Do you often laugh out loud when you’re reading? Not just a smile or chuckle when you come across something funny but a real out-loud laugh? I do. It’s always a nice surprise and can provide a bit of levity in a serious story and a welcome break in tension.
Leigh Anne Jasheway, in her article How to Write Better Using Humour, refers to studies showing that humour enhances how much we like what we’re reading and how well we remember it afterward.
Recently I came across a hilarious account of someone trying on a bark collar before putting it on her pet. The collar got stuck, the spray feature on the collar repeatedly doused her with citronella, her dog commenced barking at her predicament and the neighbour was laughing too hard to help.
Who doesn’t enjoy sharing a laugh?
Parody, Spoof, Satire?
Understanding what you find funny is the key to including humour in your writing, along with a complete understanding of any topic to which you add a funny spin. Other tips to consider include keeping the jokes, anecdotes and situations sparse and brief throughout the story. It is recommended that sarcasm be kept to a minimum or avoided all together as it is difficult to do well with the written word.
Humour can enhance even the most dire or serious topic and make it more relatable for the reader. For example, it might be a bit shocking to think of death or serious illness in a funny way but it can help improve understanding. In situations like this, readers need to know that you are laughing as well and that you want them to laugh along.
Physical/Slapstick Comedy
Visual cues immensely enhance comedy scripts, such as performances of the Carol Burnett Show sketches when the cast cannot keep straight faces, or the comedy of TheThree Stooges. It can be a challenge to capture ‘snorting and belly-laugh’ hilarity with just the written word but whether or not you think yourself funny, everyone can add humour to their writing. How well could you set up a character to take a prat-fall.
There’s an abundance of resources on the techniques of writing humour but start with trusting your instincts, re-writing and honing the funny until you get it right. If you think it’s funny, chances are others will think so too.
Why do writers always feel cold? Because they are surrounded by drafts.
Laugh it up! You’ll have more fun writing.
