Jodie Houlston-Lau:  How to write comedy

 How to write comedy

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].

Comedy sharpens serious storytelling by creating emotional contrast and deepening impact. A king walking into a bar in the middle of an ancient epic, or a child tangling herself in a curtain at a tense family reunion, can heighten tension while delivering unexpected insight. Light moments in grim tales, like in 'Slaughterhouse-Five' or 'The God of Small Things,' give audiences space to process what’s otherwise unspeakable. Using humor at just the right moment can transform both the mood and the meaning of a story.