Joke Farming

Elliott Kalan

The 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. Philosophers may debate the meaning of comedy (thankfully keeping them too busy to...

Premium Chapters

Premium

Opening Credits

1/11/2026

Introduction

1/11/2026

Part 1: Down on the Joke Farm

1/11/2026

Chapter 1: My Process

1/11/2026

Part 2: Elements, Mechanisms, and Other Obviously Hilarious Things

1/11/2026

Chapter 2: Structure

1/11/2026

Chapter 3: Premise

1/11/2026

Chapter 4: Voice

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Chapter 5: Tone

1/11/2026

Chapter 6: Wording

1/11/2026

Chapter 7: Audience

1/11/2026

Part 3: Several, but Not by Any Means All, Uses of Comedy

1/11/2026

Chapter 8: Stand-Up

1/11/2026

Chapter 9: Narrative Comedy

1/11/2026

Chapter 10: Children’s Comedy

1/11/2026

Chapter 11: Satire

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Chapter 12: Prose

1/11/2026

Chapter 13: Visual Humor

1/11/2026

Chapter 14: Podcasting

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Conclusion

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Acknowledgements

1/11/2026

Closing Credits

1/11/2026