--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But comedy is ingrained. A writer doesn't…" description: "\"“But comedy is ingrained. A writer doesn't choose to be comic. You can choose a plot, or not to have one. You can choose your characters. But comedy is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/john-irving-337_comedy_but-comedy-is-ingrained-a-writer-doesn-t_2594679.jpg" --- # But comedy is ingrained. A writer doesn't choose to be… ![“But comedy is ingrained. A writer doesn't choose to be comic. You can choose a plot, or not to have one. You can choose your characters. But comedy is not a choice; it just comes out that way.” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/john-irving-337_comedy_but-comedy-is-ingrained-a-writer-doesn-t_2594679.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/john-irving-337_comedy_but-comedy-is-ingrained-a-writer-doesn-t_2594679.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/john-irving-337_comedy_but-comedy-is-ingrained-a-writer-doesn-t_2594679.jpg) > ““But comedy is ingrained. A writer doesn't choose to be comic. You can choose a plot, or not to have one. You can choose your characters. But comedy is not a choice; it just comes out that way.”” [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy emerges naturally from a writer's voice and perspective, not from deliberate choice of plot or characters. **In simple terms:** Comedy comes from the writer's natural voice. Key Takeaway Trust your voice for humor. Themes creativity humor authenticity writing voice Mood playful insightful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - scriptwriting - stand‑up comedy - novel drafting - improvisation Key Concepts Narrative voice spontaneity genre theory Questions to Reflect On - How does your personal voice shape humor? - When does humor enhance a story? A Different Perspective Attempting forced comedy can feel inauthentic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characters Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-comedy-958066/) [Choose Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-comic-291026/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-choice-498706/) [Comedy Ingrained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-ingrained-1890894/) [Comic Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-choose-1890895/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm happy to play characters but comedy, as a space, has given me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-sharma/i-m-happy-to-play-characters-but-comedy-as-a-space-has-given-me-a-lot/) [Varun Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-sharma/) > [I started in comedy when I first started as an actor on stage and doing improvisational theater and stuff like that. 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Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. 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