Writing Funny: Horror Stories are Easy

Sad and scary things are universal. Evolution and Emotion have teamed up to make the dark-and-unknown scary and death-and-dying sad. Things that make us laugh is more nuanced and varies more from culture to culture, person to person . . . and political party to political party. (Memes featuring cats and ducks with guns wearing MAGA hats is currently making some conservatives chuckle and many liberals roll their eyes.)

In the quote below, Scott Dikkers poses the question that The Onion and the Babylon Bee take a stab at daily: “What if you want to make Readers laugh?”

I’ve been reading–and attempting to write–funny. The former is easier than the latter, though it is surprisingly rare to find a book that makes you laugh out loud. It takes more time to set-up the joke in literature than it does using quick visuals or physical humor seen in film and television. Scott Dikker’s book How to Write Funny attempts to offer a recipe. (Dikkers is the founder of The Onion.) In his book, Dikkers’ mentions a quote from E/B. White: “Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process.” Dikkers is correct, his book isn’t funny, but there were a few interesting tips I’ll share. You can learn more about Dikkers and his writing in GoodReads. And if you know of any books that made you laugh out loud, let me know!

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Ships & Bricks: alike in the way they’re different.

This was another simple, absurd, and entertaining description from Hitchhiker’s Guide. When we draw parallels we frequently compare like things. The choice to combine “these two things that are similar because their not” caught me pleasantly off guard.

I’ve been looking for some funny books of late–the kind that make you laugh out loud. They’re hard to come by. It takes more time to set-up the joke in literature than it does with quick visuals or physical humor seen in film and television. Douglas Adam’s Hitchhiker’s Guide had a few good laughs–mostly because of his dry wit and absurdity. You can learn more about Adams and his writing in GoodReads. And if you know of any books that made you laugh out loud, let me know!

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Rosemount’s Country Faire is this Saturday!

This weekend is the Rosemount Minnesota hosts it’s big Country Faire Arts event! There’s a lot going on, and it can be fun for the whole family! Here’s some of what you can expect:

  • Food: artisan food vendors & food trucks!
  • Art: high quality original art: painting, photography, pottery, jewelry, wood carving, basketry, and more!
  • Music: free music throughout the day
  • Books: local authors sign and sell their books: childrens, romance, thrillers, fantasy, mystery, nonfiction!

Plus, if you’re there, swing by and say hi! I’ll be at a table signing copies of Suddenly Rural Girl, too!

More information can be found at https://www.rosemountwritersfestival.com/a-country-faire

Make a great weekend!

“…more AK-47s than Budweisers.”

Here’s one more post from Dave Barry’s Big Trouble:

Bar names, all by themselves can be funny. The Drunken Donkey, The Pint of No Return, and Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge & Tiki Garden. The Jolly Jackal brings an entertaining image to mind. Barry takes it a step further with another one of those exaggerations (and a humorous warning): “That bar..has more AK-47s than Budweisers.”

The weapons overkill is funny. We’ve seen it in gun rooms in the Men In Black, the Mummy, the Matrix, Mr. and Mrs. Black, The Kingsman, Boondock Saints, and lots more. In Big Trouble, Barry just pairs it with a classic American beer and a happy heyena–or a Jolly Jackal.

I’ve been looking for some funny books of late–the kind that make you laugh out loud. They’re hard to come by. It takes more time to set-up the joke in literature than it does with quick visuals or physical humor seen in film and television. Many of us remember Dave Barry’s humor from the 90s and 2000s, so I thought I’d read a couple of his novels . . . and there were definitely some laughs! You can learn more about Barry and his writing in GoodReads. And if you know of any books that made you laugh out loud, let me know!

To keep up on more of what I’m reading and writing, subscribe below!

SRG is now available at BookStacks in Bucksport, Maine!

A HUGE thank you to the BookStacks crew in Bucksport, Maine for adding Suddenly Rural Girl to their inventory! If you live in the area or know folks who do, please stop by this great little Indie Bookstore! (We gotta support all local businesses–including those Indie Bookstores.)

Suddenly Rural Girl is available lots of places, including dannhurlbert.com, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Christianbook, and it’s an easy add for libraries and bookstores because it’s also available on Ingram and Bookshop! (ISBN 978-1-959681-33-5). And after you read it . . . don’t forget to write a review!

Comparing Incomparables

The overstatement understatement have been perfected by teenagers. Lifting it out of Comedy into Middle or High Comedy requires some smarts. Here Barry uses incomparable comparisons, drawing a parallel between massive human tragedy and a light-hearted spring dance. That wasn’t enough, though. Nothing good happens in Stephen King novels–which gets us eagerly anticipating “what happens next.”

And, there can be a laugh lingering in the anticipation alone! When see the kids holding the plump water balloon over the head of the unsuspecting criminal, we often smile or chuckle before the bomb is dropped. Similarly, Barry has us enjoying whatever is coming next–before it even happens.

I’ve been looking for some funny books of late–the kind that make you laugh out loud. They’re hard to come by. It takes more time to set-up the joke in literature than it does with quick visuals or physical humor seen in film and television. Many of us remember Dave Barry’s humor from the 90s and 2000s, so I thought I’d read a couple of his novels . . . and there were definitely some laughs! You can learn more about Barry and his writing in GoodReads. And if you know of any books that made you laugh out loud, let me know!

To keep up on more of what I’m reading and writing, subscribe below!

“…even though your head is shaped like an anvil…”

This was a fantastic back-handed compliment that uses both exaggeration and incongruity to get the laugh. Initially it’s hopeful. If delivered by an attractive and “ditsy blonde” character–it might actually be intended as a compliment. The dim-witted recipient might also believe it was a compliment. For the reader (of higher intelligence) we see the unintended, though creative, slam. Beyond the exaggeration (enough brut to kill small birds) and incongruity (shaped like an anvil), there’s a third laugh waiting. When the “attractive man” realizes it’s not a compliment, we’re treated to his recognition. I imagine one eyebrow lifting or both drawing downward and together while he thinks “Waaaaiiit a minute.”

This is a smartly written and funny sentence. Loved it!

I’ve been looking for some funny books of late–the kind that make you laugh out loud. They’re hard to come by. It takes more time to set-up the joke in literature than it does with quick visuals or physical humor seen in film and television. Many of us remember Dave Barry’s humor from the 90s and 2000s, so I thought I’d read a couple of his novels . . . and there were definitely some laughs! You can learn more about Barry and his writing in GoodReads. And if you know of any books that made you laugh out loud, let me know!

To keep up on more of what I’m reading and writing, subscribe below!

“Both legs were hanging down his back”

Bumbling crooks have long been a part of comedy. Two of the most iconic are probably Harry and Marv from the Home Alone movies. Yes, they’re dangerous, but they’re also dumb enough to for us (and Kevin) to stay one step ahead of them. Dave Barry offers two comparable crooks, Snake & Eddie, in Big Trouble. I loved this description. While disguising themselves with masks from the women’s undergarments department, Barry includes “pelvic region, ” and makes a humorous & visual analogy with the “large, frightened rabbit.” This kind of humorous incongruity may also take you back to the appearance of the Stay-Puft marshmallow man in Ghostbusters–when Ray explains:

“I tried to think of the most harmless thing. Something I loved from my childhood. Something that could never ever possibly destroy us. Mr. Stay Puft!”

I’ve been looking for some funny books of late–the kind that make you laugh out loud. They’re hard to come by. It takes more time to set-up the joke in literature than it does with quick visuals or physical humor seen in film and television. Many of us remember Dave Barry’s humor from the 90s and 2000s, so I thought I’d read a couple of his novels . . . and there were definitely some laughs! You can learn more about Barry and his writing in GoodReads. And if you know of any books that made you laugh out loud, let me know!

To keep up on more of what I’m reading and writing, subscribe below!

“Oh, he’s fine…He’s a teenager.”

The response to “He’s fine…he’s a teenager” is “I’m sorry.” Those were some of the best and worst times . . . and as parents, we know there are some touch and go moments with teens in the house! Dave Barry’s line, “I’m sorry,” touches on some deeper reality, the heartfelt love and compassion found in lots of “Middle Comedy.” (Low Comedy involves a bit more slapstick & physical humor, and High Comedy is often a bit more intellectual. ) Barry doesn’t leave the joke at “I’m sorry,” though. He squeezes in a little wordplay at the end. Of course. He’ll grow out of it.

I’ve been looking for some funny books of late–the kind that make you laugh out loud. They’re hard to come by. It takes more time to set-up the joke in literature than it does with quick visuals or physical humor seen in film and television. Many of us remember Dave Barry’s humor from the 90s and 2000s, so I thought I’d read a couple of his novels . . . and there were definitely some laughs! You can learn more about Barry and his writing in GoodReads. And if you know of any books that made you laugh out loud, let me know!

To keep up on more of what I’m reading and writing, subscribe below!

“And the intelligence of . . . “

One of my all time favorite descriptions of a dog was reading Patrick F. McManus’ description of the mangy family dog’s antics outside the dining room window while the family ate with their invited guest, the parish priest. I recall tears streaming down my face & I believe I was asked to leave the classroom. (At this time, I was a student, rather than the teacher.)

In this passage, Dave Barry introduces us to different family dog whose antics come into play throughout the novel. Establishing that Roger has “the intelligence of celery” is funny in itself, and it sets up the humor to come.

I’ve been looking for some funny books of late–the kind that make you laugh out loud. They’re hard to come by. It takes more time to set-up the joke in literature than it does with quick visuals or physical humor seen in film and television. Many of us remember Dave Barry’s humor from the 90s and 2000s, so I thought I’d read a couple of his novels . . . and there were definitely some laughs! You can learn more about Barry and his writing in GoodReads. And if you know of any books that made you laugh out loud, let me know!

To keep up on more of what I’m reading and writing, subscribe below!

How loud is “loud enough to stun cattle?” And who would want to?

Exaggeration and Incongruity play an important part in writing funny. With this simple line, Dave Barry tells us about the character–whom we’ve all had pull up next to us in traffic–and he takes it to another humorous level. Sound systems and Stunning Cattle aren’t generally paired. With the right set-up, it’s a bizzarre exaggeration that can get a chuckle. It worked on me while reading Big Trouble.

I’ve been looking for some funny books of late–the kind that make you laugh out loud. They’re hard to come by. It takes more time to set-up the joke in literature than it does with quick visuals or physical humor seen in film and television. Many of us remember Dave Barry’s humor from the 90s and 2000s, so I thought I’d read a couple of his novels . . . and there were definitely some laughs! You can learn more about Barry and his writing in GoodReads. And if you know of any books that made you laugh out loud, let me know!

To keep up on more of what I’m reading and writing, subscribe below!

“He had a nice efficient swing.”

When I taught film and theater, we spent considerable time evaluating, writing, and producing laughs using the “7 Causes of Laughter.” (You can find other sites and sources that will tell you there are six, or ten. I chose seven because it’s a nice even number.) Every list includes Exaggeration, Ambiguity, Recognition, and every junior high boy’s favorite, the Protection Factor or Slapstick. The latter outlines why a kick to the groin entertains those middle schoolers. I’ve recently discovered that, by middle age, it’s less funny. Dave Barry includes these tricks and more in his writing. The passage below touches on an “Incongruity,” in this case an irrelevant point in the middle of an intense moment, and it made me chuckle.

I’ve been looking for some funny books of late–the kind that make you laugh out loud. They’re hard to come by. It takes more time to set-up the joke in literature than it does with quick visuals or physical humor seen in film and television. Many of us remember Dave Barry’s humor from the 90s and 2000s, so I thought I’d read a couple of his novels . . . and there were definitely some laughs! You can learn more about Barry and his writing in GoodReads. And if you know of any books that made you laugh out loud, let me know!

To keep up on more of what I’m reading and writing, subscribe below!