"There are two types of joke books out there. The first is books with nothing but gags categorized by topic. These are fine if you can find jokes that perfectly fits your needs, but that's not usually the case. These books date quickly and they don't tell you how to update or adapt the gags to your situation, whether it's a roast, toast or speech. The second type is books that teach you the mechanics of joke writing, but don't give you many real world examples of editing for topicality or for rewriting for your specific event. The joke study series combines both material that can be used now for your presentations, plus detailed examples of editing and updating that enables you to get the most laughs out of your topic. It's a format we thought was missing from books when I started working with John on his years of accumulated material."

Paul Giles

ALL NEW 5 volume edition of  Real World Examples of Editing and Updating Jokes Study Series

This ALL NEW 5 volume edition of Cantu's Real World Examples of Editing and Updating Jokes Study Series is based on the premise that a lot of non-comedy people often turn to joke books to cull items. And surprise - many pros also use joke books as an idea simulator - especially when they are suffering from severe writers' block or  have a fast approaching deadline.

Real World Examples of Editing and Updating Jokes Study Series is an over the shoulder look at a comedy writer batting around some jokes and updating and editing them for better clarity and bigger laughs.

In the original Jokes Study Series John tossed jokes he had written in the late 70's to Paul Giles for editing and comments.

What's So Unique About Joke Study Series? Here's Giles' take on the series: "Until now books on jokes were in one of two categories – a volume filled only with jokes, or a how-to on writing comedy material. There was no instructional value in the joke books, and in the how-to books there were too few real-world examples of one-liners and how to adapt or fix them. These volumes fill that gap beautifully by doing both."

As the pros say, "An old joke is a joke that doesn't get a laugh."

Many writers mistake inspired writing for perfect writing. (The 'If it feels right it must be right', school) - Yes, passion can tell you you are on the right track with regard to subject matter, but it is sweat and hard work to chisel just the right nuances into your meaning.

Too many comics get on stage and simply spew out ideas and premises without the thoughtful analysis of how to precisely say what they want to say.

And while speakers may know how to say precisely what they want to convey to their audience, they haven't a clue how to adapt humor to their presentations.

One of the major differences between civilians and humor pros is when civilians hear something funny their tendency is to simply think 'That is a funny joke.' But when comedy pros hear something funny their tendency is to both, think 'That is funny', and also 'Could the construction be changed to make it stronger?' i.e., funnier. Sometimes not, but the analysis is still important.

Now You can have an over the shoulder look how a professional comedy writer analyzes a joke and updates it for better clarity and bigger laughs.

Format for this digital ebook study series:

Original Joke:      The worst example of the dumbing down of our schools occurred when I asked a class of 6th graders how electric blankets are made. Half the kids said they came from sheep who were struck by lightning.

Giles' comment:     This one can benefit from a little editing. More natural phrasing, less words.

Giles' re-write:     I didn’t think our schools were bad until I asked a grade schooler how electric blankets are made. He said, “From sheep who were struck by lightning?”

• Over 250 jokes each volume
• 10% analyzed jokes each volume

Digital EBooks via download.