Joke in a Box: How to Write and Draw Jokes

A 70-card creativity deck from award-winning New Yorker cartoonist Emily Flake, filled with playful writing and drawing prompts that help cartoonists, humor writers, and other creators generate fresh ideas and move beyond creative blocks.

Every creative person eventually hits a wall. Joke in a Box gives you a new way around it.

Adapted from Emily Flake’s popular humor workshop, this interactive deck offers modular exercises designed to spark jokes, cartoons, stories, illustrations, and unexpected connections. Draw a card whenever you need a starting point, combine multiple prompts for a greater challenge, or work through the deck as part of a regular creative practice.

Presented with warmth, humor, and encouragement, the cards help creators silence perfectionism, see familiar subjects differently, and follow surprising ideas wherever they lead.

• Includes 70 modular cards filled with exercises, prompts, and creative encouragement from award-winning cartoonist Emily Flake
• Uses list-making, comic juxtaposition, drawing, and observation exercises to help writers through creative blocks
• Flexible enough for solo practice, classes, workshops, or creative groups
• An inventive creative companion for cartoonists, comedy writers, illustrators, storytellers, students

Strengthen your humor practice and see the world in a more playful and inventive way.