3 Tips for Writing Parodies

Most attempts at parody fall flat for three reasons: they’re poorly written, boring, and — worst of all — unfunny. Since the primary function of parodies is to entertain, authors need to fulfill the audience’s expectations in terms of humor.

It’s important not to confuse “parody” with “satire,” since the latter is more concerned with social and political commentary. CliffsNotes clarifies the distinction:

“A parody is a composition that imitates the style of another composition, normally for comic effect and often by applying that style to an outlandish or inappropriate subject.” (EX: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith)

“A satire, on the other hand, is intended to do more than just entertain; it tries to improve humanity and its institutions. A satire is a literary work that tries to arouse the reader’s disapproval of an object — a vice, an abuse, a faulty belief — by holding it up to ridicule.” (EX: Animal Farm by George Orwell; Candide by Voltaire)

John Scalzi’s Redshirts spoofs the original Star Trek series, wherein random side characters (“redshirts”) are killed off to create drama. Scalzi turns the trope on its head by having these redshirts slowly realize the narrative being forced upon them. I adored this novel, and it makes for a great role model in writing effective parodies.