WHEN 8 weeks, November 26 - January 21 Chats: Wednesdays, 9-10 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for information. LEVEL Intermediate/advanced PRICE $499 ($475 for ) more info

Course Details

Ever read a satire on the Times op-ed page and ask yourself, "Why didn't I think of that?" Ever listen to a humorous commentator on All Things Considered or a funny segment on This American Life and think, "Hey, my insights and life experiences are every bit as funny as this!" Do you want to be David Sedaris, Fran Leibowitz, Calvin Trillin, or Cynthia Heimel when you grow up? Have the feeling that your life is funny, and not just to you? This course may be for you. Being funny, especially published funny, is not all in the delivery. It's mostly in the writing and the timing.

So if you're a writer with a nose for news and an ear for the funny, you're on your way to writing, publishing, and perhaps even performing humorous non-fiction. Part discussion, part workshop, part guest lecture, this course will take you from the philosophical (what is the essence of humor?) to the practical (what are the mechanics of joke structure?) to the procedural (how in the world do I pitch NPR?).

You'll see why good humor writing is like other good writing, only funny. You'll learn to turn facts into riffs, the personal into the universal, the tragic -- sensitively -- into the comic, the finished into the published. Skilled guest humorists and representatives of funny publications and productions may even appear at some of the chat sessions to show you how it's done (and sold).

In this class, you will learn:

• The types of non-fiction humor -- personal essay, topical satire, commentary, fictionalized memoir -- along with their overlaps and sub-genres
• How to sharpen your sense of humor and your ability to make people both laugh and think with in-class writing exercises
• Which magazines are in the market for humorous work, topical and otherwise, and which publications, radio shows, and other outlets are best suited to your work
• How to acquire the knack of seeing the world through a comic lens

By the end of class, you will have:
Completed versions of at least one personal essay and satire plus ideas for (or drafts of) many more, and a sharper eye for ideas, a keener ear for comedy, and a feel for how to turn your funny into business.

Students who have taken this class have published:
New York Curiosities (Globe Pequot), The Twins of Tribeca (Miramax), and articles in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Village Voice, McSweeney's, the Anchorage Daily News, and more.

Admission requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history), and a writing sample (less than 2,000 words).

• Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
• Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
• Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend.
• Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.

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Instructor Bio

Brett Leveridge's Courses

Brett Leveridge's book, Men My Mother Dated And Other Mostly True Tales, was a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. Brett is an occasional contributor to PRI's This American Life and has offered commentaries on NPR's All Things Considered. His work has appeared in Salon, Entertainment Weekly, Oklahoma Today, and Might magazine. His essay, "See You in September," was included in the humor anthology 101 Damnations: The Humorists' Tour of Personal Hells (Thomas Dunne Books, Michael Rosen, ed.).

Testimonials

Brett not only knows his stuff, but he also explains why something works and how it could be made better. He puts a great deal of time and thought into critiquing his students' work. This class was worth every penny. -- Jeff Carmack, humor columnist, jeffcarmack.com

"Brett's class taught me a new work ethic. I learned that I can write a half-decent first draft in a week -- a feat that I'd generally spend months on in the past. I was able to expand my range and better tailor my pitches for publication. The class made me a better writer, and a more effective pitcher." -- Brian Eden

"Brett's class helped me figure out what is funny in this sad, terrible world. It also showed me how to profit from all that is irritable, annoying, stupid, and just plain wrong. Now, whenever I'm miserable, I am happy. Thanks to Brett's class, I will always have the last laugh." -- Karen Dowicz Haas

"The class taught me the intricacies of humor writing, including the styles used in every medium, from radio to the Internet. Through this class I was better able to hone my funny and get a grasp on my voice as a writer. I was able to learn from well known humorists and see how they work every day." -- Lane Keough

"Brett's course is substantive and delightful. His broad knowledge of the subject, his inclusion of exemplary material and engaging speakers, and his skill in guiding others' work make for an energizing experience. There are no wasted moments." -- Madge McKeithen

"Brett opened up new avenues of humor writing that I hadn't previously explored. He helped me develop writing habits to exercise my humor muscles, as well as become comfortable performing my work. A tremendous experience." -- Nicole Christie

"I have a new found respect for humorists. I've learned from taking Brett's course just how hard it is to be funny on demand." -- Angela Mangano

"This class is great opportunity for beginning humor writers to learn from someone who knows funny and how to help make your stuff funnier." -- Craig Kenworthy

"Brett was a very strong teacher because he was able to provide incredibly useful feedback on the assignments that helped me a lot." -- William Mabe