Joke Farming: How to Write Comedy and Other Nonsense
Joke Farming: How to Write Comedy and Other Nonsense
Joke Farming: How to Write Comedy and Other Nonsense
Description
Description
The winner of four Emmys, a Peabody, and two Writers Guild Awards (all of which badly need dusting) explains his process for writing comedy without going insane. Philosophers may debate the meaning of comedy (thankfully keeping them too busy to fall into a life of crime), but the rest of us are more likely to wonder how we can make an audience laugh--or at least, how to entertain our friends and followers. According to award-winning comedy writer Elliott Kalan, we need to stop staring out the window, waiting for hilarious bits to stroll into view, fully formed. What we need is a process to plant their premises, tend to their structure and wording, and ultimately harvest them as funny material. In short, a farm. But for jokes. In Joke Farming, Kalan explains that it's easier to write jokes when you have a dependable method for doing so. All jokes, he argues, are built from the same elements: structure, premise, voice, tone, wording, and audience--and these elements can be applied to any comedic genre, from stand-up to sitcoms to satire. Kalan analyzes examples from his own career--including jokes that he wrote (and rewrote and rewrote and rewrote . . . ) as head writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart--as well as material from a diverse array of comedians, writers, and filmmakers, highlighting the phrasing, rhythm, and precise details that make their work so dang funny. Drawing on his experiences in professional writers' rooms as well as episodes from everyday life, Kalan's guide to jokes will appeal to aspiring writers, their mentors, comedy fans, and anyone who has to speak at a wedding. Joke Farming points the way toward a writing process that lessens stress and agony and yields more reliable rewards: a surprising tagline, a hilarious word choice, and--most importantly--a bigger laugh from the audience, whoever they may be.
About the Author
About the Author
Elliott Kalan is an Emmy, Peabody, and Writers Guild Award-winning television writer and producer whose credits include head writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and head writer for the reboot of Mystery Science Theater 3000, among other shows. He is currently executive producer and head writer for the forthcoming Ghostbusters animated series on Netflix. He also hosts or cohosts the podcasts SmartLess Presents: ClueLess, The Flop House, and The Power Broker, a limited series from 99% Invisible. Additional writing credits include the history podcast Presidents Are People, Too!, the children's sketch comedy show The Who Was? Show, three children's picture books, and comic book series for Marvel and DC Comics.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"With this book, Kalan generously shares the secrets to his craft. . . . This is perfect for those who have an upcoming speech, those looking to convey an important message while still entertaining the audience, and of course, anyone looking to pursue comedy professionally. He shares the repeatable steps that can be followed to take an idea to a fully formed gut buster. This book comes at a perfect time; while so many people are beckoned by generative computers for thoughts and comebacks, Kalan is making sure that there will be a future of genuine human comedy and a world of laughter to boot." -- "Booklist"
"A guide to timing, vocabulary, humor, and how to be funnier that's not only great for would-be comedians and fans of stand-up but anyone giving a wedding speech."
-- "The Globe and Mail" "Kalan has always been hilarious, and Joke Farming is a shining example of his talent and expertise--which surprised me, because I really thought he had been winging it. A seat of the pants type thing. Live and learn."--Jon Stewart "Kalan gives a tantalizing peek behind the sausage and shows how the curtain is made."--Kristen Schaal "Kalan is one of the sharpest comedic minds that I've had the pleasure of knowing and working with. For as talented as he is at making comedy, he's also someone who appreciates the craft of comedy and sharing it with others. His book Joke Farming serves as both an instructive guide for anyone looking to infuse humor into their work and a thoughtfully researched compendium of satire, highlighting generations of funny minds from the silent film era to stand up to the current social media comedy scene."--Wyatt Cenac"Someone mentioned this book to me the other day and I haven't been able to put it down . . . Joke Farming is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn how to write jokes or improve their writing and storytelling skills."
-- "Diya Eats Well""This book was stellar. It would be easy for a book about joke creation and construction to end up being dry and clinical but this book is anything but. Kalan's signature wit comes through on every page. I cannot recommend this enough."
-- "Disciples of Boltax"
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
University of Chicago Press
Pub date:
2025-11-12
Length:
304 pages
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