Joke Writing: Predictable Twists

There is a joke writing technique that works on a simple principle. Your brain is already ahead of you.

Every time you hear a familiar saying, a well-worn proverb, or a phrase you have known since childhood, your mind fills in the ending before the words arrive. That predictability is not a weakness. In the right hands, it is the setup.

This short sample session from Stepping Into Stand-Up Comedy introduces one of the core joke writing exercises from the course.

Watch it, try it, and see what happens when you apply it to material you are already working on.

If the penny drops in the first two minutes, imagine what the full course does across eight dedicated writing sessions.

Watch the video below.

If you want to understand the broader writing process this technique sits within, Learning How to Write Comedy Doesn't Need to Be a Mystery is worth reading first.

Stepping Into Stand-Up Comedy is built for comedians at the start of their journey. It covers the foundations of writing and performing, with practical exercises designed to get you on stage with better jokes, more confidence and a framework you can keep coming back to.

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