Is Joke-Writing Different from Writing Humor?
Puh-leeze! Is the Pope Catholic? Is rain wet? Is Obama running for re-election? While there may be some “spill over,” writing jokes and writing humor are two different genres. Two different endeavors. A joke writer is after the one-liner. The “ta-da!” moment followed by a canned laugh track. Writing humor is more of an art form. It’s a sustained chord, subtly released, as opposed to a tympanic crash. Humor is to writing what a seven-course meal is to cooking. Jokes are a quick trip to the drive-thru. Comprende? 2. Write what you know. Doesn’t this sound like an echo from your long-lost junior high English teacher? That’s because she (or he) was right. Don’t try to impress people with how funny you can make a topic or event that you haven’t experienced or seen first-hand. Start with familiar territory. Stamp it with your own particular brand of kooky. (You can take that any way you like.) Branch out once you get the hang of it. If you get really, really good at charting hilarity in terr
