Deep definition
A comic character isn't an accent. It's a person with one dominating want, one blind spot, and a specific way of speaking. Once those three exist, the character generates jokes on their own because you can put them in any situation and predict the wrong thing they'd do.
Why humans laugh
Audiences enjoy predicting behavior; a strong character makes prediction possible and then satisfies it in surprising ways.
Formula
WANT + BLIND SPOT + VOICE = SELF-GENERATING JOKE MACHINE
Good examples
- The guy at the gym who explains your body to you while using a machine incorrectly.
Bad example
A funny voice with no opinions.
Before → After
My coworker is annoying.
My coworker treats every meeting like he's about to be discovered.
When to use
When the same person recurs in your material.
When not to use
When your own perspective is the stronger engine.
Common failure modes
- Voice without want
- Character that never loses
- Cruel caricature
Advanced combinations
- CH + ST = status-driven character
- CH + HY = the hypocrite
Writing
Write the character's three-sentence bio before any lines.
Stage
Enter the character on a physical change, not an announcement.
Crowd work
Turn a recurring audience type into a character on the spot.
Improv
Character emerges from a strong point of view, not a costume.
Business
Brand voice is a character with a want and a flaw.
Told to the AI as
Extract want/flaw/voice from the input and generate lines only that character could say.
Exercises
Beginner
Write 5 characters from your workplace as one-line bios.
Intermediate
Write 10 lines in one character's voice.
Advanced
Perform a 3-minute character piece with a real want and a real loss.