Is this the right book for me? The Secrets to Writing Great Comedy will reveal to both beginners and experienced writers the distinctive features that mark out comedy from other forms of creative writing. Having identified these, it will help you then to unlock your inner anarchist, and explore the different elements of comedy, using a combination of practical exercises, insight and creative inspiration. Whatever your preferred comic genre, you will find guidance on everything from wordplay and visual humour to plots, comedy characters and different styles. A section on performance will help you to hone stand-up skills, while chapters on stage and screen will give techniques and tips on how to craft a sitcom or create a sketch show. Finally, there is a uniquely frank but useful section on the realities of the markets, and the process of submission, with even a guide to how to work successfully with other people - the downfall of many a budding comedy writer. The Secrets to Writing Great Comedy includes: Part one - Writing Chapter 1: Comedy basics Chapter 2: Comedy writing mindset Chapter 3: Getting started Chapter 4: Language Chapter 5: Jokes Chapter 6: Stand-up Chapter 7: Simple characters and situations Chapter 8: Sketches and quickies Chapter 9: More complex characters Chapter 10: More complex situations and plots Chapter 11: Sitcoms Chapter 12: Character development and deeper plotting Chapter 13: Editing, polishing and unblocking Part two - Information Chapter 14: Comedy formats Chapter 15: Figures of speech Chapter 16: Comedy styles and genres Chapter 17: Writing for different media Chapter 18: Other types of comedy work Chapter 19: Practicalities of placing your work Chapter 20: Doing it yourself Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and interactive features: Not got much time? One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started. Author insights Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience. Test yourself Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress. Extend your knowledge Extra online articles to give you a richer understanding of the subject. Five things to remember Quick refreshers to help you remember the key facts. Try this Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.