  Comedy
This week: Repetition and Words Often Overused Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Repetition can be a tool used on purpose to create an affect in writing or at times it can be something used too often. This newsletter looks a little at both instances. |
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There are a few elements in writing that I'm not a fan of but that can be used within comedy stories in order to get a chuckle from a reader. One, that we won't talk about this time, is puns. The other is repetition. Sometimes it happens on accident, something gets repeated, or incidents happen over and over again. Other times, it can be used on purpose to help create a story or poem.
At times, repetition can indeed be useful. A certain situation, glimpse of character or black cat happenstance, once repeated can hold even more meaning and twisted the right way include a double or triple dose of comedy. In poetry, in particular, a certain set of lines can have an increased impact when repetitive and even can be a large factor in what makes the poem work.
Other instances, however, repetition needs to be edited out of a story. This can be big picture or little things. I often have to edit sentences and paragraphs because I end up using a word or phrase more than once in that short amount of time when it's not necessary. I've also had a novel where three chapter almost in a row ended in very similar ways. Needless to say, that needed fixed. Comedy or not, editing can both increase and decrease repetition, depending on what fits the story best.
I also have to admit that there are some phrases related to humor that I use far too often when I'm chatting with people on here and sometimes in real life. I also suspect that I'm not the only one to do this. The biggest contender that is used to the point of losing effectiveness has to be "lol" or the full term "laugh out loud" though really, I doubt many people write it out anymore.
Whether it's a post on facebook, a conversation in a chat room or a little post about situations in a fitness forum, the "lol" flies off the fingertips. It's almost as bad as my use of the word "just" (which I wonder how often I use that in each newsletter). It's an example of how repetition once gone to far can have negative influences. If everything is so laugh out loud funny then less becomes really funny in the long run.
Or is it that funny after all? Do you lol? |
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Are there any humor related words or phrases that you use too often?
My last comedy newsletter, back in March, discussed effort in being funny. Here are the comments that were sent in over the topic:
Comment by Kanish ~ we got this! 
I liked your letter.
I find it really tricky to conjure up a funny scene, especially. It is even weirder if I take my real life in account in which I am quite a funny person I am told. But to come up with a funny scene can oh so painful.
Thanks,
Nishank
Comment by Quick-Quill 
I'm not a comedian. I think life is funny. I can tell lots of tales about my family and the funny things that have happened to us and to those around us. I think I'm pretty good at telling jokes/stories. It all in the delivery.
Comment by Shadowstalker-- Covid free
I don't put in much effort at all  I'm more of the "of the cuff" type. One thing I have learned about comedy, it is better to keep the conversations short for a big return. drawn out set-ups take something away from the joke. But when you have 2 fast talking/wise-cracking/sassy characters engaging in a back and forth that feels fast paced, the moment the punchline is delivered tends to jump out even more. Not that I don't use set-up, but not all set-up needs to be long. I've done well with having a character use an already said line earlier in the chapter/story-- just with different context. This can really give it a funny feel, even when the two are rivals/enemies.
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Comedy: September 02, 2015 Issue [#7192]
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