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The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not
 
 
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The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not (Paperback)

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4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
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Frequently Bought Together

The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not + The New Comedy Writing Step by Step + The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate "How To" Guide
Price For All Three: $31.86

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  • This item: The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not by John Vorhaus

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  • The New Comedy Writing Step by Step by Gene Perret

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  • The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate "How To" Guide by Judy Carter

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Vorhaus

Product Details

  • Paperback: 191 pages
  • Publisher: Silman-James Press; 1st edition (July 1994)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1879505215
  • ISBN-13: 978-1879505216
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,141 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #10 in  Books > Reference > Words & Language > Semantics
    #21 in  Books > Entertainment > Humor > Parodies
    #66 in  Books > Reference > Words & Language > Linguistics

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More About the Author

John Vorhaus
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

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Look Inside This Book
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not
68% buy the item featured on this page:
The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not 4.3 out of 5 stars (43)
$10.17
The New Comedy Writing Step by Step
11% buy
The New Comedy Writing Step by Step 4.9 out of 5 stars (7)
$10.17
The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate "How To" Guide
9% buy
The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate "How To" Guide 4.1 out of 5 stars (48)
$11.52
Comic Insights: The Art of Stand-up Comedy
6% buy
Comic Insights: The Art of Stand-up Comedy 4.7 out of 5 stars (36)
$12.89
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Customer Reviews

43 Reviews
5 star:
 (29)
4 star:
 (8)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (43 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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82 of 87 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A helpful - and ENJOYABLE - book of fiction writing advice, June 14, 2000
By TAMI Cowden (Henderson, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
No other book on writing I've read - and I've read a lot! - kept me chuckling throughout. I'd recommend this book for the laughs alone, but I can also recommend it as the fount of writing wisdom it entails.

Vorhaus not only explains the basic types of humor and the elements of a comic plot, but also lays out an excellent plotting structure useful for any type of fiction writing. Whether you merely want to add a few touches of humor to an angsty story, or you want to write the next comic blockbuster, this book will help you on your way.

P.S. Chapter 9 alone is worth the price of the book!

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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars (Unimaginative title here), July 7, 2000
By "michael@trickboy.com" (By the left big puddle) - See all my reviews
This book will teach you step by step how to construct comedy- whether that be a joke, a sketch, or a gag. This book will get you there. Oh it is work... make no mistake, but you WILL be funny. How many books do you own that you can say that about?
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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Simple, short, and useful, March 19, 2000
"The Comic Toolbox" is very to the point as to what comedy is, and how it is created. It outlines a basic structure so easy to use that anyone with a decent grasp of the english language can write a humorous skit or scene. Though, for my money, I would also get "Comedy writing step by step." It grasps far deeper than Vourhous's basic outline, and is very comprehensive. Use "Comic Toolbox" as a quick reference, but use "Step by Step" as a guide.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Learning how to be funny is not fun at all!
Learning how to be funny is not fun at all! ZZZZzzzzzzz ZZZZZ zzzzzz
Published 3 days ago by G. Guarin

4.0 out of 5 stars Yes, its fun and funny.
Oddly enough, for me, a really over-serious type, this book caused me to think funny! The author writes in such a simple, straightforward, useful way that I just slipped into... Read more
Published 2 months ago by David Bygott

5.0 out of 5 stars The process of comedy
I bought this book because I had never read anything on what the elements of comedy are and I thought it would be interesting. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Chris Waldorf

2.0 out of 5 stars Buy "The Comedy Bible" Instead
An okay book (I guess) for aspiring sit
com writers and that's about it. The
Comedy Bible covers a lot more ground
(genres, etc) with many more useful tech-... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Ronald F. Cooney

5.0 out of 5 stars Comic Toolbox? These pretzels are makign me thirsty!
An excellent read, er um exercise, um toolbox, yeah that's it, toolbox. I've written for a few comedians and never had access to this information. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Kirk M. Ludi

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny or Not, Here You Come
Petruchio and his favorite shrew, Kate. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Harry and Sally. Ross and Rachel. Carrie and Mr. Big. What do these iconic romantic couples have in common? Read more
Published 17 months ago by Belle Scarlett, romance author

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Creepy
I have been doing some of my own writing but I've never read a book about organizing jokes, or ever cared about those books. Read more
Published 17 months ago by The Atomic Punk

3.0 out of 5 stars Great observations; lifeless humour
Simply put, the book is filled with excellent methods for creating comedy. If you do not have strong comedic instinct, your results will be formulaic. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Jonny Mod

5.0 out of 5 stars Best comedy writing book I've read.
I am a pro comedian and I found this book very useful in developing new material. As the book's title infers, the author provides the reader with many tools to use in putting a... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Marc J. Rubben

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for plotting
The title doesn't really explain what this is. I was expecting more tools and methods for stand-up comedy. Read more
Published on January 12, 2008 by Sonia R. Reid

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