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Have you ever been grappling with your creative work, but found yourself hitting a wall?

Here’s the thing — sometimes you push through a wall. And sometimes, you need to reset your mind so that you can attack the problem with fresh eyes. That’s where Joke in a Box  (Andrews McMeel Publishing) comes in.

Designed as an at-home version of New Yorker cartoonist Emily Flake’s popular workshop, Joke in a Box will provide a gateway into the craft of joke writing and construction, with modular prompts designed to help you see the world in a more playful and inventive way. Presented with care, empathy and a sense of joy, this 70-card deck full of exercises and ideas is useful not just to gag writing and drawing, but to any form that speaks to you as a creator. Exercises focus on idea generation techniques such as making lists to force comic juxtapositions, drawing exercises (why not mine your junk mail for visual reference and inspiration!), and encouragement.

Flake is a writer, illustrator and performer. She is active in the New York comedy scene, performing a mix of stand-up and cartooning at venues all over the city and beyond. She is also the founder of St. Nell’s, a humor writing residency and teaching institution.