1. Find a subject
2. Choose a punchline
3. Disguise the punchline: Make sure the run-up doesn't give the punchline away
1. Choose a subject
Earlier today I was idly flipping through a book of World mythology and came across the Minotaur, a monster with a man's body and a bull's head. I spotted the near-rhyme of 'minotaur' and 'metaphor.'
2. I choose a punchline:
A punchline can come from anywhere - an overheard snippet of conversation, a TV programme, life. Carry a pen and notebook around to avoid losing ideas.
I remember the phrase, 'mixing your metaphors' and give it a slight tweak. My punchline becomes:
'Does he always mix his minotaurs?"
3. Ensure the run-up gives no clue of the imminent punchline.
I decide that the run-up should mix something, be it metaphors / proverbs / figures of speech. I grab my book of proverbs and leafing through it I see, 'Don't count your chickens until they've hatched.' I decide to replace 'until they've hatched' with 'until they've borne fruit,' which is a bit ridiculous and therefore OK.
This is the final joke:
'Never count your chickens until they've borne fruit', my father always used to say.
'Did he always mix his minotaurs?"
This joke will soon appear as a SNARQ strip cartoon on my author website, www.marcprospero.com
I hope this is useful.
See you soon,
Marc
2. Choose a punchline
3. Disguise the punchline: Make sure the run-up doesn't give the punchline away
1. Choose a subject
Earlier today I was idly flipping through a book of World mythology and came across the Minotaur, a monster with a man's body and a bull's head. I spotted the near-rhyme of 'minotaur' and 'metaphor.'
2. I choose a punchline:
A punchline can come from anywhere - an overheard snippet of conversation, a TV programme, life. Carry a pen and notebook around to avoid losing ideas.
I remember the phrase, 'mixing your metaphors' and give it a slight tweak. My punchline becomes:
'Does he always mix his minotaurs?"
3. Ensure the run-up gives no clue of the imminent punchline.
I decide that the run-up should mix something, be it metaphors / proverbs / figures of speech. I grab my book of proverbs and leafing through it I see, 'Don't count your chickens until they've hatched.' I decide to replace 'until they've hatched' with 'until they've borne fruit,' which is a bit ridiculous and therefore OK.
This is the final joke:
'Never count your chickens until they've borne fruit', my father always used to say.
'Did he always mix his minotaurs?"
This joke will soon appear as a SNARQ strip cartoon on my author website, www.marcprospero.com
I hope this is useful.
See you soon,
Marc