Joke in a Box: How to Write and Draw Jokes by Emily Flake

Have you ever been grappling with your creative work, but found yourself hitting a wall?

Here's the thing--sometimes you push through a wall. And sometimes, you need to reset your mind so that you can attack the problem with fresh eyes. That's where Joke in a Box comes in!

Designed as an at-home version of New Yorker cartoonist Emily Flake's popular workshop, Joke in a Box will provide a gateway into the craft of joke writing and construction, with modular prompts designed to help you see the world in a more playful and inventive way. Presented with care, empathy, and a sense of joy, this 70-card deck full of exercises and ideas is useful not just to gag writing and drawing, but to any form that speaks to you as a creator. Exercises focus on idea generations techniques such as making lists to force comic juxtapositions, drawing exercises (why not mine your junk mail for visual reference and inspiration!), and encouragement.

I've been cartooning for 10 years and Emily Flake's Joke in a Box just got me to draw gags I never would've come up with on my own. What the hell have I been doing this whole time? (Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell)

Emily Flake is known for her brilliant humor, but she's also known for her generous and collaborative support of other funny people. Joke in a Box is a gift to creative writers and illustrators, as well as to anyone that just wants more laughter in their life. (Wendy Aarons)

Emily Flake is a staff cartoonist for the New Yorker, a writer, an illustrator, and a performer. She is active in the New York comedy scene, performing a mix of stand-up and cartooning at venues all over the city and beyond. She is also the founder of St. Nell's, a humor writing residency and teaching institution.

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Pub Date: October 31, 2023

1.3" H x 5.8" L x 4.1" W

100 pages

Card Deck