# How to write comedy

- Institution: TED
- Department: TED-Ed
- Speaker: Jodie Houlston-Lau
- Year: 2021
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Literature and writing, Teaching and learning
- Source: [TED](https://www.ted.com/talks/jodie_houlston_lau_how_to_write_comedy)
- Licence: [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) (Non-commercial use only, and no changed versions.)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

It may seem counterintuitive, but comedy is often key to a serious story. As a writer, you need your audience to experience a range of emotions, no matter what your genre. Comic relief is a tried-and-true way of creating the varied emotional texture a compelling story needs. So how can you create this effect in your own stories? Jodie Houlston-Lau shares some tips for lightening the mood. \[Directed by Joe Taylor, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Jarrett Farkas\].

## Lectures

1. [How to write comedy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/ted/jodie_houlston_lau_how_to_write_comedy/12ecd99c9612), 5 min (TED's player)