{"product_id":"joke-farming-how-to-write-comedy-and-other-nonsense-paperback","title":"Joke Farming: How to Write Comedy and Other Nonsense - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eElliott Kalan\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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 \u003ci\u003ehow \u003c\/i\u003ewe 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In \u003ci\u003eJoke Farming\u003c\/i\u003e, 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 \u003ci\u003eThe Daily Show with Jon Stewart\u003c\/i\u003e--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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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. \u003ci\u003eJoke Farming\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eElliott Kalan\u003c\/b\u003e is an Emmy, Peabody, and Writers Guild Award-winning television writer and producer whose credits include head writer for \u003ci\u003eThe Daily Show with Jon Stewart\u003c\/i\u003e and head writer for the reboot of \u003ci\u003eMystery Science Theater 3000\u003c\/i\u003e, among other shows. He is currently executive producer and head writer for the forthcoming \u003ci\u003eGhostbusters \u003c\/i\u003eanimated series on Netflix. He also hosts or cohosts the podcasts \u003ci\u003eSmartLess Presents: ClueLess\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Flop House\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Power Broker\u003c\/i\u003e, a limited series from \u003ci\u003e99% Invisible\u003c\/i\u003e. Additional writing credits include the history podcast \u003ci\u003ePresidents Are People, Too!\u003c\/i\u003e, the children's sketch comedy show \u003ci\u003eThe Who Was? Show\u003c\/i\u003e, three children's picture books, and comic book series for Marvel and DC Comics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 304\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.8 x 8.47 x 5.64 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 12, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52899583656243,"sku":"9780226829920","price":26.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/ncO7m4rVJf9780226829920.webp?v=1766822141","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/products\/joke-farming-how-to-write-comedy-and-other-nonsense-paperback","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}