Joke in a Box

How to Write and Draw Jokes

Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

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About the Book

A 70-card creativity deck from award-winning New Yorker cartoonist Emily Flake, filled with playful writing and drawing prompts that help cartoonists, humor writers, and other creators generate fresh ideas and move beyond creative blocks.

Every creative person eventually hits a wall. Joke in a Box gives you a new way around it.

Adapted from Emily Flake’s popular humor workshop, this interactive deck offers modular exercises designed to spark jokes, cartoons, stories, illustrations, and unexpected connections. Draw a card whenever you need a starting point, combine multiple prompts for a greater challenge, or work through the deck as part of a regular creative practice.

Presented with warmth, humor, and encouragement, the cards help creators silence perfectionism, see familiar subjects differently, and follow surprising ideas wherever they lead.

  • Includes 70 modular cards filled with exercises, prompts, and creative encouragement from award-winning cartoonist Emily Flake
  • Uses list-making, comic juxtaposition, drawing, and observation exercises to help writers through creative blocks
  • Flexible enough for solo practice, classes, workshops, or creative groups
  • An inventive creative companion for cartoonists, comedy writers, illustrators, storytellers, students

Strengthen your humor practice and see the world in a more playful and inventive way.

About the Author

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.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (October 31, 2023)
  • Length: 100 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781524881283

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Raves and Reviews

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)

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)

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