For his thirteenth book, Patrick McManus lets us inside the laughs. This guide, by one of the world's best-known and respected humorists, is an insightful and entertaining book for anyone who writes humor or has ever wanted to -- and for all those who have laughed along with Patrick McManus and wondered where the stories came from.McManus answers the practical and craft-oriented questions aspiring writers might ask: Short humor -- what is it and who cares? Why write for magazines? Does a first book author need an agent? What do you mean by "indirection" in a story? In addition, he includes ten of his funniest and most treasured stories -- including "The Big Trip", "The Night the Bear Ate Goombaw", and "Muldoon in Love" -- and provides commentary on the tales. Open and candid, he shares where the ideas for the stories originated, the various techniques he employed, and helpful hints and common pitfalls. Writers of all ages (not to mention fans of McManus) will enjoy this funny, revealing book.