It seems that, through the course of the years, my sense of humor has gotten dryer. Or something.
I was at the coffee shop for my caffeine fix and saw that the drip of the day was Mexican.
“Will it give me heartburn?” I asked the barista with what I thought was a hint of a smile.
He looked pityingly at me. “No ma’am.” (Yes, he was much younger than me.) “It’s just a type of coffee bean. There’s nothing spicy in there.”
How deflating.
As I writer, I don’t want a reader not to ‘get it.’ I don’t want them wondering, like the barista, if I’m trying to be funny or not.
But I love using humor in my writing:
My books have a lot of situational humor. It’s fun to put a character in an uncomfortable situation and see what happens. My character, Myrtle, gave a disastrous dinner party and she was so serious about trying to make everything perfect. When it all backfired on her, it made the scene funny.
Running jokes—I use small gags that pop up at various points during the story. Humorous subplots are fun to write.
Dialogue—Funny exchanges between characters are a great way to make the characters’ conversations zip by and add comic relief to the story.
What hasn’t worked for me:
I’ve used puns before. One editor wasn’t a fan and took them out.
Winks to other English lit lovers. I thought it would be funny to name the minister in my Myrtle Clover series ‘Nathaniel Dimsdale.’ You know—Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter with the minster, Dimsdale? My editor didn’t think it was funny or interesting. I changed the name.
Humor is such a personal thing. I don’t put straightforward jokes in there. I gravitate to funny or unusual or uncomfortable situations and a small amount of physical humor.
How do you incorporate humor in your books? Do you ever worry your readers won’t get it?
I love humour in books. The best stories have a mix of everything. As for my own writing, I can’t do straightforward jokes, because I can’t tell them in real life. I always mess up some part of it. It’s like a pathology for me. However, I do use sarcasm (once again, I’m limited by my own capabilities and preferences. If I had a character who told knock-knock jokes, for example, I’d have to do research). I like puns, but they feel like a drum roll is needed, so I don’t put them in. Some physical gags are okay and irony, but I agree that situational funniness is the best. There’s nothing more hilarious than the straight man tossed about by a cruel, non-complying universe. I’m looking foward to reading “Pretty is…” and seeing how Myrtle handles it (I just special ordered it from a local store, as I’m trying to cut back on supporting mega-corporate Amazon).
I often find myself unable not to include humour in my writing… I agree, though, that the kind of humour matters. I often like puns, but they can get kind of insidey, and if you’re not in on it, it’s obviously not very funny. If it’s done subtly, though (like your example – I don’t see why the editor would mind), so that uninformed readers don’t understand that there is something they are missing, I think it can be justified.
I definitely love a sense of humour from the writer. Characters telling jokes annoys me as they are almost never particularly funny, but dry observations, absurd situations and irony can make me laugh outloud. David Eddings became my favourite male fantasy author because of his mixture of dry humous and absurd understatment. I’m told, by friends, that my writing can be very funny, but I think this is mostly because they know me and they are usually laughing about something unrelated to the story. I do tend to try to use a mixture of irony and dark sarcasm to add humour to otherwise bleak situations but I don’t as yet know how successful I am at it. As you pointed out, humour is incredibly subjective and what appeals to me probably won’t appeal to someone else.
I always worry about incorporating the humour in my writing! I can find myself smiling away as I’m writing or re-reading or editing, but still worry others might not get it. My humour is mostly in the dialogue, but with some situational fun as well.
I write mainly suspense. Involving cops, ex-cops, and former military types. Foxhole humor.
I like to “reverse-humor” those guys. Like when one guy thinks he is being funny but the two guys with him make fun of him. So, situational humor for me. One of the funniest things in my stories, to me, is when a woman character glibly one-ups a smartass man who thinks he’s all that.
I think instinctively witty writers end up producing instinctively witty stuff. Over-analysis is especially fatal with humour!
Often things we don’t even consider amusing end up making people laugh. I definitely agree that understatement plays a crucial part in provoking chuckles.
It’s better to attempt mirth and fail than to write a bone dry and humorless narrative.
I love touches of humor. I like insider “jokes”. Like on NCIS when someone said, “I wonder what Ducky looked like when he was younger.” and Jethro said, “Illya Kuryakin.” Or on Stargate when Carter tells Jack they had to “MacGyver five supercomputers.”
Those jokes are lost on anyone who doesn’t know the actors’ histories. But they bring a smile to me.
I write mystery/romances, and there have to be light moments, although ‘light’ might not be the right word for cop humor.
What I can’t do is “jokes.” I’d say my humor moments are most often dialogue or situational. I’ll never be a Janet Evanovich type author.
(Toni McGee Causey did a great ‘master class series’ on humor at Murder She Writes.)
Elizabeth – It’s funny you would mention humor in writing. I enjoy (and appreciate) humor in mystery novels. For instance, I love the humor in Laurien Berenson’s Melanie Travis series. I also like the humor in Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. But I, myself, was born without the humor DNA. So, although I’ll sometimes have a character say something sarcastic, I wouldn’t say that I use humor in my writing. From me, it would be too forced.
I think situational humor in a book is good. For the reader, it helps lighten the mood.
Elizabeth, I’m not good at incorporating much humor into my books. I think mine lean more toward the serious, drama, action, side of writing. I probably have a few moments, maybe, but it’s something I definitely need to improve in! Thanks for the tips!
Humor certainly can be tricky. You’ve done a great job in PRETTY IS, by the way, of hitting just the right humor notes.
I’ve found that if I put :) after all my jokes, people will know I’m kidding. Of course, my editor isn’t wild about that :)
Humor can definitely be a challenge. One of the things I learned early on about writing humor is to always surprise the reader, give them the pratfall.
I enjoy characters like Spenser and Elvis Cole who have a sardonic sense of humor.
See, now that was funny? I got your mexican coffee bean joke. But I know what you mean. I tend to use humor as well, in my life as in my writing, and I’m often accused of using in the wrong time and place.. But there are a few who “get it”.. though I need to make sure that its more than “a few”..
I can’t seem to help myself; my writing always includes humour. However it’s usually a funny situation or behaviour; or someone saying something wildly inappropriate. I’ve been told I have a very dry, dark humour which shows up in my writing.
Puns? No. Slipping on a banana peel? No. But humour; oh my, yes.
Elspeth
I think I prefer using subtle dry humor. I’m not good at the witty dialogue, so I often create funny situations, with an emphasis on the playful.
I’m often told my writing is humorous, which surprises me. I don’t think I’m particulary funny. (Although I can hardly speak without being sarcastic.) I guess it’s easier to let the writing take shape, and if people think it’s funny, horray.
I definitely got the humour in the dinner scene, and in the ode to Miles Standish (love the way you drug that one out). Don’t worry!
I also like the biting humour of Nelson DeMille. He reminds me of my father.
The only way I like a character telling jokes, is when the jokes are bad ones. That is funny!
And I think it depends on your audience for puns. To whom are you speaking? Would they get the puns?
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
I like books that make me laugh and I usually think subtle humor is the funniest. I don’t worry about the humor I use in my writing. I guess it’s because I think I can be kind of dense when it comes to getting a joke so I feel if I get it everyone should get it.
In my writing, I like to turn situations that don’t start out funny into ones that are. In my own life, I seem to have a dry sense of humor. Just the other day I had someone turn to look at me before laughing, and say, I’m never sure when you’re serious because you have such a straight face.
Helen
Straight From Hel
I enjoy humor that is of the type where I wonder if other people who read the book “get it.”
Because I tend to see and look for things (it’s hard to take the editor hat off when reading) I DO catch those subtle bits of humor. I think they’re clever and entertaining. Makes the read more interesting and it’s kind of like being part of an inside joke with the author. :)
Humor is a major element in my books, and I write primarily in the spiritual/inspirational genre. In my novel, Owen Fiddler, Kris – the savior character, has a sharp sense of humor with even a bit of irreverence to it. I’ve gotten lots of reviews that appreciated the amount of humor in what could’ve otherwise been too much of a “heavy” and/or “preachy” book.
And as a reader, I like humor in ANY genre. Even suspense thrillers – toss in some funny stuff – it just adds to the whole experience.
Marvin D Wilson
I love humor in my reading, but my actual humor is too campy for the books I write (typically conspiracy theory/family dramaish). I tend to have a few characters who are witty or sarcastic, and particularly like to have someone put an arrogant or mean character in their place.
I thought the heartburn question was funny :)
I employ sarcasm in my books. It’s how I communicate humor and usually how my characters do. Especially my villains. I do LOVE sarcastic bad guys!
Happy weekend,
Jen
I don’t think I have the comical wit to pull off in my writing. The best I get is corny jargon that no one giggles at but me.
Lorel–I can’t tell jokes in real life, either! The punch line never sounds the same. Thanks so much for ordering my book! I hope you enjoy it. And thanks for supporting the indie bookstores.
Cruella–I think you’re right about being careful with the insider stuff. It’s very tempting to write it with series. But it wouldn’t be funny to new readers.
I wasn’t sure what she didn’t like…but I’m always amiable when it comes to editors. :) I was happy to make the change.
Cassandra–I love absurdities, too! And so many situations in modern life ARE absurd. I’d love to try your dark humor, but I’m not sure I’d be able to pull it off.
Diane–I like it subtle, too. I bet your playful approach for YA goes over well.
Jemi–Me too! I do think situational humor is easy for readers to get…there’s enough of a build-up to ensure a reaction.
Glen–I bet foxhole humor works well in your books. Always great to have some comic relief in a tense situation. And your reverse humor sounds like a great technique!
M.J.–Well put! And you’re absolutely right–it’s worth the risk of failure to include humor in our writing.
Terry–I love insider jokes, too! I’ve seen different examples in books that have really made me smile…and made me feel like I was clever to pick up on something.
Yeah, my jokes aren’t great, either. :) Wish I’d caught the master class.
Margot–I find that hard to believe! You seem like you have a nice sense of humor to me. I know what you mean, though, about not forcing it. Sarcasm can be funny, too.
Jane–I do like subtle better than slapstick. It seems funnier to me.
Mason–And a little mood lightening is nice, especially if the book has a lot of tense scenes.
Helen–I guess you and I will have to start smiling more so people know we’re trying to be funny.
Crystal–Me too! But so far I haven’t been able to get away with it. The editors think it excludes too many readers, apparently.
Marvin–I knew *you* wouldn’t have a problem writing humor! I think Owen gets a lot of his humor from you. I like humor in all genres, too. It would have improved some of the Russian lit I slogged through a *lot* if there had just been a touch of it!
Hart–Oh, campy! I didn’t even go into campy and I *love* campy. Both of my prologues have a touch of camp to them. I don’t go too far with it, though. I like the idea of putting mean characters in their place with humor.
Jody–I think there are many readers who don’t really *want* humor in their books, or only want to read it when they’re in the mood to.
Alan–Thanks! I tried not to get carried away too much. It’s easy for me to lay it on thick.
I’ve found that editors are odd about :), too!
Maryann–I forgot about the element of surprise in humor! You’re right, it can be really effective.
JM–Thanks for getting my joke. :) That’s the real challenge, isn’t it? Making something funny to a wider audience.
Elspeth–Oh, I can *completely* see that with your writing! You’ve really had me laughing before with your droll status updates. Too funny!
Tara–You’re right. The more we set out working on the humor, the more forced it can feel. Better to let it come naturally.
Michele–Now they DID let me get away with my pilgrim reference, but they weren’t happy with it at all. I’m glad you liked it! :)
You’re absolutely right about writing for your audience. I think sometimes, I am thinking TOO much of a particular type of audience. That’s because the English lit lovers have made a special effort to email me and also tell me at signings to keep the lit references in the books. But..do I risk alienating other readers? That’s the line we have to worry about crossing.
And bad jokes ARE really funny, aren’t they?
Jen–Sarcastic, sneering bad guys rule!
Tamika–Corny is funny, too, though. As long as there’s someone in the group of characters rolling their eyes, I think we can get away with it.
I enjoy the humor. Maybe the editor needs to lighten up? Did I say that?
Elizabeth– You didn’t! And I’m not either. :) And that’s a funny thing, too–when you and an editor have different senses of humor. But…they read a heck of a lot more than I do. I take their suggestions.
I love humor in books, but it is difficult to write! You need to have a great sense of timing! Sometimes I think I have it, but other times I don’t. I think most of my humor in writing is like my humor in life: so unexpected you almost miss it.