Mastering Sketch Comedy

"I want to write sketch comedy, but I can't think of anything to write about, and if I did, I don't have any idea what to do with it."

Dozens of potential students tell me that this is at the root of why they aren't writing. I believe that anyone can write great sketch comedy if they are given an easy, step by step approach that doesn't trigger resistance or writers block, and they are given solid comedy skills. It's all about baby steps.

I'm Sean Hogan and I've been teaching sketch comedy writing for over 10 years, both at my home and at the Groundlings Theater School in Los Angeles. I developed my unique method by analyzing great sketches and discovering what they all have in common (there are 4 things). I took great sketches apart, like a watch, and discovered that they have a common framework that can be your guide for building your own sketches.

In over 10 years of writing and performing sketch comedy at the Groundlings, I have lots of practical advice to share about what keeps the creative juices flowing, and I'll show you how to trigger an audience to laugh out loud, all at the same time. I'm happy to share what I learned from all of my live performances at the Groundlings theater.

The class progresses in these 4 steps:

1. Sketch Basics:

• Breaks a 4 minute sketch into three distinct acts.
• Defines Premise vs. Character sketches and how to get ideas for each.
• Relays the 4 things present in great sketches.
• Details proper sketch formatting and Screenwriting software options.

2. Easy Sketch Writing:

• Provides an easy to follow, step by step approach to writing both Premise and Character based sketches that keeps you from getting in your own way by bypassing the harshly critical left brain during the creative process.
• How NOT to write a sketch!

3. Endings:

• Defines what a good sketch ending must ideally do.
• Provides three different ways to end a sketch by using formulas discovered in sketches with great endings.

4. Effective rewriting:

• How NOT to approach rewriting your sketch.
• A specific method for rewriting that frees you to see ways to improve upon your first draft by changing your perspective from one of the writer, to that of someone in the audience.
• What to look for when rewriting that most first drafts need to lose.
• How to make your sketch funnier by raising the stakes.
• Use Word Choice and Rhythm in dialogue to cue laughter.

5. Let's Write a Sketch!

• Watch me start with an idea and use my step by step method to take it to editing the first draft.

6. Watch my very first attempt at sketch writing while I was a student at the Groundlings School.

Want to write sketches and get feedback???

I run a 5 week class via zoom if you would like to write sketches and get feedback. Check out my website seanhoganwriter.com for the next session. You can email me at [email protected] with further questions.