Writing Secrets – Comedy Writing Secrets

Writing Secrets

Writers Who “Don’t Do Jokes”

At almost every humor writing workshop I teach, someone eventually says: “I’m a writer. I don’t do jokes.” What they mean is that they write…

Mark ShatzSeptember 28, 2026

Writing Secrets

Why Pain Is Funny (Sometimes)

One of the first confusing things newbie humor writers discover is that people often laugh at situations that, objectively speaking, suck. Someone slips on ice.…

Mark ShatzSeptember 26, 2026

Writing Secrets

Joke Fluffer

I love being a college professor. But I hate reading student papers. Hate it. Like too many men, college students believe that size matters. Students…

Mark ShatzSeptember 22, 2026

Writing Secrets

Stop Micromanaging Your Funny

Many writers believe they have an idea problem when they really have a micromanagement problem. When writers sit down to brainstorm, their minds should be…

Mark ShatzSeptember 21, 2026