Write some jokes Most jokes are based on the setup and punch line formula. Lists The magic number in comedy is 3. The first two are alike, but the third is the opposite. Comparisons Pointing out vast differences. Simile Describing something by likening it to something else.
Observations Pointing out how absurd everyday life is.
Callback A joke with a punch line that refers to a joke you did earlier in your set. You won't use all these formats in your routine, and there are many others, but they're a good foundation from which to work. Two other good reference books are How to Be a Working Comic and Zen and the Art of Stand-Up Comedy . After you've written your jokes, try to make the setups shorter. The average comedy club audience's attention span is very short.