A No-Nonsense but Hilarious Deep Dive into Writing Humor - Fall 2024

Is That Funny? Am I Laughing? A No-Nonsense but Hilarious Deep Dive into Writing Humor

Five two-hour in-person classes, one week apart, with each week's session built around a different kind of humor. Each session will involve a discussion of many humor writing techniques along with broader concepts of humor. There will be many handouts including examples of techniques and humor pieces relating to that week's category of humor.

There will also be writing assignments for each session. These assignments will then be critiqued by your instructors and participants so you can see what works, what doesn't, and why.

Week One: Stand-Up Humor
Writing stand-up comedy, TV sitcoms, satirical revues, amusing speeches, snappy retorts. Also, each participant begins their own writing project (see Week Five).

Week Two: Sit-Down Humor
Writing humorous short stories and novels, essays, reviews, poetry, love notes to your honey.

Week Three: Lean-In Humor
Writing humor from YOUR personal perspective as a person with a particular ethnic or religious background, a particular physical or mental condition, or a unique situation (i.e., disability, addiction, non-binary sexual or gender identity, pet peeve, spouse of a circus clown, heavy-duty quirks, or even overwhelming normality).

Week Four: Hive Mind
Discuss obstacles, defeat demons, share revelations, celebrate successes, and find new avenues into humor writing.

Week Five: Showtime!
Each participant is invited to share the humor writing project they've been working on since the first session, using the many techniques we've discussed over the past month. Participation is not required but deeply, desperately and weepingly desired by the instructors.

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‍‍Details: Is That Funny? Am I Laughing? A No-Nonsense but Hilarious Deep Dive into Writing Humor takes place Saturdays, September 28-October 26 from 11am-1pm in person at the Literary Cleveland offices, 13002 Larchmere Blvd, Cleveland OH 44120.

‍Prerequisite: None

‍Genre: Humor

‍Level: All levels

‍Format: Workshop

‍Location: This class takes place in-person at the Literary Cleveland offices, 13002 Larchmere Blvd in Cleveland.

‍Size: Limited to 12 participants (including scholarships).

‍Scholarships: Two scholarship spots are available for this class forwriters in Northeast Ohio. Apply by August 19.

‍Cancellations & Refunds: Cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the first class meeting to receive a full refund. Email info@litcleveland.org.