These 3 humor writing techniques will energize your tired storylines.
3 Ways To Infuse Humor Into Your Writing
By Matthew L. Hart
Writer & Humorist
Author of:
Uncle Matty's Halloween: Jokes, Bits & Anecdotes
"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever."
"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever."
- Unknown
Use the tools in The Writer's Toolbox to create a scene and start practicing these 3 ways to infuse humor into your writing and energize your tired, old, storylines.
You will do this by generating a list of three somethings.
The character will usually pick up something early on in your story to help him overcome his final challenge.
My definition of a scene is a basic building block of a story which will have a beginning, middle and end that moves the larger storyline forward by resolving a smaller piece of the greater conflict or overcoming a smaller part of the greater obstacle.
Here are 3 Ways To Infuse Humor Into Your Writing:
First, you must understand that laughter is generated by setting up your reader's expectation then, bending it in an unexpected way that makes your audience feel superior towards your character or the topic you're making light of.
1. The Rule of Three
This is perhaps one of the easiest methods of creating laughs.
You will do this by generating a list of three somethings.
The first item on the list sets the theme. The second item on the list will then set the pattern on the theme and thus, your reader's expectations for what is to come next. And, the third item on the list is the same, but different.
Done correctly, this will bend your reader's expectations in a way they did not anticipate. Thus, generating laughter.
You will apply this method to your tired, old, storylines by looking for opportunities to make this three part list.
You can do this simply by adding two items to a single something that your character already has, to create a list. Make sure that the one something they need is the last one. But, it's important that the other two are the same theme, but different.
Think:
Duck
Duck
Goose
Now, you don't want to overdue this technique, either. Once is usually enough because your audience will be expecting the pattern the next time they see a list in your story.
2. Observations From A Unique Point Of View
This technique requires your character to have a "take" on some observation.
Think about what unique point of view your character might have that no one else in the story does. Even better if you can find one that your reader might not be expecting either.
By adding in your character's unique perspective on an otherwise mundane observation, you just might bend your reader's expectation because they were thinking about the observation in the "usual" way.
They are surprised to the point of laughter to discover a totally unexpected take on the same observation.
Think:
What is the most common way to observe this thing or situation?
What are three other ways we can look at this same thing or situation?
Usually, longer lists of other uses or takes on something will generate better quality results in that they are less and less expected.
3. Set-up and Payoff
This technique is a great way to set up anticipation in your story.
The character will usually pick up something early on in your story to help him overcome his final challenge.
Think:
Talisman
The trick to making this talisman payoff with laughter, is to make the talisman something ridiculous, which will be unexpected to your reader. It's use should also not be immediately obvious so that it will go almost totally unnoticed throughout your story.
Your reader delights when that ridiculous thing they already forgot about, comes back into play to become the key to overcoming some major obstacle in your story in some totally bizarre way.
And, when all else fails?
Use this
Bonus method!
And, make it all work with
( ( (EXAGGERATION) ) )
The more exaggerated your character's response is to ANYTHING, the more unexpected and funny the situation will become.
Now, use the writing tools in The Writer's Toolbox to create a scene and start practicing these 3 ways to infuse humor into your writing and energize your tired, old, storylines.
Humor is a great way to breath new life into your old work.
Do you have some old stories that could benefit from these 3 ways to infuse humor into your writing?
SHARE YOU HUMOROUS OLD STORIES WITH US
IN THE COMMENTS BELOW
Continue your journey:
and this blog uses Amazon Affiliate links.
