Ever wondered how to write a stand-up joke? You’re in luck ‘cause Jerry Seinfeld can help you out!
To write a joke you’ve got to start simple; just think of something funny—anything. After all, jokes need inspiration just like songs do according to Jerry. The comparison is even more daunting when you realize that Jerry times his jokes and counts his syllables!
Jerry’s best jokes
There are so many out there, you can find some at SComedy. Here’s a pretty good one that happens to be one of our favorites:
“Wait up!” That’s what kids say. They don’t say “wait”, they say “Wait up! Hey, wait up!” ‘Cause when you’re little, your life is up. The future is up. Everything you want is up. “Wait up! Hold up! Shut up! Mom, I’ll clean up! Let me stay up!” Parents of course are just the opposite. Everything is down. “Just calm down. Slow down. Come down here. Sit down. Put that down.” – Jerry Seinfeld
The basics of how to write a joke
Back to the basics, understanding the anatomy of the joke is crucial. Jokes must start funny and must end funnier! Telling stories and being oddly descriptive are good ways to make content funnier. Jerry calls transitions “connective tissue” in stand-up routines, meaning that one joke should segue nicely into the next. Lastly, the more wrong something feels in comedy, the more right it probably is.
Keep yourself laughing, at least
With these pointers from Jerry in mind, it should be a tad easier to prepare for your next comedy routine. At the very least, you can laugh a little as you learn how to write a joke!
Questions about jokes to discuss on Ohlelo:
- Should jokes start funnier or end funnier? Why?
- What are some tactics for making stand-up routines more funny?
- What’s the most difficult part about writing jokes?
- Who are your favorite comedians?
Check out more great comedy for some more laughs on our Humor homepage!!
