“Now there is one outstandingly important fact regarding Spaceship Earth, and that is that no instruction book came with it.”

—Chapter 4 of “Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth” (1969)

In an ongoing attempt to jump-start your attempt to pen something uproariously funny, or at the very least amusing, here’s another jolt of inspiration for you creative types to use however you like.

It’s been a month since you received that IKEA Christmas gift from Grandma. You’ve opened the box and the parts all seem to be there. So why haven’t you assembled it? Maybe you’re having trouble reading the instructions?

For this prompt, write your own humorous instructions for any product. Proper usage of a bar of soap. How do you sneeze? Gene splicing? Teach us how to do something in the most ridiculous way possible. #HelpMePrompt

When you’ve finished, if you feel compelled, share your results (or a link to your results if they’re longer) in the comments. And if your story fits with our upcoming theme issue, “Winning,” consider submitting it for publication in National Pasquinade.

Happy writing.

 

“People watch three or four episodes at a time of their shows.”

—Idris Elba

In an ongoing attempt to jump-start your attempt to pen something uproariously funny, or at the very least amusing, here’s another jolt of inspiration for you creative types to use however you like.

Scripted television programs (and many unscripted “reality” programs) title each episode.

For this challenge, go to the Current Shows page on epguides.com. Pick any show listed and find an episode of that show that either (a) aired on your birthday in any year, or (b) the season and episode number match your birthday. For instance, if your birthday is December 3rd, the episode should have aired on 12/03 or the episode should be the third episode from season 12 (challenging when most shows only last a few seasons).

The title of this episode will be the title of your new funny story, preferably unrelated to the show or its characters. #EpisodesPrompt

When you’ve finished, if you feel compelled, share your results (or a link to your results if they’re longer) in the comments. And if your story fits with our upcoming theme issue, “Winning,” consider submitting it for publication in National Pasquinade.

Happy writing.

 

“I want to take all our best moments, put them in a jar, and take them out like cookies and savor each one of them forever.”

—Crystal Woods

In an ongoing attempt to jump-start your attempt to pen something uproariously funny, or at the very least amusing, here’s another jolt of inspiration for you creative types to use however you like.

This is the time of year for reflections. Find a published (internet or print media) Best of 2017 ranked list and look at the third item. This is the focus of your funny story. #EOYBOL

When you’ve finished, if you feel compelled, share your results (or a link to your results if they’re longer) in the comments. And if your story fits with our upcoming theme issue, “Winning,” consider submitting it for publication in National Pasquinade.

Happy writing.

 

“This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.”

—Morpheus (“The Matrix”)

In an ongoing attempt to jump-start your attempt to pen something uproariously funny, or at the very least amusing, here’s another jolt of inspiration for you creative types to use however you like.

You have a red pill. You have a green pill. Write a funny story that tells us what happens next? #RedPillGreenPill

When you’ve finished, if you feel compelled, share your results (or a link to your results if they’re longer) in the comments. And if your story fits with our upcoming theme issue, “Winning,” consider submitting it for publication in National Pasquinade.

Happy writing.

 

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

—Semisonic “Closing Time”

In an ongoing attempt to jump-start your attempt to pen something uproariously funny, or at the very least amusing, here’s another jolt of inspiration for you creative types to use however you like.

Pull any novel from your bookshelf (or eBook reader), any genre, and find the last sentence in the book. This final line is now the first sentence of the first paragraph of your new funny story. Ideally, this new story should have nothing to do with the original. #ClosingLine

When you’ve finished, if you feel compelled, share your results (or a link to your results if they’re longer) in the comments. And if your story fits with our upcoming theme issue, “Winning,” consider submitting it for publication in National Pasquinade.

Happy writing.

 

“Take away that pudding—it has no theme.”

—Sir Winston Churchill

Ten weeks ago, National Pasquinade began prompting you with themes from the last twenty years of the magazine. The challenge each week is to write a funny piece, based on the themes below, that could have appeared in the magazine during the issue’s time frame.

Time Frame: Summer 2014 through Winter 2015/2016. We’ve reached the end of our journey through time. Create a funny story, parody, or article based on one of the following themes:

• What I Did Last Summer and the Summer Before That
• The Very-Difficult-To-Read
• Hot Lead Death
• Disconnected
• The New Freedom
• Pandering
• Pasquinade For Dummies

Share your results, or a link to your results if they’re longer, in the comments, if you feel so compelled. If you’re especially satisfied with your results, why not submit your finished piece to National Pasquinade for its 20th Anniversary Issue? The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2017, if you pay attention to deadlines.Happy writing.

“Take away that pudding—it has no theme.”

—Sir Winston Churchill

Last month, National Pasquinade began prompting you with themes from the last twenty years of the magazine. The challenge each week is to write a funny piece, based on the themes below, that could have appeared in the magazine during the issue’s time frame.

Time Frame: Fall 2012 through Spring 2014. When the weddings were red and the lines were blurred. Create a funny story, parody, or article based on one of the following themes:

• Back To Work Special
• National Pasquinade: The Musical
• The Science of Science
• The Conjured
• Re-Doped
• Good ‘n’ Evil
• Forever

Share your results, or a link to your results if they’re longer, in the comments, if you feel so compelled. If you’re especially satisfied with your results, why not submit your finished piece to National Pasquinade for its 20th Anniversary Issue? The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2017, if you pay attention to deadlines.Happy writing.

“Take away that pudding—it has no theme.”

—Sir Winston Churchill

Last month, National Pasquinade began prompting you with themes from the last twenty years of the magazine. The challenge each week is to write a funny piece, based on the themes below, that could have appeared in the magazine during the issue’s time frame.

Time Frame: Winter 2010/2011 through Summer 2012. Oprah and Harry Potter went away and Charlie Sheen drank tiger blood. And NatPasq continued to churn out theme issues. Create a funny story, parody, or article based on one of the following themes:

• Closed For Renovations
• Wafer Thin
• Drunk and Stupid
• Rejected Monsters
• Flawed
• 99%
• The Fast and the Spurious

Share your results, or a link to your results if they’re longer, in the comments, if you feel so compelled. If you’re especially satisfied with your results, why not submit your finished piece to National Pasquinade for its 20th Anniversary Issue? The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2017, if you pay attention to deadlines.Happy writing.

“Take away that pudding—it has no theme.”

—Sir Winston Churchill

Last month, National Pasquinade began prompting you with themes from the last twenty years of the magazine. The challenge each week is to write a funny piece, based on the themes below, that could have appeared in the magazine during the issue’s time frame.

Time Frame: Spring 2009 through Fall 2010. Somebody’s got a new iPhone. Not you, of course, but somebody’s got one. Think of all the time you have to create some funny material for a humor magazine that nobody has heard of. Create a funny story, parody, or article based on one of the following themes:

• Home and Garden
• Hi-Def Digital
• Zombies, Zombies, Zombies
• Collector’s
• Wing and a Prayer
• All Fun and Games
• Thirteen

Share your results, or a link to your results if they’re longer, in the comments, if you feel so compelled. If you’re especially satisfied with your results, why not submit your finished piece to National Pasquinade for its 20th Anniversary Issue? The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2017, if you pay attention to deadlines.Happy writing.