Master Class April 2026
Laughing on the Light Side:
Writing Clean, Clever Humor for Kids and Teens
How to Write Humor That Connects Kids, Teens, and Families
Without Sacrificing Message, Heart, or Faith with J. J. Johnson
Master Class Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Registration Opens: March 7, 2026
Registration Cost:
$79 non-members, $59 members and students
*$59 Special Rate for Kids Middle School
through High School Only
This class is for you if you want to:
- Write humor that keeps heart and faith intact.
- You struggle to make funny scenes feel natural.
- You write PB, MG, or YA and want age-appropriate humor.
- You believe clean humor can still be bold and engaging.
- You want practical tools to write funny on purpose.
- You’d like to deepen character and tension through laughter.
- You want stories that compete with screens.
- You’re ready to write with more confidence and joy.
Workshops
Session 1: Humor is More Than Jokes
In this foundational session, we’ll explore why laughter creates connection, deepens character, and strengthens tension in a story. We’ll explore why clean humor is needed and why (or should this be how?) humor can help strengthen faith. Learn how humor works as a powerful storytelling tool that keeps readers turning pages.
Session 2: Writing Funny for Kids and Teens: MG, YA, and Picture Books
What makes a third grader laugh is different from what lands with a teen. This session breaks down how humor shifts across picture books, middle grade, and YA, and how to match comedic voice, tone, and style.
Session 3: Comedy Toolbox – Building Hilarious Scenes
Ready to get practical? This hands-on session delivers concrete techniques for writing funny moments on purpose, from timing and dialogue to awkward situations and escalating chaos. Walk away with tools you can apply immediately to make your scenes sharper and funnier.
Meet Master Class Instructor
J. J. Johnson
JJ Johnson is the award-winning author of the Iggy & Oz series and the host of the podcast Geeky Dads Talk About Geeky Things. He also serves as Director of Marketing for the REALM MAKERSWriters Conference & Expo. JJ is deeply passionate about comic books, gaming, and the storytelling craft that brings those worlds to life- whether on the page, at the table, or on the screen. When he’s not writing or working behind the scenes to help other creators thrive, he enjoys coffee brewed with proper precision, diving into comics, and playing Star Wars Unlimited with his kids. He lives in Edmond, Oklahoma.