Still got spots available in this workshop starting on the 18th!

I've also got just ONE spot left in my Tuesday afternoon advanced short humor workshop!

"If you were confused by my invitation, that’s on you. I said that I was throwing a party to watch 'the big game,' and I think any reasonable person would have understood that I was talking about watching a game of human chess." www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whe...

I'm in @mcsweeneys.net today writing about The Big Game

In this week's newsletter, @jamesfolta.com and I assembled funny writing by @jonjzeller.bsky.social, Hannah Roberts, and Andrew Wood in @mcsweeneys.net, and Emily Flake in @newyorker.com! Plus my upcoming workshops and a hangout I'm organizing in San Francisco! Check it out & subscribe 👇

I'll be teaching a webinar on translating between "serious" writing of law, news, analysis, etc. and short humor writing of McSweeney's style, in May for WritingWorkshops.com. Enroll below (spots are already filling up!).

because one (1) person asked for it here is a thread comparing the various governments of France from 1789 to the present as Arrested Development characters.

[Gen Z Nixon drunkenly rambling to a portrait of Kennedy in the White House at 3AM]: I'm crrrrrashing out

Do you know the number one thing you can do to help out 108.9 The Hawk? Spread the word. Tell your friends. If someone on Reddit, 80chan or anyone asks for a funny podcast, recommend The Hawk. Word of mouth helps us grow to do even more insane stuff in Val Verde.

Thrilled to be back in Slackjaw Humor today with this satire about one of patriarchy’s favorite apples of discord: the married name change! Should you change or keep your name when you get married? Either way, here’s why you’re wrong! (Free, and no need to subscribe) medium.com/slackjaw/the...

I've also got just ONE spot left in my Tuesday afternoon advanced short humor workshop!

Still got spots available in this workshop starting on the 18th!

For some reason, children's publishers and TV producers are uninterested in my self-esteem-building animal character, the Try-lobite.

Is it just me or have people become extremely materialistic lately? They think all their problems will be solved if they can just buy one more trinket or if you'll just pay them back the money you owe them for the tickets to Butter (a Korn cover band b/c you cover corn with butter)

Stunts and Yearning

In last week's newsletter @jamesfolta.com and I rounded up great writing by Tiffany Harris in @mcsweeneys.net, Cameron Vanderwerf in @wigleaf.bsky.social, and Jackie Halldorsson and Jason Garramone in @pointsincase.com. Check it out and subscribe 👇

Just TWO spots left in my advanced short humor writing workshop on Wednesday evenings in February and March! Writing from past workshops has gone on to be published by The New Yorker (print and online), McSweeney's, and more.

They're calling it "the Zarkorr challenge." Could your children be at risk?

My game Entropy Survivors is a daily deal on Steam 🐸🤖 You can get what is basically 3D Vampire Survivors with online co-op and customizable weapons for the price of a Dunkin Donuts coffee: store.steampowered.com/app/2602030/...

holy shit you guys. i am already plotting a National Treasure and/or Ocean’s Eleven scheme to steal this

In the old days I used to have to mail a family photo to Papa Johns with "make us this many pizza" written on the back

They shouldn't allow videos of podcasts. That content should get taken down

when people talk of 2016 nostalgia the only good thing i can think of is this clickhole.com/we-regret-to...

This actually happened! It says so in the bible! I just published in @SlackjawHumor It’s Getting Harder To Pretend Like My Boss’s Wife Isn’t A Pillar of Salt medium.com/slackjaw/its...

*clears throat* 🚨 MYSTERY TEAM is out today on collector’s edition Blu-Ray with a new 30 min making of doc and remastered sound and picture 🚨

In last week's newsletter @jamesfolta.com and I rounded up great writing by @jamesjmarino.bsky.social in @pointsincase.com, Amalia Ulman in @parisreview.bsky.social, Eddie Small in @newyorker.com, and Libby Marshall in Slackjaw. You can find it (and our complete archives) and subscribe below ⬇️

Bumping for the new followers

Read Richard Brody's essay on honorary award winner @screenslate.bsky.social for this year's New York Film Critics Circle gala program. #NYFCC

“When I speak about making our city more affordable, my vision is not limited to the homes that we live in or the child care that we’re making universal — it’s also a vision where we make it possible for working people to afford lives of joy, of art, of rest, of expression.”

And a gif

there are so few glowing orbs in adulthood. video games made me think there would be more

www.flag-division.com @lukevburns.bsky.social

Caught a perfect rainbow as I exited a store and then later thought to enhance

Not too shabby

Outlook for the new year ...

After a year of reading and a lot of deliberation, @lukevburns.bsky.social and I picked 15 pieces from 2025 we especially enjoyed, in @pointsincase.com @reductress.bsky.social @mcsweeneys.net @newyorker.com @parisreview.bsky.social & @vulture.com We also highlighted our best 2025 work! (1/3)

We just wrapped up posting @mcsweeneys.net's most-read pieces of 2025. Thanks again to our contributors and readers this year. I like everything we publish, of course, but I’d like to point out some great pieces that didn't receive as much attention. #McSweeneysHiddenGems2025

I don't know if it's my favorite, but this is the music video I think about the most.

🎶Then how the Na'vi loved him as they shouted out with glee Sully the Toruk Makto You'll go down in history🎶

Had an absolute blast with this Time Out exclusive: 'Die Hard' screenwriter @stevenedesouza.bsky.social ranking 10 'Die Hard'-inspired action flicks www.timeout.com/news/10-die-...

i feel like this from roosevelt's 1942 state of the union address still works as a mantra today for our fight

I've got THREE spots left in my Thursday afternoon advanced short humor writing workshop starting January 8th! Get a jump on those new year writing resolutions, meet other funny folks, write three drafts, and practice giving notes and feedback to others.

All credit to Luke for keeping this list of sentences all year -- it's great and a fun way to reflect on a year of writing!

🎶🔔 "SILVER BELLS... SILVER BELLS... IT'S CHILL-OUT TIME FOR McSWEENEY'S..." 🔔 🎶

In the latest Newsletter of Humorous Writing subscription edition, @jamesfolta.com & I rounded up some of our favorite sentences from pieces & articles published in 2025 Support the newsletter by becoming a paying subscriber and get access to this article + our entire archive of premium editions

Michael Mann realizing that as soon as he wraps Heat 2 that he’ll need to start production on The Insider 2

theatrical release for mid-budget movies in 2026!

A Christmas Carol (1951)