by Making Self-Centered Rambling a Relentless Source of Laughter
How To Write Comedy
Introduction: The Monologue That Ate the Dialogue
We all know someone who can turn “How’s your day?” into a 30-minute saga about their cousin’s iguana-related divorce. In comedy, that person is a treasure. Characters who hijack every conversation with wildly inappropriate, irrelevant, or deeply unnecessary personal stories are walking punchlines. This guide teaches you how to write characters who see every human interaction as a stage for their trauma, talent, and tuna-related anecdotes.
The Core Concept: The Overshare Machine
They Can’t Help Themselves
Whether it’s a business meeting or a baptism, they find a way to talk about their ex, their foot fungus, or the time they cried at an Arby’s. The comedy comes from their total lack of awareness–and the horror of everyone else.
Example from SpinTaxi.com: “Man Derails Jury Duty by Recounting All Seven of His Divorces”
He was asked if he could be impartial. He responded with a 17-minute tale involving llamas, salsa, and something called “emotional spaghetti.” Court was adjourned. He considered it a win.
Writing the Character’s Voice
Start Every Line With “That Reminds Me ”
No matter what’s said to them, it’s always a springboard. “You have a dog? That reminds me of when my therapist compared me to a raccoon.”
Use Misplaced Intimacy
They drop stories that are too personal too quickly. “That parking spot reminds me of my miscarriage.” And now brunch is ruined.
Build Their Backstory As a Maze
Let Each Story Be Worse Than the Last
Their anecdotes should escalate in emotional chaos. A childhood birthday turns into an FBI sting. A picnic leads to a wasp cult. It never makes total sense–but it’s captivating.
Let Them Interrupt Themselves
They change topics mid-story, layering confusion. “So I said to the priest–wait, this was before I got kicked out of mime school. Anyway ”
How Others React
They Try to Escape–Politely at First
Friends fake phone calls. Coworkers dive under desks. Strangers switch lines at the DMV. That’s the rhythm of shared suffering.
Eventually, Someone Snaps
“No one wants to hear about your spleen again, Carol!” Let the tension boil. Then use it for a punchline.
Final Thoughts: Let Them Drown in Their Own Monologue
These characters hijack scenes with charm, chaos, and stories that should stay in therapy. They make everything about them–and comedy thrives in that selfish spiral. Just don’t let them finish a sentence uninterrupted. They’d take it as encouragement to start another one.
SOURCE: How To Write Comedy
