Punchier:
A two-night interactive workshop on revising comedic dialogue for page and screen
August 6 & 13, 2025
8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific)
Why Punchier?
In these uncertain and often weighty times, there’s a growing call—from publishers, producers, and streamers alike—for work that makes us laugh, even within drama. PUNCHIER is a two-night interactive workshop designed to help you revise and refine your dialogue to land stronger, funnier, and smarter.
Whether you're writing for the page or screen, this workshop will help you sharpen your comedic instincts and punch up your lines without losing heart or depth. We'll work live (with breakouts, readings, and a bit of homework between sessions), because the magic happens in the room. That said, a recording will be available if you can’t make it—but we’d much rather have you there, laughing and learning with us in real time.
The best way to get the funny flowing is to be in the funny. That’s why we’ll be screening ten carefully chosen clips from classic comedies and dramedies—including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; Planes, Trains and Automobiles; Bridesmaids; Dumb and Dumber; Terms of Endearment; and The Graduate. Each clip, drawn largely from work the instructors have had a hand in, will anchor one of the ten cardinal rules for writing—and revising—stronger, funnier dialogue. These moments will spark discussion, and remind us that great comedy always starts with character.
Cast of Bridesmaids and Soapdish.
THIS IS HOW THE TWO NIGHTS WILL UNFOLD
Night One: The 5 Cardinal Rules of Funny Dialogue
Theme: Comedy Comes from Character
In this first session, we’ll explore how authentic, character-driven humor emerges from well-crafted dialogue. Through guided discussion, live examples, and group work through virtual breakout rooms, we’ll unpack the five core principles behind funny writing:
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Truth Is Funny
Start with emotional or situational honesty. Real reactions are the funniest. -
Surprise Is Everything
Subvert expectations. Take the left turn, not the obvious one. -
Rhythm Rules
Dialogue is music. Pay attention to beats, pauses, and flow. -
Specificity Is Hilarious
Swap the general for the precise. The detail is the punchline. -
Characters Create the Comedy
Jokes only land if they come from character truth. No shoehorning.
And to keep the workshop flowing in funny, we will screen clips from The Graduate, Bridemaids, Soapdish, and Dumb and Dumber, among others.
Tootsie / Dumb and Dumber
Night Two: The 5 Cardinal Rules of Rewriting Comedy
Theme: The Rewrite Is Where the Funny Lives
Now that the foundation is set, we’ll dive into the real alchemy: revision. This session is all about sharpening, trimming, and shaping your work to make it land better—and funnier. We’ll cover these rules:
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Trim the Fat
Cut every unnecessary word. Brevity makes the joke punchier. -
Set Up Earlier
Rework the context. A good setup makes a great payoff. -
Punch Last, Not First
Save the funniest word or image for the end of the sentence. -
Keep It in Character
If the joke doesn’t sound like your character, it will clang. -
Sharpen the Surprise
Rethink the obvious. If they see it coming, it isn’t funny.
This second night will include clips from Terms of Endearment, Tootsie, Barbie, and the timeless Philadelphia Story.
What to Expect
This is a hands-on, high-energy workshop built for writers who want to laugh, learn, and level up. Each night includes live instruction, spirited breakout sessions, and the chance to share your work with fellow writers. You’ll receive a beautifully designed takeaway PDF summarizing the ten cardinal rules—and yes, it includes the all-important Joke Killer Checklist, the secret sauce for catching what’s dragging down the laugh.
Between sessions, you’ll be invited to revise or create a new comedic riff based on what you’ve learned. A few writers will be selected to read their updated pages aloud on Night Two, so bring your best—and be ready for big laughs and great notes.
On the set of Paramount’s Soapdish: Sally Field, Kevin Kline, AD Robert Bruce, director Michael Hoffman and David P. Kirkpatrick
The Instructors
Bennett Yellin
Bennett knows funny. For more than 30 years, he’s been writing for film and television with a gift for crafting unforgettable laughs and lovable oddballs. He co-wrote Dumb and Dumber with Peter and Bobby Farrelly—a comedy classic that’s still quoted, studied, and wildly beloved—and followed it up with the sequel, Dumb and Dumber To. Fun fact: David Kirkpatrick gave Bennett and the Farrelly brothers their very first paid screenwriting job. Since then, Bennett has built a career on turning good scenes into great ones, with sharp instincts, heart, and a deep love of the craft. He’s passionate about helping other writers bring out their funniest, most authentic work.
David Kirkpatrick
David knows funny, too. As a longtime Hollywood studio executive—president of Paramount Pictures and president of Production at Walt Disney Studios—David helped bring some of the most iconic comedies to the screen. He oversaw Paramount Studio’s exclusive deal with Eddie Murphy, leading to hits like Trading Places, 48 Hours, Coming to America, and the Beverly Hills Cop franchise. He also championed beloved films like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; Planes, Trains and Automobiles; and Soapdish. Now, as founder of Story Summit, David brings decades of industry experience—and a wicked sense of timing—to writers looking to sharpen their voices and find the funny in their work.
Ready to Get Punchier?
Sometimes your script or novel doesn’t need a page-one rewrite—it just needs a dozen great lines. A handful of sharp, surprising, character-driven moments can be the difference between almost and absolutely. Between a pass and a greenlight. Between being read... and being remembered.
Join us live for PUNCHIER, and let’s find the laughs that bring your work to life. You can sign up below.
What Your Takeaway Will Be
By the end of Punchier, you’ll walk away with more than just laughs—you’ll have a sharper ear, a stronger sense of comedic timing, and a deeper understanding of how to revise dialogue that truly sings. You’ll leave with:
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A printable PDF outlining the Ten Cardinal Rules of Funny and Rewriting.
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The Joke Killer Checklist, your go-to tool for tightening humor in every scene.
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Clear revision strategies that apply to screenplays, novels, memoirs, and beyond.
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And, perhaps most important, renewed confidence that humor belongs in your work—and that you can write it.
Today's Price Only $127 for 4 hours of instruction
Story Summit Membership subscribers receive this class at no additional cost. Just register and the discount will be applied automatically. Please make sure you're logged in to receive the discount. Not a subscriber yet? Join here.
Please note: Our classes are designed specifically for live participation, so your attendance is important. If you need to miss a class for any reason, you’ll receive a passcode-protected link to watch the recordings after the course is over.
A Peek at Our Past Virtual Classes
