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Joke Mechanics 101: Crafting Punchlines That Land

With Comic Stephen Paylor

Join us for beginner-friendly, hands-on joke-writing with comic Stephen Paylor. Learn joke structure, craft original punchlines, and leave ready to write more! For adults. Please register.

Join us for a beginner-friendly, practical, and fun workshop with comic Stephen Paylor. He introduces the core mechanics of joke structure, then leads a collaborative writing session where participants craft original jokes from simple prompts. You’ll leave with a handful of jokes and a repeatable process for writing more. No experience required!

Participants will learn to:

• Identify the mechanics of a joke (setup, turn, punchline) and how they create laughter.
• Generate multiple punchlines from a single setup using simple prompts and constraints.
• Edit for clarity, rhythm, and impact to turn a rough idea into a crisp, short joke.

About Stephen Paylor

Stephen Paylor is a stand-up comic known for sharp, short jokes. He’s performed internationally in Shanghai, Seoul and at the legendary Tokyo Comedy Bar. 

Trained at The Second City Toronto, he’s the creator of The One Liner Comedy Show and was a 2025 finalist in the Yuk Yuk’s Big 6 Comedy Competition.

By participating in this program you acknowledge and accept the Guelph Public Library's Code of Conduct.

If you have any questions, please contact Library Programmer Lauren Contini at lcontini@guelphpl.ca.

Alternative formats are available as per the Accessibility per Ontarians Act by contacting Library Communications at 519-824-6220.

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