Tyler Paterson is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, holds an MFA in Fiction Writing from the University of New Hampshire, and is a graduate of Second City Chicago. His work has appeared in over 80 publications worldwide including The Saturday Evening Post, The Forge Literary Magazine, The Delhousie Review, Brilliant Flash Fiction, and Fresh Ink. A semi-finalist in the Aura Estra short story contest, his work has also received notable accolades from Lycan Valley, North 2 South Press, and Lumberloft. He spends most nights yelling for his cat to ‘Get down from there!’ Tyler has led writing classes for people of all ages from University students, to local communities, to remote learners. His goal is to build the confidence in writers, give them the tools to build the stories they yearn to tell, and support them along their journey. A number of past students have gone on to get their work published.
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Step Into the World of Comedy Writing: Unleash Your Comedic Potential
Are you ready to explore the art of making people laugh through words? Our online Comedy Writing Class offers the perfect opportunity for aspiring and developing writers to discover their unique comedic voice, refine their timing, and craft stories that entertain and delight.
Personalized Guidance from Devoted Tutors
Our accomplished instructors stand ready to offer tailored feedback on a weekly basis. By submitting your work for review, you’ll gain invaluable insights and guidance to enhance your writing.
Global Accessibility & Everlasting Access to Class Materials
Our classes are accessible to aspiring writers worldwide. Moreover, you’ll enjoy lifetime access to all class materials once the class concludes, affording you the opportunity to revisit lessons whenever a refresher is needed.
High Demand & Early Enrollment
Due to the significant demand for our Intermediate Creative Writing Class, we strongly advise early registration to secure your spot. Don’t miss this chance to refine your writing skills and unlock your storytelling potential.
An Overview of the Class
This six-week online class provides a dynamic and adaptable learning experience tailored to accommodate even the busiest of schedules. With no fixed class times, you can progress through weekly text-based modules at your own pace, dedicating 2-3 hours each week to cultivate your writing prowess.
Each week, you will delve into new subjects, exploring more intricate forms of creative writing. Through engaging exercises, you will enhance your fiction writing and broaden your storytelling toolkit.
What to Anticipate Week by Week:
Week 1: Headline Punchline
One of the best starting places for any aspiring or seasoned comedian is joke writing. But how do we find material? Start with the news. This is why Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live and shows like The Daily Show are so popular. Scroll through news websites and grab a handful of headlines, then craft punchlines based on those headlines. This week will challenge you to both get a better understanding of the world while sharpening your sense of humor.
Week 2: Puns and Word Play
Once seen as a sign of great intelligence, puns now carry a similar reaction to “dad jokes.”. Yet, we still love them! This week will dive into how to use language, awareness of the greater situations, and alternate situations to craft really fun passages, puns, and moments in your writing.
Week 3: Crafting a tight 5
Many people daydream about hitting the stage as a stand-up to relay their set to an adoring crowd. But how does it work? This week will dive into the techniques used to create a tight 5 – or a five minute set that contains a definite beginning, middle, end, while also branching off into tangents, punchlines, and jokes.
Week 4: The simple but impossible task
A great way to weave comedy into a larger story is to give your character a simple, but impossible task that forces them to improvise, make bad decisions, and then deal with the consequences of those decisions. Imagine a character wakes up and just wants to brew coffee. It can’t be that easy for them. What if they’re out of coffee? They decide to go to the store for more, but once outside, they realize they’ve been locked out! What if they then try to crawl back in through a window but a passing cop mistakes them for an intruder? Simple task (making coffee) feels impossible for our character. This is where a lot of whimsical fun can occur.
Week 5: A fish out of water
One of the most fun you can have as a writer is taking a character who is really good at something and putting them in a situation where that skill is taken away. Imagine a dentist arrives on a remote island where the inhabitants have no teeth, or a professional boxer who finds themself on a distant planet of pillow people? Or, imagine someone who is afraid of crowds finds themselves at a bustling airport. By exploring reactions of a character who is out of their depth, we will uncover the true source of comedy in your scene.
Week 6: The more logical, the lower the status
Grounded characters are necessary for most comedy. They call a sense of reality into the moment, which makes other characters look even wackier. BUT! It’s not that easy. Traditionally, the grounded, logical character has the lowest status in the scene and is therefore not taken seriously. Knowing they have the lowest status, the grounded character has to get creative to get their point across or comment on the shenanigans around them. This week will give you tools to set up scenes, craft characters, and allow them to lose in hilarious ways.
Come Join Us
Embark on a comedy writing journey that will spark your creativity and sharpen your sense of humour. Register now for our Comedy Writing Course and start turning your funny ideas into stories that make people laugh!