Do you know how to write funny?
Have you ever thought of mixing humor into your writing? So, what are you waiting for? Are you afraid of being perceived as silly and unprofessional? Then, put it out of your mind immediately! Why not to write a short story or a novel that could serve people as an instant mood- booster? Humor has tremendous value and is considered to be a form of art. Let`s turn to the recommendations of the world-known comedy authors to get insight into humorous writing.
You can laugh at your family members
David Sedaris, one of America`s preeminent humor writers, once said that no one makes him laugh like his family. So, next time you will think of a new humorous plot, consider the life experiences and behaviors of your relatives. Weave comedy into your everyday sentences so that it feels natural to laugh. And don`t forget to exaggerate. ‘Do I exaggerate? Boy, do I, and I`d do it more if I could get away with it’ – Sedaris once stated.
You can even give a hamster high status
That`s what an American humorist Simon Rich did. He said that ‘if you`re going to strip somebody of his dignity, you want him to start off as high-status as possible’. Be obsessed over joke structure and always do your best to find out why the things that made you laugh were actually making you laugh. And one more thing – always end a joke on the word that will elicit laughter.
You can describe realities that exist around us in a humorous way
George Saunders` dark humor can make us laugh even if we feel discomfort deep inside. He says that ‘humor is what happens when we`re told the truth quicker and more directly that we`re used to’. It seems that Better Midler, an American singer and comedian, shares his point of view – “If you are going to tell people the truth, be funny or they will kill you. So, just laugh at true situations that the majority of people can be put in.
You can give people funny names and use weird words
Be always eager to insert odd touches into your work and combine comedy and drama. According to Sam Lipsyte, ‘comedy and drama are about looking unflinchingly at our condition as doomed beings who still, out of some primal drive, continue to play the game. Humor stems from life, which you are trying to create with words’.
You can put the moment of lightness and happiness along with tragedy
Junot Diaz believes that a book without humor feels very unrealistic. He discovered that readers are much more likely to tolerate a book about rape and genocide if there is humor than if there was not. Having analyzed his ‘The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao’, we can conclude that it is also a good idea to capture the character`s personalities in a ‘I-should not be laughing-but-I-can`t-help-myself’ kind of way.
As far as you can see, there is no point in avoiding humor in your writing. Most readers enjoy a good joke, an unexpected twist or a witticism.
