How To Be Funny
April 2020 Gimme Five: How To Be Funny
By J.C. Moore
New York Times bestselling author Andrew Shaffer knows a thing or two about comedy. He’s written humorous mysteries, parodies, horror comedies and even greeting cards, and he says all writers should consider incorporating humor into their work, now maybe more than ever. Here’s how.
1) Think beyond cozies. Sure, some mystery sub-genres are more closely associated with comedy than others, but Andrew argues that humor works in even the darkest of stories.
“My Mt. Rushmore of humorous mystery writers would be Elmore Leonard, Lawrence Block, and Donald Westlake,” he says. “They've all written gritty stories that still manage to be laugh-out-loud funny.”
2) Use humor to alleviate tension. Humor gives readers a chance to catch their breath, something they need whether it’s a serious thriller or a traditional mystery.
“I don't have much time for books that are relentlessly bleak,” Andrew says. “I get it—the world is a dark place. That just makes humor all the more necessary.”
3) Virtually everyone can be funny. Andrew says humor is part of the tapestry of our lives, and completely humorless people are few and far between. Not convinced? Write your first draft without restrictions and be open to the humor that comes through. You don’t have to force it—if you let your imagination wander, you’ll be amazed at what you come up with.
4) Don’t worry about what your mother/brother/daughter will think. Self-censorship kills creativity. The rough draft is for your eyes only, so let the humor develop naturally. You can worry about the audience after you’ve polished your idea.
5) Cut, cut, cut. For every joke that works, Andrew says there will be dozens—hundreds—that don't.
“Comedians don't make us laugh to the point of tears because they're naturally funny,” Andrew says. “They kill onstage because they workshop their material every week on the road in comedy clubs. They throw out jokes that don't work, develop new ones.”
Writers may not have the same format, but we can test material in open mic readings or in local writers' groups. If it gets a laugh, you're on the right track. If not, cut it or revise.