Hey Substackers! As the monarch of Letstalkfunnistan, I declare June, “The Month of Obstacles.” This month, I’m going to dig into the things that make your lives harder and help you include them in your stories. A story without obstacles is pretty bland, so let’s embrace the struggle and see if we can uncover the funny stuff within it.
This week let’s focus on the most interesting kind of obstacle: people. Specifically, antagonists. I’m talking about the people who drive you crazy: enemies, frenemies, co-workers, and even people we love, like parents. These close antagonists can be anyone who drives you to visit a therapist or a wine bar. First…
What does an antagonist do in a story?
They create conflict and challenge the main character and create obstacles for them to overcome.
They reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the main character.
They can drive the plot and escalate the stakes.
They provide a counterpoint for the main character’s traits, actions, and beliefs.
If you have a story where you gain “super-powers” like advanced problem solving or conflict mitigation, you will need to make your antagonists as formidable as possible to sell the transformation you go through from regular person to super-hero.
In humor, antagonists are just as formidable. Comedic antagonists are great for stories with “small” goals because they heighten your emotional stakes and elevate your story for the audience. For example, having to plan an office Christmas party doesn’t seem like a compelling story. But it will come alive if you add someone you have to work with that’s driving you nuts and messing up your plans.
Popular comedic antagonists generally have exaggerated flaws, absurd ambitions, and quirky behaviors.
Think Newman from Seinfeld: He’s petty, vindictive and goes to great lengths to sabotage Jerry for minor grievances. Even though he has nothing but disdain for the post office, he dreams of becoming a power figure there.
Think Dwight Shrute from The Office: He’s socially awkward and oblivious with an obsessive need for order and superiority at work. His ambitions include becoming the regional manager of the office and turning his family beet farm into an agritourism empire.
Here are some examples of real-world comedic antagonists:
The a$$hole in the office who has it in for you. Even worse, they work for the President.
You are attracted to someone who you want to date. But they don’t see you as more than a friend. Now add a romantic rival. Even worse, they’re a longtime friend of yours.
When you confront an antagonist, you are in their world. And there are specific rules. If you follow the antagonists into the world of the office or the world of a date, you are on their turf and you are forced to figure out how to navigate it. That’s the fun of this kind of story.
So, you’ve got an antagonist in your stories, and they are standing in the way of what you want to do.
Here are a few ways you can use them to add humor by amplifying them and fleshing out some comedic details:
Give them a flaw or a specific characteristic that will cause you trouble.
Make them as difficult or annoying as possible. Difficult people and annoyances are relatable and connect you will the crowd.
Give them a name or a nickname that’s shorthand for their negative flaw: Petty Pauly, Anal Annie, Mumble Mike, Email Emmy.
Exaggerate their flaws. If your boss is a micromanaging fraud, exaggerate their obsession with minor details (like fonts) and management by email.
Put them in relatable settings and show how their quirks manifest themselves in meetings, zooms, family gatherings & office parties. For example, an office manager who treats every zoom like a high stakes’ negotiation.
Give them silly goals. Extrapolate their behavior and exaggerate their motivations and goals. That assistant to the office president? They act like their overuse of post-its is a “system” and it’s going to get them on the front page of Forbes. That neighbor who complains about your trees? They secretly want to ruin your life. Exaggerate these unspoken goals and use them in your stories.
Humanize them by talking about their dream vacations, family members and pets. Maybe Marge in Accounting loves Dancing with the Stars and has a cat she shares her Disney cruise itinerary with.
Give them a catchphrase. You probably know what it is. It’s something pinned to their cubicle or a recurring line from their emails.
Antagonists and How They Can Transform You
The best comedic antagonists are the ones who are mirror versions of ourselves. I used to work with a guy who was ambitious and aggressive, and it took me years to figure out I hated working with him because I also was ambitious and aggressive. People who are showy and “look at me” types annoy me because I am in denial that I also am a showy and “look at me” type. Working with someone who can’t make decisions drives me crazy, but I have problems making decisions, too!
Antagonists teach us about ourselves, and these kinds of realizations are opportunities for great AHA moments and uncover great lessons for your speeches.
Now, what? Who is annoying you in your story?
Here’s a simple exercise for uncovering the details of antagonists that you can apply to your own antagonists in your life and create new stories.
Simply answer these questions:
Who are you?
Who is your worst nightmare? (Here’s a clue: You already know who they are, and they might be related to you, or they might be someone you work with.)
What do they do that drives you crazy?
What’s a situation that brings out the worst in both of you? (Especially you?)
What made that even worse? (How can you raise the stakes?)
Example:
Let’s say I am a highly competitive real estate agent.
I lose a sale to another highly competitive real estate agent.
Now we BOTH at a poker game and I want to prove I am the better negotiator, so I go all in on my hand.
But I’m bluffing.
And we’re brothers.
Here’s why this is the germ of a great story: We both share the same flaw: Over-Competitiveness. I have something to prove. I put myself at risk by bluffing on a hand. And if I lose, it’s going to be even worse because I spend weekends and holidays with this person.
Everyone will want to know what happens.
So, take this exercise, find your antagonist, and uncover that story. It most likely will be real, relatable, and funny.