interested in writing short-short stories, check out our guide on how to write flash fiction .

Some writers are “pantsers”—they “write by the seat of their pants,” making things up on the go with little more than an idea for a story. Other writers are “plotters,” meaning they decide the story’s structure in advance of writing it.

You don’t need a short story outline to write a good short story. But, if you’d like to give yourself some scaffolding before putting words on the page, this article answers the question of how to write a short story outline:

https://writers.com/how-to-write-a-story-outline

There are many ways to approach the short story craft, but this method is tried-and-tested for writers of all levels. Here’s how to write a short story step-by-step.

1. Start With an Idea

Often, generating an idea is the hardest part. You want to write, but what will you write about?

What’s more, it’s easy to start coming up with ideas and then dismissing them. You want to tell an authentic, original story, but everything you come up with has already been written, it seems.

Here are a few tips:

• Originality presents itself in your storytelling, not in your ideas. For example, the premise of both Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Ostrovsky’s The Snow Maiden are very similar: two men and two women, in intertwining love triangles, sort out their feelings for each other amidst mischievous forest spirits, love potions, and friendship drama. The way each story is written makes them very distinct from one another, to the point where, unless it’s pointed out to you, you might not even notice the similarities.
• An idea is not a final draft. You will find that exploring the possibilities of your story will generate something far different than the idea you started out with. This is a good thing—it means you made the story your own!
• Experiment with genres and tropes. Even if you want to write literary fiction , pay attention to the narrative structures that drive genre stories, and practice your storytelling using those structures. Again, you will naturally make the story your own simply by playing with ideas.

If you’re struggling simply to find ideas, try out this prompt generator , or pull prompts from this Twitter .

2. Outline, OR Conceive Your Characters

If you plan to outline, do so once you’ve generated an idea. You can learn about how to write a short story outline earlier in this article.

If you don’t plan to outline, you should at least start with a character or characters. Certainly, you need a protagonist, but you should also think about any characters that aid or inhibit your protagonist’s journey.

When thinking about character development, ask the following questions:

• What is my character’s background? Where do they come from, how did they get here, where do they want to be?
• What does your character desire the most? This can be both material or conceptual, like “fitting in” or “being loved.”
• What is your character’s fatal flaw? In other words, what limitation prevents the protagonist from achieving their desire? Often, this flaw is a blind spot that directly counters their desire. For example, self hatred stands in the way of a protagonist searching for love.
• How does your character think and speak? Think of examples, both fictional and in the real world, who might resemble your character.

In short stories, there are rarely more characters than a protagonist, an antagonist (if relevant), and a small group of supporting characters. The more characters you include, the longer your story will be. Focus on making only one or two characters complex: it is absolutely okay to have the rest of the cast be flat characters that move the story along.

Learn more about character development here:

https://writers.com/character-development-definition

3. Write Scenes Around Conflict

Once you have an outline or some characters, start building scenes around conflict. Every part of your story, including the opening sentence, should in some way relate to the protagonist’s conflict.

Conflict is the lifeblood of storytelling: without it, the reader doesn’t have a clear reason to keep reading. Loveable characters are not enough, as the story has to give the reader something to root for.

Take, for example, Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short story The Cask of Amontillado . We start at the conflict: the narrator has been slighted by Fortunato, and plans to exact revenge. Every scene in the story builds tension and follows the protagonist as he exacts this revenge.

In your story, start writing scenes around conflict, and make sure each paragraph and piece of dialogue relates, in some way, to your protagonist’s unmet desires.

Read more about writing effective conflict here:

What is Conflict in a Story? Definition and Examples

4. Write Your First Draft

The scenes you build around conflict will eventually be stitched into a complete story. Make sure as the story progresses that each scene heightens the story’s tension, and that this tension remains unbroken until the climax resolves whether or not your protagonist meets their desires.

Don’t stress too hard on writing a perfect story. Rather, take Anne Lamott’s advice, and “write a shitty first draft.” The goal is not to pen a complete story at first draft; rather, it’s to set ideas down on paper. You are simply, as Shannon Hale suggests, “shoveling sand into a box so that later [you] can build castles.”

5. Step Away, Breathe, Revise

Whenever Stephen King finishes a novel, he puts it in a drawer and doesn’t think about it for 6 weeks. With short stories, you probably don’t need to take as long of a break. But, the idea itself is true: when you’ve finished your first draft, set it aside for a while. Let yourself come back to the story with fresh eyes, so that you can confidently revise, revise, revise .

In revision, you want to make sure each word has an essential place in the story, that each scene ramps up tension, and that each character is clearly defined. The culmination of these elements allows a story to explore complex themes and ideas, giving the reader something to think about after the story has ended.

6. Compare Against Our Short Story Checklist

Does your story have everything it needs to succeed? Compare it against this short story checklist, as written by our instructor Rosemary Tantra Bensko.

Below is a collection of practical short story writing tips by Writers.com instructor Rosemary Tantra Bensko . Each paragraph is its own checklist item: a core element of short story writing advice to follow unless you have clear reasons to the contrary. We hope it’s a helpful resource in your own writing.

Update 9/1/2020: We’ve now made a summary of Rosemary’s short story checklist available as a PDF download . Enjoy!

Click to download

Your short story is 1000 to 7500 words in length.

The story takes place in one time period, not spread out or with gaps other than to drive someplace, sleep, etc. If there are those gaps, there is a space between the paragraphs, the new paragraph beginning flush left, to indicate a new scene.

Each scene takes place in one location, or in continual transit, such as driving a truck or flying in a plane.

Unless it’s a very lengthy Romance story, in which there may be two Point of View (POV) characters, there is one POV character. If we are told what any character secretly thinks, it will only be the POV character. The degree to which we are privy to the unexpressed thoughts, memories and hopes of the POV character remains consistent throughout the story.

You avoid head-hopping by only having one POV character per scene, even in a Romance. You avoid straying into even brief moments of telling us what other characters think other than the POV character. You use words like “apparently,” “obviously,” or “supposedly” to suggest how non-POV-characters think rather than stating it.

Your short story has one clear protagonist who is usually the character changing most.

Your story has a clear antagonist, who generally makes the protagonist change by thwarting his goals.

(Possible exception to the two short story writing tips above: In some types of Mystery and Action stories, particularly in a series, etc., the protagonist doesn’t necessarily grow personally, but instead his change relates to understanding the antagonist enough to arrest or kill him.)

The protagonist changes with an Arc arising out of how he is stuck in his Flaw at the beginning of the story, which makes the reader bond with him as a human, and feel the pain of his problems he causes himself. (Or if it’s the non-personal growth type plot: he’s presented at the beginning of the story with a high-stakes problem that requires him to prevent or punish a crime.)

The protagonist usually is shown to Want something, because that’s what people normally do, defining their personalities and behavior patterns, pushing them onward from day to day. This may be obvious from the beginning of the story, though it may not become heightened until the Inciting Incident , which happens near the beginning of Act 1. The Want is usually something the reader sort of wants the character to succeed in, while at the same time, knows the Want is not in his authentic best interests. This mixed feeling in the reader creates tension.

The protagonist is usually shown to Need something valid and beneficial, but at first, he doesn’t recognize it, admit it, honor it, integrate it with his Want, or let the Want go so he can achieve the Need instead. Ideally, the Want and Need can be combined in a satisfying way toward the end for the sake of continuity of forward momentum of victoriously achieving the goals set out from the beginning. It’s the encounters with the antagonist that forcibly teach the protagonist to prioritize his Needs correctly and overcome his Flaw so he can defeat the obstacles put in his path.

The protagonist in a personal growth plot needs to change his Flaw/Want but like most people, doesn’t automatically do that when faced with the problem. He tries the easy way, which doesn’t work. Only when the Crisis takes him to a low point does he boldly change enough to become victorious over himself and the external situation. What he learns becomes the Theme.

Each scene shows its main character’s goal at its beginning, which aligns in a significant way with the protagonist’s overall goal for the story. The scene has a “charge,” showing either progress toward the goal or regression away from the goal by the ending. Most scenes end with a negative charge, because a story is about not obtaining one’s goals easily, until the end, in which the scene/s end with a positive charge.

The protagonist’s goal of the story becomes triggered until the Inciting Incident near the beginning, when something happens to shake up his life. This is the only major thing in the story that is allowed to be a random event that occurs to him.

Your characters speak differently from one another, and their dialogue suggests subtext, what they are really thinking but not saying: subtle passive-aggressive jibes, their underlying emotions, etc.

Your characters are not illustrative of ideas and beliefs you are pushing for, but come across as real people.

Your language is succinct, fresh and exciting, specific, colorful, avoiding clichés and platitudes. Sentence structures vary. In Genre stories, the language is simple, the symbolism is direct, and words are well-known, and sentences are relatively short. In Literary stories , you are freer to use more sophisticated ideas, words, sentence structures, styles , and underlying metaphors and implied motifs.

Your plot elements occur in the proper places according to classical Three Act Structure (or Freytag’s Pyramid ) so the reader feels he has vicariously gone through a harrowing trial with the protagonist and won, raising his sense of hope and possibility. Literary short stories may be more subtle, with lower stakes, experimenting beyond classical structures like the Hero’s Journey. They can be more like vignettes sometimes, or even slice-of-life, though these types are hard to place in publications.

In Genre stories, all the questions are answered, threads are tied up, problems are solved, though the results of carnage may be spread over the landscape. In Literary short stories, you are free to explore uncertainty, ambiguity, and inchoate, realistic endings that suggest multiple interpretations, and unresolved issues.

Some Literary stories may be nonrealistic, such as with Surrealism, Absurdism, New Wave Fabulism, Weird and Magical Realism . If this is what you write, they still need their own internal logic and they should not be bewildering as to the what the reader is meant to experience, whether it’s a nuanced, unnameable mood or a trip into the subconscious.

Literary stories may also go beyond any label other than Experimental. For example, a story could be a list of To Do items on a paper held by a magnet to a refrigerator for the housemate to read. The person writing the list may grow more passive-aggressive and manipulative as the list grows, and we learn about the relationship between the housemates through the implied threats and cajoling.

Your short story is suspenseful, meaning readers hope the protagonist will achieve his best goal, his Need, by the Climax battle against the antagonist.

Your story entertains. This is especially necessary for Genre short stories.

The story captivates readers at the very beginning with a Hook, which can be a puzzling mystery to solve, an amazing character’s or narrator’s Voice, an astounding location, humor, a startling image, or a world the reader wants to become immersed in.

Expository prose (telling, like an essay) takes up very, very little space in your short story, and it does not appear near the beginning. The story is in Narrative format instead, in which one action follows the next. You’ve removed every unnecessary instance of Expository prose and replaced it with showing Narrative. Distancing words like “used to,” “he would often,” “over the years, he,” “each morning, he” indicate that you are reporting on a lengthy time period, summing it up, rather than sticking to Narrative format, in which immediacy makes the story engaging.

You’ve earned the right to include Expository Backstory by making the reader yearn for knowing what happened in the past to solve a mystery. This can’t possibly happen at the beginning, obviously. Expository Backstory does not take place in the first pages of your story.

Your reader cares what happens and there are high stakes (especially important in Genre stories). Your reader worries until the end, when the protagonist survives, succeeds in his quest to help the community, gets the girl, solves or prevents the crime, achieves new scientific developments, takes over rule of his realm, etc.

Every sentence is compelling enough to urge the reader to read the next one—because he really, really wants to—instead of doing something else he could be doing. Your story is not going to be assigned to people to analyze in school like the ones you studied, so you have found a way from the beginning to intrigue strangers to want to spend their time with your words.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration or want to publish your own stories, you’ll find great literary journals for writers of all backgrounds at this article:

https://writers.com/short-story-submissions

Learn How to Write a Short Story at Writers.com

The short story takes an hour to learn and a lifetime to master. Learn how to write a short story with Writers.com. Our upcoming fiction courses will give you the ropes to tell authentic, original short stories that captivate and entrance your readers.

Rosemary – Is there any chance you could add a little something to your checklist? I’d love to know the best places to submit our short stories for publication. Thanks so much.

Hi, Kim Hanson,

Some good places to find publications specific to your story are NewPages, Poets and Writers, Duotrope, and The Submission Grinder.

“ In Genre stories, all the questions are answered, threads are tied up, problems are solved, though the results of carnage may be spread over the landscape.”

Not just no but NO.

See for example the work of MacArthur Fellow Kelly Link.

[…] How to Write a Short Story: The Short Story Checklist […]

Thank you for these directions and tips. It’s very encouraging to someone like me, just NOW taking up writing.

[…] Writers.com. A great intro to writing. https://writers.com/how-to-write-a-short-story […]

Hello: I started to write seriously in the late 70’s. I loved to write in High School in the early 60’s but life got in the way. Around the 00’s many of the obstacles disappeared. Since then I have been writing more, and some of my work was vanilla transgender stories. Here in 2024 transgender stories have become tiresome because I really don’t have much in common with that mind set.

The glare of an editor that could potentially pay me is quite daunting, so I would like to start out unpaid to see where that goes. I am not sure if a writer’s agent would be a good fit for me. My work life was in the Trades, not as some sort of Academic. That alone causes timidity, but I did read about a fiction writer who had been a house painter.

This is my first effort to publish since the late 70’s. My pseudonym would perhaps include Ahabidah.

Gwen Boucher.

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Every week, hundreds of short stories are submitted by Prompts users to Reedsy’s writing contest. On this page we’ve collected all the stories that made us crack a smile, so whether you’re looking for funny short stories for kids, or the kind that only grown-ups would understand, you’ll find what you’re looking for right here. A little tip from us to you: all the best stories — the ones that actually had us rolling on the floor laughing — are easily found right at the top of the page.  And if you'd like to read the best of the best entries from across 40+ genres, be sure to check out Prompted , our new literary magazine — there's a free copy waiting for you!

And don’t forget, if you’re a funny-boned author up for the challenge of making people laugh, you can join our weekly writing contest — you might just have the last laugh and walk away with a cash prize!

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Short Story

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A short story is a brief work of fiction, typically focusing on a single incident or sequence of events. It aims to evoke a powerful mood or moment. With fewer characters and a concise plot , it often leads to a sudden revelation or twist. Renowned for their brevity and punch, short stories are popular in literature for their ability to deliver a memorable impact in a compact form .

What is a Short Story?

A short story is a brief narrative, typically under 7,500 words, focusing on a distinct event or a series of linked events. It features a concise structure with a clear beginning, middle, and end, and often concludes with a twist or significant revelation.

Key Elements of a Short Story

Short stories, despite their brevity, must contain several crucial elements to be effective and engaging. Understanding these elements helps both writers and readers grasp the essence of this literary form. Here are the key elements of a short story:

• The sequence of events in a story. In short stories, the plot needs to be concise and tightly focused on a central conflict.
• The time and place where the story occurs. The setting can establish the atmosphere and give clues about the characters and their lifestyles.
• Characters are the individuals who partake in the action of the story. Even in brief narratives, characters must be well-developed enough to be believable and relatable.
• The main problem or struggle that drives the story. Conflict is essential as it creates tension and interest, making the story dynamic.
• The underlying message or the big idea of the story. Themes often explore universal truths and may be implied rather than explicitly stated.
• The perspective from which the story is told, such as first-person, third-person limited, or third-person omniscient. This influences how the information is presented to the reader.
• The writer’s attitude toward the subject or the audience, reflected in the choice of words and details. Tone helps set the emotional context of the story.
• The distinctive way an author uses language, from word choice to sentence structure. Style can greatly affect the readability and mood of the story.
• Objects, characters, or actions that represent larger ideas. Symbolism adds depth to the narrative, offering layers of meaning to explore.
• The conclusion of the story where conflicts are resolved. In short stories, resolutions often come quickly and leave a lasting impact on the reader.

History of the Short Story

The short story as a literary form has evolved significantly over the centuries, reflecting changes in society, literary tastes, and cultural contexts. Here’s a concise overview of the development of the short story:

Ancient Origins

• The roots of the short story can be traced back to ancient oral storytelling traditions around the world. Fables, parables, and tales from ancient civilizations like Egypt, India, Greece, and Rome often contained elements found in modern short stories.

Middle Ages

• During the Middle Ages, collections of short stories became popular across Europe. Notable examples include “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer in England, a collection of linked tales told by a group of pilgrims, and “The Decameron” by Giovanni Boccaccio in Italy, featuring stories told by a group of nobles sheltering from the Black Plague.

17th and 18th Centuries

• The rise of the printing press and the growing literacy rate led to increased publication of short fictional works. In the 17th and 18th centuries, fairy tales and moral stories aimed at children and adults alike became widespread, popularized by authors such as Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm.

19th Century

• The 19th century is often considered the golden age of the short story. Writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and later Anton Chekhov revolutionized the form by introducing complex characters and layered themes. Poe, in particular, is credited with defining the short story as a concise and focused narrative that aims to achieve a singular effect.

Early 20th Century

• The short story flourished in the early 20th century, particularly in America. Writers like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and William Faulkner used the form to explore complex themes and experiment with narrative techniques. This period also saw the rise of literary magazines, which were instrumental in popularizing short stories.

Mid to Late 20th Century

• The mid to late 20th century saw diverse voices emerging in the short story genre. Writers from different backgrounds and countries, including Alice Munro, Gabriel García Márquez, and Raymond Carver, pushed the boundaries of the form, incorporating elements of magical realism, minimalism, and deep explorations of human psychology.

Contemporary Scene

• Today, the short story continues to be a vibrant part of literary culture, embraced by both established authors and new writers. Online platforms and literary journals have made it easier than ever to publish and disseminate short stories, helping to maintain the form’s popularity and relevance.

Types of Short Stories

Short stories come in various forms, each with unique characteristics and purposes. Here’s a look at some of the most prominent types of short stories:

• These stories focus on style, character development, and theme rather than on plot. Writers often explore complex human emotions and societal issues. Examples include the works of Alice Munro and James Joyce.
• These are categorized by the genre of fiction they belong to, such as mystery, horror, science fiction, or romance. They adhere to the conventions and styles of their respective genres. Famous genre authors include H.P. Lovecraft (horror) and Isaac Asimov (science fiction).
• Also known as micro-fiction, these stories are typically under 1,000 words. They deliver a concise narrative or concept, often with a punchy ending or twist. They require economy of words and typically focus on a singular moment or idea.
• Based on real incidents or personal experiences, these stories are often humorous or poignant. They are used to illustrate a point or moral and are commonly shared in casual or informal settings.
• Set in a time significantly before the time of writing, these stories weave fictional narratives around historical facts and figures. They aim to give cultural context and personal depth to historical events, as seen in works by Hilary Mantel.
• These stories defy logical narrative structures and explore bizarre or fantastical scenarios, often to highlight the absurdity of the human condition. Writers like Franz Kafka and Jorge Luis Borges are well-known for their contributions to this type.
• A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. Parables use human characters and typically convey messages indirectly through allegory.
• A brief story that leads to a moral, often using animals as characters. Fables are intended to teach a lesson and often end with a maxim stating the moral directly. Aesop’s fables are the most renowned examples.
• Centered around a mystery and an investigator who solves it, detective stories focus on the process of deduction and the solving of the crime. Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle have been influential in shaping this genre.
• A short, impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or gives a trenchant impression about a character, idea, setting, or object. It’s often poetic in nature and is designed more to evoke a mood than to tell a traditional story.

How to Write a Short Story

Writing a short story involves several key steps to craft a compelling narrative. Follow these steps:

• Start with an Idea : Begin with a unique concept or theme that interests you and has potential for exploration.
• Develop Characters : Create memorable characters with distinct personalities, motivations, and conflicts.
• Outline the Plot : Outline the main events of your story, including the beginning, middle, and end, to guide your writing process.
• Create the Setting : Establish a vivid setting that enhances the atmosphere and supports the story’s themes.
• Write the Draft : Start writing your story, focusing on capturing the reader’s attention with an engaging opening and developing tension and conflict.
• Edit and Revise : Review your draft for clarity, coherence, and pacing, and revise as needed to strengthen the narrative.
• Add Dialogue and Description : Incorporate dialogue and descriptive language to bring characters and scenes to life.
• Polish the Prose : Pay attention to language, style, and tone, and refine your prose to create a polished final draft.
• Seek Feedback : Share your story with trusted readers or writing groups to receive constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.
• Finalize and Submit : Make any final revisions and polish your story before submitting it for publication or sharing it with others.

Some Famous Short Stories

Short stories have often left as deep an impact on the literary world as full-length novels. Here are some famous short stories that have resonated with readers for their innovative narratives, compelling characters, and profound themes:

• A chilling tale about a small town’s annual lottery, this story is famous for its stunning and controversial conclusion, which reveals the dark undercurrents of human nature and societal traditions.
• This story is a classic example of Poe’s mastery of psychological horror. It narrates the intense, guilt-ridden paranoia of a man who murders an old man and is haunted by the sound of his still-beating heart.
• Known for its ironic twist endings, this sentimental story revolves around a young couple who sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy each other Christmas gifts, demonstrating the spirit of selflessness and love.
• This story is a masterclass in dialogue and subtext. It features a couple’s tense conversation at a train station in Spain, subtly revealing their strained relationship and the difficult decision they face about an impending abortion.
• A prime example of Southern Gothic literature, this story combines humor, religious themes, and shocking violence, exploring the complexities of morality and redemption.
• This story centers on Madame Loisel, who borrows a necklace to fit in with the upper class but loses it, leading to a life-altering consequence when she replaces it. The twist ending poignantly underscores the themes of vanity and deception.
• A powerful piece of early feminist literature, this story illustrates the detrimental effects of the suppression of women. It follows the descent into madness of a woman confined to her room under the guise of “rest cure” for her mental health.
• Originally published in “The New Yorker” in 1997, this story explores the complex romantic and sexual relationship between two cowboys over several decades, highlighting themes of love, isolation, and societal norms.
• This story is notable for its minimalistic style and the way it explores themes of isolation, connection, and the revelatory power of art. It concludes with a blind man teaching the narrator to “see” in a spiritual sense.
• The final story in Joyce’s collection “Dubliners,” this profound tale delves into themes of love, loss, and identity through the epiphany of Gabriel Conroy at his aunts’ annual dance and dinner in Dublin.

Short Story Ideas

Whether you’re a seasoned writer looking for a fresh spark or a beginner trying to tackle your first narrative, here are some engaging short story ideas that can serve as a starting point for your creative endeavors:

• A group of childhood friends opens a time capsule they buried 20 years ago, only to find an additional, mysterious item that none of them remembers placing inside.
• A person receives a voicemail from a loved one who passed away unexpectedly, revealing a secret that changes everything they thought they knew about their relationship.
• After a head injury, a character begins experiencing fragments of a parallel life in their dreams, leading them to uncover choices they never made and the life they might have had.
• An amateur artist discovers an unknown painting in their attic, signed by a famous artist. As they seek to uncover the painting’s origins, they unravel a family secret hidden for generations.
• A character becomes stuck in a virtual reality game where the digital characters begin to demonstrate unusually human traits, blurring the lines between game and reality.
• In a future where Earth is overcrowded, a family gets selected to start a new life on a recently discovered planet. As they settle in, they realize that the planet hosts peculiar and unexplained phenomena.
• A historian discovers a letter suggesting an alternative outcome to a well-known historical event. As they dig deeper, they find themselves caught in a dangerous conspiracy to rewrite history.
• In a world where all books are digitized, one person discovers the last existing physical library. Inside, they find a book that should not exist, capable of altering the reader’s reality.
• After returning from a vacation, a person realizes they’ve brought back more than just souvenirs: an alien entity that slowly begins to affect their perception of home.
• A character in witness protection starts a new life in a small town. When a local crime mirrors the one they fled from, they must decide whether to risk their safety to help solve it or keep their past hidden.

Examples of Short Story for Kids

Short stories for kids are designed to entertain, educate, and convey morals in a way that is engaging and easy to understand. Here are ten delightful short story ideas that can capture the imagination of young readers:

• A young girl discovers a magical garden that only appears in her backyard under the full moon. The plants and creatures she meets there teach her about nature’s cycles and the importance of conservation.
• Timmy finds an old, abandoned truck in the woods that turns out to talk and have feelings. Together, they go on adventures to clean up the forest and help other discarded vehicles find new purposes.
• Lilly wakes up to find she’s become invisible. At first, it’s fun to play tricks and wander unseen, but soon, she learns the value of being noticed and appreciated by her family and friends.
• A friendly dragon feels lonely because everyone is afraid of him. One brave child ventures out to meet him, and they become best friends, showing the village that appearances can be deceiving.
• A parrot in the zoo starts to give advice to other animals. Soon, animals from all over come to ask questions about their problems, learning lessons of wisdom, kindness, and practicality.
• Sally builds a rocket out of recycled materials and blasts off to meet moon creatures. She learns about their way of life and helps them solve a tricky problem, learning about teamwork and creativity.
• In a magical forest, a boy stumbles upon a chocolate tree, but learns that too much of anything is not good. Through his adventures, he learns the importance of moderation and sharing.
• A penguin at the North Pole is far from home and needs help. A group of Arctic animals come together to guide the penguin back to the South Pole, exploring themes of friendship and helping others.
• Hector builds a toy plane that comes to life and takes him on flying adventures. Each adventure teaches a lesson about different cultures and the importance of understanding and respecting others.
• A child with a big imagination sees shapes in clouds and claims she paints them at night. One evening, her friends join in, and they all paint the sky with dreamy cloud pictures, sparking creativity and collaboration.

Examples of Short Story Ideas for Students

Crafting short stories is an excellent way for students to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills. Here are some engaging short story ideas that can inspire students across various age groups:

• A story about a student who discovers a forgotten historical fact while studying for their final exam, leading to a surprising school-wide change.
• A group of friends decides to explore an abandoned house in their neighborhood, only to find a hidden basement that leads to an unsolved mystery from decades ago.
• During a school project, students are asked to write letters to their future selves. One student discovers a letter not from their class, but from someone claiming to be from the future.
• A class takes a virtual reality field trip back in time to ancient Egypt, but things go awry when the system malfunctions, leaving them to navigate history firsthand.
• The new student in school can predict things before they happen. Curious classmates try to discover how, leading to lessons about trust and the value of privacy.
• A student passionate about environmental issues finds a rare plant that can solve a major ecological problem but must decide whether its removal from its natural habitat is ethical.
• A student invents a machine to do homework, but it starts creating assignments that teach new, unintended lessons about creativity and the importance of hard work.
• After a student accidentally loses a poem they wrote for a national contest, they embark on a quest through the school to find it, uncovering small acts of kindness around every corner.
• A shy student enters an art contest to find the school’s new mascot design. Throughout the process, they learn about self-confidence and the importance of artistic expression.
• A student stays late at the library and discovers a hidden section of books that transport readers into the stories. They must navigate their way out of a fictional world using their real-world knowledge.

Examples of Short Story Ideas for Adults

Short stories for adults can delve into complex themes, present sophisticated narratives, and explore the intricacies of human relationships. Here are some thought-provoking short story ideas that cater to an adult audience:

• While cleaning out an attic, a person finds an old journal belonging to a mysterious ancestor, whose life story challenges their understanding of their family history.
• A café at a busy city intersection becomes a place where characters from different walks of life share pivotal moments of their lives, revealing the unseen connections between strangers.
• After purchasing an antique mirror, a character starts seeing visions of a past era, leading them to uncover a century-old mystery that mirrors their current life in unexpected ways.
• A family receives a posthumous email from a deceased relative that includes a final wish or confession, which challenges the family’s memories and perceptions of their loved one.
• A character gains the ability to experience what their life could have been like had they made different choices through parallel universe experiences, prompting deep self-reflection.
• Workers on the night shift at a secluded factory start to experience strange occurrences that challenge their sanity, bonding them as they uncover the factory’s dark history.
• Residents of a retirement home band together to solve a mystery when one of their own goes missing, revealing secrets and forging unexpected friendships.
• An expatriate struggling to adapt to a new country finds a collection of letters at a local flea market that tell a story mirroring their own, offering comfort and insights.
• A high school reunion brings together old classmates, where unresolved issues resurface, and a long-hidden truth about their past is finally revealed.
• A character receives a mysterious offer to redo a single day of their life, leading to unexpected consequences and a deeper understanding of what truly matters.

Creative Writing Short Story Examples

Creative writing in the form of short stories allows writers to explore diverse themes and unique storytelling techniques. Below are examples of creative short story ideas that can inspire and challenge writers to craft compelling narratives:

• The day unfolds in reverse, starting from the evening and ending in the morning. The protagonist must navigate the day’s challenges backwards, revealing a crucial decision that could change everything if made differently.
• In a monochrome world, a rebellious artist discovers the secret to stealing colors from one object to paint others. This power brings vibrancy but also unexpected consequences to the community.
• In a future where all books are banned, the owner of the last existing bookstore struggles to keep it hidden. When a curious teenager discovers it, both of their lives change as they fight to preserve the remnants of literature.
• A lonely lighthouse keeper starts hearing voices in the wind, telling tales of lost sailors and distant shores. These stories lead him on a surreal journey to reconcile his past and reshape his future.
• A gifted painter can create paintings that change the viewer’s emotions. As her fame grows, she must decide whether to use her power for personal gain or for the greater good.
• A journalist with the ability to see everyone’s past lives uncovers a series of crimes committed across different lifetimes by the same soul. The investigation becomes personal as past connections to the criminal emerge.
• A renowned glassmaker creates a set of windows that, when assembled correctly, reveal the location of a hidden treasure. Treasure hunters must decode the symbolic images in the glass to find the wealth.
• A character starts receiving messages in their dreams from an alternate version of themselves, offering guidance and warnings. They must decipher these dreams to prevent a looming disaster.
• A librarian discovers that her library is a sanctuary for characters who have escaped from their books. She battles to keep the characters safe from a mysterious force that wants to silence them forever.
• A struggling composer inherits an old, seemingly ordinary violin that plays memories instead of music. With each note, he unravels family secrets and the true significance of his inheritance.

Examples of Funny Short Stories

Funny short stories can provide delightful entertainment and showcase the lighter side of life. Here are some humorous short story ideas that blend comedy with clever storytelling:

• A town’s annual pudding contest leads to a hilarious series of events when the prized recipe goes missing. The suspects? A mischievous grandma and her overly competitive bingo club.
• A bumbling alien crash-lands into a family’s attic, and their attempts to help it repair its ship while keeping its presence a secret lead to a series of comedic misadventures.
• A dog lover agrees to cat-sit for a friend, only to find out that the cat is a master escape artist. Cue a weekend of cat chases, with a healthy dose of feline trickery.
• A witch with notoriously poor aim in her spellcasting attends a prestigious wizarding school. Her magical mishaps create chaos in classes but eventually save the school from an unforeseen threat.
• Two neighbors compete in a weight-loss challenge, resorting to increasingly absurd and sneaky tactics to outdo each other, only to bond over their mutual dislike of dieting.
• A job seeker experiences the most chaotic interview imaginable, involving a spilled coffee, a fire drill, and an unexpected encounter with a CEO’s pet parrot—all recounted with a twist of fate at the end.
• A newly-turned zombie finds himself inconveniently turned into a vegetarian, struggling hilariously with his cravings for grains instead of brains.
• A grandmother accidentally reveals her past as a disco queen during a family dinner, leading to a series of funny stories and a renewed interest in disco dancing within the family.
• A time traveler goes back to the 90s to relive the best days of his youth but accidentally ends up in the 1890s, where his modern slang and habits cause amusing confusions and anachronisms.
• An Uber driver picks up a runaway bride, resulting in a cross-town adventure involving wedding crashers, a chase sequence, and unexpected new friendships.

Examples of Short Story with Dialogue

• The Lost Key “I can’t find my key,” Sarah said, panic creeping into her voice. “Where did you last see it?” Jack asked, trying to calm her down.
• The Surprise Visit “Surprise!” shouted Mark as he burst into the room. “What are you doing here?” Emily exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock and delight.
• The Secret Picnic “I’ve planned a surprise picnic,” whispered Alex, a mischievous grin on his face. “But how did you manage this?” Maria asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
• The Mysterious Package “What’s in the package?” Sarah asked, curiosity getting the better of her. “Open it and find out,” replied Tom, a hint of mischief in his voice.
• The Birthday Bash “Happy birthday!” sang the crowd as balloons filled the room. “I can’t believe you remembered,” Sarah said, tears of joy welling up in her eyes.
• The Unforgettable Trip “This is the best vacation ever,” exclaimed Anna, taking in the breathtaking view. “I’m glad we decided to come here,” replied Mark, a smile spreading across his face.
• The Unexpected Encounter “What are you doing here?” gasped Lily as she bumped into her childhood friend. “I was in town and thought I’d surprise you,” replied Jake, a twinkle in his eye.
• The Hidden Treasure “I think we’re getting close,” whispered Mike, excitement tingling in his voice. “Let’s keep searching,” said Emily, her eyes scanning the room for clues.
• The Culinary Disaster “I can’t believe I burned the cake,” groaned Sarah, dismayed by her cooking mishap. “It’s okay, we can order pizza instead,” laughed Tom, trying to lighten the mood.
• The Reunion “I’ve missed you so much,” whispered Rachel, tears streaming down her face. “I missed you too,” replied Alex, pulling her into a tight hug.

Examples of Great Modern Short Story Collections

• “Tenth of December” by George Saunders This collection explores themes of humanity, empathy, and the absurdity of modern life through a series of inventive and poignant stories.
• “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri Lahiri’s collection delves into the experiences of Indian immigrants and their families, examining themes of identity, cultural displacement, and the search for connection.
• “Her Body and Other Parties” by Carmen Maria Machado Machado’s collection is a blend of horror, fantasy, and surrealism, exploring themes of sexuality, gender, and the female experience in contemporary society.
• “Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned” by Wells Tower Tower’s debut collection features stories that are darkly humorous, yet deeply compassionate, offering insight into the complexities of human relationships and the struggles of modern life.
• “This Is How You Lose Her” by Junot Díaz Díaz’s collection centers on the experiences of Yunior, a Dominican-American man navigating love, loss, and identity in contemporary America, with raw honesty and emotional depth.
• “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver Carver’s minimalist style and keen observation of human nature are on full display in this iconic collection, which explores the complexities of love and relationships.
• “Difficult Women” by Roxane Gay Gay’s collection features diverse, multifaceted female characters grappling with issues of trauma, resilience, and empowerment, offering a powerful exploration of womanhood in modern society.
• “You Know You Want This” by Kristen Roupenian Roupenian’s debut collection gained widespread attention for its provocative and unflinching exploration of contemporary relationships, desire, and power dynamics.
• “Heads of the Colored People” by Nafissa Thompson-Spires Thompson-Spires’ collection offers a satirical and incisive look at race, identity, and social dynamics in modern America, with stories that are both humorous and thought-provoking.
• “The Refugees” by Viet Thanh Nguyen Nguyen’s collection explores the experiences of Vietnamese immigrants and refugees, addressing themes of displacement, memory, and the complexities of cultural identity in the modern world.

A short story is a brief work of fiction that typically focuses on a single event, character, or theme, and can be read in one sitting.

How long is a Short Story?

Short stories vary in length, but they typically range from 1,000 to 7,500 words, making them shorter than novels but longer than flash fiction.

What makes a good Short Story?

A good short story captivates readers with compelling characters, engaging plot, vivid imagery, and a satisfying resolution within a limited word count.

What are the elements of a Short Story?

The key elements of a short story include characters, setting, plot, conflict, theme, and narrative point of view, all contributing to its overall impact.

How do you start a Short Story?

Start a short story with a captivating opening line or scene that grabs readers’ attention and sets the tone for the narrative, drawing them into the story.

What are some famous short stories?

Famous short stories include “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe, and “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry.

How do you write dialogue in a short story?

Write dialogue in a short story by using quotation marks to indicate spoken words, attributions to identify the speaker, and formatting to enhance readability.

What is the difference between a Short Story and a novel?

A short story is shorter in length and focuses on a single event or character, while a novel is longer and allows for more extensive development of plot and characters.

How do you end a Short Story?

End a short story with a resolution that provides closure to the main conflict or theme, leaving readers satisfied and reflecting on the story’s meaning.

What are some tips for writing a Short Story?

Tips for writing a short story include starting with a strong idea, focusing on a single theme or conflict, editing ruthlessly to maximize impact, and seeking feedback from others.

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115 Funny Quotes Guaranteed to Make You Laugh

From hilarious sayings about life to silly quips about friends, you're sure to get a good chuckle.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Woman's Day editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

If these clever quotes have you rolling on the floor with laughter, feel free to share them with your friends and family, so they can enjoy them too. And don’t worry, they’re kid-friendly, so you can share these funny jokes for kids with the youngsters in your life too. Among our extensive list are quotes from popular sitcoms such as The Office and New Girl , as well as quotes from notable authors, actors, and comedians. We’re looking at you, Will Ferrell, Joan Rivers, and Zach Galifianakis.

But don’t let the laughter stop there, we also have round-ups of funny puns , corny jokes , knock-knock jokes , and anti-jokes (yes, that’s a real thing) to read next. But be warned: you may laugh till you cry.

Best Funny Quotes

• "Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." — Michael Scott, The Office
• "People say money is not the key to happiness, but I have always figured, if you have enough money, you can have a key made." — Joan Rivers
• "I'm killing time while I wait for life to shower me with meaning and happiness." ― Bill Watterson
• "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." ― Mae West
• "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it." ― W.C. Fields
• "I'm not crazy — I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years." — Ouiser Boudreaux, Steel Magnolias
• "It is not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it." — Dorothy Zbornak, The Golden Girls
• "Adults are always asking children what they want to be when they grow up because they're looking for ideas." — Paula Poundstone
• "Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow internet service to see who they really are." — Will Ferrell
• "Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford." — Cindy Crawford
• "All the things I like to do are either immoral, illegal, or fattening." — Alexander Woollcott
• "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." ― Albert Einstein
• "Everybody wants to save the earth. No one wants to help mom do the dishes." — P.J. O'Rourke
• "As a man in a relationship, you have a simple choice. You can either be right, or you can be happy." — Ralphie May
• "Do things that make you happy within the confines of the legal system." ― Ellen DeGeneres
• "People waste their time pondering whether a glass is half empty or half full. Me, I just drink whatever's in the glass." — Sophia Petrillo, The Golden Girls
• “We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.” — Bryan White
• “I need a six-month vacation twice a year.” — Unknown
• “I’m not convinced I know how to read, I’ve just memorized a lot of words.” — Nick Miller, New Girl

Short Funny Quotes

• "I love mankind... it's people I can't stand!" ― Charles M. Schulz
• "There is no such thing as fun for the whole family." — Jerry Seinfeld
• "People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov
• "Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes." — Jim Carrey
• "The secret to a long marriage is to stay gone." — Dolly Parton
• "Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight." ― Phyllis Diller
• "Love is blind, but marriage is a real eye-opener." — Pauline Thomason
• "I love you no matter what you do, but do you have to do so much of it?" — Jean Illsley Clarke
• "If you can't be kind, at least be vague." — Judith Martin
• "Anybody who tells you money can't buy happiness never had any." — Samuel L. Jackson
• "Reality continues to ruin my life." ― Bill Watterson
• "Don't be so humble — you are not that great.” ― Golda Meir
• "Never miss a good chance to shut up." ― Will Rogers
• "I've had great success being a total idiot. " ― Jerry Lewis
• "Instant gratification takes too long." — Carrie Fisher
• "My tastes are simple: I am easily satisfied with the best." ― Winston S. Churchill
• "I generally avoid temptation, unless I can't resist it." ― Mae West
• "I always cook with wine. Sometimes, I even add it to the food." — W.C. Fields
• "When life gives you lemons, squirt someone in the eye." ― Cathy Guisewite
• "I drink to make other people more interesting." — Ernest Hemingway

Funny Quotes For Friends

• "Well, you know what they say: If you don't have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me." — Clairee Belcher, Steel Magnolias
• "A woman is like a tea bag: You can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." — Eleanor Roosevelt
• "Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." — Oprah Winfrey
• "Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy." — Benjamin Franklin
• "When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, 'Damn, that was fun.'" — Groucho Marx
• "The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're OK, then it's you." — Rita Mae Brown
• ​​"My friends tell me I have an intimacy problem, but they don't really know me." — Garry Shandling
• "I don't trust anyone who does their own hair. I don't think it's natural." — Truvy Jones, Steel Magnolias
• "The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about." — Oscar Wilde
• "Go to heaven for the climate, hell for the company." — Mark Twain
• “There is nothing better than a friend unless it’s a friend with chocolate.” — Linda Grayson
• “Friendship is a wildly underrated medication.” — Anna Deavere Smith
• “A good friend will always stab you in the front.” — Oscar Wilde
• “Which of all my important nothings shall I tell you first?” — Jane Austen
• "Friends are people who know you really well and like you anyway." — Greg Tamblyn
• "A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." — Bernard Meltzer
• “Friends make you smile — best friends make you giggle ’til you pee your pants.” — Terri Guillemets
• "Most of us don’t need a psychiatric therapist as much as a friend to be silly with." — Robert Brault RELATED : Funny Best Friend Quotes to Make Your BFF LOL

Funny Quotes About Life

• "There is no sunrise so beautiful that it is worth waking me up to see it." ― Mindy Kaling
• "Life is short. Drive fast, and leave a sexy corpse. That's one of my mottos." — Stanley Hudson, The Office
• "Sometimes, you lie in bed at night, and you don't have a single thing to worry about. That always worries me!" — Charlie Brown
• "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds, and the pessimist fears this is true." — James Branch Cabell
• "I think God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability." ― Oscar Wilde
• "Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome." ― Isaac Asimov
• "When I was growing up, I always wanted to be someone. Now, I realize I should have been more specific." — Lily Tomlin
• "I have a lot of growing up to do. I realized that the other day inside my fort." — Zach Galifianakis
• "When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out." — Erma Bombeck
• "Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing." — Phyllis Diller
• "If you are not yelling at your kids, you are not spending enough time with them.” — Reese Witherspoon
• "Follow your passion, stay true to yourself, never follow someone else's path — unless you're in the woods, and you're lost, and you see a path, then by all means you should follow that." — Ellen DeGeneres
• "Money can't buy you happiness, but it can buy you a yacht big enough to pull up right alongside it." — David Lee Roth
• "The lord gave us two ends: One to sit on and the other to think with. Success depends on which one we use the most." — Ann Landers
• "I'm not offended by blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb. And I also know that I'm not blonde." — Dolly Parton
• "I like my money where I can see it: hanging in my closet." — Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
• "Crying is for plain women. Pretty women go shopping." — Blanche Devereaux, The Golden Girls
• "I don't care what they say about me. I just want to eat." — Pam Beesly, The Office
• "Don't waste so much time thinking about how much you weigh. There is no more mind-numbing, boring, idiotic, self-destructive diversion from the fun of living." — Meryl Streep

Funny Quotes About Work

• "Everything I have I owe to this job... this stupid, wonderful, boring, amazing job." — Jim Halpert, The Office
• "An office is a place to live life to the fullest, to the max. An office is a place where dreams come true." — Michael Scott, The Office
• "So this is my life — until I win the lottery." — Jim Halpert, The Office
• "The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one." — Oscar Wilde
• "Housework can't kill you, but why take the chance?" — Phyllis Diller
• "I hate housework. You make the beds, you wash the dishes and six months later you have to start all over again." — Joan Rivers
• "I like work. It fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours." ― Jerome K. Jerome
• "I always arrive late at the office, but I make up for it by leaving early." ― Charles Lamb
• "Housekeeping is like being caught in a revolving door." — Marcelene Cox
• "The only thing that ever sat its way to success was a hen." — Sarah Brown
• "You can't have a million-dollar dream with a minimum-wage worth ethic." — Zig Ziglar
• "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence — then success is sure." — Mark Twain
• "Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there." — Will Rogers
• "No man goes before his time — unless the boss leaves early." — Groucho Marx
• "Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult." — Charlotte Whitton
• "Whoever established the high road and how high it should be should be fired." — Sandra Bullock
• "I just want to lie on the beach and eat hot dogs. That's all I've ever wanted." — Kevin Malone, The Office
• "Whenever I'm about to do something, I think, 'Would an idiot do that?' And if they would, I do not do that thing." — Dwight Schrute, The Office
• "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow just as well." — Mark Twain RELATED : 'The Office' Quotes About Work

Funny Quotes About Aging

• "The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age." — Lucille Ball
• "​​Honey, time marches on, and eventually, you realize it is marchin' across your face." — Truvy Jones, Steel Magnolias
• "You know you've reached middle age when you're cautioned to slow down by your doctor instead of by the police." — Joan Rivers
• "People say, ‘How you stay looking so young?’ I say, well, good lighting, good doctors, and good makeup." — Dolly Parton
• "Look, you didn't ask me for my opinion, but I'm old, so I'm giving it anyway." — Sophia Petrillo, The Golden Girls
• "No matter how bad things get, remember these sage words: You're old, you sag, get over it." — Sophia Petrillo, The Golden Girls
• "You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you're down there." — George Burns
• "Age is something that doesn't matter unless you are a cheese." — Luis Buñuel
• "As you get older, three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two." — Sir Norman Wisdom
• "I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them." — Phyllis Diller
• "The best way to get most husbands to do something is to suggest that perhaps they're too old to do it." — Shirley MacLaine
• "The older you get, the better you get. Unless you're a banana." — Betty White
• “You can live to be a hundred if you give up all things that make you want to live to be a hundred.” — Woody Allen
• “You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.” — Ogden Nash
• “Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.” — Larry Lorenzoni
• “If I had known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.” — Mickey Mantle
• “I’m very pleased to be here. Let’s face it, at my age, I’m very pleased to be anywhere.” — George Burns
• “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” — Mark Twain
• “Don’t let aging get you down. It’s too hard to get back up.” — John Wagner
• “You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.” — Bob Hope

Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan , where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent . Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé. 

Kate Franke (she/her) is the editorial assistant at Woman’s Day . She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME alum whose work has appeared in Food Network Magazine , The Pioneer Woman Magazine , Better Homes & Gardens , Modern Farmhouse Style , Beautiful Kitchens & Baths , and more. Next to writing, Kate’s two favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread!

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100 Sweet "Happy Anniversary" Quotes to Write in a Card

Wish your husband or wife — or another special couple — all the best with these sentimental messages.

Funny Anniversary Quotes

Cute anniversary quotes for couples and friends, famous anniversary quotes, anniversary quotes for parents, anniversary wishes for milestones.

These anniversary quotes, wishes and messages encompass all that and more, and are inspirational enough for when you need a sweet message to write inside an anniversary card or something thoughtful to share face-to-face with the couple ringing in another year together. And if you’re one half of the couple celebrating said anniversary, share one of these sentiments with a more personalized touch by including personal anecdote about the night you met, a funny story that’ll make you both laugh or even reflect on a hard time that really tested the both of you but inevitably showed how strong your bond really is.

Romantic Anniversary Quotes for Husband or Wife

• "You're my best friend, my partner in crime, my better half, my everything. Happy anniversary, my love."
• "Even after all of these years, my love for you grows more and more each day."
• "Thank you for picking me. I don't know how I got so lucky."
• "You're my sun and moon, and all of my stars. I love you so much. Happy anniversary!"
• "You're everything I've ever wanted and needed in a partner. Thank you for loving me. Happy anniversary."
• "I’m pretty confident that no one on earth is as lucky as me. Why? Because I get to wake up to you every day. Happy anniversary, baby!"
• "You can read my mind without me uttering a single word. We’re soulmates, and I’m eternally grateful that the universe brought us together. Cheers to a lifetime together. Happy anniversary."
• "Our deep, unbreakable connection is something I’ve always dreamed of. I’ll never take our bond for granted. Wishing us a blissful lifetime together. Happy anniversary!"
• "You’re the person who I can count on unconditionally. Without your unwavering love and support, I don’t think I’d be the person I am today. Happy anniversary, honey."
• "Walking alongside you is the greatest journey of my life. I’ll cherish you always. Happy anniversary."
• "Your face brings a smile to my face every day and for that I’m forever grateful. Happy anniversary to the person who makes my heart sing."
• "It’s a privilege to be in your presence. You’re not only a loving partner, but you’re also just an overall amazing person. Happy anniversary!"
• “I am so blessed that I get to spend the rest of my life with you. Happy anniversary, baby!”
• “I couldn’t survive a day without you. I’m so glad we’ve lived to see another year together.”
• “Marrying you was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
• “Our wedding day may not have been perfect, but it was the happiest day of my life. Thank you for being by my side for all these years.”
• “This is our first year together, but we have an eternity to go!”
• “Happy anniversary, honey. You make my life sweeter.”
• “I can’t believe that I’m married to my best friend. Thank you for making each year together better than the last.”
• “Nothing on earth compares to my love for you. Happy anniversary to my better half.”
• “You’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met. I can’t believe I get to be by your side for the rest of my life.”
• “Saying ‘I do’ was the best decision of my life. After all these years, I’m so grateful that you said it too!”
• “When I wake up to you every day, I’m reminded of hitting the love jackpot. You’re the best. Happy anniversary, sweetheart.”
• “When I think of all the blessings in my life, you’re the first to come to mind. Thank you for being my person. I love you.”
• “You’re my air and I can’t imagine life without you. I love you today and forever. Happy anniversary.”
• “My love for you is everlasting. Cheers to another year with my favorite person.”
• “I’ll always be your #1 fan. No matter what we’re going through, I’ll always cheer you on. Wishing us a lifetime together.”
• “When I look into your eyes, I see the most wonderful person in the world.”
• “Still in this together. Thanks for going on this lifetime journey with me. Love you forever.”
• “I never dreamed that I would find a love like yours. I’m the luckiest person in the world.”

• "We’ve made another trip around the sun together, and I still can’t believe you’re still willing to take these trips with me!"
• "We’re on the crazy journey of life together, and I can’t think of a wackier co-pilot. Thanks for always being you in all your wacky glory. Happy anniversary, sweetie."
• "You’re the cream to my coffee — I’ll always have the hots for you! Happy anniversary, babe!"
• "At times, we may be like fire and ice, it’s a wonder we haven’t combusted!'
• "We go together like peanut butter and jelly. With your big belly, you’re clearly the jelly! Happy anniversary, sweetie."
• "Nobody understands me the way that you do. I wonder why? Maybe we’re really the same person just in two very different bodies! Happy birthday, my handsome better half!"
• "As we grow old together, just remember that I’ll always be the young, hot one! To many more years together. I love you!"
• “Happy anniversary. You’re the perfect choice for my first spouse!”
• “A wedding band is the smallest handcuff ever made. I’m glad I chose my cellmate wisely.”
• “Thank you for growing old with me. It’s a good thing I find wrinkles adorable!”
• “Happy anniversary – I can’t believe you’re still with me!”
• “I’ve always wanted the best for you – which is obviously me!”
• “A good marriage is like a casserole—only those responsible for it really know what goes in it.”
• “Morning breath and all, you’re still the one I want to wake up to. Happy anniversary, my love.”
• “A marriage anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year.”

• "I’ve never seen a couple so right for each other. You two are a beautiful example of what it means to be happily married. Wishing you many more years together!"
• "Separately you’re both powerful individuals, but together as a pair — you’re unstoppable! Happy anniversary to one of my favorite couples!"
• "You’re such a beautiful couple who complement each other in enviable ways. Stay true to one another and you’ll be together for a lifetime! Happy anniversary."
• "You do a remarkable job of making marriage look easy. You should teach a class! Happy anniversary to a special couple."
• "May God continue to cover and bless you as a couple. Happy anniversary!"
• "Cheers to a couple who exemplify a good and healthy partnership. Happy anniversary."
• “I admire your union. Happy anniversary.”
• “What a beautiful and loving couple. Wishing you a lifetime of wedded bliss.”
• “Family gatherings wouldn’t be the same without you guys. Happy anniversary to one of my favorite couples!”
• “You two are so great to know and be around. Can you adopt me?”
• “I couldn’t ask for a better brother-in-law. Thank you for taking my sister off of my hands! Just kidding, happy anniversary!”
• “You two are the most adorable love birds I’ve ever known. Wishing you a lifetime of love.”
• “No other couple complements each other the way that you do. Happy anniversary to the beautiful pair who makes marriage look so easy!”
• “Spending time with you guys is one of my favorite pastimes. You make life more enjoyable. Happy anniversary!”
• “No marriage is perfect, but you guys come really close. Happy anniversary.”
• “May God continue to cover and bless you in your union.”
• “Who said marriage was hard? Not you guys because you make it seem absolutely effortless. Happy anniversary.”
• “I marvel at the wonderful life you’ve built together. You guys could teach a class on how to do marriage right. Congratulations!”
• “Wow, another year in the books! You guys work so well together. Happy anniversary.”

• “A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year.” — Paul Sweeney
• “Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” — Aristotle
• “I wouldn't change a thing, as happiness you bring. You are my soulmate. A marriage made by fate.” — Catherine Pulsifer
• “Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” — Robert Heinlein
• "Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads, which sew people together through the years." — Simone Signoret
• “In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine.”— Maya Angelou
• “You know you are in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” — Dr. Seuss
• “I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect, and I loved you even more.” — Angelita Lim
• “The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they’re right if you love to be with them all the time.” — Julia Child
• “Love grows more tremendously full, swift, poignant, as the years multiply.”— Zane Grey
• “All that you are is all that I’ll ever need.” — Ed Sheeran
• “You are my today and all of my tomorrows.” — Lee Christopher
• “You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known and even that is an understatement.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald
• “The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. That’s what I hope to give you forever.” — Nicholas Sparks
• “Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate.”— Barnette R. Brickner

• "You two were made for each other. I'm living proof! Happy anniversary, mom and dad."
• "To the couple whose love I get to watch grow stronger and stronger everyday, happy anniversary."
• "You two are the reason I know what love is. Happy anniversary to the best parents."
• "The best thing to come out of your relationship? Me, of course! I mean, the best, most loving parents."
• "You’re the parents all kids hope to have, and I’m so lucky to call you my role models. Happy anniversary!"
• "I’ve grown up watching what it meant to be a loving and caring couple. Thank you for being the blueprint for a healthy marriage. Happy anniversary!"
• "You both show me what real love looks like. To the imperfectly perfect couple I call my parents, happy anniversary!"
• "Love isn’t easy, but loving you two is. Happy anniversary to the best parents!"
• "To my best friends, role models and most importantly, parents, happy anniversary!"
• "Your love is what keeps this family rooted. Celebrating you two today and every day. Happy anniversary!"
• "It’s the perfect day to celebrate the most special people. Happy anniversary, parents!"

• "Hope the next [10] years are even happier than your [first decade] together!"
• "It started with a dream of a life together, and the dream only gets better. Cheers to [insert number] year of marriage!"
• "High-five to your [insert number]-year milestone."
• "Five years, 60 months, 260 weeks, or 1,825 days—however you count it, it all adds up to love."
• "One decade down; forever to go."
• "A quarter may not sound like a lot in money, but in marriage centuries, you two prove it's worth a fortune."
• "For your 25th year in marriage, may you receive more silver gifts than you have silver in your hair."
• "Even though the years continue to pass, my love for you only grows stronger. Happy [30th] anniversary!"
• "Fifty years later and all that glitters is still gold."
• "Congratulations on a love story that has stood the test of time — 70 years and counting!"

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Heartwarming Baby Shower Wishes for a Card

A baby shower is an important time to support your pregnant loved one. Here’s our favorite baby shower card messages that are sure to warm (both!) hearts.

Headed to a baby shower? Along with your gift , you may want to include a card with your baby shower wishes for the new parents. But you might be wondering what to write in a baby shower card. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of baby shower card messages you can use for just about any new family. 

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Whether your best friend is about to give birth to their first baby, or your co-worker is welcoming a new little one, the best baby shower card messages show the parents just how excited you are for them as they bring their new baby into the world.

How To Write Great Baby Shower Wishes

Writing your own baby shower message is a great way to show the expectant parents your support and excitement for this huge milestone. These tips can help you figure out what to write in a baby shower card so you can get started crafting the perfect message.

Make it meaningful

This is a great opportunity to make the new parents feel special. After all, this new baby will soon be the apple of their eye! No matter what the nature of your relationship with the parents, a touching sentiment will always be appreciated.

Aim for the intended audience

That said, a baby shower message for your sister or your life-long best friend might read a little differently than one for a distant cousin, a neighbor, or a co-worker.

Keep it short and sweet

When it comes to baby shower wishes, it’s fine to keep it quick and simple. Deeper sentiments and congratulations can always be shared in person or even after the baby is born.

The Best Baby Shower Card Messages for a Bundle of Joy

Here are 53 baby shower wishes you can use when it comes time to write out a card for a baby shower. We’ve included sentiments suitable for the closest relationships, and more traditional congrats as well.

Classic Baby Shower Wishes

You can’t go wrong with one of these simple sentiments. Appropriate for any family dynamic, including single or LGBTQ+ parents, these classic baby shower wishes are just right.

• Welcome to the world, little one! 
• Can’t wait to meet your bundle of joy!
• Many congrats to the new parent(s)!
• Best wishes on the arrival of your new baby.
• Congrats! You’re about to embark on a wonderful journey.
• Congrats on your new arrival! 
• Welcome to parenthood; it’s an amazing experience!
• Wishing you all the best for your new baby!
• Babies are a blessing, and I’m so happy for you.

Related: 10 Baby Shower Gifts for Parents Who Already Have Kids

Sweet Baby Shower Card Messages

Whether you’re about to become a grandparent or you’re watching your BFF begin their journey into parenthood, these sweet baby shower wishes go a bit deeper to show your love and affection for the parents as well as the new baby.

• I’m so excited to be by your side as you become a new parent—you’re going to be amazing in this role!
• This baby is so lucky to have you as their parents. Many congrats to you both! 
• I can’t wait to shower your new baby with so much love and joy!
• Soon, your family will become bigger and even more wonderful. We love you and wish you the best on your new arrival. 
• Best wishes to you both as you welcome your sweet baby. 
• Many congrats on this wonderful milestone! 
• If your baby is even half as amazing as you are, you’ll be just fine. 
• Congrats on your first baby: I know you’ll be an absolutely amazing parent. 
• The tiniest feet leave the biggest footprints on our hearts. Congrats on your new baby! 
• As I watch you become a new parent, the love I have for you will now expand to a pint-sized version of you. Congrats and best wishes!

Funny Baby Shower Wishes

Parenthood is serious business! Lighten the mood a bit with these funny baby shower wishes for the new parents. They’ll know they can always count on you for a laugh when times are tough—like during 2 a.m. feedings !

• Better you than me! Congrats! 
• All those sleepless nights and dirty diapers will be worth it. One day. 
• Things are about to get real around your house. Good luck!
• Congrats on your upcoming bundle of joy. Something tells me this might be the last party you attend for quite a while! 
• Becoming a parent is easy. It’s the parenting part that’s hard! Best of luck to you both.
• They say a baby is a blank slate. Here’s hoping yours gets the best of both of you! 
• Many congrats! I’ll be happy to babysit whenever you need “me” time! 
• The snuggle is real! Congrats on your new baby.
• “Ah, babies! They’re more than just adorable little creatures on whom you can blame your farts.” —Tina Fey

Baby Shower Wishes for Twins or Multiples

Attending a baby shower for parents of multiples? Parenting more than one baby at a time sure is a game changer! Give a nod to this amazing event with one of these baby shower wishes for twins or multiples .

• Double the fun! Congrats on your twins. 
• Sometimes the best things come in twos. 
• Double congrats on your duo!
• You know what they say—twins are double trouble! But you’re up for the task. Best wishes to you. 
• Just imagine—three babies to love and cherish. So many congrats to you! 
• Sending congrats and best wishes for the birth of your babies. 
• Your babies will always have each other, and amazing parents, too. Many congrats! 
• Two babies means half the sleep. But it’ll be awesome anyway. Congrats!
• Congratulations on all.the.babies! 
• Double bottles, double diapers, double blessed. Congrats on your twins!

Related: These 15 Meaningful Baby Shower Gifts for Rainbow Babies Honor Pregnancy After Loss

Baby Shower Quotes

We love the idea of including a quote in a baby shower card. After all, sometimes others have a way of saying exactly what we’re feeling, but in a more eloquent way. Choose one of these beautiful baby shower quotes for a special, unique baby shower sentiment.

• A new baby is like the beginning of all things: wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.” ~ Eda J. LeShan
• “Sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in your heart.” ~ Winnie the Pooh
• “Children reinvent your world for you.” ~ Susan Sarandon
• “Babies are such a nice way to start people.” ~ Don Herold
• “Words can not express the joy of new life.” ~ Hermann Hesse
• “Children make your life important.” ~ Erma Bombeck
• “Perfection only exists in babies and pastries.” ~ Gayle Wray
• “A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.” ~ Carl Sandburg
• “A baby is something you carry inside you for nine months, in your arms for three years, and in your heart until the day you die.” ~ Mary Mason

Baby Shower Wishes for Adoption

Adoptive parents deserve to be celebrated too! If you’ll be attending a baby shower for a couple who’s adopting a baby , include one of these baby shower wishes for adoptive parents in your card. These are sure to put a smile on their faces! 

• Your chosen baby is so incredibly lucky to have you as parents. 
• Congratulations on your adoption! This baby will be the perfect addition to your family. 
• Parenthood requires lots of love, but not DNA. Congrats on your adoption. 
• This baby was meant to have you as parents. Best wishes to all of you on this wonderful occasion. 
• Best wishes for your upcoming adoption. 
• At the end of the day, love is what makes a family. And you two have more than enough to give this special baby. Congrats!

Related: Colorful, Musical, Mesmerizing Baby Toys That Make Babies Actually Enjoy Their Dreaded Tummy Time

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