tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post384763234220990491..comments2024-03-17T03:53:31.296-07:00Comments on Rachna's Scriptorium: Adding Dollops of Humor into our StoriesRachna Chhabriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-58561137207521850912010-11-19T07:02:36.627-08:002010-11-19T07:02:36.627-08:00Good post Rachna-- I am trying to do that now with...Good post Rachna-- I am trying to do that now with my current WIP--not easy, is it?Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-50620062370792324232010-11-17T18:26:15.809-08:002010-11-17T18:26:15.809-08:00I agree that humor is ultimately important - espec...I agree that humor is ultimately important - especially in heavy, dark, emotional books where readers need to come up for air. I was just looking at one of my favorite books today, The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint, which really is a sad, sad tale. But the author, Brady Udall, has the 'voice' of the young boy down perfectly - showing us sarcasm and hilarious thoughts through the MC's young eyes. One laugh-out-loud passage was about a bus driver picking up a heavy storage trunk:<br /><br />He positioned himself in front of the trunk like an Olympic weight lifter and grasped the handles on either side. He strained to heft it off the ground and let loose a thunderous, rippling fart which made the woman next to me flinch and backpedal as if one of the bus tires had blown. <br /><br />Thanks for the great ideas. I agree that it's not always easy to pull off authentic humor. But you've given us a place to start!Melissa Crytzer Fryhttp://melissacrytzerfry.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-46313562251982942252010-11-16T04:04:37.871-08:002010-11-16T04:04:37.871-08:00Love all of your ideas, Rachna!! Great list!Love all of your ideas, Rachna!! Great list!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-17527220520534273802010-11-15T16:14:46.323-08:002010-11-15T16:14:46.323-08:00I like reading serious stories with touches of hum...I like reading serious stories with touches of humor. Your tips are great, and I'm posting it to Twitter. Thanks!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-17244547148352288542010-11-14T21:58:45.277-08:002010-11-14T21:58:45.277-08:00I've never been good with humor, so I rarely i...I've never been good with humor, so I rarely include that element in my writing, at least consciously. Sometimes though, I can write something accidentally, but incredibly, hilarious.<br /><br />ficklecattle.blogspot.comFickle Cattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10281753566416281237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-31656059843127934132010-11-13T15:40:41.103-08:002010-11-13T15:40:41.103-08:00Great question! I am not someone this comes easily...Great question! I am not someone this comes easily for, so I appreciate the list. :) I had one character mostly providing the humor in my last novel and in one life-threatening scene, he "inspires" his men to keep trying by telling them a story. The story itself isn't funny, though some of his are. This particular scene had humor because of how inappropriate the story itself is. Juxtaposition of intent and situation, I guess. Boy, if you have to explain a joke, it just ain't funny! LOLVictoria Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14012092208934951963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-48021539965694078712010-11-13T00:21:54.928-08:002010-11-13T00:21:54.928-08:00Humour is a difficult thing to write well. My only...Humour is a difficult thing to write well. My only advice is not to laugh at our own jokes ;)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-50995792346759195992010-11-12T20:50:04.476-08:002010-11-12T20:50:04.476-08:00Great post! Also, I sent you a message, but in ca...Great post! Also, I sent you a message, but in case it got lost in cyberspace, there's an award for you on my blog.alexiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07122487552931794871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-86817658376369036802010-11-12T14:34:47.900-08:002010-11-12T14:34:47.900-08:00These are all great suggestions. But I'd cauti...These are all great suggestions. But I'd caution not to use too much humor--especially if you're writing for adults. The Industry says "comedies don't sell." I have no idea if that's true (I rather suspect that a lot of their "rules" are based on bad information) but if you want to sell, you have to make sure your book is a thriller/romance/mystery whatever first with comic elements secondary--so nobody can call it a comedy in a meeting.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-4415776674696188552010-11-12T13:54:44.900-08:002010-11-12T13:54:44.900-08:00Great post, Rachna. Humour is one of the hardest t...Great post, Rachna. Humour is one of the hardest things to write because there are so many ways it can go wrong and not many ways it can go write. For me, the main thing is that it comes through easily and in an unstilted manner.<br /><br />I try to let the funny moments come out naturally through my characters because that way I know I'm not forcing it.<br /><br />JaiJai Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858987106548357551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-69788132453862483212010-11-12T11:43:52.879-08:002010-11-12T11:43:52.879-08:00I keep trying at humor and usually end up with sar...I keep trying at humor and usually end up with sarcasm. Maybe I need a trickster character to help lighten the load because my MC just can't seem to go there!Carolyn Abiadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10567399129586443513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-33478707766593849482010-11-12T11:40:00.820-08:002010-11-12T11:40:00.820-08:00Wonderful advice! I love humor in writing; it help...Wonderful advice! I love humor in writing; it helps make things so much more interesting. Have a wonderful weekend!Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-32118548601652316712010-11-12T10:20:39.198-08:002010-11-12T10:20:39.198-08:00My crit partner has noted several times that my co...My crit partner has noted several times that my comic relief has helped her get through some of my tougher scenes. I'm a big believer in humor.Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-57265173260185914292010-11-12T08:50:30.804-08:002010-11-12T08:50:30.804-08:00What a timely post, Rachna! I've been thinkin...What a timely post, Rachna! I've been thinking about humor lately, and wondering what makes for humor in a story. I haven't really come up with an answer, although I know "funny" when I read it. So your post helps clarify a lot. I'm still working on humor myself, and this gives me a lot to think about.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-89092108067102212962010-11-12T08:44:05.051-08:002010-11-12T08:44:05.051-08:00“Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The m...“Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.” Mark Twain<br /><br />I don't think about injecting humor. It just happens. <br /><br />Other quotes: “Chaos in the midst of chaos isn't funny, but chaos in the midst of order is.” Steve Martin<br /><br />"Humor is something that thrives between man’s aspirations and his limitations. There is more logic in humor than in anything else. Because, you see, humor is truth.” Victor Borge<br /><br />Nice post, Rachna. Thank you for the happy anniversary wish.Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-56386999370802234482010-11-12T08:22:52.375-08:002010-11-12T08:22:52.375-08:00I don't know exactly how I do it, but I like t...I don't know exactly how I do it, but I like to add touches of humor into my stories as well, even if the overall tone of the story is serious. It's such a nice break for the reader, so long as it's not too out there!Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.com