1. Go over your content and think of stories to include that have some humorous pieces.
Think:
- Anecdote – A funny story about life that fits into your message and content.
- What gets on your nerves/a frustration
- What aha moment did you have?
- Observation- “Did you notice how Millennials are always in groups?”
- Self-Deprecating- You have a flaw.
- Topical- Current events: watch Bill Maher
2. Now, write your story out (it is best to say it as you are writing or record it and then write).
3. Start using some words that are/sound better. When possible, try using words that end in a hard T or K, at the end of a sentence. Think, Clock, Duck, Block, Flock, Muck, Slack, Stuck or Bucket, Talent, Culprit, Nugget, Carpet, and Rivet. There are more…When you are rehearsing, practice pausing before you say these words. These words beg you to make a face after saying them.
4. The “rule of three” is a widely used principle in comedy writing that refers to grouping things in triplets or sets of three for maximum comedic effect. Here are the key points about using triplets in comedy writing:
- Grouping things in threes where the first two elements set up the pattern, while the third element subverts or twists that pattern humorously, often taking it to an absurd extreme.
- Triplets have a natural rhythm and cadence that makes them funnier and more memorable than pairs or longer lists. The “da-da-da” cadence is pleasing to the ear.
- Use in your introduction to add humorKaren is a Speaker, Author, and a pickleball addict.
5. In speech writing, a callback refers to a joke or reference that “calls back” to something mentioned earlier in the speech.
- The initial joke or line sets up the premise, while the callback later on acts as the punchline by referring back to that earlier setup surprisingly or humorously.
- They reward audience members who were paying attention by making them feel “in” on an inside joke when they recognize the callback reference.
- Callbacks work best when there is time between the setup and the callback punchline, allowing the audience to be surprised when the initial premise is revisited.
Killer keynote member Sydne is a speaker and an engineer. We gave her a callback…She introduced herself as an engineer. Her callback: After all, I’m an engineer.