The 84-Minute Comedy Writing Masterclass — Michael Jamin
Here are the top 10 key takeaways from Michael Jamin's comedy writing masterclass that will transform how you approach storytelling and humor.
1. Story is the foundation, comedy is the decoration
Michael Jamin emphasizes that successful comedy writing fundamentally depends on strong storytelling rather than just funny jokes. He explains that in his early career, writers were divided into two camps: joke people and story people. While joke writers often received more recognition for their memorable one-liners, story writers were far more essential to the success of any project.
The distinction becomes clear when considering the longevity of different comedy formats. Stand-up comedy consists purely of jokes strung together, and while audiences laugh intensely during the performance, they rarely remember specific jokes afterward. This happens because comedy hits you in the head while drama hits you in the heart. For lasting impact, writers must combine both elements, using story structure to create emotional resonance that stays with audiences long after they've finished watching.
2. Strong attitudes create natural humor
Characters become funny not through trying to be humorous, but by expressing extreme viewpoints and unwavering opinions. Jamin illustrates this principle with a simple example: responding "it's okay" to a question about soup generates no laughs, but declaring it either "the best fucking soup I've ever had" or "the worst" immediately becomes comedic. This works because strong attitudes reveal character flaws and create conflict.
The most effective comedy characters are those who cannot hold their tongues and feel compelled to share their judgmental opinions about everything. These characters aren't attempting to make audiences laugh; they're simply expressing their truthful perspectives from their own worldview. This authenticity makes their extreme positions both believable and inherently funny, as audiences recognize the human tendency toward stubborn, pig-headed behavior.
3. Characters should never try to be funny
The cardinal rule of comedy writing is that characters should never have the goal of making the audience laugh. When characters attempt to be humorous, the result is invariably cringey and falls flat. Instead, humor should emerge naturally from characters' ignorance, naivety, or genuine personality traits. The character should always be pursuing their own sincere objectives, not audience approval.
Classic examples demonstrate this principle effectively. Archie Bunker wasn't trying to entertain anyone; he was simply expressing his bigoted worldview. Larry David on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" doesn't aim for laughs but instead verbalizes his extremely judgmental thoughts about everyday situations. These characters succeed comedically because they're being truthful to their own perspectives, allowing audiences to find humor in their blind spots and contradictions.
4. Visual writing brings stories to life
Television writing requires constant attention to what audiences are literally watching on screen. Writers must always consider the visual elements of each scene, asking themselves what the cameras are capturing beyond just dialogue. This visual approach extends beyond TV into other forms of storytelling, making narratives more engaging and memorable.
Jamin applies this visual technique even to his personal essays and live performances. He describes scenes with specific, concrete details that help audiences picture exactly what's happening. When describing his neighbor's disgusting house, he doesn't just say it was dirty; he details the tacky, yellowish film on walls and the squishy floors beneath their feet. These specific visual elements make the story vivid and allow readers to experience the scene rather than simply being told about it.
5. Vulnerability trumps charm in storytelling
Effective writing focuses on characters' weaknesses rather than their strengths, particularly when writing personal narratives. Jamin warns against the "adorkable" character trap, where writers try to make themselves appear cute or interesting instead of human. Audiences don't respond to attempts at charm; they connect with authentic vulnerability and honest self-examination.
When writing personal stories, Jamin keeps two lists on his phone: his weaknesses and interesting memories. He pairs these elements to create compelling narratives that reveal human flaws rather than celebrate personal achievements. This approach transforms potentially self-indulgent memoir writing into universal experiences that readers recognize in themselves. The goal isn't to make audiences think "look how interesting I am" but rather "look how human I am."
6. Emotional stakes drive audience investment
Every story needs clear stakes that answer the question: what happens if the protagonist doesn't achieve their goal? Higher stakes create more compelling narratives, but these don't necessarily require life-or-death scenarios. Often the most powerful stakes involve family relationships and personal connections rather than external threats.
Jamin uses "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" as a perfect example of hidden emotional stakes. While the surface plot involves skipping school and having adventures, the real story concerns Ferris trying to save his friend Cameron's life by teaching him how to live before they separate for college. The movie explicitly states these stakes early on, making every subsequent scene more meaningful because audiences understand what's truly at risk.
7. Character contradictions create depth and realism
The most interesting characters contain consistent contradictions that don't undermine their core personality. These contradictions must feel authentic to the character rather than arbitrary additions for complexity. Jamin illustrates this with an anecdote about a social media troll who used a "Goodfellas" meme to express hatred for Hollywood while simultaneously demonstrating his love for Hollywood movies.
Creating these contradictions requires careful character development that explores multiple facets of personality. Writers should ask detailed questions about their characters' opinions on various topics, even those that won't appear in the final script. The key is finding blind spots that feel human and relatable without making the character completely incoherent or unrecognizable.
8. Breaking stories requires understanding deeper meaning
Before writing begins, successful comedy writers spend significant time in the "breaking" phase, mapping out story structure and identifying the emotional core. This process involves creating detailed outlines that specify act breaks and major plot points while simultaneously discovering what the story is really about on a deeper level. Writers literally ask themselves "what is this about?" to ensure they're not just creating a sequence of events.
The distinction between plot and story becomes crucial during this phase. Plot represents the events that happen, while story encompasses the emotional underpinning that gives those events meaning. New writers often focus exclusively on plot, creating sequences of interesting scenes without the deeper emotional framework that sustains audience interest throughout the entire narrative.
9. Character introductions set expectations immediately
Every character introduction serves as a crucial opportunity to establish personality, motivations, and audience expectations within seconds. Jamin learned this principle working on television, where writers would spend entire days crafting the perfect character entrance. The goal is giving both the character and the actor something interesting to do that immediately communicates essential information about who this person is.
Rather than simply having a farmer character walk in carrying farming tools, effective introductions show the farmer interacting with a sick animal. How they treat this vulnerable creature—with compassion or indifference—reveals their core personality instantly. These moments require careful consideration because mixed messages confuse audiences, while clear, strong introductions create lasting impressions that guide all subsequent character development.
10. Authentic voice emerges through continuous practice
Developing a unique writing voice requires completing multiple projects rather than endlessly polishing a single script. Jamin advises writers to "stop polishing that turd" and move on to new projects after finishing their work. Script five will inevitably be dramatically better than script one, and this improvement only comes through the experience of completing and starting fresh multiple times.
The search for authentic voice becomes particularly challenging when writers admire other successful authors. Jamin initially found himself unconsciously imitating David Sedaris when writing personal essays, creating work that felt like cheap imitation rather than original expression. Breaking free from this required understanding that finding your own voice means discovering what makes your perspective unique, not copying what works for others. The goal is creating work that couldn't have been written by anyone else, reflecting your specific worldview and experiences.