… timing. Got a few more of these “Writing Funny” tips that stood out: Truly, I think this this is what makes writing funny more difficult than performing funny. In a performance, you can hold for a split-second to be sure the audience is following before hitting them with the punchline. Then, you can stop,Continue reading “Writing Funny: It’s all about the…”
Tag Archives: YA
The Scent of a Good Story (Peter and the Star Catchers)
Peter and the Star Catchers, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson is a treat, especially for those who fell in love with the story of Peter Pan years ago. It’s the first of their prequal novels, and the Pearson/Barry combination expertly weave all of the magic and playfulness into a story that explains the magicContinue reading “The Scent of a Good Story (Peter and the Star Catchers)”
Writing Funny: Horror Stories are Easy
I’m nearly done with my comic thriller, The Worst Thing About Sam, so I wanted to re-post some of these “Writing Funny” tips I pulled together along the way: 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 isContinue reading “Writing Funny: Horror Stories are Easy”
Writing Funny: Surprise People
I’m nearly done with my comic thriller, The Worst Thing About Sam, so I wanted to re-post some of these “Writing Funny” tips I pulled together along the way: 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 orContinue reading “Writing Funny: Surprise People”
Writing Funny: Comfort & Affliction
I’m nearly done with my comic thriller, The Worst Thing About Sam, so I wanted to re-post some of these “Writing Funny” tips I pulled together along the way: No one wants to see the innocent child beaten down, but most of us do like too see the tables turned on the bully, so s/heContinue reading “Writing Funny: Comfort & Affliction”
Lunatics: Two Authors & A Ludicrous Story
Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel tag-teamed in 2012 for this novel, and it was a fun one . . . if you can suspend your disbelief again and again and again. I can. I enjoyed the repeated and unbelievable twists and turns. As I outlined in some previous posts, writing funny involves exaggeration, grotesqueness, shock,Continue reading “Lunatics: Two Authors & A Ludicrous Story”
Give the Gift of a Great Book!
Suddenly Rural Girl is the perfect Christmas gift to your favorite Young Adult reader this Holiday Season! Teens will fall in love with our protagonist, Dakota Moore, as she faces life, death, mean girls, and cute boys in a small Midwestern town. For a limited time, you can get a signed copy at our discountedContinue reading “Give the Gift of a Great Book!”
A Christmas Gift for the YA Reader in Your Life!
Suddenly Rural Girl is the perfect Christmas gift to your favorite Young Adult reader this Holiday Season! Readers will fall in love with our protagonist, Dakota Moore, as she faces life, death, mean girls, and cute boys in a small Midwestern town. For a limited time you can get a signed copy at our discountedContinue reading “A Christmas Gift for the YA Reader in Your Life!”
Writing Funny: Startled into laughter.
You’ve probably stood behind a corner, smiling, waiting to jump out and scare the daylights out of your wife, friend, or maybe your dog. That anticipation, the quiet-laugh-while-you-wait for something to happen is one of the “causes of laughter.” It’s because you anticipate the shock they’ll experience (knowing it won’t REALLY hurt them). Shock canContinue reading “Writing Funny: Startled into laughter.”
Writing Funny: Traits of Comedic Characters
Stereotypes are real. We’ve all carry them. If we’re wise or well-disciplined, we don’t take action on them–moving from stereotyping to discriminating. Stereotypes are often ignorant and unfair, but they can be funny. Playing off them–or creating them–effectively can help you get some laughs. You’ve seen it a thousand times: “Dumb Blonde” jokes, “What doContinue reading “Writing Funny: Traits of Comedic Characters”
Writing Funny: Comfort & Affliction
No one wants to see the innocent child beaten down, but most of us do like too see the tables turned on the bully, so he or finally gets his or her comeuppance. The general population also has some common, shared, arch-enemies: violent criminals, corrupt government officials, the dictator, “boss,” and more; they’ve become tooContinue reading “Writing Funny: Comfort & Affliction”
Writing Funny: Surprise People
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”