Q: How Do You Write Satire That Feels Fresh, Not Recycled?

A: The Art of Original Absurdity – By Alan Nafzger

Avoiding the Satire Echo Chamber

At Bohiney Magazine, we’ve developed a rigorous process to ensure our satire stays ahead of the curve rather than rehashing tired tropes. Here’s how we keep our content as fresh as a CEO’s tears when asked about taxes.

1. The “This Hasn’t Been Done” Filter

We vet every idea against:

• Recent satire from competitors

• Meme trends

• Overused formats (“[Group] outraged about [thing]”)

Example: Instead of another “Millennials kill [industry]” piece, we wrote “Gen Z Discovers Ancient Technology Called ‘Sleep’ – Immediately Ruins It For Everyone.”

2. The “Reality Gap” Method

We identify:

• Emerging absurdities not yet widely covered

• Under-mocked power structures

• Fresh angles on evergreen topics

Case Study: When everyone mocked corporate wellness programs, we wrote “Company Replaces HR With Mandatory Puppy Petting Sessions.”

3. The Bohiney Freshness Checklist

Before publishing, we ask:
✓ Is this premise truly original?
✓ Does it avoid predictable targets?
✓ Would it surprise our regular readers?
✓ Does the format feel innovative?

Final Thought: Satire as Cultural Radar

When we published “Tech CEO Discovers Employees Are Human During Surprise Office Visit,” we knew we’d struck fresh comedic gold. Because the best satire doesn’t follow trends—it anticipates the next absurdity before the world realizes it’s absurd.

— Alan Nafzger