The hottest Comedy Writing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Humor Topics

The 4 types of men, quiet quitting, and impressions

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 570 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
😂 Humor Comedy Writing
  1. A highlights reel of short comedy bits from the past year covers topics like the four types of men, quiet quitting, impressions, and other quick jokes.
  2. There’s a focus on standup clips and short-form comedy, with a top-10 YouTube Shorts list and ways to follow more on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
  3. Subscribers are promised extra bonus content and a one-year 20% New Year’s discount, and readers are invited to give feedback or share the pieces they like.

Yes, I Power-Capitalize

I Might Be Wrong • 7 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
😂 Humor Comedy Writing
  1. Capitalizing words for effect is a conscious stylistic tool to emphasize meaning and cue readers that a joke or special tone is intended.
  2. Traditional grammar rules are useful but can be bent in comedy because visual cues like capitalization and italics help control cadence and make punchlines clearer.
  3. Writers who produce frequent humorous pieces use tools like power-capitalization to make jokes land and accept that grammar purists may object.

What I Learned By Writing...Oh My God...a THOUSAND Posts

I Might Be Wrong • 8 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
😂 Humor Comedy Writing
  1. Consistent output usually comes from pressure and habit rather than waiting for inspiration. Deadlines and the fear of falling behind can motivate steady publishing.
  2. Monetizing content matters: paywalls and subscriptions are effective ways to turn writing into income. Giving everything away for free makes it harder to build a sustainable business.
  3. Writing is hard and the blank page is intimidating, and many creators feel that struggle. Recognizing that this is normal makes it easier to keep going.

REPOST: Steve Martin's "Holiday Wish" Monologue is Perfect Comedy Writing

I Might Be Wrong • 9 implied HN points • 25 Dec 25
😂 Humor Comedy Writing
  1. Great sketches follow three clear steps: establish the funny premise or "game," heighten it with escalating beats, and blow it out with an absurd, decisive finish.
  2. Specificity and escalation matter — pick vivid, increasingly extreme examples in the right order so each beat builds on and tops the last.
  3. Tight, efficient writing can carry a sketch by itself: mine the premise fully, avoid filler, and end strong, while delivery simply amplifies the writing.

Steve Martin's "Holiday Wish" Monologue is Perfect Comedy Writing

I Might Be Wrong • 23 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
😂 Humor Comedy Writing
  1. Steve Martin's monologue is a great example of comedy because it uses clever writing without relying on props or impressions. It's just him talking, and that's what makes it timeless.
  2. The structure of the monologue follows a clear pattern: it sets up a funny idea, builds on it, and then escalates to an unexpected and absurd conclusion. This keeps the audience engaged and laughing.
  3. Good comedy writing is efficient; it gets to the funny part quickly, develops it well, and finishes strong without extra fluff. Martin excels at this in his performance.
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