Maybe you've never written a joke before. I'm sure you've said some funny things. Made up on the spot an off-the-cuff comment that caused laughter among your comrades. So technically, you've created jokes before. But maybe you haven't sat down to write any. Well, now's your chance, with one of the easiest jokes to write:
The Twisted Cliché!
A commonly-used expression altered for comic effect.
Also, the Extended Proverb: A short, well-known saying, followed by a clever twist. The proverb serves as the Setup; and the clever twist serves as the Punchline.
Unless you joke about a cliché, twist a cliché, or use a cliché as a Punchline, avoid clichés. Ix-nay on clichés. Clichés are cliché and passé. Clichés rob your writing of vibrancy and originality.
Otherwise, the Twisted Cliché could be the easiest joke to write. Sometimes you change one word; the rest is already written.
Steven Wright: “A fool and his money are soon partying.”
Clichés work well, because most people already know them, so you don’t have to waste time setting them up. So take a cliché; and twist it!
You can alter any part of the cliché, but try to put the twist as close to the end as you can. That way you don’t talk over audience laughter; and the preceding part of the cliché works as the Setup, further entrenching the pattern in their mind, so the unexpected twist jolts them into laughter.
Unless you make a horrific pun. In which case they may groan. And they may turn violent. Which is why, when you first start out, you might want to perform in running shoes. Before you get on stage, be sure you know where the exits are. Might also help to pocket a can of mace.
Use whatever Types of Jokes & Humor Techniques you like to generate comedy, whatever pops into your head, whatever works best. Write more than one twist, so you’ll have more from which to choose.
Caveat: Don’t overuse Twisted Clichés, ‘cause the audience will start to predict the Punchlines; and that could be conceived as cliché.
Thomas F. Wilson as Biff Tannen in the 1985 film “Back to the Future”: “So, why don’t you make like a tree and get outta here?”
Also, you can state the entire cliché; and then say a Punchline.
Homer Simpson: “If I could say a few words, I would be a better public speaker.”
(Can you say Paraprosdokian?)
Add twisted clichés to your jokes or use original clichés (that’s an oxymoron) as part of jokes.
Mitch Hedberg: “Ya’ know, you can’t please all the people all the time. And last night, all those people were at my show.”
Question the cliché.
Steven Wright: “Is ‘tired old cliché’ one?”
Or point out the error(s) inherent in a cliché.
Bill Cosby: “A word to the wise ain’t necessary. It’s the stupid ones who need the advice.”
Besides cliché expressions, twist clichés about the topics you discuss and any other cliché thoughts that come to mind.
Woody Allen: “Years ago, my mother gave me a bullet. A bullet; and I put it in my breast pocket. Two years after that, I was walking down the street, when a berserk evangelist heaved a Gideon’s Bible out a hotel room window, hitting me in the chest. The Bible would have gone through my heart if it wasn’t for the bullet.” -- Woody twists the cliché of the Bible stopping the bullet.
* Some writing gurus tell us to avoid clichés like the plague; as if people could avoid plagues. I’m sure everyone who's ever suffered from a plague would have avoided doing so, if he could. Especially the firstborn in Egypt.
* I didn’t mean to say that. I had an out-of-mouth experience.
Felicitations & Elation,
Dean Burkey
This post was adapted and excerpted from my "forthcoming" book “How to Write All Kinds of Comedy Jokes!”
The Twisted Cliché!
A commonly-used expression altered for comic effect.
Also, the Extended Proverb: A short, well-known saying, followed by a clever twist. The proverb serves as the Setup; and the clever twist serves as the Punchline.
Unless you joke about a cliché, twist a cliché, or use a cliché as a Punchline, avoid clichés. Ix-nay on clichés. Clichés are cliché and passé. Clichés rob your writing of vibrancy and originality.
Otherwise, the Twisted Cliché could be the easiest joke to write. Sometimes you change one word; the rest is already written.
Steven Wright: “A fool and his money are soon partying.”
Clichés work well, because most people already know them, so you don’t have to waste time setting them up. So take a cliché; and twist it!
You can alter any part of the cliché, but try to put the twist as close to the end as you can. That way you don’t talk over audience laughter; and the preceding part of the cliché works as the Setup, further entrenching the pattern in their mind, so the unexpected twist jolts them into laughter.
Unless you make a horrific pun. In which case they may groan. And they may turn violent. Which is why, when you first start out, you might want to perform in running shoes. Before you get on stage, be sure you know where the exits are. Might also help to pocket a can of mace.
Use whatever Types of Jokes & Humor Techniques you like to generate comedy, whatever pops into your head, whatever works best. Write more than one twist, so you’ll have more from which to choose.
Caveat: Don’t overuse Twisted Clichés, ‘cause the audience will start to predict the Punchlines; and that could be conceived as cliché.
Thomas F. Wilson as Biff Tannen in the 1985 film “Back to the Future”: “So, why don’t you make like a tree and get outta here?”
Also, you can state the entire cliché; and then say a Punchline.
Homer Simpson: “If I could say a few words, I would be a better public speaker.”
(Can you say Paraprosdokian?)
Add twisted clichés to your jokes or use original clichés (that’s an oxymoron) as part of jokes.
Mitch Hedberg: “Ya’ know, you can’t please all the people all the time. And last night, all those people were at my show.”
Question the cliché.
Steven Wright: “Is ‘tired old cliché’ one?”
Or point out the error(s) inherent in a cliché.
Bill Cosby: “A word to the wise ain’t necessary. It’s the stupid ones who need the advice.”
Besides cliché expressions, twist clichés about the topics you discuss and any other cliché thoughts that come to mind.
Woody Allen: “Years ago, my mother gave me a bullet. A bullet; and I put it in my breast pocket. Two years after that, I was walking down the street, when a berserk evangelist heaved a Gideon’s Bible out a hotel room window, hitting me in the chest. The Bible would have gone through my heart if it wasn’t for the bullet.” -- Woody twists the cliché of the Bible stopping the bullet.
* Some writing gurus tell us to avoid clichés like the plague; as if people could avoid plagues. I’m sure everyone who's ever suffered from a plague would have avoided doing so, if he could. Especially the firstborn in Egypt.
* I didn’t mean to say that. I had an out-of-mouth experience.
Felicitations & Elation,
Dean Burkey
This post was adapted and excerpted from my "forthcoming" book “How to Write All Kinds of Comedy Jokes!”
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