Humor Editing

What a humor editor does

Stand-up comedians perform their material in front of a live audience to workshop it. The crowd’s reaction provides the comic with instantaneous feedback so they can tell if a bit was successful, if it needs some tweaking, or if it should be thrown out of the set entirely.

Humor writers, however, don’t have that opportunity. When something is written only to be read and not performed, it can be difficult to figure out if a joke works or not. A comedy writer often has the perfect delivery playing in their head but may need help ensuring that it translates to the page. Furthermore, there are plenty of comedy writers who are absolutely hilarious but whose grammar and spelling skills could be improved. That’s where an editor can be of service.

Editing a work of humor enlists the same skills as editing any other genre, but with extra attention paid to a few key areas specific to comedy:

  • The author’s distinct voice

  • Pacing

  • Dialogue

  • Sentence rhythm

  • Phrasing and word choice

  • Story beats

  • Removing repetitive or redundant words that dilute the joke

Whether you’re writing a political satire, a romantic comedy, a farce, or anything in between, I can help you elevate your writing and be taken seriously as a professional, polished, comedic voice.

My comedy background

Though I enjoy editing all genres, my true passion is comedy.

I have been writing, producing, and studying comedy my whole life. At 10 years old, I was attending comedy classes with my mother, an amateur stand-up comedian at the time. Making people laugh was my favorite thing to do as a kid, and getting paid to make people laugh is my favorite thing to do as an adult!

My comedy career includes:

  • Sitcoms

  • Improvisation (short-form, long-form, and musical improv)

  • Sketch comedy

  • Late-night monologue joke-writing

  • Comedic web series

  • Non-fiction humor essays

  • Performing and studying comedy at legendary institutions such as The Upright Citizens Brigade, Improv Olympic, and The Second City

I love to help comedic writers hone their craft and improve their writing skills so their work reads as funny as possible on the page. By enlisting my editing services, I can punch-up your comedic material and ensure that your document is error-free.

 

What I Find Funny

We don’t need to share the same sense of humor in order to work together, but it’s always helpful to know what we both find funny. Here are a few noteworthy names and works from pop culture that never fail to crack me up.

The Simpsons

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

What We Do in the Shadows

BoJack Horseman

David Sedaris

Nick Hornby

Alexandra Petri

Simon Rich

Coming to America

Superbad

Addams Family Values

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

Seth Rogen

Coen Brothers

Tina Fey

Phil Lord & Chris Miller

 
 

Ready to work together? Have questions? Send me a message.

“Becky is an incredible asset in any writing situation. We worked together for years on a sketch team and she brought in hilarious, inventive ideas week after week. She also has great notes on editing and making things better. Work with her! Now!”

— Dan, comedy writer