Allie Brosh: Stand-Up Comedy in Book Form

As far as blogs go, few have been funnier than Hyperbole and a Half, Allie Brosh’s autobiographical offering that manages to maintain its overall hilarity despite occasionally dealing with difficult topics like crippling depression. A mix of humorously written posts and intentionally crude drawings, Brosh has amassed legions of fans over the past decade, with her site often being called one of the funniest on the internet and her posts shared widely on social media. Brosh herself has even been called one of the most creative and influential people on the internet, this despite “living like a recluse in her Bend, Oregon, bedroom” as she puts it. In 2013 Brosh sat down with NPR’s Terry Gross for an interview on Fresh Air. Asked about her writing style, here’s what Brosh had to say:

“I would describe it as stand-up comedy in book form. I feel like my writing style is sort of the result of me subconsciously trying to replicate the feel of stand-up comedy. I was very frustrated when I first started writing that there wasn’t that physicality to it. It was more one-dimensional than stand-up comedy, in which you can rely on tone and facial expressions, body posture. And I wanted to find some way to commit that to the page. Drawing fixed all of those problems.”

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Reasons to Read A Confederacy of Dunces

John Kennedy Toole posthumous Pulitzer Prize winning novel may pack a punch when it comes to page count, but the book is well worth the investment. Here are just four of the many reasons to read A Confederacy of Dunces.

It paints a picture of New Orleans like few novels can. Toole’s near perfect portrayal of the city is one of the novel’s many highlights. From the streets of the French Quarter to characters that walk it, few authors have managed to capture the essence of the city quite like Toole.

It stays true to the dialect of its setting. New Orleans has a very distinct dialect that Toole manages to perfectly reproduce in his novel. It lends the story a certain amount of authenticity, one that can only come from an author who lives and breathes all things New Orleans.

The cast of characters. New Orleans is definitely an interesting place, and that’s due in no small part to its interesting inhabitants. Toole does a terrific job of present a wide array, and they’re definitely all kinds of interesting.

It nearly never made publication. Tootle took his own life before the novel ever saw publication, and it was only thanks to the efforts of Southern writer Walker Percy that the book made it to print years later. The odds alone are an excellent reason to read this great work.

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Tips For Writing Comedy

We all love to have a good laugh but coming up with the right jokes isn’t always an easy task. Here are four tips for writing comedy that just might help!

Work with a partner. You may be at your best when you’re alone, but more often than not brainstorming and bouncing ideas is the best way to get the creative juices flowing. Find a partner and start cranking out the comedy!

Test your material time and time again. Humor is subjective, and what’s funny to you may not necessarily be funny to others. Test your material, test it often, and test it on different audiences, only then will you know what works and what doesn’t.

Read everything you can get your hands on, humorous or otherwise. The more stuff you know, the more material you have to make fun of. Humor doesn’t necessarily have to be 100% accurate all the time, but the right head scratching fact may just be good for a laugh.

Write often, even when you don’t want to. Putting pen to paper when inspiration strikes is all well and good, but sometimes the key to quality is through quantity, revising what’s worth keeping and discarding the rest. Making a habit of writing, even when you don’t want to, is the best way to ensure that material keeps coming.

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How to be Funnier

It’s no crime, some of us just want to make people laugh! But not everyone is born with the natural charm and charisma of a stand up comic, and not everyone can pull out the perfect punchline on demand. For those looking to be just a little bit funnier, here are four tips on how to become a little funnier every day.

Take in stand up shows. A little inspiration never hurt anyone, and stand up shows are not just a great way to get in a few good laughs, they’re a fantastic place to take notes on how to be funny.

Read a lot of jokes. Delivery is essential, but you need the right material to deliver. The internet is packed to the brim with jokes of all kind, but for a more curated collection a better bet may be a well-reviewed book from the library.

Practice in front of the mirror. Fine tune your performance before taking it on the road by practicing your jokes in front of the mirror. From facial expressions to intonation, the slightest switch can have a big impact on the hilarity of your joke.

Don’t try too hard. If it’s forced it won’t feel right, take it slow and let things come naturally. Comedians take years to hone their craft, after all.

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Five Fun Facts About Charlie Chaplin

Well known and loved throughout the world to this very day, Charlie Chaplin is nothing short of a pioneer and an icon in the world of comedy. Here are five fun facts about the famous comedian.

A reasonable facsimile. As legend has it, at the very height of his fame and popularity Chaplin entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest in France, likely assuming he was a shoo-in. He wasn’t. In fact, Chaplin placed 20th in the contest.

A communist? Charlie Chaplin was once the subject of an investigation by MI5. The investigation began at the request of the FBI, who were in fact trying to ban Chaplin from entering the US under suspicions that he was a communist sympathiser. The investigation did not produce any damning evidence, however.

A notable first. Charlie Chaplin was the first actor to appear on the cover of Time Magazine. Prior to the July 6, 1925 publication the covers has primarily featured politicians, industrialists, and authors.

An unusual doorstop. Although his views would later change, early on in his career Charlie Chaplin didn’t think very fondly of the Academy Awards. In fact, his first Academy Award received in 1929 had a special use in his home, as a doorstop.

A prolific procreator. Chaplin left behind not only a considerable catalogue of work but a plethora of progeny as well. Over his 4 marriages Chaplin fathered 11 children, the youngest being born when Chaplin was 73 years old.

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How to make each other laugh in hard times

Life doesn’t always go to plan and unfortunate things can happen to all of us when we least expect it. However, even in the hardest of times, a laugh can solve anything. Laughter really is the best medicine, and if you’re struggling, here are some ways to make each other laugh.

Plan a comedy movie night – There are thousands of comedy movies available and if you’re in need of a pick me up, watch them one after the other. You can plan a full movie night in with a long list of must-see movies and mountain of snacks. Can you really beat a movie night to make you smile?

Go to a comedy show – Alternatively, you can buy tickets to a comedy night. There are plenty on wherever you may live; at bars, theaters, and festivals. Research what is on in your local area and get yourself some good tickets – you’ll be guaranteed to laugh for hours.

Play a prank –You can’t get a better stomach laugh than playing a prank on one another. If you’re not creative, research pranks online as there are plenty out there, and I’m sure you’ll find one that’ll make your other half or family members laugh.

Make some terrible jokes– The silly jokes are sometimes the best. Create a few of those and you’ll be laughing for hours.

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