Swapping: A Joke Writing Exercise from Stepping Into Stand-Up Comedy

This is one of the shorter sessions in the course. It is also one of the most immediately usable.

The technique takes about thirty seconds to explain. What this session actually demonstrates is how far you can push it, and the example Alfie uses runs considerably further than most people would anticipate.

Watch it once and you will have something you can try the same night.

This is just one of several joke writing exercises in the course, with tons of info on the open mic scene, writing and performing your funny. 

Stepping Into Stand-Up Comedy

More from the blog:

Another free writing exercise from the course: Joke Writing: Predictable Twists

Where your best material actually comes from: Your Unique Take on the World

The deeper craft behind writing comedy: Writing for Comedians

People also ask

What is the swapping technique in stand-up comedy?
Swapping is a joke writing method where you replace a word in a familiar phrase, title or sentence with a different word for comedic effect. It works particularly well on lists and can be extended well beyond what most new comedians would expect if the material and commitment are there. The video covers the mechanics and demonstrates it in full.

How do you write wordplay jokes for stand-up?
Wordplay in stand-up works best when it is rooted in something the audience already recognises, a film title, a common phrase, a cultural reference. The swapping technique is one of the cleaner entry points because it gives you a clear structure to work within rather than starting from scratch. Once you have the framework, the creative part follows naturally.

What is the rule of three in stand-up comedy?
The rule of three is a structure where you give the audience two things that set a pattern and a third that breaks it for the laugh. It appears throughout this session and is one of the most reliable frameworks in comedy writing at any level. (There is more than one rule of three...)

Can you learn joke writing techniques online?
Yes. The techniques covered in Stepping Into Stand-Up Comedy are the same ones taught in live workshops and applied by working comedians. The self-paced format means you can watch a session, go and try the technique on stage the same evening, and come back to review it afterwards. Nearly 1,000 comedians have done exactly that, with an average review score of 4.9 out of 5.