by Shannon Lausch

Created on: July 22, 2009   Last Updated: July 24, 2009

Writers want their work to grab readers, to elicit a reaction or stir an emotion within them. One of the most sought-after reactions is laughter - preferably laughter caused by intentional humor. But as many writers can attest, humor is hard to achieve, especially in the form of words on a page.

In fact, in their book, "How Not to Write a Novel," authors Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman advise avoiding humor altogether if you don't have the talent for it: "A joke that falls flat is not just a joke that the reader does not laugh at; it is a drain on your supply of goodwill."

Seems harsh, yet it is a sad reality. But what if you want to add humor to your writing? Practicing doesn't hurt anyone. The next five tips will help you understand where you can successfully incorporate humor into your writing.

Humor Writing Tip 1: DIALOGUE and CHARACTER

Example "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman:

"Wait for him behind there and crush his head like an eggshell."

"I could do that, yes," Fezzik nodded. "It just seems not very sportsmanlike, doesn't it?"

Dialogue is one of the easiest ways to add humor to a scene. The overall tone of the story needn't be humorous, so if you want to inject a bit levity to an otherwise serious story, it's not going to disturb the general ambience.

Sarcasm, banter, Freudian slips, exaggeration, under-exaggeration, naivety and just plain insults are all methods you can use in a humorous exchange among your characters. Humor can also come from a single character. Knowing what type of humor suits your character is of supreme importance. Is your character the type to mutter snide remarks under his breath? Or does she have a knack for blithely stating awkward observations?

Be sure, however, not to forcefully point out the humor to readers. Mittelmark and Newman warn against 1) having characters retell old jokes and 2) having character laugh uproariously at their attempts at humor.

Humor Writing Tip 2: DESCRIPTION and WORDPLAY

Example from "Guards! Guards!" by Terry Pratchett:

"He clawed his way to the bank and pulled himself up, like some sea-dwelling lifeform that was anxious to get the whole evolution thing over in one go."

Unconventional similes, metaphors, analogies and personification can be an effective source of humor. Wordplay isn't for every story. If your piece is fairly serious, adding a humorous simile may cause readers to scratch their heads. Unless the narration has a witty tone, your readers may simply feel the humor

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>