In Africa, comedy has become the most prevalent side and a full-time hustle for many.
Everyone has a channel where they post one comedy video, skit, or another.
The beautiful part is that you do not need to write the comedy yourself.
See these best website to hire freelancers for comedy writing to hire freelancers who will write unique skits for you. All you need to do is shoot the scripts they have crafted.
What is comedy writing?
To put it simply, comedy writing is any sort of writing that is intended to be humorous. Though there is much more to it than that, the primary goal is to make the audience laugh.
A comedy screenplay is the script for a comedy movie. Comedy aims to make people laugh by starting with humor. However, a solid comic premise pairs a challenging, hilarious, or interesting event with an inappropriate person to manage it. You don’t need a complicated plot to be funny. While enjoyment and entertainment are the genre’s primary goals, comedy writers have a long history of making fun of institutions, social norms, or beliefs through the popular subgenres of parody, satire, and farce.
See also: The Beginner’s Guide to Writing a Corporate Video Script [Free Template]
What to look out for in comedy writing
Here are five great writing ideas for a comedy scene:
- Make an ordinary scenario bigger than it has to be.
- Allow tension to build.
- Apply precision.
- Make somebody feel uncomfortable.
- Close with a lesson.
Five essentials for every comedy screenplay.
1. Three-dimensional, relatable, and complicated characters: Everyone, real or imagined, is forced to learn lessons as they navigate life, love, and problem-solving. Spend time developing your characters. The more detailed their backgrounds, the more enjoyable and three-dimensional they appear on a screen.
2. High stakes: Stakes are what your protagonist is concerned about, what they are seeking to achieve, or what they risk losing. If the stakes are set too low, the audience will lose interest.
3. Dramatic elements: If comedy scripts were only made up of jokes, viewers would lose interest quickly, and the process of writing a script would take years. Dramatic elements help to maintain the film’s tempo, boost its relatability, and enhance the enjoyment of its major comedic scenes.
4. Specificity: A story’s humor and uniqueness stem from its specifics. Being specific is the most effective way to make a comedy script unique. Include scenes and language that, while being true to the comedy and personalities of the characters in question, express a human truth that touches the audience’s heart.
5. The lesson: Mishaps and experiences along the way lead to comedy. Character growth is what people want to see. At the end, your characters should learn a lesson. There would be no narrative otherwise.
See also: 7 Ways Hiring a Freelance Writer Can Save Your Business Money
7 Best Websites to Hire Freelancers for Comedy Writing in Africa
#1 WritersGig
This is one of the best website for freelancers for comedy writing in Africa.
On WritersGig, you will find a list of pre-vetted comedy writers with experience who will script an appealing piece. If you need comedy scripts for shoots, scripts, or standup comedy, you’ll find a writer who will deliver a thousand percent.
A writer is expected to create a gig, which is an offer a freelancer makes to market his service. Every writer on WritersGig creates a gig that has a detailed description of his services, cost, and a summary of his experience and portfolio.
Buyers put up the job offer themselves, and then the writers bid for them by sending in proposals.
If the buyer loves a writer’s proposal, he contacts and hires him based on the proposal.
Another way to get hired is through a gig. From my experience using the platform, ensure that you use the right keywords and that your gig showcases your skills as much as possible.
On this platform, comedy writers can earn between ₦15,000 and ₦20,000 per gig.
See also: 7 Best Websites to Hire Freelancers for B2C Writing in Africa
#2 Upwork
Upwork has a massive pool of freelancers, including comedy writers. Users can post their job offers/projects, browse profiles of writers who bid and get competitive bids.
It has a strong vetting system and many payment protection options. This makes it a safe choice for both freelancers and clients. However, freelancers have to be careful of the verification of the buyer before accepting his offer. There has been a record of scammers on the platform.
You can search for comedy writers by keyword or browse through profiles that fit your criteria.
#3 Freelancer
Another large platform with a strong comedy writing section is Freelancer. It is one of the best website to hire freelancers for comedy writing.
Similar to Upwork, you can search for freelancers, post jobs, and compare the prices freelancers bid in their proposals.
It has a project escrow system that protects your payment until the project is completed to your satisfaction.
#4 Guru
This is one of the best website to hire freelancers for comedy writing. It has a specific category for comedy writers.
You can search for freelancers with experience in your desired comedy style for example; sketch, stand-up, etc.
Guru has a strong focus on customer support and has tools that will help you manage your freelance projects.
See also: 7 Best Websites to Hire Freelancers for Nonfiction Writing in Africa
#5 Skillhub
Skillhub has a vetted selection of comedy writers that have satisfactory client reviews and ratings that you can work with.
It has a good selection of comedy writers, and their profiles include information about the writer’s experience, rates, and availability.
You can also browse portfolios and read client reviews.
See also: 7 Best Websites To Hire Freelancers For Aesthetic Writing In Africa
#6 Comedy Writing Jobs
This is one of the best website to hire freelancers for comedy writing. It is a freelance platform exclusive to comedy writing.
It is a website that lists comedy writing jobs and gigs. This can be a good option if you’re looking for a one-time project or a short-term contract. However, it is important to note that there is no vetting process for the jobs listed on this site.
#7 StageMilk
This is a website for comedy professionals, with a job board that lists comedy writing jobs. This is a good option if you’re looking for a comedy writer with experience in a specific area, such as stand-up comedy or sketch writing.
Conclusion
Comedy is now a household nice in Africa. Join the funny bandwagon even f you’re not originally funny. These websites will give you original content from their best freelancers whom are readily available for comedy writing.
References
- studiobinder – best website to hire freelancers for comedy writing
- arcstdiopromo – best website to hire freelancers for comedy writing
