"1st paperback printing."

Includes index

Part 1 The basics of humor writing -- Chapter 1 Imagination is funny: taking the first step - Chapter 2 Why we laugh: Theories of comedy - Chapter 3 The anatomy of humor: The threes formula - Chapter 4 POW is a play on words - Chapter 5 Brainstorming POW Associations - Chapter 6 The next giant step: Reverses - Chapter 7 Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered: Triples - Chapter 8 The harmony of paired elements: Synonms, Homonyms, and Anotonms - Chapter 9 Funny words: the spark plugs of humor - Chapter 10 to tell the truth: Exaggerated and Understand Realism - Chapter 11 Suprise 'em or shock'em: Nihilistic humor and language - Chapter 12 Stay in character: Speak softly but carry a big schtick - Part 2 The Markets -- Chapter 13 Testing - one, two, three - writing humor for speeches - Chapter 14 Stand-up or sit down: Humor for live entertainers - Chapter 15 Saw the picture, loved the gag: Humor for cartoons and comics - Chapter 16 Proses are read: Humor for greeting cards, T-shirts, and bumper stickers - Chapter 17 - Print humor: columns, Articles, and fillers - Chapter 18 The scarce comedy-ty: Writing for sitcoms - Chapter 19 this is a wrap: Most commonly asked questions about humor construction