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woohooligan — Joke Writing Tutorial
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Published: 2012-01-02 06:11:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 5860; Favourites: 94; Downloads: 148
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Description
This is the first in a series of maybe 3-5 tutorials I'm working on... they won't be anything huge, just a few things I've learned about making comic strips in the last 5 years.
Hyperbole / exaggeration is missing from the list of ways that you can violate the audience expectations... d'oh! Although I suppose it's not an exhaustive list anyway. I thought I'd start with joke-writing, because I think a lot of people think they're "just not funny". I don't think that's true. I think anyone can learn to write good jokes.
You just have to know how and you have to put in the hours practicing. George Carlin didn't just walk up on the stage and get gales of laughter. He spent 40 hrs a week working at his computer, looking for new material, massaging it, fine-tuning it into exactly what he wanted. I hope this helps a few folks!
Let me know what you think!
Also feel free to share this tutorial. The only thing I ask is that you not sell or profit from it and that you share it as-is, no mods or derivative works. Thanks!
Oh and if you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy this other comedy-writing tutorial I found:
Related content
Comments: 24
is there jokes to avoid? like space jokes...what are jokes to avoid?
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I wouldn't say there's any hard and fast rule about that. I know that I've seen news of backlash for rape jokes, pedophile jokes or jokes that seem sexist or racist... I personally don't think there's any subject I would say is off-limits, but there are specific jokes I wouldn't tell. My own rule of thumb goes something like : a joke about racists is okay, but not a racist joke.
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So animal jokes are okay? in animal comic?
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Yeah, I can't see any reason why that would be a problem.
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Hey, was real helpful. Hope maybe you have a chance to look at mines if you ever get a chance. :3
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Glad you enjoyed it. 
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I would love to share some 8D and thanks so much, would it be alright to note youw itht he idea?
Sorry for the late reply, just got net back 8D
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No worries. Yeah, send the note.
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Some good examples of link-backs/callbacks:
youtu.be/1FDVsi6yldE (Mock the Week Too Hot for TV - The Leg Episode)
youtu.be/8NfLJWaa7Jc (Mock the Week Too Hot for TV - The Anal Lube Episode)
Bear in mind these episodes are fairly old.
Good demonstrations of jokes. British comedian Jimmy Carr once said that there are many theories about joke writing but they are basically all the same as what you wrote here.
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Because you're a member of your work is featured in this journal 
Please make sure you add it to your favourites to get even more exposure! 
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Good little food for thought you have there.
for me, I usually follow a three step process: Observation, deconstruction, and exaggeration.
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Thanks, Adam!
That's a good formula... although it strikes me that exaggeration is only one of a variety of different ways to break the audience's expectations... ... but then again, it's a method I didn't cover in my tutorial, d'oh!
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Catchy. Clever. Informative... I stamp this PASS!
Also, El Ohel at the Pope V. Cowboy. That should be a recurring theme. They should be friends in their own wacky adventure! ... This practically writes itself!! Heh. Fun times.
Armed with this new, well thought out knowledge, I will recall it any time I'm having issues with humor. Of course, my fall-back maneuver is Slapstick, maybe I should re-think this, lol
I think soon I should be ready to get a site up and running. Within the month, easily. That is my new goal. INSPIRATION!
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Man, this will do me wonders! I'm just an amateur with joke writing and this is very helpful! ^^
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Thanks, Jon! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
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As usual, you are incredibly helpful to those around you
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