I am a psychologist, not a professional comedy writer (After all, what fun this is the first sentence?). But when, some 20 years ago, took me up to an hour each day (and I mean 365 days) just to write jokes, jokes, and some words of cartoonists, comedians, and speakers, I thought was smart enough to make it a lifelong habit.
It was fun, I learned a lot, and even sold a couple of jokes. However, my year-end ability to maintain disappeared starting out and burned.
The experience taught me 3 things: First, I'm not meant to be a full time comedy writer. Second, I developed a strong appreciation of professional comedy writers can do it day after day, year after year. And thirdly, I learned how to assemble a single line. I have used this knowledge from that in speeches, meetings, other writing projects, and social conversation.
I have come to the conclusion that it is not rocket science. If I can do, you can do (provided you have a good sense of humor, a facility for wordplay, and nothing better to do).
Before giving you my magic formula, I should mention that the formulas do not work. A great one-liner, like any work of art has its inspiration own, follows its own unique rules, and we are surprised at his own wonderful way. In addition, the jokes that I will use as examples are original (not very funny, but undoubtedly original). That's because you want to be sued, especially by some comedian who claims I was stealing his jokes.
So here are 5 rules for the creation of a single line:
RULE 1: Select 2 issues-1) content of the joke, and 2) the surprise topic. For example, say you have been putting in a lot of overtime at the office. Now, for the simple fact of making this a good mental exercise, let's also say that it combines this with the fact you have a dog. Here is a possibility of combining them: "I've been putting in overtime, so I came home to an empty house last night. I found a note. He said: "I can not resist. I've been through a long walk in the park to think about our relationship. "It was my dog."
Ok, so it's not so funny. This brings us to …
RULE 2: Look for opposites, especially ridiculous and impossible opposites. Many, many jokes rely very opposite meaning. A few years ago at a meeting of Rotary in the ending year of my presidency, I wanted to say a few things before giving return the club to my successor. I started by saying, "Before I formally hand over the reins of impotence …" It was a nice laugh.
RULE 3: Create the joke in a particular direction, so that the listener is locked in a guess, and then spring the joke. For example, they talk as if it is something important, and end with something trivial: "I would like to introduce my partner, my mentor, my best friend and a man whom I owe him five dollars …"
RULE 4: Put the word or phrase, which changes the meaning, in the end of the line. You will notice that the last words in the last three jokes are of the joke (dog, impotence, five dollars). Imagine a cocktail. Everyone has a drink in their hands, except for one guy. His wife turns to him and says, "You know, George, you really should have something to drink – otherwise people will think you're an alcoholic." This is much funnier than " I do not want people think you're an alcoholic, right? It is best to drink. "This second line is not as funny because the second issue (alcoholism) is introduced before the end. It blunts the surprise and shock so funny at the end.
RULE 5: Get rid of every unnecessary word and idea. Nothing ruins over a single line rather than a single word. My wife, Christine, is a paramedic in the Chicago Fire Department (She was my hero long before 11 September). She works a 24-hour shift. Over the years I have developed a common response to people asking me if I'm worried about my wife is in the station fire throughout the night with all men: "Hey, you're right. I better call and warn those guys." Is there an unnecessary word in this reply? I think not.
So there it is. Follow these rules, and you can create a single line. Will be at the height of a Henny Youngman, a Jay Leno, an Ellen DeGeneres, one of Bob Hope, a Richard Pryor, or George Carlin? Probably not, but it's fun, creative, a good mental exercise, and – who knows? – You can find out who has a talent.
Oh, and a word of caution. If, while you follow these rules you think of something truly funny, forget the rules. Go so funny.

About the Author:

Sander Marcus, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Professional Resume Writer in Chicago. He has over 3 decades of experience in providing career counseling, aptitude testing, job search coaching, and resume writing to tens of thousands of individuals. He is the co-author of 2 books on academic underachievement, various tests, and numerous articles. Contact him at marcus@iit.edu, 312-567-3358. www.center.iit.edu

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – 5 Rules for How to Write a Classic One-liner Joke

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