How to put together a joke: or why mine isn't working

Putting together an effective joke is one of the hardest things for new comedians. How long do I wait for the punchline? Is it realistic enough? And, the most commonly asked question, why aren't people laughing? Well, don't sweat it, the main thing to remember us that comedy is often an experiment in what works and what doesn't. Another key, is exaggeration. Don't go all out with an exaggeration at the beginning of the joke, slowly build up, to a highly exaggerated version of reality. This is where people start to trip up. Going all out at the beginning is usually a no-no. Take it slow, hit the good stuff at the end.