Written comedy development checklist

This is an example checklist to go through once you have an idea and are working on it. These items are getting you to think about different aspects, they’re not all things that have to be done to make something great.

• Look for any conventions that aren’t being broken / repetition in the beats / escalation (see Heightening / Escalation)

• Be specific. See Specificity

• Go back to the original observation / truth of the game / scene. Does it still resonate

• Is the game simple and clear enough. Are you doing too many games?

• Is there enough grounding. Is the strange being pointed out enough?

• Do a table reading or act it out (even alone)

• Can you perform this as intended (on stage, recorded, animation etc)

• Don’t be perfect

• Be “super fucking clear”

• How’s the rhythm and pace

• Does it escalate

• Is it surprising enough (especially the end)

• Is there a different format / type that may be better (see Types of Sketch Comedy and Types of Comedic Social Videos )

• Do you need to “label” the game?

• If you’re mapping is it a true mapping? (see Mapping)

• Have you got appropriate callbacks?

• Is it better to start in the middle?

• How are you playing with tension and release?

• Follow what you find funny

• Get AI to analyse and suggest ideas, it’s not often funny, but is very useful for critiquing and getting you thinking in new directions once you already have the core fun idea.