Twists and Reversals are great ways to get laughs–and to scare the daylights out of folks. For the grin, let the underdog overcome the Goliath or make the cute and cuddly pull off the caper. Even a sudden scare can often lead to a laugh, especially if the audience knows it hasn’t truly harmed theirContinue reading “Writing Funny: Surprise People”
Tag Archives: #MNAuthors
Writing Funny: Humor in Any Situation
Years ago, I taught an acting and film unit called “The Seven Causes of Laughter” and it covered things like Exaggeration, Incongruity, Protection Factor, Relief of Pressure, and more. Relief of Pressure is an important concept when trying to find humor in difficult situations. When tension builds or emotions are already high, a well-timed quipContinue reading “Writing Funny: Humor in Any Situation”
Deep Valley Book Festival in Mankato!
If you’re in the Mankato Area on October 5, swing by the Deep Valley Book Festival and say hi! I’ll be manning a table from 10am to 3pm! The DVBF provides readers the chance to interact with their favorite authors and meet new ones. This FREE family event features authors, illustrators, publishers, book sales andContinue reading “Deep Valley Book Festival in Mankato!”
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’reContinue reading “Ships & Bricks: alike in the way they’re different.”
“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 juniorContinue reading ““He had a nice efficient swing.””
Author Talk…One Week Away!
Thank you Pleasant Hill Library in Hastings, MN for hosting an Author Talk with Kennedy and me on May 29! Suddenly Rural Girl is an awesome summer read for teens, so if you know some in the area, let them know! (Plus, if you order your favorite teen a copy of Suddenly Rural Girl fromContinue reading “Author Talk…One Week Away!”
Save the Date!
Thank you Pleasant Hill Library in Hastings, MN for hosting an Author Talk with Kennedy and me on May 29! If you’re able to make it, we’d love to see you there–and we’d love to have you spread the word! (Plus, if you order a copy of Suddenly Rural Girl from our website, we canContinue reading “Save the Date!”