You can use these funny writing prompts
when writing a romantic comedy novel or script, a short story, or even a serious or scary story that could use a little levity in the middle of all the drama. Humor is one of those writing skills that takes a little work to learn, but using funny writing prompts is a great way to practice. And if you have writer’s block or you’re stressed about a work in progress, using one of these as a creative writing exercise can help you loosen up!
Several of these are basically comedy situations,
but I’ve also included a few funny dialogue writing prompts. I hope you like them! If you do, please share the post (or pin it on Pinterest for future reference!)
1
Someone is pretending to be someone they’re not, but…
because they don’t have enough knowledge, don’t look the part, or have to fake feelings they don’t really have, it’s not going well.
2
Someone is mistaken for someone else, but they don’t catch on right away.
For instance, your hero doesn’t know why a woman is being so mean to him…or why a bunch of people are treating him like a king.
3
Someone gives a character eccentric or just plain terrible advice.
4
Someone has walked in on a situation they really didn’t expect.
Your character is shocked to see their friend, mom, roommate, or whoever doing this.
5
Someone is trying to hide something that’s difficult to hide.
For an example of this, watch the dinner scene from Bringing Up Baby, in which the characters played by Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn are hiding a leopard that won’t shut up.
6
Someone is inappropriately cheerful or blasé in a serious situation.
This is honestly one of my favorite funny prompts! I never get tired of this in a book or a movie.
7
One person thought this would be a great thing to do on a date. The other person really doesn’t agree.
8
Someone takes a phrase too literally.
I have this one in my novel Her Knight at the Museum, about a medieval knight in present-day Chicago! I felt so proud when my editor wrote “LOL!” in the comments.
9
Something goes very wrong at the wedding.
10
Someone accidentally attends the wrong funeral or visitation.
11
Someone is interviewing for a job…
that’s very different from the job they believe they’re interviewing for.
12
Someone is out of their comfort zone in dealing with a baby, child, or animal.
13
Someone is out of their comfort zone…in front of a big audience.
14
Someone has a wardrobe malfunction.
15
Someone is dressed incredibly inappropriately for the occasion.
16
“…and that’s how I got banned from The Home Depot for life.”
Feel free to substitute the store or restaurant chain of your choice.
17
Someone tells an implausible lie…
and has to double down on it when questioned.
18
Verbally or physically, a character’s attempts to fix something
actually make it worse.
19
Someone is very excited about something boring…
Or at least, something that most people think is boring.
20
“What? I meant it as a compliment.”
21
A silly challenge or rivalry
leads to increasingly petty and/or devious measures.
22
Someone is trying to be polite or dignified
in a truly trying or ridiculous situation.
23
Someone has no idea who they are talking to,
and as a result, says wildly inappropriate things.
24
Someone has been pushed to the brink
and they’re telling everybody what they really think.
25
“Those were his last wishes?”
If you’d like other funny prompts for writing (as well and tragic, dramatic, romantic, and so on…)
get my book 5,000 Writing Prompts, with hundreds of positive reviews! This book has inspired a couple of writers’ traditionally published novels, but I’ll never tell which ones. You can take each idea so many different ways!
Do you have funny story ideas
you’d like to share? Are you working on a funny story—or have you published one? Let us know in the comments! Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!
These are great, thanks! I love #10 the most. I think that would make for an interesting moment in a story.
Thanks so much, Brooke!
I think I have a personal story for nearly every one of these! 😀 My husband and I have been together for 36 years this July. We are opposites in nearly every way, and compromise on what’s important. He’s my tall, dark and handsome, with a very quiet, shy and reserved personality — I am not! Picture if you will Spock married Lucille Ball, and there you have it. (Yes, he’s shaking his head at me! 😀 )
Okay, you two sound like an amazing pair (and like the leads in a romance novel, honestly!) I love it! I am a Lucille Ball married to a shy, reserved guy too!
Thank you, Bryn for the great list.
Here is one incident that happen to me and I’m happy to share:
I misread the streets directions and ended up in the muck.
Hi Pina! Oh no! I don’t know if it was funny at the time, but either way, it’s definitely the kind of thing one can laugh about later—and it could be very funny in a story, too!
fun ideas.
denise
😊 Thanks, Denise!
Where is WIP for first Wednesday in June???