Holly Rizzuto Palker’s journey with The Writers Circle started back in 2012 as a student. Since then, she embarked on a career as a writer, editor, podcast host, and stand-up comic. Now, she’s TWC’s newest instructor, helping others learn the craft of humor writing.
“Even though I’m teaching, I’ll never stop taking classes with TWC because I believe I’ll never stop learning more about the writing craft,” Palker said. “TWC has been there for my journey.”
Here, Palker shares how she literally fell into her own funny, what to do when a joke flops, and offers practical advice for delivering a punchline.
How did you get into stand-up comedy?
I registered for the Erma Bombeck Comedy Writing conference in 2024, and entered their stand-up contest called Erma’s Got Talent. I placed as a runner-up, which allowed me to perform in the stand-up show at the conference. The experience was exhilarating. When I returned to New Jersey, I was selected to compete in another comedy contest called Ladies of Laughter, where I performed a set at the South Orange Performing Arts Center. Although I didn’t place as a finalist, I was bitten by the comedy bug. After that, I took a local stand-up class and attended open-mic nights. I thought, why can’t I start my own troupe so I can do this all the time? After all, I started writing and performing in my basement as a kid by forcing my family to be my audience and my cousins to perform my theatrical works. So, I thought, even if it was just family and friends who came, it would just be a grown up version of my basement shows. My mom knew this idea was brewing so she suggested reaching out to the owner of The Vintage Tea in Staten Island, that they should hire The Mom Coms for our first gig. And that’s how we got our start, performing comedy at a tea house, of all places. And our audience included strangers (not just family and friends) who loved the show. Thanks, Mom!
When did you realize/know you were funny?
When I was in 4th grade, I solo tap danced in a school talent show. I flap-ball-changed onto the super slippery stage because there wasn’t any resin for my tap shoes. As I performed, I slid all over the stage and even fell a few times! Embarrassed, I kept a smile glued to my face because quitting in the middle of a performance wasn’t an option in my mind. When I curtsied, the crowd applauded, stood up, and laughed simultaneously. Oddly, my embarrassment dissipated as I realized I made them laugh, even if it was at my own expense. It’s difficult to explain, but I could tell the audience was supportive, and they weren’t laughing in a mean-spirited way. They laughed because they related to the fact that I persevered under the pressure in this absurd situation. I liked making them laugh. Is that twisted?
What’s a common misconception about writing humor?
That it’s easy and/or low-brow.
What advice do you have for writers who might not see themselves as funny or who write about serious subjects?
I believe humor is one of the most complex forms of literary art because it’s difficult to execute. Humor requires timing and the ability to tell a story in the fewest words possible. Because humor often tackles serious subjects with relatability, it is nuanced. If you don’t think you’re funny, but you write about serious subjects well, then you’re equipped to be funny. Everyone is funny! The key is to stop trying to be funny, and just be yourself (or your character). You already possess the expertise. Now you just need to plug in some different techniques to make it work.
How do you handle a joke that flops (IRL or on the page)?
It’s easier when a joke flops on the page than in real life. If it doesn’t work on the page, I can just edit the joke. When a joke falls flat IRL, I have to think in the moment and improvise. Luckily for me, I enjoy the feeling of “falling without a net” on stage. I know, it’s weird. I’ve taken improv classes with The Groundlings and improv rap classes with Freestyle Love Supreme, so I try to employ techniques I’ve learned. One important technique to follow is taking whatever the audience gives you, addressing it instead of rejecting it, and then moving on. But it is easier said than done, and there are times that I’m unable to make it work, I feel awkward, and I move on, admitting to the audience that I’m thrown.
How can you tell if humor is landing on the page if there’s no audience laughing back?
Sometimes it is hard to tell if humor is landing on the page because you know the joke so well in your mind that you fill in the blanks. But you could be missing an element that connects the reader. Whether it is a small detail, the order in which you present the meat of the humor, or wonky sentence structure, the only way that I’ve found helps is to read the bit to another person. Sometimes I read to my 12-year-old to judge how the joke hits. I need to understand why it is or isn’t working. She doesn’t need to laugh hysterically, but her reaction usually provides clues, and I even ask her questions about the joke. For me, all writing is a collaborative process at some point along the way.
Tell us about some writers who make you laugh and why? Who shapes the way you think about the craft of comedy?
I love Tina Fey. She is hysterical as a writer, comedian, and actress. I loved her memoir, Bossy Pants, because it was so relatable. Some of the books I relate to most simply have humorous moments, even if they are more serious in nature. That’s life, right? I gravitate towards women’s fiction in general because the genre does that well. Jennifer Weiner is The Queen. I fangirled over getting to interview her a few years ago for Literary Mama. I think her work illustrates employing humor but tackling more serious situations. As a comedian, I love Sebastian Maniscalco and his Italian-Jewish subject matter. His life is the male version of mine.
Do you practice humor writing?
Yes. I always practice my writing on a weekly basis. I write essays, work on my novel, and write joke sets all the time. I also keep an ongoing list of situations I encounter that might be funny or could be fleshed out into jokes in my phone’s notes app.
If you had to offer one piece of advice on writing funny, what would it be?
Write humor with a strong P.O.V, a distinct voice, and with detail rather than in generalities. Jokes spring forth from a kernel of truth or something relatable. Practicing these writing skills has made it easier for me to conceive of and deliver jokes that land.
Holly Rizzuto Palker is an award-winning writer and journalist, an editor at Literary Mama, a co-host of the podcast, This Mama is Lit!, a board member and Secretary of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), a former freelance editor at Your Teen Magazine and a mom. She enjoys acting and stand-up comedy. She is the founder, producer and a proud member of The Mom Coms stand-up comedy troupe. Her essays and articles appear in Parents, The New York Daily News, The Independent, Newsday, Literary Mama, Kveller, Huffington Post, Your Teen Magazine, Psycom, and more.
