Comedy Writing Tip #21: How to Write Dark Comedy Without Becoming the Joke

Dark comedy is like defusing a bomb - one wrong move and everything blows up: 1) **The Perspective Flip** - "They say laughter is the best medicine... which explains why healthcare is so expensive." 2) **The Trojan Horse** - Hide the dark part in something innocent: "My childhood pet ran away... which was traumatic until the autopsy showed it was actually murder." 3) **The Equal Opportunity Offense** - "I make fun of all groups equally... because discrimination is wrong, but lazy comedy is worse." 4) **The Recovery Move** - After a risky joke: "Too soon? Or is it actually 'too accurate'?" 5) **The Safety Net** - Always follow with: "I'm going to hell... but at least I'll have material there." Pro Tip: The darkest jokes should reveal truth, not just shock. On-Stage Line: "I don't believe in an afterlife... which is good because based on my jokes, I'd be going somewhere warm." SOURCE: http://comedywriter.info