Comedy Writing Tips: How to Make Crowds Laugh Without Crying Yourself to Sleep

Writing standup comedy is like assembling IKEA furniture�confusing, frustrating, and if you do it wrong, someone ends up crying. Here�s how to avoid that fate: 1) **Steal from Life**�your weird uncle�s conspiracy theories are free material. 2) **Punch Up, Not Down**�mock power, not pain (unless it�s your own, then go nuts). 3) **The Rule of Threes**�two normal things, then a left turn: *"Dating apps are like casinos: shiny, addictive, and statistically you�ll lose a finger."* 4) **Write Drunk, Edit Sober**�metaphorically (unless you�re Charles Bukowski, then carry on). 5) **Bomb Gracefully**�if a joke tanks, stare at the crowd and say, *"Wow, you guys are terrible at this."* Crowds love self-awareness (or pity). Pro tip: If you�re stuck, add *"�said no one ever"* to anything�*"I love when comedians read their jokes off paper� said no one ever."* Now go make �em laugh (or at least confuse them enough to clap). SOURCE: http://comedywriter.info