The modern college course in humor writing began at Ohio University — where jokes weren’t just analyzed, they were tested in front of a live audience.
Years later, I taught that course at Ohio University–Zanesville, continuing a tradition that treats humor as something you practice, not just study.
Over time, my audience has included students, writers, professionals — and, occasionally, a university mascot. The photo above was taken on campus while my son was an OU student. It later appeared in Ohio University Alumni Magazine under the headline “Learning Can Be Fun.”
I’m the author of Comedy Writing Secrets, now in its third edition. I focus on what makes humor work — and how to use it on purpose, in classrooms, on the page, and in everyday communication.
I’m also a psychology professor who blends humor, stress management, and even death education — because life is hard.
I write for real audiences. I speak at conferences (including the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop) to help others use humor intentionally — not accidentally.
Comedy changes. The mechanics don’t.
