Saturday, January 24, 2009

Writing comedy

I love comedy, in particular romantic comedy. Almost always when I'm in the mood to go to the movies, I look for the best romantic comedy. I usually avoid the tear jerkers and I get bored at a lot of the dramas. I also like action/adventure with romance, but especially if it has some comedy - like Indiana Jones and The Mummy. The hubby and I are watching "2 1/2 Men", my new favorite show. Jake, the son/nephew, reminds me in a lot of ways of my youngest, a boy about the same age. Charlie is such a lovable cad. You know he's a cad but he's still charming. I usually can't stand charmers, but he seems to be laughing at himself and is otherwise a nice guy, that I love to watch him. Add to that the smart, nice, but neurotic brother, and it's hilarious. I can so relate to the scrapes the dad and uncle get into because of the kid. In the last episode, the boy left his game boy (turned on) inside a casket at a funeral. The poor dad had to retrieve it in front of a room of mourners. Fortunately, my son hasn't done anything quite that embarrassing, but close. I used to try to write comedy. Sometimes I succeeded, but sometimes I probably didn't. It's damn hard to write it. Comedy is so subjective and I have a weird sense of humor. I tried again recently, the last story I handed into my editor in fact, but I don't know yet if she agrees. I fear that my editor will think it's campy or too silly or not at all funny. Or if my editor likes it, will the readers think it's funny? At least the majority? I'm not qualified to give tips about writing comedy, but I'm more than willing to hear some. I'm even more willing to read as many as I can find, so if you have any you like, please recommend them.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I admire anyone who can write with humor. sigh. Two authors I especially like for their wit are M.A. Ellis (Ellora's Cave) and Michelle Witvliet (Wild Rose Press)
Neither write romantic comedy per se but they do inject humor.

Regina Carlysle said...

I looove humor in books and movies! Nothing like having a good laugh.

Shelley Munro said...

I love romantic comedy. Comedy is hard to write because it's so subjective. I write on the light side. I wouldn't say I wrote comedy but my books contain a lot of humor. At least that's what the reviewers say.

You could try my Romancing the Alien and Summer in the City of Sails. - both currently on sale in paperback at the EC shop and cheaper in paperback than eformat! Okay, finished the ad now. *grin*

My Middlemarch series has quite a bit of humor in it too, but I would say not as much as the first two titles I mentioned.

Have a fun weekend.

Unknown said...

I don't think anyone should try and write funny as it always come across forced. Pie in teh face human is only funny to that person.I like Janet Evanovich books and Jennifer Cruise - they're funny but then they write from like experience and not because they think they're funny.

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