DMs are Open - Slide into a Comedy writing credit
Athena Kugblenu
Writer and Presenter
DMs Are Open is ±«Óãtv Radio 4 Extra's new open submission radio show. It’s the successor to Newsjack with one vital difference, it’s not tied to the news cycle. No more rummaging through newspapers for stories on a Sunday or Monday, you can write a sketch, one-liner or record a voice note on anything that will resonate with the British public.
That means you can write a piece on climate change, even if no one has glued themselves to the M6 that week. Maybe your favourite celebrity has gone viral and you have a unique take on that? Send a sketch on that to us too! We will always appreciate good writing about politics or current affairs, but we’re open to fantastic jokes about all the other conversations that are making people tick too.
Getting your work recorded and broadcast is hard. We receive so much material and can only use a fraction of it. However, here are my top five tips to help your work stand out:
DMs are Open
1. Choose your subject matter wisely
Even though your subject doesn’t have to be tied to the news cycle, it still needs to resonate. Consider how well known your subject is. The more it resonates, the better! We all know how expensive energy bills are now. Not so many appreciate the rising cost of plantain (though maybe they should…)
2. Start with a laugh
A great way to write sketches is to do a ‘vomit draft’, then delete the first page. Seriously, this is a great way to get to the point quickly. Once you have finished your sketch, ask yourself where the first laugh is. The closer you can get that laugh to the top of page 1, the better.
3. End with a laugh
Ending with a joke is like landing a triple axel on one leg. It’s the grand finale and an essential characteristic of all successful sketches.
4. Character!
Your sketches will have characters and a good way to find the funny is to give your characters a very strong emotion that you can lean into. Are they angry? Jealous? Happy? In disbelief? Exasperated? Make sure the emotional position of your characters is clear and consistent. This will also help you generate dialogue. Once you know how a character is feeling, it’s easier to know what they should be saying.
5. Premise
The best sketches don’t necessarily have funny jokes (though you do need these!). They actually have the best premises. What if the police were the ones to get stopped and searched? Boris Johnson said he was ‘ambushed by cake’ - how does Cake Delta Force prepare for an attack on a Prime Minister? A strong angle is a brilliant foundation for a good sketch.
And here’s a bonus tip:
6. (Strictly Come Dancing voice) Keeeeeeeeep writing!
I used to submit to Newsjack and I promise you, I failed many, many, many more times than I was ever successful. Writing is victory. Exercising that muscle will never not be beneficial so get into a routine and try not to be discouraged. Funny comes from practice. See every opportunity to submit to DMS are Open as practice and enjoy the process.
Good luck!
Submissions for DMs are Open are open with weekly deadlines for sketches on Monday at midday and for one-liners and voicenotes on Tuesday at midday for 3 more weeks (until 20th and 21st June).
Find out full details of how to submit your sketches, one-liners and voicenotes
Listen to previous episodes of DMs are Open (it is essential to listen to, and understand the show's format before submitting your own writing)
Episodes are broadcast on Thursdays at 10.30pm and on ±«Óãtv Sounds