Timing
The Pause Before the Punchline
The pause before the punchline can reset expectation and sharpen a comic turn; learn how breath, movement and audience…
The full collection
All pieces
Explore writing on comic timing, character, performance, formats and the audience's role in a laugh.
Formats
Sketch or Monologue: Two Different Shapes for a Comic Idea
Sketch or monologue? See how the same comic premise changes shape through ensemble action or direct address, and…
Characters
The Fool Who Became the Centre of the Story
See how comic characters moved from disrupting other people’s plots to carrying stories of their own, and how that…
Audience
The Myth of the Perfectly Clear Joke
The perfectly clear joke leaves no room for discovery. Learn to clarify the setup, protect the audience’s inference…
Performance
A First Open-Mic Night, Watched from the Back of the Room
A first open-mic night is easier to read from the back of the room: notice how the crowd’s energy shifts, and learn…