Here are some notes I took while attending a symposium of LTUE. Good advice on humor and a second writers’ conference.
– Context of the story such as character. Is it something that the character would say or do/ would they say/do it in that way? At that time?
– Humor has to be an earned emotion. Han solo, Hermione Granger, Jack Sparrow, and Spock.
– Each would present their humor in the manner they tell someone something. The presentation is different as influenced by that character. Leia: I love you. Han: I know.
– Humor needs to fit in your plot. Need to establish that your character does that? Jack sparrow needs to be set up. Funny/lines/situations at a tense point in the story can work.
– Humor has to be believable.
– Humor still needs to move the plot forward. Serve a purpose. A situation that could never, ever happen is going to kill the suspension if disbelieved. Keep in mind the world you have created.
– Anticipation: The build-up can be just as funny as the think you’re anticipating. Lucile ball hiding eggs from her husband. Then she must dance the tango with him and the audience knows what is going to happen. The waiting for ‘that’ moment is what is funny.
– Another part of anticipation is misdirection. See banana peel>fall in a pit. Good way to up your funny factor.
– Let’s face it. Some people are just funnier than others. And we can all be funny in different ways. Play off your strengths. Know what they are and play off them.
– Good humor feels effortless.
– Is humor necessary in writing? Yes.
– What we write must provide an emotional experience for our readers.
– Builds the emotion of being hummanified.
– This doesn’t always mean jokes. It may just mean a lighter moment of the emotion.
– Great writing takes reader on an emotional rollercoaster. And some of the roller coaster is humor. Jaws, “we need a bigger boat”, lightened the scene enough to then draw reader back into story.
– Humor must be earned.
