Instructor Sarah Garfinkel is a writer, educator, editor, and writing coach. She has been a regular humor contributor to The New Yorker since 2019. Her writing is also frequently featured in McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Electric Literature, and The Rumpus, where she served on the editorial team. Sarah has taught creative nonfiction, fiction, humor, and opinion writing at Harvard University, Columbia University, and global nonprofits. She delights in coaching experienced and emerging writers. Sarah received her Master's in Education in Language and Literacy from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She lives in Google Docs and also San Francisco.

Who is this one-on-one mentorship for?

This one-on-one humor writing mentorship is for writers who are eager to craft short humor pieces in the style of top publications like The New Yorker and McSweeney's. Whether you're new to humor writing or looking to refine your comedic voice, all levels are welcome.

What to expect:

This mentorship is for writers who are serious about getting silly. You'll spend three months reading and writing funny pieces in the style of The New Yorker's Shouts and Murmurs, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and other beloved humor publications.

Read like a humor writer. Read closely and voraciously to the point of becoming an encyclopedia of contemporary humor and satire. Observe and analyze patterns, from the techniques and joke structures within individual pieces to the topics and formats of humor columns and publications. Tightrope-walk the line between writing something that fits a publication while being fresh, new, and uniquely you. It's possible—I promise!

Draft like an improviser. Generate ideas through writing exercises and experiment with variations of jokes. Let your observations flow through you; soon you'll be pausing mid-conversation because you simply must write down a funny thought before it flies out of your head.

Revise like an editor. Learn to discern if the structure of your piece fits your comedic premise. Absorb feedback and make thoughtful choices with the goal of delighting future readers. Polish each piece until it is its best, shiniest, funniest self.

What are the writing goals?

Each month, you’ll brainstorm ideas, write two full drafts of humor pieces, and write a reflection on your process. You’ll also giggle through writing exercises and funny assigned readings. 

During this mentorship, you will: 

• Learn to name and play with humor writing conventions and techniques
• Implement feedback that will make your writing sparkle with wit
• Work closely with an experienced and supportive mentor who will help you develop a plan to reach your goals and demystify the submission process
• Become a close reader of written humor and an observer of funny/wacky/absurd things happening around you every day
  

By the end of this mentorship, you will:

• Write up to six submission-ready humor pieces
• Generate additional ideas for pieces to write, so you can keep the momentum going
• Receive personalized prompts, feedback, and encouragement that you can return to if you’re ever feeling stuck in the future
• Develop a repeatable process for brainstorming, drafting, and revising that you can keep using beyond the mentorship 
• Grow as a humor writer, honing your unique style, voice, and taste

What kind of feedback will students receive?

Students receive extensive feedback via Zoom (or phone) coaching sessions and in writing. For written feedback, each piece you submit receives big-picture notes on structure, comedic premise, and themes, along with paragraph- and sentence-level notes on word choice, heightening, and more. You'll also receive suggestions for fine-tuning jokes while maintaining your authentic style. During monthly hour-long Zoom or phone coaching sessions, you can chat about the written feedback, pieces you're revising, or ideas for new pieces. You can also ask about submitting, publishing, or any other goals.

What Past Students Say:

“Sarah is a phenomenal teacher. With her help, I landed my humor pieces in The New Yorker’s Shouts and Murmurs and McSweeney’s. She's also just a really great person. Her feedback is invaluable; it’s astute, detailed, supportive, and always kind. Sarah sees the big picture and knows how to dial it in. She is extremely skilled at punching up jokes. ” -Viktoria Shulevich

“Sarah helped me with the first pieces I got published in McSweeney's and Reductress. She's so great at sorting through my tangled piles of thoughts and figuring out the joke I'm trying to make.” -Katie Burgess

“Sarah is such a smart, savvy editor who you can feel rooting for you through the screen. Every piece I've ever sent to Sarah for help has gone on to be published in McSweeney's, so you should probably hire her! She is patient and gentle in a way that boosts my confidence while also being assertive enough to get my writing back on track when I've made some missteps. Writing, comedy writing in particular, can be intimidating and competitive, so if you're just getting started, Sarah will give you the practical tools and encouragement you need to break through the uncertainty and achieve your writing goals.” -Leslie Ylinen

Readings

Students will read numerous forms and styles of short humor from publications such as The New Yorker's Shouts and Murmurs, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Points in Case, Slackjaw, and Weekly Humorist. You'll develop a reading list in partnership with your mentor, who will share personalized recommendations over the course of the mentorship.

COURSE OUTLINE

Month 1:

Week 1: Introductory set of brainstorming activities

Week 2: Initial 1-hour consultation and coaching session over Zoom/phone with mentor

Week 3: Coaching session over Zoom/phone with mentor

Week 4: Packet 1 due (two written drafts, completed writing exercises, and a reflection letter)

Month 2:

Week 1: Written feedback returned

Week 2: 1-hour Zoom/phone coaching session with mentor

Week 3: Packet 2 due (two written drafts, completed writing exercises, and a reflection letter)

Week 4: Written feedback returned

Month 3:

Week 1: Written feedback returned

Week 2: 1-hour Zoom/phone coaching session with mentor 

Week 3: Packet 3 due (two written drafts, completed writing exercises, and a reflection letter)

Week 4: Written feedback returned

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• Write up to six submission-ready humor pieces for publications like The New Yorker and McSweeney's
• Learn to name and play with humor writing conventions and techniques
• Develop a repeatable process for brainstorming, drafting, and revising humor pieces
• Receive personalized prompts, feedback, and encouragement to reference beyond the mentorship
• Become a close reader of written humor and a keen observer of the absurd in everyday life
• Gain clarity on the submission process and strategies for getting published

More Testimonials

“Sarah is an amazing editor! Her notes are constructive, supportive, and just so dang smart. Sarah's feedback always helps me take my drafts to the next level, while also making me feel good about the work I've already done. She takes the time to provide incredibly thoughtful comments, both line by line and in terms of the bigger picture of the piece. She always respects my voice and vision as an author, and gears her feedback towards helping me achieve my goals. Sarah also goes above and beyond in her communication: asking follow up questions about the inspo for a piece, checking in to see how the submission process is going, and reaching out when she sees I published something new. I'd recommend working with Sarah to anyone who wants to improve their short humor writing and learn more about the craft from an absolute delight of a human.” -Miriam Jayaratna

“Sarah has such a sharp eye when it comes to seeing what's working with a humor piece and where it can be tweaked to make it even stronger. But even more importantly, she approaches her notes with the kindness and encouragement of your favorite teacher. After getting feedback from her, I'm always left feeling excited and empowered to make revisions. She has the rare ability to see what you're trying to do as a writer and help you get there without sacrificing the initial inspiration or vision. With one humor piece of mine in particular, I still remember how Sarah pointed out a tiny, utilitarian phrase where she saw an opportunity for a punch up — it was a part that wouldn't have been on my radar at all. But that note inspired me to come up with something unique that built on the premise. And, in fact, when that piece got an acceptance from my goal publication, the editor pointed it out as one of her favorite lines.” -Danielle Kraese

“Sarah is so good at 1) figuring out what a writer is trying to do with a piece, 2) coming up with concrete, achievable ways for the writer to do that even better, and 3) giving her suggestions in clear, encouraging ways. She seems to run pieces through her special "Sarah filter" and notices if something doesn't quite make logical sense or is confusing -- in ways that are exactly right but never occurred to me -- and then provides helpful ways to make that little confusing/illogical area make sense. Sarah will make your work better!” -Kerry Elson

“Sarah is a brilliant writer and a thoughtful, generous, sharp editor. She's helped me improve so many pieces with her helpful notes and questions, and she leads with kindness and curiosity. One of my favorite things about Sarah (as a writer, editor, and human) is her genuine curiosity for others and their stories. She will help you improve your piece just by her sheer interest in what you have to say and her wholehearted dedication to the art of language and storytelling. The humor essay I'm most proud of is the one Sarah helped me workshop over and over. Her patience and attention are remarkable. Sarah is present, reliable, and enthusiastic, which is such a gift. I couldn't recommend her more.” -Cristabelle García

"Working with Sarah is a treat! She offers edits that are kind, insightful, and completely spot-on. Her notes elevate my writing while staying true to my voice, and I've placed short-form conceptual humor pieces in big publications as a result of her feedback. Plus, she is a delight to work with." -Ali Solomon