Skit Writing Exercise...Learn How Part 4

Get on your mark, get set, start writing.

By this point using the previous four steps, you’ve defined your topic, your characters, your style and have an outline for your skit. It’s time to write!

Of course, before I turn you loose, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Start your dialogue just like your characters would have a normal conversation. If your characters have a particular foible, don’t forget to use it.
  
• Keep in mind that the skits need to be funny to keep the audience attention. For inspiration, think of the funny people around you and the conversations you have with them.
  
• Remember to keep lines short and to the point. There is nothing worse in puppet manipulation than a full page soliloquy of multi-syllabic words. As a rule of thumb, I try to limit my dialogue for one character to no more than 5 typewritten lines at a time. (I have happy puppeteers, too.)
  
• Stay focused. Set the stage and get to wrong quickly and then follow your path of resolution.

One last tip, write fast. The faster you write the more you get on paper and the less likely writer’s block will occur. You will clean everything up when you edit your text. Just make sure that you stick to your plan.

Good writing, and we'll finish up next week.