DURATION/TIME 8 weeks September 14 - November 2 Online chats: Tuesdays, 9-10 pm EST LEVEL Intermediate/advanced ONLINE CLASS INFO See our eClasses info page.  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 can expect to 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, students can expect to 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.

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.

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

I have been writing a humor column but was getting no objective feedback on my work. I desperately needed someone to bounce my ideas off of and Brett's Humor Writing Boot Camp provided just that. He not only knows his stuff, but he is also articulate enough to explain why something works (or doesn't) and how it could be made better. He also obviously puts a great deal of time and thought into critiquing his students' work. I frankly questioned the value of an online class but this one 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. He also gave me the framework for different types of humor, so I can 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 Leveridge'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, freelance writer

"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. As a class member, I also got to interact with well-known humorists who are currently making news, and was able to learn from them how they work every day." -- Lane Keough, freelance writer

"Brett's course, like much good humor writing, 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. Each week is packed with content and technique. For experienced humorists and rookies alike, there are no wasted moments in these eight sessions." -- Madge McKeithen, freelance writer

"I enjoyed Brett Leveridge's class immensely. Brett opened up new avenues of humor writing that I hadn't previously explored, such as riffing on the news and writing humorous lists and letters. He also helped me develop writing habits to exercise my 'humor muscles,' as well as become comfortable performing my work. And the guest speakers were fantastic -- where else can you get access to mine the brains of writers like David Rakoff, Lynn Harris, and Henry Alford? A tremendous experience. I genuinely looked forward to the class -- and the assignments -- every week." -- Nicole Christie, freelance writer

"I have a new found respect for humorists. I've learned from taking the course just how hard it is to be funny on demand. I thought it would be so easy, no need to interview anyone or do a great deal of research - but in fact, it was harder just trying to pull stuff out of my head! I can see now that I will probably just tuck my tail between my legs and go back to being a plain old journalist again - relying heavily on the good old fashioned interview for my material. Brett, my hat's off to you." -- Angela Mangano