How to be funny on Twitter

Stone and Spear

This article was taken from the September 2012 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online

In 2009, writer Justin Halpern started writing down the shit his father said, and putting it on Twitter (@shitmydadsays). The account now has three million followers and he has a book deal. He explains how to wind up the ROFL-copter on the site.

Decide if you're funny
The first question you should ask yourself is: am I funny in real life? "If you answered yes, then the answer is probably no," Halpern says. "I've never met a funny person who describes themselves as funny."

Don't  force it
"Twitter is like sex: if you try and force it, it turns people off." So if you have an observation or joke, and it comes to you easily, tweet it. "If you struggle with it for hours upon hours, a) what are you doing with your life?, and b) maybe it's not worth it."

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