Luke Burns
@lukevburns.bsky.social
Writing funny stuff/weird stuff. New Yorker, McSweeney's, NY Mag, etc. Translator of MASTERS OF THE NEFARIOUS, on shelves now. https://lukevburns.tumblr.com/writing (He/Him) Header image by Lucas Adams
Pinned
Luke Burns
@lukevburns.bsky.social
· Mar 12
Today's the day! Masters of the Nefarious, the comic I translated for @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social, is on shelves NOW.
Check out this excerpt on @mcsweeneys.bsky.social and then go grab your copy!
Check out this excerpt on @mcsweeneys.bsky.social and then go grab your copy!
An Excerpt from Pierre La Police’s Classic Comic Masters of the Nefarious
- - -Masters of the Nefarious is a cult classic comic by the pseudonymous French artist Pierre La Police. It’s being published for the first time ...
www.mcsweeneys.net
MASTERS OF THE NEFARIOUS was published one year ago today! Gonna do a little thread with some of the very nice things people have said about it...
Reposted by Luke Burns
This event is insane
February 16, 2026 at 10:09 PM
This event is insane
Reposted by Luke Burns
these owls about to drop the greatest britpop LP of 1998
February 16, 2026 at 4:06 AM
these owls about to drop the greatest britpop LP of 1998
Reposted by Luke Burns
Nancy By Ernie Bushmiller
February 15,1950
February 15,1950
February 15, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Nancy By Ernie Bushmiller
February 15,1950
February 15,1950
Reposted by Luke Burns
In this week's newsletter, @jamesfolta.com & I rounded up great writing by Patrick Coyne in @pointsincase.com, Ruth Reichl, and @jessekubanet.bsky.social and Katie Brinkworth in @mcsweeneys.net
Plus my latest in McSweeney's & James' latest in @literaryhub.bsky.social!
Check it out and subscribe ⬇️
Plus my latest in McSweeney's & James' latest in @literaryhub.bsky.social!
Check it out and subscribe ⬇️
A Newsletter of Humorous Writing
by Luke Burns & James Folta A weekly newsletter dedicated to humorous writing and humorous writers. We round up the best short humor pieces and funny articles every week, and have some fun extras ever...
buttondown.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:54 PM
In this week's newsletter, @jamesfolta.com & I rounded up great writing by Patrick Coyne in @pointsincase.com, Ruth Reichl, and @jessekubanet.bsky.social and Katie Brinkworth in @mcsweeneys.net
Plus my latest in McSweeney's & James' latest in @literaryhub.bsky.social!
Check it out and subscribe ⬇️
Plus my latest in McSweeney's & James' latest in @literaryhub.bsky.social!
Check it out and subscribe ⬇️
Reposted by Luke Burns
still slowly getting through this call's 364 submissions, but... surprise! doing another call on Sunday!
Theme: Time Travel
Feb 15, 2 pm CST, capped at 150 submissions
Guest ed.: @ezhang77.bsky.social
Max 200 words
Send up to 2 (as long as total word count is less than 200)
The shorter the better
Theme: Time Travel
Feb 15, 2 pm CST, capped at 150 submissions
Guest ed.: @ezhang77.bsky.social
Max 200 words
Send up to 2 (as long as total word count is less than 200)
The shorter the better
February 13, 2026 at 6:06 PM
still slowly getting through this call's 364 submissions, but... surprise! doing another call on Sunday!
Theme: Time Travel
Feb 15, 2 pm CST, capped at 150 submissions
Guest ed.: @ezhang77.bsky.social
Max 200 words
Send up to 2 (as long as total word count is less than 200)
The shorter the better
Theme: Time Travel
Feb 15, 2 pm CST, capped at 150 submissions
Guest ed.: @ezhang77.bsky.social
Max 200 words
Send up to 2 (as long as total word count is less than 200)
The shorter the better
In this week's newsletter, @jamesfolta.com & I rounded up great writing by Patrick Coyne in @pointsincase.com, Ruth Reichl, and @jessekubanet.bsky.social and Katie Brinkworth in @mcsweeneys.net
Plus my latest in McSweeney's & James' latest in @literaryhub.bsky.social!
Check it out and subscribe ⬇️
Plus my latest in McSweeney's & James' latest in @literaryhub.bsky.social!
Check it out and subscribe ⬇️
A Newsletter of Humorous Writing
by Luke Burns & James Folta A weekly newsletter dedicated to humorous writing and humorous writers. We round up the best short humor pieces and funny articles every week, and have some fun extras ever...
buttondown.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:54 PM
In this week's newsletter, @jamesfolta.com & I rounded up great writing by Patrick Coyne in @pointsincase.com, Ruth Reichl, and @jessekubanet.bsky.social and Katie Brinkworth in @mcsweeneys.net
Plus my latest in McSweeney's & James' latest in @literaryhub.bsky.social!
Check it out and subscribe ⬇️
Plus my latest in McSweeney's & James' latest in @literaryhub.bsky.social!
Check it out and subscribe ⬇️
who else just get that Alamo convenience fee class action suit money?
February 11, 2026 at 4:51 AM
who else just get that Alamo convenience fee class action suit money?
Reposted by Luke Burns
Rare visit here, so I can fangirl over @lukevburns.bsky.social who just made me snort with laughter.
This is fabulous. Relentless. Dumb as a post. Glorious. Thank you.
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whe...
This is fabulous. Relentless. Dumb as a post. Glorious. Thank you.
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whe...
When I Invited All of You Over to Watch “The Big Game,” I Assumed You Knew I Was Talking about Human Chess
I don’t know why you’re all so upset. I’m sorry if there’s some “other event” that you were all more excited about that’s apparently also happening...
www.mcsweeneys.net
February 10, 2026 at 3:26 AM
Rare visit here, so I can fangirl over @lukevburns.bsky.social who just made me snort with laughter.
This is fabulous. Relentless. Dumb as a post. Glorious. Thank you.
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whe...
This is fabulous. Relentless. Dumb as a post. Glorious. Thank you.
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whe...
That basically checks out
February 9, 2026 at 6:52 PM
That basically checks out
Reposted by Luke Burns
It's time
I'm in @mcsweeneys.net today writing about The Big Game
When I Invited All of You Over to Watch the “The Big Game,” I Assumed You Knew I Was Talking about Human Chess
I don’t know why you’re all so upset. I’m sorry if there’s some “other event” that you were all more excited about that’s apparently also happening...
www.mcsweeneys.net
February 8, 2026 at 11:07 PM
It's time
Reposted by Luke Burns
"If you were confused by my invitation, that’s on you. I said that I was throwing a party to watch 'the big game,' and I think any reasonable person would have understood that I was talking about watching a game of human chess."
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whe...
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whe...
When I Invited All of You Over to Watch the “The Big Game,” I Assumed You Knew I Was Talking about Human Chess
I don’t know why you’re all so upset. I’m sorry if there’s some “other event” that you were all more excited about that’s apparently also happening...
www.mcsweeneys.net
February 6, 2026 at 7:29 PM
"If you were confused by my invitation, that’s on you. I said that I was throwing a party to watch 'the big game,' and I think any reasonable person would have understood that I was talking about watching a game of human chess."
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whe...
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whe...
I'm in @mcsweeneys.net today writing about The Big Game
When I Invited All of You Over to Watch the “The Big Game,” I Assumed You Knew I Was Talking about Human Chess
I don’t know why you’re all so upset. I’m sorry if there’s some “other event” that you were all more excited about that’s apparently also happening...
www.mcsweeneys.net
February 6, 2026 at 6:09 PM
I'm in @mcsweeneys.net today writing about The Big Game
In this week's newsletter, @jamesfolta.com and I assembled funny writing by @jonjzeller.bsky.social, Hannah Roberts, and Andrew Wood in @mcsweeneys.net, and Emily Flake in @newyorker.com!
Plus my upcoming workshops and a hangout I'm organizing in San Francisco!
Check it out & subscribe 👇
Plus my upcoming workshops and a hangout I'm organizing in San Francisco!
Check it out & subscribe 👇
A Newsletter of Humorous Writing
by Luke Burns & James Folta A weekly newsletter dedicated to humorous writing and humorous writers. We round up the best short humor pieces and funny articles every week, and have some fun extras ever...
buttondown.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:04 PM
In this week's newsletter, @jamesfolta.com and I assembled funny writing by @jonjzeller.bsky.social, Hannah Roberts, and Andrew Wood in @mcsweeneys.net, and Emily Flake in @newyorker.com!
Plus my upcoming workshops and a hangout I'm organizing in San Francisco!
Check it out & subscribe 👇
Plus my upcoming workshops and a hangout I'm organizing in San Francisco!
Check it out & subscribe 👇
Reposted by Luke Burns
I'll be teaching a webinar on translating between "serious" writing of law, news, analysis, etc. and short humor writing of McSweeney's style, in May for WritingWorkshops.com. Enroll below (spots are already filling up!).
Seriously Funny: Humor Writing for Serious Writers | May 2026
Transform your journalism, law, or analysis skills into comedy gold. Join Tom Ellison for this online humor writing seminar. May 2026. Enroll now!
writingworkshops.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:59 PM
I'll be teaching a webinar on translating between "serious" writing of law, news, analysis, etc. and short humor writing of McSweeney's style, in May for WritingWorkshops.com. Enroll below (spots are already filling up!).
Reposted by Luke Burns
because one (1) person asked for it here is a thread comparing the various governments of France from 1789 to the present as Arrested Development characters.
February 6, 2026 at 2:37 PM
because one (1) person asked for it here is a thread comparing the various governments of France from 1789 to the present as Arrested Development characters.
[Gen Z Nixon drunkenly rambling to a portrait of Kennedy in the White House at 3AM]: I'm crrrrrashing out
February 5, 2026 at 6:26 AM
[Gen Z Nixon drunkenly rambling to a portrait of Kennedy in the White House at 3AM]: I'm crrrrrashing out
Reposted by Luke Burns
Do you know the number one thing you can do to help out 108.9 The Hawk?
Spread the word. Tell your friends. If someone on Reddit, 80chan or anyone asks for a funny podcast, recommend The Hawk.
Word of mouth helps us grow to do even more insane stuff in Val Verde.
Spread the word. Tell your friends. If someone on Reddit, 80chan or anyone asks for a funny podcast, recommend The Hawk.
Word of mouth helps us grow to do even more insane stuff in Val Verde.
February 5, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Do you know the number one thing you can do to help out 108.9 The Hawk?
Spread the word. Tell your friends. If someone on Reddit, 80chan or anyone asks for a funny podcast, recommend The Hawk.
Word of mouth helps us grow to do even more insane stuff in Val Verde.
Spread the word. Tell your friends. If someone on Reddit, 80chan or anyone asks for a funny podcast, recommend The Hawk.
Word of mouth helps us grow to do even more insane stuff in Val Verde.
Reposted by Luke Burns
Thrilled to be back in Slackjaw Humor today with this satire about one of patriarchy’s favorite apples of discord: the married name change! Should you change or keep your name when you get married? Either way, here’s why you’re wrong! (Free, and no need to subscribe)
medium.com/slackjaw/the...
medium.com/slackjaw/the...
The Cons And Cons Of Changing Or Keeping Your Maiden Name After Marriage
Either way, here’s why you’re wrong.
medium.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Thrilled to be back in Slackjaw Humor today with this satire about one of patriarchy’s favorite apples of discord: the married name change! Should you change or keep your name when you get married? Either way, here’s why you’re wrong! (Free, and no need to subscribe)
medium.com/slackjaw/the...
medium.com/slackjaw/the...
I've also got just ONE spot left in my Tuesday afternoon advanced short humor workshop!
Let's Write MORE Short Humor Pieces (Four-Week Workshop Starting 2/17/26 - Afternoons)
DATES/SCHEDULE:
1. Tuesday, 2/17/26, 12:00-1:30PM Eastern via Zoom [Intros & Pitches]
2. Tuesday, 2/24/26, 12:00-1:30PM Eastern via Zoom [Draft of First Piece]
3. Tuesday, 3/03/26, 12:00-1:30PM East...
docs.google.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:20 PM
I've also got just ONE spot left in my Tuesday afternoon advanced short humor workshop!
Still got spots available in this workshop starting on the 18th!
I've also got a workshop on Wednesday AFTERNOONS coming up in February!
The workshop is 90 minutes, so it's perfect for freelancers, folks who don't work 9-5s, or those who can take a long lunch once a week.
The workshop is 90 minutes, so it's perfect for freelancers, folks who don't work 9-5s, or those who can take a long lunch once a week.
Let's Write MORE Short Humor Pieces (Four-Week Workshop Starting 2/18/26 - Afternoons)
DATES/SCHEDULE:
1. Wednesday, 2/18/26, 12:00-1:30PM Eastern via Zoom [Intros & Pitches]
2. Wednesday, 2/25/26, 12:00-1:30PM Eastern via Zoom [Draft of First Piece]
3. Wednesday, 3/04/26, 12:00-1:30P...
docs.google.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Still got spots available in this workshop starting on the 18th!
Reposted by Luke Burns
For some reason, children's publishers and TV producers are uninterested in my self-esteem-building animal character, the Try-lobite.
January 21, 2026 at 3:24 PM
For some reason, children's publishers and TV producers are uninterested in my self-esteem-building animal character, the Try-lobite.
Reposted by Luke Burns
Is it just me or have people become extremely materialistic lately? They think all their problems will be solved if they can just buy one more trinket or if you'll just pay them back the money you owe them for the tickets to Butter (a Korn cover band b/c you cover corn with butter)
January 20, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Is it just me or have people become extremely materialistic lately? They think all their problems will be solved if they can just buy one more trinket or if you'll just pay them back the money you owe them for the tickets to Butter (a Korn cover band b/c you cover corn with butter)
Stunts and Yearning
✨Announcing our FEBRUARY 2026 Criterion Channel lineup! ✨ Sign up now and get 20% off a year of great movies during our Winter Sale at criterionchannel.com.
January 20, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Stunts and Yearning
In last week's newsletter @jamesfolta.com and I rounded up great writing by Tiffany Harris in @mcsweeneys.net, Cameron Vanderwerf in @wigleaf.bsky.social, and Jackie Halldorsson and Jason Garramone in @pointsincase.com.
Check it out and subscribe 👇
Check it out and subscribe 👇
A Newsletter of Humorous Writing
by Luke Burns & James Folta A weekly newsletter dedicated to humorous writing and humorous writers. We round up the best short humor pieces and funny articles every week, and have some fun extras ever...
buttondown.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:27 PM
In last week's newsletter @jamesfolta.com and I rounded up great writing by Tiffany Harris in @mcsweeneys.net, Cameron Vanderwerf in @wigleaf.bsky.social, and Jackie Halldorsson and Jason Garramone in @pointsincase.com.
Check it out and subscribe 👇
Check it out and subscribe 👇