 Comedy: December 19, 2007 Issue [#2131] |
  Comedy
This week: Edited by: darkin
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They say laughter is the best medicine. And what could be more medicinal than a good, old fashioned belly laugh. The kind that comes from deep inside, vibrating upwards until it reaches your lips. It's what keeps us young, and makes us feel alive.
My name is Darkin, and I’m your host this week for the Comedy Newsletter.
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Okay I'm bowing, I'm bowing!!!
Sometimes you just have to bow to the absurd. ~Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Up the Long Ladder," Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart)
No truer words have ever been spoken. The absurd happens every day. It usually comes in the form of people that we meet. That strange neighbor next door, the oddly dressed rude woman in line at the grocery story, and even that overly friendly mailman who just has to know what's in the package he delivered.
Now I'm sure you're wondering what this has to do with writing comedy. I'm glad you asked. Each of these people could be a character in a comedy story. Often comedy stories are sparked by seeing someone, or something, so absurd it gets our muse laughing. And when your muse is laughing your writing will be funnier.
I've run across a lot of people in my life that would make great comedy characters. Sadly I am, at times, a magnetic for people like this. I don't know why, but if anyone has a cure please let me know
A case in point. When I was younger I got called up for jury duty. I showed up on time, ready to serve if they needed me. I found a seat in the crowded room, got out my latest stories I was in process of writing and editing and started working.
Now, when I write by hand it's pretty obvious I'm doing something. I have lousy up-close vision, so I tend to sit with my head on my left arm, close to the paper. I picked a seat in the middle of a row, because I felt it was less likely someone would sit next to me if they had to stomp past already seated people.
I wasn't there 10 minutes when I felt someone sit next to me and a voice next to me says, "So, what are you doing?"
I looked up to find a thin woman maybe in her early fifties sitting next to me. She had strawberry blond hair teased into a high, curly pile on top of her head and a lot of makeup on. But what really got me was her outfit.
She wore a pale yellow jacket, an off-white blouse with a lot of ruffles and a bright yellow skirt with what looked like small gray elephants. I kid you not. I had never seen an outfit for an adult with elephants on it.
I tried to be nice and said I was doing some work, which was true, but that didn't seem to sway her much. For the next two hours she followed me everywhere I went in the room, even the bathroom!! I asked her to go away, begged her to let me work, to no avail. The whole time she was talking to me about her life and friends, even when we were in the bathroom!!
Just when I was about to ask the bailiff if I could borrow his stun gun for a few moments, her group of potential jurors was released from service.
With that announcement I started dancing a mental jig. I would have done a real one, but there just wasn't enough room for that. I was thrilled that I would now be able to actually get some writing done. Until she said these words to me.
"Don't worry, Honey, I'll stay to keep you company. I don't have to be back to work today."
I almost screamed. Heck, I might have screamed. But I'm sure I had a horrified look on my face as I shook my head hard. Lucky for me one of the court officers was nearby and must have heard her, because a few minutes later the bailiff announced that anyone who was released HAD to leave the room. She went to argue with the bailiff and ended up being escorted from the room.
Finally, the sweet sound of silence.
I found another seat, far away from other people, and spent the remainder of my jury duty in blissful quiet writing a short story about a psychotic stalker who latches onto a poor unsuspecting woman while at jury duty.
When I got back to work I let a co-worker read the story I had written about the woman. I was sure my story was terrifying, but quite the opposite. She laughed the whole time she was reading it. Before I knew it half of the staff had read my story and for years after that I was labeled a "Weirdo Magnet".
Co-workers can be so cruel, much like five-year-olds!
But this woman did serve a purpose. At the encouragement of my co-workers I submitted that story to magazines and got it published. It was one of my first paid publications and the editor who bought it said it was the funniest thing he had read that week. 
So I say to all the odd, strange, and down-right peculiar people out there, talk to me at your own risk. You never know when I might use you for a character in a story or novel.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!
darkin |
Here are some items I found while traveling the highways and byways of Writing.Com!
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Thank you for allowing me into your e-mail boxes for this week's issue. I had a wonderful time writing this issue and would love to hear what you think about it. Here is some feedback I received from my last newsletter.
darkin
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Submitted By: billwilcox
Submitted Comment:
Animals do NOT have a sense of humor. Cats, for example, everything they do is ON purpose. Even if its falling out of a tree. They meant to do it just like that...
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Aw, now I think that most animals have a wonderful sense of humor...though I do agree that cats don't. At least neither of my cats had a single funny bone between them.
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Submitted By: Acme 
Submitted Comment:
Hey, thanks for highlighting one of my comedy contests (and one of the alter-ego's little rants  ) You just made my day! Write on, Acme
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You are more than welcome! I'm happy I could make your day
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Submitted By: Mavis Moog
Submitted Comment:
Writing comedy isn't impossible. But it does take a bit of finesse and a lot of humor. And sometimes, observing the right people. Now, that's profound!
You mention a sense of humour, a few times in this newsletter. What I want to know is what exactly is that?
Does having a good sense of humour mean one laughs easily, or is someone who laughs a lot simply a grinning fool? Perhaps a good sense of humour is sophisticated and somewhat cynical. Does someone with a good sense of humour laugh at prat falls, during episodes of Friends, or at puns?
What does good mean?
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I think all of those things are examples of a good sense of humor. Humor means something different to every person. It's the same as what is good horror or romance or drama. Most of what a sense of humor is would be in the eye of the beholder.
An example: I myself don't find Friends funny...everything on that show seems to be a misunderstanding. But my hubby laughs from the moment it comes on until the final credits. Does that mean I don't have a sense of humor and my hubby does. I don't think so. I think it means I don't find them funny.
But I could be wrong.
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