There's No Shortcut For Writing Humor
Do the work to find the jokes
Hello!
Wherever you are I hope the weather is kind. It’s cold and rainy here right now. Luckily I have a mug of warm tea to keep me toasty as I write. There is a new lamp in the house as well, which finally provides much-needed light for the living room. I call it the hydra, since it has three heads and looks vaguely threatening.
Still no desk but that just gives me something to work towards. The good news is it turns out there is a “think tank” in the apartment complex. It smells like Clorox, but at least I have somewhere to work when I need a break from the drilling outside my window.
I promised in the last newsletter that you would get to see some progress photos for the job fair post I’m working on. So here is a bit more from behind the scenes.
-If you aren’t interested in the process then please skip to the end of this email for some links to the stories I wrote this week :D
Here we go!
First I realized, after doing some research, that my initial idea of the log ride wouldn’t work. Fairs and amusement parks are not the same thing, even though they have some overlapping bits. I changed the ride and the joke still works, so I can keep the general premise of the ride/joke.
Research is important for many of my humor pieces. True, some ideas require none, but many need specific information. With classic books in particular I don’t know everything. I read most of them a long time ago. Doing basic research will help you flesh out a piece and keep it accurate(ish).
After I have enough information, I make lists. First I did a one with all the rides, games, and other fair activities that caught my eye.
Then I brainstormed how job fairs make me feel, or what is annoying about them according to other people.
-Please note that, yes, I know my handwriting is atrocious. If need be I will copy these out onto a word document next time. Sorry about readability
Eventually I worked with both lists and tried to see what came out of it. It’s ok to have a bad idea. Most of the things I wrote down will not end up in the final draft. I don’t know many who can slam out quality posts consistently without writing some really bad drafts first.
The brainstorming phase will unearth ideas you may never have thought of otherwise. This was true for generating jokes for stand up, and it works for short funny pieces like this one as well.
Once I had a list to choose from I started sketching concepts that made me laugh, with no thought of if I’d end up using them or not. I love drawing on my tablet, but I find it’s better for me to use paper for this phase. I’m less likely to erase and make a new document, so the sketches flow without constant self-editing.
At this point I am going to move on to drafting the body of the piece. I will have to pick the tone I want to use, but I’ll go into that another time.
Did you like seeing behind the scenes? Let me know!
Here are some links to my stories! Please check out whichever ones you like. By reading my posts you are supporting my dream, and I thank you for your time.
Bad omens to watch out for if you are a writer.
Why doesn’t women’s clothing have proper pockets by now? You don’t want to know the truth!
I am a houseplant killer. I wrote this instead of a eulogy.
Shakespeare’s Twelve days of Christmas can be deadly, but also so fun!
A rewrite of classic Greek myths.
Thanks for reading! Now it’s time to…
Highlight other writers I love!
Felicia C. Sullivan is one of my favorite writers on Medium. She can make you laugh, cry, and become a stronger, more knowledgeable person just through her writing alone. Her work is plentiful, so click her profile to dig deeper through her backlog. Here is one of my favorites:
Please Tell Me I’m Not Allergic to My Cabin in the Mountains.
Mark Starlin is a very funny writer. I started following hm soon after joining Medium and have never regretted it. Definitely check him out for a your daily dose of short humor. Below is his newest post that is sure to make you smile:
That’s it for now! Thanks for your support and I can’t wait to write more soon!
Kyrie