Writing Humor

Available to listeners for the first time, Sucker’s Portfolio showcases a collection of seven never-before-published works from Kurt Vonnegut, one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. Short, sardonic, and dark, these six brief fiction stories and one non-fiction piece are consummate Vonnegut with piercing satire and an eye for life’s obscene inanity. Also available for the first time is an unfinished science-fiction short story, included in the appendix.

LITERARY FAILS: Totally (sic!) has been a work in progress for several years. These handpicked 101 excerpts, selected from tens of thousands of actual query letters received by Martin Literary Management were sent by severely "misguided individuals" in their desire to become commercially published authors. Each section of the book and many individual letters are accompanied by fabulous original artwork in pen and ink. Every quoted letter in this book is verbatim, right down to the misspellings, the word spacing, and the typos. Only the responses represent wishful thinking. In other words-...

Up until now, middle school hasn't exactly been a joyride for Greg Heffley. So when the town threatens to close the crumbling building, he's not too broken up about it. But when Greg realizes this means he's going to be sent to a different school than his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, he changes his tune. Can Greg and his classmates save their school before it's shuttered for good? Or is this the start of a whole new chapter for Greg?

As a science journalist, Jade has seen more than her fair share of peculiar oddities—none weirder than her socially inept fellow reporter Antigone. When the test of a teleporter using an electron collider goes awry, the two women find their world changed in subtle ways, with anomalies breaking out in their personal lives. Their increasingly unstable dimension gives Jade the ability to shapeshift while Antigone can see portals into other worlds.

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BOUGHT is a light-hearted, informative account of a Scotsman’s relocation to the Spanish hinterland. When Jack Waldie and his wife Nicola buy a house in rural Spain they intend to start a new life there, away from the hustle and bustle of Glasgow, but when things go awry between them Jack chooses to keep the spacious old place and moves there to write his crime novels in peace. In the small village in an area known as Spanish Lapland, due to its ever decreasing population, Jack befriends key local people who refuse to allow their birthplace to die. When he’s ...

UPCOTE, a self-styled gentleman of leisure who subsidises his state hand-outs with a little wheeling and dealing on the side meets the struggling SMYTHE and sets out to help his young protégé of fifty-three fulfil his true and hitherto well-concealed potential. With the help of Upcote’s indomitable Aunt Mabel and under the sceptical scrutiny of coin-obsessed café owner Bob, the two men set out to put their sartorial and cultural superiority on a sound financial footing. Dodging the slings and arrows of outraged punters our two heroes push, swerve and stumble onwards towards their dream...

In the acclaimed third book in the popular Merde series, Paul West winds up stuck in America, chin-deep in financial trouble. He and his French girlfriend set off on their journey, with hopes of escaping fiscal ruin. But as the not-so-dynamic duo stumble toward Los Angeles, via Boston, Miami, New Orleans, and Las Vegas, Paul’s plans for success, of course, turn to merde: The couple takes on carjackers, old flames, and liaisons dangereuses. The result is a madcap, hilarious adventure and a sardonically witty tour through America, France, and England.

It isn't as though Moxy isn't grateful for all her Christmas presents. She's just not so thrilled that she has to write 12 thank-you notes. Not to mention that she promised her mother they'd all be done by today. And if they're not - well, there will be "consequences". Namely, Moxy won't get to leave tomorrow for the vacation of a lifetime. (A trip to California to attend a Star-Studded Hollywood Bash with the father she hasn't seen in three years.) Moxy's wild schemes to get her thank-you notes done in time are clever, poignant, and always hilarious.

You can tell by simply looking at the cover of this book that it isn't your ordinary grammar curriculum. As you look at a stick drawing of a young man with a mouthful of 'gum' balls, you know you're in for a real grammar treat. The publisher refers to this book as, "Shel Silverstein meets Strunk & White." Cathy Campbell has a real knack for making grammar understandable but keeping it humorous. There were times I laughed out loud at her drawings and use of descriptive words. The book is divided into 3 sections - grammar, usage, and mechanics. This is no light coverage of the topics, yet ...

When Caitlin Moran sat down to choose her favorite pieces for her new book, she realized that they all shared a common theme - the same old problems and the same old asshats. Then she thought of the word Moranifesto, and she knew what she had to do.... Introducing every piece and weaving her writing together into a brilliant, seamless narrative - just as she did in Moranthology - Caitlin combines the best of her recent columns with lots of new writing unique to this book.

After a debilitating stroke, Balmy Knight moves in with her daughter’s family. As she begins to recover her health, she misses her independence. Finding her days full of tedious boredom, Balmy uses mischievous antics to add excitement to her life. Her only joy comes from disobeying her daughter’s rules, aggravating her son-in-law, and feeding buttermilk biscuits to Jake, the homeless guy who lives in a cardboard box. Life becomes complicated when Balmy’s old friend, Sunny Day—from her Broadway-performing days in the Sixties—arrives from Hollywood and invites her to share her ...

Do you want to be more humorous? Have you ever watched someone effortlessly make a group laugh and wished you knew their magic? Well, wonder no more. The mystery of charisma is finally unveiled; the fallacy of "you either have it, or you don't" has been laid bare. Anyone can learn to make people laugh. Observing a couple of surprisingly simple rules, Make People Laugh is a comedic tour de force, as it explores all the facets of laughter. Turn your lazy bones into funny bones, and you will have made the world a better place.

The new novel from the best-selling author of I Don’t Know How She Does It takes us on an unforgettable journey into first love, and—with the emotional intensity and penetrating wit that have made her beloved among readers all over the world—reminds us of how the ardor of our youth can ignite our adult lives.

Romantic Secrets (Book One) Abby likes sex but has never had an orgasm. She wants to fall in love but knows she never will. That kind of luck doesn't happen to a girl like her...a girl from a hardscrabble past and a heart that's grown a protective shell. When Abby arrives in New York for her cousin Emma's funeral, she hopes to leave the past behind and start a whole new life. She meets Isabella, her cousin's former roommate, who provides a reference to Miss White, the imposing madam who runs a high-class escort agency. Soon, Abby is propelled into a whole new life of money, glamour, and sex...

By analyzing the elements of wit employed by such eminent humorists as Evelyn Waugh, Mark Twain, and P.G. Wodehouse, The Ways to Wit nourishes one’s comedic sense, deepens one’s sense of irony, and ultimately teaches one what it takes to write excellent, humorous wit.

I like Graffiti. It appeals to my particular sense of humor. I like it for the concise nature of statements of wit and wisdom. It makes me smile. It makes me laugh. While I do not advocate defacing or writing on private property or lavatory walls or spraying paint, I do subscribe to graffiti as a social value- clearly people feel they have something to say. This can take many forms – an opinion -- a statement – a comment – an observation – an insult -- a boast ( size really does matter ) So now dear reader I offer you my first humble collection. Graffiti from all over the world. No ...

‘‘Romantically Yours: Thrilling Romantic Story and Poems’ comprises a short story and 5 mini anthologies of poems. The story is entitled, ‘Mr. U. Verbosity and Lady Wow. The anthologies are: ‘My Love', ‘My Man Loves Me’, ‘Be My Love Again’, ‘Moon Fascination’ and ‘Her Impact'. Mr. Verbosity features an enthralling whirlwind romance which is possibly the most intriguing romance short story ever written. Mr. U. Verbosity manifests a great wooing ability. Lady Wow topples quickly as she is unable to withstand the bombardment. Mr. Verbosity’s use of language is ...

Written together with friend and journalist Boyd Hilton, the audiobook follows a year in the lives of Matt Lucas and David Walliams in every unfiltered detail: the good, the bad, the mundane and the meaningful. It is a year that includes writing, rehearsing, filming, Live8, going to America, and undertaking a mammoth 100-date, seven-month tour where Little Britain goes in search of Great Britain.

Communication Skills—Eight manuscripts in one book, including: Body Language: 7 Easy Steps to Master Nonverbal Communication, Reading People, Microexpressions & Improve Your Charisma; Assertiveness: 7 Easy Steps to Master Assertive Social Confidence, Self-Esteem, Self-Awareness & Social Dynamics; Conversation Skills: 7 Easy Steps to Master Listening Skills, Interpersonal Feedback, Difficult Conversations & Voice Training; Make People Laugh: 7 Easy Steps to Master Being Funny, Conversational Humor, Improv Stand-Up Comedy & Joke Writing; and more.

"An irreverent, offbeat crime thriller featuring a memorable protagonist and a quirky cast of gangsters." -Best Thrillers In love and death, be careful what you ask for. Happy to still be alive and foolishly believing he can keep two women happy at the same time, Monk finds himself accused of being both a thief and a liar, covering up the actions of a creepy mob boss he doesn’t even know. To make matters worse, the beautiful Judith, his other woman, is sick and hiding it from him. Suddenly, everyone wants an answer. Where’s the Money? Where’s the love? Where’s the girl? With the ...