Ah, humor. That elusive, intangible essence that seems to effortlessly tickle the funny bone... or so they say. For those of us who've embarked upon the treacherous journey of infusing humor into our writing, we know the truth. It's a perilous path fraught with pitfalls and puns gone awry.
Contemplating writing a lighthearted romantic comedy caused a quagmire of funny thoughts to roll through my mind, so I started making notes. Will readers find humor in the same things that cracked me up while writing - I do not know - but it's worth the experience!
Chapter 1: The Myth of the Easy Laugh
I'll start by dispelling the myth that being funny is a walk in the park. Sure, some people have a natural knack for it, effortlessly spinning jokes like a circus performer juggling flaming swords. But for the rest of us mere mortals, humor is more like attempting to juggle flaming swords after one too many cocktails - a disaster waiting to happen. I began to watch television comedians with awe; their jokes were one after another. Oh, the skill! Will writing comedy ever be effortless?
Chapter 2: The Search for the Sacred Texts
Thoughts of engaged readers laughing hysterically over the same material I do is simply the wind beneath my wings. Did I pour over the works of comedic legends like Mark Twain, Dorothy Parker, and Monty Python, hoping to unlock the secrets of their success? Ah, no. I like bathroom humor. I'll stick with Dumb and Dumber, thank you very much. Alas, these texts are like elusive unicorns, teasing us with glimpses of their magic but remaining frustratingly out of reach.
Chapter 3: The Blank Page Blues
Staring down that vast expanse of emptiness can be daunting, like standing at the edge of a cliff with nothing but a feather duster for protection. Do not let the blank page blues in! Think! What tickles you? What makes you laugh until you can hardly breathe, or better yet, cry? As a child, making my mom laugh until she was dabbing at her eyes while making squeaky laughing sounds was the highlight of every family dinner gone wrong. Irritated with his children and the lack of decorum at the table, Dad would take his plate into the living room - watch Star Trek and eat alone. The cursor may blink mockingly, but I dare you to fill the void with something remotely amusing. It's there. Just reach back...
Chapter 4: The Pun Predicament
Ah, puns. The lowest form of wit, some say. But for the humor-challenged among us, they're a lifeline in a sea of comedic despair. Trust me, they are a great place to start! Being "punny" is a giant step to "funny." Unfortunately, puns are a double-edged sword, capable of eliciting either riotous laughter or groans of agony, often simultaneously. Use your gut. If it puts a smile on your face - use it! Yes, writing puns can be a delicate balancing act, like tiptoeing through a minefield wearing clown shoes.
Chapter 5: The Curse of the Cliché
They say there's nothing new under the sun, and nowhere is this more evident than in the world of comedy. There is nothing wrong with a rewrite. Look at all the old songs that have been made new by artists with fresh eyes! The well-worn tropes and tired clichés of yesteryear lurk around every corner, waiting for new authors to pounce on them with a twist like comedic ninjas. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Chapter 6: The Feedback Fiasco
Once you've managed to wrangle some semblance of humor onto the page, it's time to subject your masterpiece to the ultimate test: the feedback fiasco. Friends, family, and unsuspecting strangers are drafted into service as beta readers. Will they laugh uproariously, or will their polite smiles mask a seething cauldron of indifference? The suspense is enough to make you reach for the nearest bottle of Pepto-Bismol, which I did. Thanks to the gods of book reviews, I rewrote the first chapter. It wasn't remotely funny.
Chapter 7: The Sweet Taste of Success (Maybe)
But wait! Against all odds, you've done it. You've crafted a piece of writing that actually elicits genuine laughter from a reviewer in your audience. The angels sing, the heavens part, and for one glorious moment, all is right with the world. You laugh because they laughed and oh, it feels great! But don't get too comfortable, the comedy quagmire is a fickle mistress, and success is a fleeting thing. The next reviewer claims they never laughed at all. It just wasn't "comical," and the author should "study the genre and learn to be funny."
So, there you have it. The trials and tribulations of attempting to infuse humor into writing. It's a thankless task, fraught with danger and disappointment at every turn. But for those brave souls who dare to tread this perilous path, the rewards can be... well, let's just say they're not exactly what you'd call lucrative. But hey, at least you'll get a few laughs along the way, right? Right?
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