Summary

The 2020 Slackjaw Humor Writing Challenge offered humor writers the chance to win cash prizes totaling $2,450, publication on Medium's Slackjaw, and feedback from esteemed comedy writers.

Abstract

The 2020 Slackjaw Humor Writing Challenge was an initiative by Slackjaw, Medium's most-read humor publication, aimed at supporting humor writers by providing a platform for their work and an opportunity to win significant cash prizes. With over 107,000 followers, Slackjaw sought to build upon the success of their 2019 challenge by inviting writers to submit their funniest pieces. The challenge emphasized the importance of generating multiple ideas, seeking feedback, and refining drafts, following the practices of renowned comedy institutions like The Onion and The Second City. The competition featured a panel of distinguished judges from the comedy writing industry, including writers for NBC, The Onion, and The New Yorker. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three winners, with first place receiving $1,000, and finalists each receiving$ 100. Additionally, winning entries were published on Slackjaw and promoted across various platforms. The challenge ran from March 25 to April 30, 2020, with winners announced in early May. Although the challenge has concluded, interested participants are encouraged to join an interested list for future events.

Opinions

The organizers believe in the value of community feedback and iterative writing processes to enhance humor pieces.
The challenge was designed to encourage high-quality, well-crafted humor writing, with an emphasis on sharp wit.
The judges, who are experienced comedy writers, are likely to appreciate humor that adheres to a "proven formula" involving idea generation and rewriting.
The prizes, particularly the cash awards, are seen as significant incentives for participants, reflecting the publication's commitment to supporting humor writers.
The promotion of winning entries on Slackjaw and other platforms is viewed as a substantial opportunity for exposure and recognition in the humor writing community.
The challenge's success in 2019, with 380 completions, suggests a positive reception and expectation for the 2020 event.
The option to be published as a paid Medium Partner Program piece for honorable mentions indicates a supportive environment for emerging writers.

2020 Slackjaw Humor Writing Challenge

$2,450 in cash prizes and bragging rights to the winners.

The 2020 Slackjaw Humor Writing Challenge has ended! You can read all the winning entries here.

Slackjaw is Medium’s most-read humor publication — with more than 107,000 followers — and we want your funny writing! We also want to support humor writers, and aspiring writers, everywhere.

Our 2019 Humor Writing Challenge was a big success, with 380 people completing the Challenge. So we’ve decided to bring it back for 2020.

Challenges need awesome prizes, and we’ve got more than $2,450 in cash prizes for the winners, plus the chance to get your work in front of our judging panel of comedy writers for NBC, The Onion, and The New Yorker.

We don’t just want any old humor. We want sharp, well-crafted writing where you follow a proven formula:

Generate multiple ideas and use only the funniest.
Get outside your own head by sharing your rough draft with another writer.
Sharpen your draft based on feedback.

These principles are practiced religiously at places like The Onion and taught in top comedy writing schools like The Second City.

In this Challenge, we’re going to have you follow a precise idea-generating and re-writing formula to craft a hilarious humor piece. And we’re going to give you the support of our Slackjaw writing community, so you’re sure to get the help and feedback you need.

On to the prizes!

Prizes

1ST PLACE: $1,000 cash prize, to be spent, invested in cryptocurrencies, or squandered as you see fit.
2ND PLACE: $500 cash prize, to purchase a mid-tier electric guitar, or put a down payment on a 2005 Toyota Echo.
3RD PLACE: $250 cash prize, to purchase two-dozen pints of small-batch, handcrafted, overpriced bodega ice creams.
FINALISTS: $100 cash prize each, to be spent on some elegant hardcover books or premium personal hygiene products.
All winning pieces will be published on Slackjaw, promoted to our email list of 30,000+ people, and promoted all over social media and internally on Medium.
Incredible, mind-boggling bragging rights to all winners.

Honorable mentions:

Are eligible to be published in Slackjaw as paid (Medium Partner Program) pieces and promoted on Medium in the “Humor” topic.

Challenge Dates

March 25–31: Opt-in period. Join the challenge.
April 1: The Challenge opens! If you opted-in, we’ll email you the instructions to do the Challenge.
April 1 - April 30: The Challenge is live. Get writing. You can still opt-in during this period.
April 30: Last day to submit your entry.
Early May: We will start announcing the winners and publishing the winning pieces on Slackjaw!

Meet Your Judges

These fine folks will pick the winners…

Wendi Aarons (McSweeney’s, The New Yorker, US Weekly): @WendiAarons
Evan Waite (Sunnyside, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The President Show, The Onion, MAD Magazine, McSweeney’s, The New Yorker): @TheOhBits
sarah james (Reductress, The Toast, Slackjaw): @cryingbaseball
and yours truly, Alex Baia (McSweeney’s, The New Yorker, Slackjaw): @al_baia

→ The Challenge is Closed. Join The Interested List!

The 2020 Slackjaw Humor Writing Challenge is now closed. Join the Interested List, and, as soon as we do the next one you’ll be the first to know.

Click here, and opt-in to the Interested List with your best email.

We will start publishing the winning pieces from the 2020 Challenge on Slackjaw in early May. It’s going to be amazing.

Alex Baia, Slackjaw editor