EPISODE · Jun 1, 2026 · 6 MIN
How to write comedy - Jodie Houlston-Lau
from TED-Ed · host TED-Ed
Download a free audiobook version of “Born A Crime“ and support TED-Ed's nonprofit mission: https://www.audible.com/ted-ed--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.Lesson by Jodie Houlston-Lau, directed by Joe Taylor.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-make-a-sad-story-funny-jodie-houlston-lauDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-make-a-sad-story-funny-jodie-houlston-lau#digdeeperCheck out our full book recommendation: https://shop.ed.ted.com/collections/ted-ed-book-recommendations/products/born-a-crimeAnimator's website: https://www.joetaylor.work----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Grayson Garbarino, Oge O, Weronika Falkowska, Stefano Esposito, Nevin Spoljaric, Yvonne Feijoo, Sid Chanpuriya, Arjay Arcinue Dineros, Anoom Yasmin, Anoop Varghese, David Yastremski, Noah Webb, B, Erica Guerrero, Roberto Chena, Oliver Koo, Luke Pisano, Andrea Gordon, Aleksandar Donev, Nicole Klau Ibarra, Milo Vermeulen, Ryan Weiler, Jesse Lira, Ezekiel Raui, Zongpu Kou, Cameron Chakraverty, Petr Vacek, Rhys Patterson, Dennis, Olivia Fu, Katrina Adams, Regina Post, Mary Collins, Kari Teffeau, clumsybunnie, Adam Leos, Cindy Lai, Liz, Rajath Durgada Manjunath, Dan Nguyen, Chin Beng Tan, Tom Boman, Karen Warner, Isorn Sookwanish, Iryna Panasiuk, Diane Gallin, Aaron Torres, Vasundhar, Eric Braun and Denka Wee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Download a free audiobook version of “Born A Crime“ and support TED-Ed's nonprofit mission: https://www.audible.com/ted-ed--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.Lesson by Jodie Houlston-Lau, directed by Joe Taylor.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-make-a-sad-story-funny-jodie-houlston-lauDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-make-a-sad-story-funny-jodie-houlston-lau#digdeeperCheck out our full book recommendation: https://shop.ed.ted.com/collections/ted-ed-book-recommendations/products/born-a-crimeAnimator's website: https://www.joetaylor.work----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Grayson Garbarino, Oge O, Weronika Falkowska, Stefano Esposito, Nevin Spoljaric, Yvonne Feijoo, Sid Chanpuriya, Arjay Arcinue Dineros, Anoom Yasmin, Anoop Varghese, David Yastremski, Noah Webb, B, Erica Guerrero, Roberto Chena, Oliver Koo, Luke Pisano, Andrea Gordon, Aleksandar Donev, Nicole Klau Ibarra, Milo Vermeulen, Ryan Weiler, Jesse Lira, Ezekiel Raui, Zongpu Kou, Cameron Chakraverty, Petr Vacek, Rhys Patterson, Dennis, Olivia Fu, Katrina Adams, Regina Post, Mary Collins, Kari Teffeau, clumsybunnie, Adam Leos, Cindy Lai, Liz, Rajath Durgada Manjunath, Dan Nguyen, Chin Beng Tan, Tom Boman, Karen Warner, Isorn Sookwanish, Iryna Panasiuk, Diane Gallin, Aaron Torres, Vasundhar, Eric Braun and Denka Wee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How to write comedy - Jodie Houlston-Lau
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