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Comedy: June 08, 2011 Issue [#4434]

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Comedy


 This week: What's the Secret to Writing Comedy?
  Edited by: Lornda~Thoughts with Bikerider Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Hi, I'm Lornda~Thoughts with Bikerider Author Icon , this week's guest editor. Comedy is an effective writing tool to entertain readers. It can bolster the quality of your story, but sometimes it can be difficult to pull off. This issue highlights the many elements of successful comedic writing, but one key component is more important than the rest.

"I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out my nose."~ Woody Allen




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Letter from the editor

What's the Secret to Writing Comedy?



Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make your readers laugh. Mission impossible? Maybe in your mind--but by following a few simple guidelines and most importantly, this number one rule, you too can make this mission possible!

Like any writing, comedic writing requires practice. What's funny to one person might not be to another. Yet, we are all conditioned to laugh at something silly or absurd. So, what can YOU do to make your readers laugh? Before we get to the secret number one rule, let's review four main tips to pump up any mediocre storyline.


Select a type of comedy: Decide what subgenre you want to write and stick with it--failure to do so will confuse your readers. Listed below are a few examples, along with a couple of movies to visualize the various forms of comedy.

*Bullet* Slapstick: Caddyshack & Ace Ventura, Pet Detective
*Bullet* Parody: Young Frankenstein & Austin Power Movies
*Bullet* Dark/Black: Fargo & Dr. Strangelove
*Bullet* Family: Disney Movies & Home Alone
*Bullet* Military: M*A*S*H & Tropic Thunder
*Bullet* Horror: Beetlejuice & Zombieland
*Bullet* Action: Rush Hour & Beverly Hills Cop
*Bullet* Dramedy: Little Miss Sunshine & Lost in Translation
*Bullet* Romantic: Roman Holiday & When Harry Met Sally
*Bullet* Fantasy: The Princess Bride & Night at the Museum



Exaggerate: Zoom in on the silliness of a situation. How can you accomplish this task? Try using hyperboles, similes, and metaphors--they can transform any dull piece of literature and let your readers laugh. We hear these gems everyday! For example:

         Hyperboles: "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." "He is older than the hills." Or "They ran like "greased
          lightning."


         Similes: "Sits there like a bump on a log." "Stood out like a sore thumb" Or "Easy as pie."

         Metaphor: "It is raining cats and dogs." "He has a heart of gold." Or "She is the apple of my eye."

Get the idea? Of course, you would want to create your own to keep the story fresh and original. Sprinkle these little gems carefully and your comedic writing will shine!

*Note* Use caution with exaggeration--it can be tricky and going overboard will overwhelm your reader.

Conflict: Comedy loves conflict, so play on the obstacles. Some claim anger is the center of comedy. Does this mean you're an enraged psycho if you write comedy? No. Humans find conflict funny. An episode of the Three Stooges is a prime example of conflict. Why? Because they play on a major hurdle of an everyday situation. The results are humorous--a bunch of angry guys slapping, arguing, yelling, and kicking each other--reminds me of my last family reunion. The best way to show the conflict and the extent of this type of comedy is to check an episode out *Pointright* Pull a Tooth Episode  Open in new Window. To incorporate this tip, find the conflict and complicate the obstacles to death!

Rule of Three: It's a mystery why this tip works in comedy. For some reason, a list of three items sticks in our heads instead of a cluster of them. Here's proof: "Friends, Romans, Countrymen" "Blood, sweat and tears" Or "Stop, Look and Listen" Even some jokes have three characters: "There was a redhead, a brunette and a blonde. . . etc. When using this tip in your stories, remember to make the third part of the list the most exaggerated. For example:


My mother's idea of a healthy snack consists of potato chips, a brick of cheese, and Oreo cookies with a Coke chaser.

Notice the third part of that sentence--it's the most exaggerated--cookies with Coke!

The above tips are good, but one key rule is missing to complete your mission! So, what's the secret?



*Pointright* ~Make yourself laugh~ *Pointleft*


Ask yourself this important question, what makes YOU laugh? A show on TV? Someone you observed while shopping for carrots? How about books, movies, or your own near catastrophe? Humorous situations can develop everyday, so notice what others miss and learn from your own reactions. You've had a funny bone since you were four-months-old--it's ingrained in you--so keep a note of the funny details no matter how small. You never know where you'll find inspiration to write something humorous!

To liven up a character or scene, infuse the humor from your observations into a story. Read it to a family member or friend and see if they laugh--and if they don't, get a new family and friend. Remember, you can't use 'sort of funny'--it doesn't work--toss it out and try again--keep practicing with different situations until it works and has YOU laughing!

Mission complete!

This newsletter will self-destruct in five seconds.

Write on and laugh!

~Lornda




Editor's Picks

If you need some inspiration to start writing comedy or want to stretch your funny bone, consider entering the "The Writer's CrampOpen in new Window.. Below are a few entries that made me laugh!

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 An Exotic Pet Open in new Window. [E]
A story about a different kind of exotic pet. A Writer's Cramp entry.
by allenalien Author Icon


 "Houston? We have a problem." Open in new Window. [13+]
Writer's Cramp entry for 1/27/04 Winner!
by Rasputin Author Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Costume Creativity Open in new Window. [ASR]
Writer's Cramp (10/16/09). Unique but offensive Halloween costume.
by Jeff Author Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor



 
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Ask & Answer

Thanks to everyone who entered the 'Comedy Challenge' ! Your comeback lines were hilarious and many of you had similiar answers. It was very hard to select a winner--so there are two! They both receive a 'Funny' merit badge! Way to go!

jackhammer: Princess Leia talking to Luke: "Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?"

"Hey sister, back off, I broke a perfectly good pair of heels getting here. Wait till I tell dad what you said."

And

Smiling Jack Author Icon: Princess Leia talking to Luke: "Aren't you a little short for a storm trooper?"

Luke: "Never. I always carry extra cash.'"

Leia:"I meant height-wise."

Luke: "Never. I always wear high heels."

Leia: "Isn't that cheating"

Luke "Never! All's fair in love and storm trooping."


Below are the rest of the entries. Enjoy!

dmack Author Icon: Luke's reply: "Not when I wear my stilettos."

Fredmom Author Icon: Luke: "Aren't you a little big to have those kind of buns?"

allenalien Author Icon: Luke: "If we're talking job suitability, shouldn't you be on a leash?"

Maryann Author Icon: Luke: "They send me out during sun showers."
Or Luke: "They heard the great snow white was in town, so they thought she'd feel more comfortable with a dwarf."

LJPC - the tortoise Author Icon: Luke: "Yeah . . . I'm a Light-Drizzle Trooper."

BIG BAD WOLF is Merry Author Icon: Luke: (Turns around) "Okay, I'll leave then."



~~*Vignette5*~~*Vignette5*~~*Vignette5*~~*Vignette5*~~



Thanks for the comments on my last newsletter: "Keeping Your Readers EntertainedOpen in new Window. *Thumbsup*

billwilcox: Superb! Comic Relief, even in serious writings, is a must. Great job, Lornda


Maryann Author Icon: Great newsletter, Lornda! I actually read the whole thing, so I guess you were the example of entertainment. *Thumbsup*


LJPC - the tortoise Author Icon: Hi Lornda!
I loved your comedy newsletter about how any story or film could be more entertaining if it had comedy in it -- even if it's just some witty repartee. I couldn't agree with you more. Comedy makes any story sweeter - even a dark horror story. Great NL, and thanks for highlighting my story. *Bigsmile*
-- Laura


eyestar~* Author Icon: Lornda, this is absolutely delightful! I loved how you show comic relief is used in blockbusters. Some of my favs are mentioned!*Smile* And you are right about it's use, even Shakespeare had his jokes! I liked the snippets of stories you added and want to go read them. Good little challenge at the end. Thanks for the entertainment. Well conceived and acheived first newsletter! *Star*




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