Humor Resources

[batyler65]

Hello Fellow Loons,
I've started this thread as a place to list humor resources. They can be market listings, articles about writing humor, or anything else relevant to the topic.

Feel free to share any favorites here.

Here are a few to get us started:

www.writerswrite.com/jour...ornung.htm (http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/may02/hornung.htm)
www.humorwriters.org (http://www.humorwriters.org)
www.publishingcentral.com...-15cb.html (http://www.publishingcentral.com/articles/20040219-87-15cb.html)
www.satiricquill.net/tips.html (http://www.satiricquill.net/tips.html)


Market list:
www.ralan.com/humor/ (http://www.ralan.com/humor/)

[Yeshanu]

Barb,

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

(Although some might say that I don't need any more encouragement... :grin )

[rtilryarms]

Bar,

Yeshanu doesn't need any more encouragement...

[Betty W01]

Really, Barb. She doesn't...

[batyler65]

For those of you studying up on what makes humor work:

www.squaresail.com/auh.html (http://www.squaresail.com/auh.html)

This online text is directed at those using humor in public speaking, but contains some interesting tidbits for all of us.

[batyler65]

Find a jumping off point here and learn why they say
truth IS stranger than fiction.

www.newsoftheweird.com/ (http://www.newsoftheweird.com/)

[stormie267]

I've always liked visiting this board, now I think I can give something back. I stumbled upon this site when looking for strange names for my writing. hometown.aol.com/detles1/myhomepage/ (http://hometown.aol.com/detles1/myhomepage/)

:lol

[batyler65]

but tapped for ideas?

Check out this calendar resource chock full of holidays, celebrity birthdays, and other observances (National Blame Someone Else Day, anyone?)

Enough well organized information to keep your wheels turning.

www.butlerwebs.com/holidays/default.htm (http://www.butlerwebs.com/holidays/default.htm)

[ChunkyC]

National Blame Someone Else Day? That's every day where I work.

[idreamofwinter]

Thank you so much for those sites - I am a humor writer/cartoonist whom created a huge amount of stuff for a new National magazine that appears that it will never actually materialize.

It'll no doubt take a long time to find a home for my work, but you've certainly helped out a great deal - thank you again.

Mike

[batyler65]

Hey, Mike,
Welcome to the peanut gallery!

Hope to see more of you around.

Glad the resources helped you.

Barb

[batyler65]

I found this site today and thought I'd drop a link to it here.

The site is Patently Silly (http://www.patentlysilly.com/): Silly patents issued by the US patent office. Looks like it is updated weekly.

Enjoy

[batyler65]

Late night comics use current events in their nightly routines. To see a ton of excellent examples on how to work current events into your humor, visit the late night joke archive at NewsMax (http://www.newsmax.com/liners.shtml)

[batyler65]

Two Drink Minimum (http://twodrinkmin.com/) The magazine for stand-up comics

Funny Times (http://www.funnytimes.com) A tabloid of humor and cartoons

Mad Magazine (http://www.madmag.com) 'nuff said

[inkslinger]

Hi!

I just want to throw in a plug for a critique group I co-moderate, which is by humorists, for humorists.

Go to Laughter Crafters at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Laughter_Crafters
and join. This is a discussion group. You'll receive instructions for accessing the critique group in your welcome message.

Have fun!

Elizabeth
Head Writer
WOO FACTOR
a blog about love and relationships - or a lack thereof
http://www.woofactor.com

[daveaguy]

there aren't many places where you can find places that accept humor columns, or essays. Thanks for the heads up on these links.

BTW, this is my first post here, ...what did I win?

[batyler65]

Welcome Dave!

Always glad to see new faces.

Barb

[Dawno]

Does anyone know the name of an acquisitions editor at Tipdigest.com? I'm thinking of sending them a query but all I can find on them so far are generic email addresses.

[Unique]

there aren't many places where you can find places that accept humor columns, or essays. Thanks for the heads up on these links.

BTW, this is my first post here, ...what did I win?

:kiss:

[batyler65]

Does anyone know the name of an acquisitions editor at Tipdigest.com? I'm thinking of sending them a query but all I can find on them so far are generic email addresses.

I can't even find the site. :( Sorry, not much help there.

Anybody else have ideas?

Barb

[batyler65]

Of Interest

http://www.humorfeed.com/

[Yeshanu]

Should've posted this a long time ago. Hannah's post reminded me of it:

The Comedy Bible, by Judy Carter.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743201256/qid=1139497984/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-3846737-3272713?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

"From stand-up to sitcom -- the comedy writer's ultimate how-to guide."

Very useful exercises and examples included.

[steadymarvin]

Of Interest

http://www.humorfeed.com/
I really rate those guys - they wouldn't let me into their club but they sent me a lovely e-mail explaining why. Best rejection letter I've ever had!

[dlcharles]

How about newspapers? Here is a prime example, albeit a rather macabre humor: Reprinted from THE NEWS, published weekly in Salem, Arkansas.

FULTON COUNTY MAN SAYS HE'S MARRIED --- TO CHELSEA CLINTON.

Cox isn't happy when clerks tell him the certificate doesn't exist. By Joseph Price Staff Writer

Shawn Cox, the Mammoth Spring man who jumped the White House fence in December, made a brief appearance at the Fulton County Courthouse March 1. Salem Police Chief Albert Roork said Cox, 29, showed up at the Fulton County Clerk's Office demanding a marriage certificate for him and Chelsea Clinton. When employees told him the certificate did not exist he started to behave in a threatening manner, shaking as if angry and speaking loudly, said Fulton County Sheriff Walter Dillinger. Dillinger said Cox kept saying "Shawn Cox and Chelsea Cox", over and over. One of the employees at the clerk's office ran to the Fulton County Sheriff's Department, which is across the street from the courthouse and alerted authorities.
........... Cox testified that while Bill Clinton was president the Japanese implanted a cell phone in his head.

For the complete story: http://www.areawidenews.com (http://www.areawidenews.com/) (might be tomorrow before the online story is available) I'm sorry, folks, I know this young man is mentally disturbed, but I find it a humorous story nonetheless - imagine someone wanting to be married to a "Clinton"! This is why I love living in Arkansas - the truly strange is everyday ordinary around here. Can we breed 'em or what?

Oh, and the story just below this is about his brother, who is wanted for arson and attempted murder.

[C.bronco]

Can anyone recommend a magazine that publishes humorous poetry? Or even a mag. that puts out a poetry/humor issue? I haven't come across one in my travels.

[PVish]

there aren't many places where you can find places that accept humor columns, or essays. . . .

Create a place. Offer a humor column to a local or regional publication—maybe the kind you find for free in some supermarkets, etc. You might not get paid at first, but you'll build an audience and you'll have some clips.

My first humor column was for a monthly published by a local copy shop in the mid-90s. I didn't get paid, but I got a good discount on all my copying needs. My second was—and still is—a redneck advice column—that started in 1998 in a regional publication (which eventually changed focus, so my column no longer fit). Then I sold it to a popular weekly newspaper in my area. My column runs every other week; I get a check every month.

After my column runs, the rights become mine. I've POD'd one book of my first three years' worth of columns; I'm getting ready to do a second.

[Soccer Mom]

The Writer Journal is looking for humour and stories about Dad for June:

http://www.lbfbooks.com/index.php?main_page=wpj&zenid=b3ea869484b3707af925682507f5513e

[Jaycinth]

So I'm out looking for 'Horror' resources and I find 'Humor'. C'est la vie!

Ok:
ROSALIE FELMING MEMORIAL HUMOR PRIZE
The Webhallow House
1544 Sweetwood Dr.
Colma CA 94015-20029

E-Mail: pennobhill@aol.com (pennobhill@aol.com)
Web site: www.soulmakingcontest.us (http://www.soulmakingcontest.us/)
Contact: Eileen Malone

Make the judge laugh in 2,500 words or less. Must be original and unpublished. Any form (poem, story, essay, etc) is acceptable. Only 1 piece allowed/entry. Indicate category on first page. Identify only with 3X5 card.


THE MONA SCHREIBER PRIZE FOR HUMOROUS FICTION & NONFICTION </SPAN>

15442 Vista Haven Place
Sherman Oaks CA 91403

Phone: (310)471-3280
E-Mail: brashcyber@pcmagic.net (brashcyber@pcmagic.net)
Web site: www.brashcyber.com (http://www.brashcyber.com/)

Contact: Brad Schreiber.

Prize: 1st Place: $500; 2nd Place: $250; 3rd Place: $100. All winners receive a copy of What Are You Laughing At?: How to Write Funny Screenplays, Stories and More, by Brad Schreiber.

Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Open to any writer

WERGLE FLOMP HUMOR POETRY CONTEST
351 Pleasant St.
PMB 222
Northampton MA 01060-3961

Phone: (866)946-9748
Fax: (413)280-0539
E-Mail: adam@winningwriters.com (adam@winningwriters.com)
Web site: www.winningwriters.com (http://www.winningwriters.com/)
Contact: Adam Cohen.


This annual contest seeks the best parody poem that has been sent to a vanity poetry contest as a joke. Vanity contests are characterized by low standards. Their main purpose is to entice poets to buy expensive products like anthologies, chapbooks, CDs, plaques, and silver bowls. Vanity contests will often praise remarkably bad poems in their effort to sell as much stuff to as many people as possible. The Wergle Flomp Prize will be awarded for the best bad poem. One poem of any length should be submitted, along with the name of the vanity contest that was spoofed. The poem should be in English. Inspired gibberish is also accepted. See website for guidelines, examples, and to submit your poem."

Prize: 1st Place: $1,190; 2nd Place: $169; 3rd Place: $60. Honorable Mentions get $38 each. All prize winners receive publication at WinningWriters.com. Non-US winners will be paid in US currency (or PayPal) if a check is inconvenient.

Year Established: 2002
Deadline: August 15-April 1
Eligibility: Open to any writer
Entry Fee: None

[Stylo]

Hey, I'm new here, but I get regular newsletters from the British Sitcom Guide:

http://www.sitcom.co.uk/

This may be useful for British comedy writers who use AW.

[Jaycinth]

Hey Folks...Look at Creative Guy Publishing!
E-Mail: submissions@creativeguypublishing.com

Web site: www.creativeguypublishing.com

"We are looking for novella-length (15,000-40,000 words) genre fiction for e-publishing. Print titles are specifically in-house with their own guidelines

[MidnightMuse]

From their page:

Closed to submissions
Authors:

Effective immediately, CGP is closed to submissions. We will likely begin reading again for novellas once we have caught up, and feel that it is unfair to authors to continue accepting works as the pile to read grows larger.

Please note! This is an extension of our closure to submissions. We have entered negotiations with authors from the slush pile, and are going to remain closed to new material until further notice.
If you have queried or submitted since January 2006, do not expect a response. We have been, and remain, closed to submissions.

Artists:

You are still welcome to query, and if we are immediately interested in your work, we will contact you. Otherwise, we will add the link to your online gallery to our list of artists in our bookmarks.

Everyone:

Thank you for your consideration, and for thinking of us. Submissions will likely reopen toward the end of 2007.

Last Updated ( Friday, 02 February 2007 )
*********************************

Looks like a "put on the favorites tab" kinda thing. I have several of those !

[Joanna_S]

There's a site called Common Ties (commonties.com) that publish personal stories and this week they're asking for humor. The deadline is tomorrow (yeah, I found the site a wee bit late) so if you've got something you can write up fast, they do pay. They also want the stories recorded and will send you a free mic to do so (and they pay for the recording as well). I'm not affiliated with the site. I just found it and sent something in. Thought I'd share the link with the rest of you since good humor markets can be tough to find.

Sorry about the tight deadline. As I said, if I'd found it earlier, I would've let you know earlier.

-- Joanna

[Bayou Bill]

There's a site called Common Ties (commonties.com) that publish personal stories and this week they're asking for humor. The deadline is tomorrow (yeah, I found the site a wee bit late) so if you've got something you can write up fast, they do pay. They also want the stories recorded and will send you a free mic to do so (and they pay for the recording as well). I'm not affiliated with the site. I just found it and sent something in. Thought I'd share the link with the rest of you since good humor markets can be tough to find.

Sorry about the tight deadline. As I said, if I'd found it earlier, I would've let you know earlier.

-- Joanna
Just checked the site, they have "paused."

Bayou Bill :cool:

[ichMael]

There are thousands of old radio programs on the internet--public domain:

http://www.archive.org/details/oldtimeradio

Jack Benny, Bergen & McCarthy, Fred Allen, Burns & Allen and so on. You can analyze these shows for structure, joke set-up and such. A different era, but some hilarious stuff.