Humor Writing | Creative Writing Classes in NYC and Online with Professional Writing Instructors

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"The most fun I've ever had in a writing class, and I've taken many."

- Lorrie Gault
administrative assistant

"A structured approach to breaking down humor writing to its basics so you know how to build it yourself."

- Brad McMillen
Internet ad agency owner

"A fantabulous way to spend an evening -- some of the best live comedy in town -- and a most entertaining way to learn"

- Martina Clark
Humanitarian Worker

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If you chuckle at the essays of Erma Bombeck and the life stories of David Sedaris, if you chortle at the exploits of such fictional characters as Tom Jones and Bridget Jones—you know the pleasure of literary laughter. Humor writing requires all the hallmarks of good writing plus that X factor: being funny.

These courses cover the spectrum of prose humor writing, exploring fiction and such nonfiction forms as memoir, essay, opinion pieces, and parody. You will learn basic principles of humor, how to view the world with a humorist’s eye, and how to maximize the comedic potential in such craft elements as character, structure, dialogue, and voice. You will also learn how and where to market your work.

Whether you seek to write wit, comedy, satire, or farce, we’ll show you how to turn sentences into smiles.

Also offered:
> TV Writing (includes Sitcom Writing)
> Stand-up Comedy Writing

Select a class: 10-week, One-Day
See also: How To Choose A Level and Letters from Gotham Students

Level I
Humor Writing | 10-week Workshop

Using a balance of lecture, exercise, and feedback on work from the instructor and classmates, this course gives students a firm grounding in all the basics of humor writing. Everything is presented in a clear, accessible manner.

Write one/two short humor pieces or begin a book
Lectures on basics of humor writing craft
Writing exercises
Present work for critique (two times)

Humor I is for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals.

View a course syllabus.

(3.0 CEU)

New York City Classes

Tuition: $420, Returning Students $390. Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 14 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	Meeting Day	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Jul 8	Mondays	1450 Broadway	7:00PM - 10:00PM	No Class: Sep 2

Online Classes

Tuition: $399, Returning Students $369. Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 16 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	New Lecture	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
May 14*	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Jul 9	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Aug 6	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class

* You can still enroll in this class!

Humor Writing | One-Day in NYC

The One-Day Intensives are fun, fast-paced immersions in a type of writing. You’ll get a mixture of brief lectures that hit the high-points and writing exercises that let you immediately try your hand at what you’ve just learned. The one-days provide an excellent overview of their fields, ideal for both the beginner and someone wanting a quick refresher course. Come in to class with a notepad, pen, and desire to learn. By the end of the day, you’ll be a more knowledgeable and skilled writer.

One-Days are for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals.

One-Day Intensives are offered in NYC on Fridays and weekends throughout the year.

Gotham also offers two and four-week seminars, including: How to Get Published, Hit Send: Publishing Short Nonficiton, How to Blog, Nonfiction Book Proposal, and How to Sell Your Screenplay.

Topics include: overview of humor writing, humor techniques, character, structure, voice, getting published.

New York City Classes

Tuition: $125. Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 30 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	Meeting Day	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Jun 28	Friday	555 8th Ave.	10:00AM - 5:00PM
Aug 11	Sunday	Hunter College W.	11:00AM - 6:00PM