This past Saturday, April 18, 2026, we had our spring Master Class. As you see from the title, it was all about adding humor to a story. Our teacher, award-winning, middle grade author, JJ Johnson, broke down three different kinds of humor and told us how we can add humor to any manuscript, no matter the genre or age group we’re writing for.
The Breakdown
The workshops were broken down into three sessions:
- Humor is more than jokes
- Writing funny for kids and teens
- Comedy toolbox
In the first session, JJ stressed that clean humor lifts instead of tears down. We want our readers and characters to share laughter, not embarrassment.
I love this because, as Christian writers, the last thing we want to do is imitate the world.
We talked about how sit-coms and cartoons today often use embarrassment or off-color jokes to get a laugh. How much better for everyone to use genuine humor we can all laugh at and not feel bad after laughing?
The 2 rules that matter most for us to remember are:
- Don’t explain the joke.
- Not everyone will laugh.
The second session focused on why it matters to remember the 2 rules. Not all humor lands the same way with every reader.
JJ talked about the difference in what’s funny to kids, pre-teens, and teens. He stressed we must match the humor to the reader (that is, the age group we’re writing for.) We also need to adjust the complexity of the joke and choose the right delivery.
We must know our audience! Great humor isn’t just funny, it’s age aware.
The third session brought it home with a Comedy Toolbox: the things we need to build hilarious scenes.
JJ taught us that great humor doesn’t fire nonstop, it builds like a wave starting with the set-up to a small laugh to a bigger laugh to the comic peak.
We talked about the funny premise, voice laughs, light humor, character reactions, escalating the situation, visual gags, using callbacks, and saving the biggest laugh for the end.
We learned how to vary humor types, leave breathing room (humor needs space to land), creating a simple humor scene, and the SECRET that unlocks everything. I’m not telling you the secret, because … it’s a secret! Heh, heh, heh …
JJ also gave us examples from the classic humor of Laurel & Hardy, Abbot & Costello, and The Three Stooges. The simple formula used starts with the problem, then the reaction of the character, and it has to escalate, creating “momentum humor.”
The Breakout Sessions
In between the workshops, we had breakout sessions where we went in small groups and worked on what we learned. JJ gave us worksheets that focused on what he just taught. In the breakout group I led, we brainstormed together on the exercises as well as doing some writing on our own.
JJ visited each breakout room to see what we were doing and to answer any questions.
It was great fun!
The Panels
We also had two panels during the day; one with an author and an illustrator and one with an agent. (She couldn’t make it but sent in an MP3 recording.) Each person talked about what they find funny and how they incorporate it into their work.
In Conclusion
This Master Class was jam-packed with info, but it was also learning time punctuated with lots of laughter and discovery.
The day went by SO FAST, none of us could believe it was done 7 ½ hours later. We could have easily done another 7 hours.
I believe I can safely say, most of us were eager to get to our WIPs and add humor. I know I was! I made notes for the chapter book series for ages 7-10 that I thought was pretty funny, but after this class, I know I can ramp up the laughs. And I’m thankful for the opportunity to do that.
Discover JJ 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.
Connect with him:
https://jjjohnson.substack.com
https://www.instagram.com/jjjohnson_authorhttps://jjjohnsonwriter.substack.com/
If you missed this...
If you registered for the Master Class but weren't able to attend, watch your email for information on how to access the recordings. Make sure you subscribe to Write2Ignite and check out our critique groups and Time2Write. And stay tuned for our next Master Class!
Pam Halter is a former home-schooling mom, has been a children’s book author since 1995, a freelance children’s book editor since 2006, and was the children’s book editor for Fruitbearer Publishing until January 2023. She’s the author of Fairyeater, a YA fantasy, and the Willoughby and Friends picture book series (available on her website.) Pam has also published short stories in Ye Olde Dragon Books , the Whitstead Anthologies and Renewed Christmas Blessings. Her first short story won Readers Choice in Realmscapes.
Pam lives in Southern New Jersey with her husband, Daryl, special needs adult daughter, Anna, and four cats. When she’s not writing, Pam enjoys spending time with her grands, reading, quilting, gardening, cooking, playing the piano, Bible study, and walking long country roads where she discovers fairy homes, emerging dragons, and trees eating wood gnomes.
It was a fun event! Great recap!
I agree with Marci. Great day and wonderful recap. Thanks, Pam!!