--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You write the script, and then you just…" description: "\"You write the script, and then you just go over it 400 times and make all the jokes better. It really is true. That's essentially the way it works.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/dana-gould-1290_jokes_you-write-the-script-and-then-you-just-g_1209120.png" --- # You write the script, and then you just go over it 400… ![“You write the script, and then you just go over it 400 times and make all the jokes better. It really is true. That's essentially the way it works.” quote by Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/dana-gould-1290_jokes_you-write-the-script-and-then-you-just-g_1209120.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/dana-gould-1290_jokes_you-write-the-script-and-then-you-just-g_1209120.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/dana-gould-1290_jokes_you-write-the-script-and-then-you-just-g_1209120.png) > “You write the script, and then you just go over it 400 times and make all the jokes better. It really is true. That's essentially the way it works.” [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repeatedly revising a script and refining jokes is essential to comedic success **In simple terms:** Comedy scripts improve through many revisions Key Takeaway Polish jokes through repeated editing Themes humor process craftsmanship Mood lighthearted practical Type instructional observational When to use this quote - writing - performance - media production Key Concepts iteration feedback loops Questions to Reflect On - How many revisions are optimal before jokes lose freshness? - When should a writer trust instinct over endless tweaking? A Different Perspective Over‑editing can strip spontaneity and freshness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Jokes Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes-better-2004428/) [Make Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-jokes/) [Over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-it/) [Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script/) [Script Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script-just/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Write Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-script/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It slightly depends on your perspective, sort of how you look at these things, but when I sit down to write a script, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/it-slightly-depends-on-your-perspective-sort-of-how-you-look-at-these/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [I'm topical as hell. That's not going to change if I lose weight. There are a lot of comics that do 'fat jokes' better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralphie-may/i-m-topical-as-hell-that-s-not-going-to-change-if-i-lose-weight-there/) [Ralphie May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralphie-may/) > [Jokes are better than war. Even the most aggressive jokes are better than the least aggressive wars. Even the longest jokes are better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/jokes-are-better-than-war-even-the-most-aggressive-jokes-are-better/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [Jokes are always better than promises. Because jokes are half meant, while promises are half lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jokes-are-always-better-than-promises-because-jokes-are-half-meant/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never practice before, I never work hours on a script. I just choose my characters and trust them, and after that, it's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-laurent/i-never-practice-before-i-never-work-hours-on-a-script-i-just-choose/) [Melanie Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-laurent/) > [It's very rare you get a great script just handed to you, or sent to you, by someone you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/it-s-very-rare-you-get-a-great-script-just-handed-to-you-or-sent-to/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [Sometimes you take a job for the money, sometimes you take it for the location, sometimes you take it for the script; there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/sometimes-you-take-a-job-for-the-money-sometimes-you-take-it-for-the/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [The script just can't commit the sin of being boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-persky/the-script-just-can-t-commit-the-sin-of-being-boring/) [Lester Persky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-persky/) > [With any mannerisms or dialogue, you have to be careful you're not just serving yourself. What happens with improving is a lot of times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-liotta/with-any-mannerisms-or-dialogue-you-have-to-be-careful-you-re-not/) [Ray Liotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-liotta/) > [Sometimes I will read the whole script just to see what my character is doing, but I won't touch a script that I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-dennis/sometimes-i-will-read-the-whole-script-just-to-see-what-my-character/) [Gabrielle Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-dennis/) > [You define your own life.Don't let people write your script !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/you-define-your-own-life-don-t-let-people-write-your-script/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [As a filmmaker, if you want to write a script, all you need is some paper and a pen or a computer, that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/as-a-filmmaker-if-you-want-to-write-a-script-all-you-need-is-some/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [Since when I was little, I would always write a script and tell my sister, 'Read this line. I'm going to film it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-sink/since-when-i-was-little-i-would-always-write-a-script-and-tell-my/) [Sadie Sink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-sink/) > [I would love to write a script, for sure. I write poetry and songs. But writing a script needs a lot of time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayushmann-khurrana/i-would-love-to-write-a-script-for-sure-i-write-poetry-and-songs-but/) [Ayushmann Khurrana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayushmann-khurrana/) > [With every script, I write a note to my collaborator that says: 'I write full script. But see it as a guide. You take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-michael-bendis/with-every-script-i-write-a-note-to-my-collaborator-that-says-i-write/) [Brian Michael Bendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-michael-bendis/) ## More by Dana Gould > [As hard as I try to live with some degree of faith in my life, I just can't believe that the full moon can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/as-hard-as-i-try-to-live-with-some-degree-of-faith-in-my-life-i-just/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [The older I get, the more I look like my favorite shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-look-like-my-favorite-shoes/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Somewhere, there's someone who's masturbation ritual ends with them setting up ventriloquist dummies facing the bed. I mean, someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/somewhere-there-s-someone-who-s-masturbation-ritual-ends-with-them/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I feel very uncomfortable when I eat in restaurants. I'm obnoxiously polite with the waiters: 'I just want a tuna sandwich. I'll go get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-feel-very-uncomfortable-when-i-eat-in-restaurants-i-m-obnoxiously/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Cowboy boots with a suit? You're a rough, tough businessman. Chaps with a bow tie? You're in the rough, tough man business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/cowboy-boots-with-a-suit-you-re-a-rough-tough-businessman-chaps-with/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Despite a primitive brain, the octopus possesses an intricate system that helps it decide which tentacle to masturbate with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/despite-a-primitive-brain-the-octopus-possesses-an-intricate-system/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I got mugged about six months ago. The oddest thing about the entire situation, though, was that I wasn't afraid, which is strange because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-got-mugged-about-six-months-ago-the-oddest-thing-about-the-entire/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I'm the Forrest Gump of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-m-the-forrest-gump-of-comedy/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [It's gonna be awesome! A suspected pedophile dunks my kids head in a bucket so when she dies she can live in an invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/it-s-gonna-be-awesome-a-suspected-pedophile-dunks-my-kids-head-in-a/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [If I ever go into a coma, one of you has to promise to come by occasionally and tweeze my unibrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/if-i-ever-go-into-a-coma-one-of-you-has-to-promise-to-come-by/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [They say that God is in the details. Then again, they also say that the Devil is in the details. Boy, talk about awkward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/they-say-that-god-is-in-the-details-then-again-they-also-say-that-the/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I have one phobia, snakes. And by snakes I mean intimacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-have-one-phobia-snakes-and-by-snakes-i-mean-intimacy/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [My whole approach to marriage is simple: my wife will do something that drives me insane, I won't say anything, and then, later, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/my-whole-approach-to-marriage-is-simple-my-wife-will-do-something/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Wrote a science fiction novel about a man who wins an argument with his wife, but it was rejected for being too farfetched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/wrote-a-science-fiction-novel-about-a-man-who-wins-an-argument-with/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [If life begins at conception, but you can be born again later, only to live on eternally after death, what's the big deal about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/if-life-begins-at-conception-but-you-can-be-born-again-later-only-to/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) [Explore all 260 Dana Gould quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) ## More Jokes quotes > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. 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He hiked several miles to a farmhouse and asked the farmer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-traveling-salesman-was-driving-in-the-country-when-his-car-broke/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was interested in all kinds of things, whether it be Avatar, Mad Men, Troy, 300, Battlestar Gallactica, or the poems of Horace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/i-was-interested-in-all-kinds-of-things-whether-it-be-avatar-mad-men/) [Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/) > [I was getting dressed and a peeping tom looked in the window, took a look and pulled down the shade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-was-getting-dressed-and-a-peeping-tom-looked-in-the-window-took-a/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [You remember from watching the show, there are no "jokes." That's why if you see people on Twitter accusing me of being a "joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/you-remember-from-watching-the-show-there-are-no-jokes-that-s-why-if/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? 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I think it's bad manners to invite people to sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-don-t-do-plays-without-jokes-anymore-i-ve-retired-from-those-plays/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) [Browse all 4,278 Jokes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You write the script, and then you just go over it 400 times and make all the jokes better. It really is true. 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