Erma Home Schooling
“When humor goes, there goes civilization.” — Erma Bombeck
In a time when the world feels increasingly divided, humor has the power to bridge differences and remind us of our shared humanity. Think of it as your emotional support animal.
Learn the craft of humor writing — from finding your comedic voice to mastering timing, structure and tone. Discover how to use humor to connect, heal and help readers laugh at life’s everyday, universal moments.
Because in a world that could use more laughter, your words matter.
(Writers can access the live-streamed keynotes and special sessions March 26-28, 2026, or listen to the recordings later at their convenience. The recordings will be available at least for one year.)
Kelly Corrigan
Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize. She is the author of six novels with a seventh, Tell Two Friends, launching June 2026. She writes about women who do too much in a world that asks too much from them. She teaches creative writing at Drexel University in its low-residency master’s program and has held positions at Miami University and Southern New Hampshire University in their creative writing programs. Garvin is the founder of the 
Sona Movsesian is an author and media personality. The personal assistant of late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien since 2009, she has been featured in show segments, including as a guest in 2019. She and O’Brien traveled to Armenia for an hourlong Conan Without Borders special. Movsesian has co-hosted the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend since 2018. In 2022, she released a humorous how-to book, The World’s Worst Assistant, which became a New York Times bestseller. She is currently working on her second book, The World’s Worst Mom, expected to be published in 2026.
notable book of 2016; The Editor, named by NPR as one of the best books of 2019; The Guncle, a Goodreads choice awards finalist for 2021 novel of the year and winner of the 22nd Thurber Prize for American Humor; The Celebrants, a Today show Read With Jenna Book Club pick; The Guncle Abroad, an instant USA Today bestseller and a semi-finalist for the 2026 Thurber Prize for American Humor; and The Dogs of Venice. His newest novel, Take Me With You, arrives in May 2026. His fiction has been published in 20 languages. Originally from Portland, Maine, he is a graduate of Emerson College and resides in Palm Springs, California, with his husband, the writer Byron Lane, and two rescue dogs.
Bestselling novelist 
McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Texas Monthly, various other outlets and many anthologies. She is the author of the middle-grade book Ginger Mancino, Kid Comedian and the humorous memoir I’m Wearing Tunics Now. Her humor pieces have been performed by actresses including Uzo Aduba, Sharon Horgan and Alison Brie. Aarons’ eponymous blog was named “Funniest Parenting Blog” by Parents magazine, and she was named most entertaining writer at a Mom 2.0 Summit. She speaks on and teaches humor writing to children and adults and lives in Austin, Texas.
Roots: Reimagining a Life Through Humor, a Castle, and the US Navy. She was a humor columnist for eight years and is a three-time winner of the James Thurber Writing Contest. Brown is a sought-after speaker and emcee. Her presentations and performances combine poignancy, humor, reflection and nostalgia. She sees her mission in life as raising spirits, spreading laughter and touching hearts, minds and souls.
and articles for The Onion, The New Yorker, Reductress and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. His first print comedy writing credits appear in How To Stay Productive When the World Is Ending, named to the Vulture list “Best Comedy Books of 2023.” His comedy has been featured in New York magazine, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Overheard New York, Buzzfeed, Betches, Distractify, CanvasRebel and more. He is a founding staff writer and performs for the news comedy show Going Down With Ella Yurman. He has performed stand-up and sketch in national and international comedy festivals, including the New York Comedy Fest, Edinburgh Fringe and Philly SketchFest. He produces the DaF & The Onion writing workshop series in Chicago and teaches humor and satire writing at Brooklyn Comedy Collective.
received the Saroyan Prize for International Literature from Stanford University. Her other recent books include All Skate: True Tales from Middle Life and They Write Your Name on a Grain of Rice: On Cancer, Love, and Living Even So. Her work has been published in The New York Times (Modern Love), The Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, Vol. 1 Brooklyn and elsewhere. For two years, her column, "Let Yourself Go" — influenced by Erma Bombeck — ran in Pittsburgh Magazine. A former international flight attendant, Jakiela directs the writing program at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, teaches in the doctoral program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and leads community workshops. For four years, she co-directed the Summer Writers Festival at the Chautauqua Institution.