Joke writing software is a perfect example of how logic doesn’t always represent reality.

It seems logical that if you were to find the right joke writing software program, then you should be able to quickly produce stand-up comedy material that works well most of the time.

The reality is that joke writing software won’t ever work to any substantial degree for the same reason that showing you written examples of stand-up comedy “jokes” won’t usually help you write better jokes.

But first, let’s talk about joke writing software and what it does. From what I have seen over the years, joke writing software usually provides a list of premises or joke beginnings, along with a list of possible punchlines. Read the rest of this entry

For more information about Steve Roye, author of this blog and the Killer Stand-up Online Course, click here.

If you want to know why traditional stand-up comedy joke writing is such a difficult, hit-or-miss affair for most comedians — here is one question that you should ask yourself now:

Are you trying to “write” jokes the way all the stand-up comedy books, courses and workshops say that you should?

Here are some of the problems that you will encounter using the “standard” joke writing methods:

Depending on the stand-up comedy book, course or workshop you take, it is either expressed or strongly implied that how well a joke will work on stage is primarily dependent on the skill of the artist to “write” jokes that “read” funny from a piece of paper.

This automatically puts the comedian at a severe disadvantage because in their quest to “write” the funniest lines as they “read” from a piece of paper because… Read the rest of this entry

For more information about Steve Roye, author of this blog and the Killer Stand-up Online Course, click here.

Do I have issues with “joke writing” the way it is perceived by comedians and taught by so-called comedy experts? Absolutely.

One of the things I have been trying to tell people for years is that using “conventional” joke writing methods to develop stand-up comedy material that actually works to get big laughs on stage is a lot like trying to pick your teeth with a chain saw.

Unfortunately, it’s basically the law in stand-up comedy.

So, for all those who are convinced that “joke writing” is the only way to produce stand-up comedy material…
The Big Question

Take a moment to answer this question:

How does “writing” anything (including jokes) — a one dimensional communication medium which is primarily designed to be “read” supposed to generate big laughs for you in a three dimensional communication medium like stand-up comedy? Read the rest of this entry

For more information about Steve Roye, author of this blog and the Killer Stand-up Online Course, click here.