humor writing in nonfiction articles. when do people laugh when they are surprised at the misfortune...
TRANSCRIPT
Humor writing in nonfiction articles
When do people laugh
When they are surprised
At the misfortune of others
Publications’ use of humor
Some publications specialize in humor
Some use it along with other content
Some use humor as spot features
Some as a regular item in columns
Some humor writers
Dave Barry, Calvin Trillin, Garrison Keillor, Ian Frazier, Alice Kahn, Patrick McManus, Roy Blount Jr., Al Franken, Art Buchwald, James Lileks …
Where do they write
Miami Herald, New Yorker, Time, The Nation, Arizona Republic, The Atlantic Monthly, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, Lose Angeles Times, Minneapolis Star Tribune …
Stand-up comedians/ celebs
Tim Allen, David Letterman, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Cathy Guisewite, Matt Groening, Scott Adams …
Humorous ideas
Kelso - what happens on a daily basis
Russell, Ivins, Lileks - politics
Art Buchwald - his daily newspaper
Lind - asks readers to send stories
Blum - depends on friend for ideas
Humor writer’s ability
To form images and word pictures,
Surprise or unexpected finish or resolution of the story
Build up to the end by taking a small step at a time to tell the story
Allow momentum to grow
Combination of jokes, break punch line
Four elements needed
A funny opening
Colorful narration
Colorful characters
A concise plot
What good publications avoid
Do not want off-color or sexist humor
Do not want taking shots at others
Do not want ethnic jokes
Tips for good writing
Idea should be covered by a single theme
Develop the characters in the story
List the bits of humor - the jokes
Start writing and rewriting frequently
How humor columnists make humor work
Exaggeration
Understatement
Surprise
Life’s little problems
How humor columnists make humor work
Humor in the news
Constructing a comic reality
Attractive beginnings and endings
Puns and word play
Humor writing techniques
Satire: Ridicule a subject’s vices, excesses, abuses, follies, stupidities (Britney Spears: Oops I did it again) … Dave Barry is an example
Humor writing techniques
Parody: Opportunity to imitate style of an individual, place, object or institution Must study subject well. Takes nonsensical approach. Latin playboy
Humor writing techniques
Exaggeration: Overemphasize, enlarge, distort, to make a point. Must have a reason for overstatement. Must know when to stop. (“Doing research” = flipping TV channels)
Humor writing techniques
Contrast: Incongruity. Show unreasonable & unsuitable situations. Something expected and routine becomes unexpected/ non-routine. (Planned holiday becomes a mess)
Humor writing technique
Understatement: Works to create emphasis and reaction on the part of the reader. An intentional, softer comment will draw attention when it is contrasted with the expected. (95 degree temperature: “A little warm outside”)
Humor writing techniques
Asides: Short messages in parentheses or other form to communicate on a quasi-private level. Used in acting or footnotes. Dave Barry, again, an example
Humor writing techniques
Irony: Employs contradictions through writing tone and subject. Focuses on the direct opposite of what is usual or expected. Outcome of story is different from what is expected by readers. Distance between what happened and what should have happened or what is said and what is intended.
Humor writing techniques
Grammatical and Typographic Emphasis: Intentionally overusing and abusing English grammar and over usage. !!!!! @$#$#%%
Trick draws readers’ attention to certain words and terms in an extreme fashion and help place focus where writer wants
Humor writing techniques
Puns: Play on words to provide double meaning. Unless it’s original, this doesn’t work well
Humor writing techniques
Logic and Consistency: Correct reasoning through induction or deduction. Crazy behavior and absurd conduct makes much of American humor. But humor must maintain internal logic. Continue absurd premise. Don’t change focus in middle of story