How I Started Writing Cartoon Gags

I became interested in writing for newspapers in junior high. This interest continued in high school and college where I wrote news and features and became Co-Editor-in-Chief my senior year. After college, I was hired by a group of suburban newspapers where I was offered a job selling advertising space. I took the job and found out that I really enjoyed advertising sales. This became my full time career. However, my interest in writing never dimmed.

I was always interested in humor and while holding a full time sales job, balancing marriage and kids, I started writing one-liners on the side. I probably wrote thousands of them and sold them to publications that geared themselves to disc jockeys, public speakers and comedians. One day I looked at something I had written and decided it could be illustrated. It could be a cartoon! Now I don't draw, but this realization led me to study single-panel gag cartoons, specifically in The New Yorker, Harvard Business Review, Reader's Digest, Barrons and the Wall Street Journal. A collection of New Yorker cartoons going back to 1925 became my textbook, and this is how I learned how to write a cartoon gag. First, which situations were being used again and again (desert island, guru on mountain, husband and wife, prisoners, little old ladies, job interviews, etc.) Who was doing the talking. And, finally, how to write gags that were short and to the point. I had to edit, edit, edit.

I don't work for newspapers any longer and write gags full time. Currently, I write for the syndicated cartoons "Dennis the Menace," (Sunday and daily), "The Lockhorns" and "9 to 5." I've written for many others in the past. I also write for one New Yorker cartoonist right now and have written for several others. I read newspapers and magazines. (Yes, I have subscriptions...and home delivery!)  I regularly get my news from the TV, radio and online. I'm still learning, perfecting my writing skills and still selling.  

"Where I Get My Ideas"

The answer is: from many places. First of all, I read at least two newspapers every day plus follow the news on TV, radio and online. Of course I also have a subscription to The New Yorker. I think it's really important to know what's going on in the world. When I read I jot down words and phrases that can be used in my gags. Let's just say I have a lot of filled notebooks in my office, from writing gags for over 30 years.

I pay attention to what people say. What I say. When I hear a conversation that interests me, many times I can use part of it for a future gag. Since I have a skewed way of looking at things, I try to remember and write down my reactions to what people say or do. Many times I've written gags this way. The best humor is based on the truth. It's also really important that people can relate to the situation.

I'd also like to say that it's important to get out into the world. Be exposed to people, places and things. I get a lot of ideas from eating out in restaurants (something I love to do) which I believe is ripe for humor. It's important to see the humor in situations and then write it down. For example, in restaurants: high prices, snooty waiters, demanding customers and bad service. I've written tons of gags about dining out.  

Finally, I write about myself: my insecurities, my fears, my quirks. There's lots of material there.

Any comments? Contact me at: gagsbyhelene@gmail.com. Have a great week!

How I Taught Myself To Write Cartoon Gags

 I started out writing one-liners (jokes) for comedians, public speakers and broadcast personalities. After writing hundreds (thousands?) of them, one day I realized that one of my jokes could be illustrated and made into a single-panel cartoon. I don't draw, knew very little about creating single-panel cartoons but decided to explore this. 

I started by studying cartoons in The New Yorker, going back to 1925. I must have looked at thousands of cartoons, seeing patterns in location and who was talking to who. I found a lot of desert island cartoons, people seeking entry into heaven, husbands and wives, kids and pets, prisoners, gurus on mountains and the Grim Reaper. There were lots of business gags: job interviews, getting fired, nasty bosses, nasty co-workers. I also found tons of restaurant gags: high prices, nasty waiters, demanding diners and awful food.

Besides the New Yorker, I also studied cartoons in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Barrons and Saturday Evening Post. I was on my way.

I still study published cartoons. I still read several newspapers each day. I read the news online. I also try to be aware of what's going on around me, what I say, what I hear. It's all material for my gags.

Any comments? Email me at: gagsbyhelene@gmail.com