Expert: Tom - 9/27/2009

Question
My name is Chris, the first thing I want to ask is, How do you find the irony in a joke in different ways? How do you write a one-liner? and another thing, I am gonna start getting ideas by asking, What if.....? questions. Like," What if you were 18 years old and in the tenth grade and you try to go on a date with a 15-year-old?". How would I write that joke in different ways?   Thanks

Answer
Chris --

I think the most important part of what you write in your question is that you have some sort of a plan for how you're going to approach your writing. I haven't thought of the particular plan you describe before now, but it seems like a great idea.

My shot at ideas from your example: (1) The 15-year-old's parents are perhaps not going to be thrilled with this idea. (2) If the 18-year-old is a guy and the 15-year-old is a girl, she might be more mature than he is. (3) The 15-year-old is not of legal age, so the 18-year-old in this prospective relationship might have to consider legal ramifications of romantic activities. (4) Working the opposite of #2, the two partners might have very different interests and concerns in daily life. (Note that none of these ideas even takes advantage of the "18 years old and in the tenth grade" part of your example!)

So, if you have four possible ways of looking at the dating situation you describe, this gives you some choices. You can try each viewpoint and see what gives you the best joke(s).

Another thought: As you go about your business each day, you'll probably come up with some good ideas for the what-if questions. You could jot these questions down right when you think of them and then work out the different angles later on in a dedicated writing session.

Sounds like you're on a good course to me. Good luck!

-- Tom