tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post2538599778404308136..comments2024-02-17T17:59:25.010+10:00Comments on Christian Writers Downunder: Comedy in WritingJeanette O'Haganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-79269114154751964592015-04-06T18:58:05.241+10:002015-04-06T18:58:05.241+10:00Some useful tips, thanks Jessica. I think writing ...Some useful tips, thanks Jessica. I think writing humour can be quite challenging, and just as in real life, it's sometimes those insanely 'not meant to be funny' scenes that work out to the be the funniest. And, let's face it, some authors are just brilliant at humour! I wish I wrote humour more spontaneously, but I suspect my tendency to find amusement in the quirkiest dad-joke-type scenarios means I have to be more conscious about my 'funny' attempts or I could possibly alienate (or at least seriously confuse) a good portion of readership. (But hang, I'd at least amuse myself in the process ... LOL). :)Adele Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15413445554710215786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-74678690854851735752015-03-23T18:01:19.369+10:002015-03-23T18:01:19.369+10:00Thanks Jess. That makes sense :)Thanks Jess. That makes sense :)Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-30656172198407220742015-03-23T18:01:01.047+10:002015-03-23T18:01:01.047+10:00Thanks Jess. That makes sense :)Thanks Jess. That makes sense :)Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-82797280772901813332015-03-23T15:45:17.753+10:002015-03-23T15:45:17.753+10:00Hi Adam. Great point - that's actually a techn...Hi Adam. Great point - that's actually a technique I use in the training courses that I write for my day job. Thanks for contributing!Jessica Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09364194015783779692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-58746011763582967092015-03-23T15:44:30.603+10:002015-03-23T15:44:30.603+10:00You're welcome Anusha, and thank-you. Comedy&#...You're welcome Anusha, and thank-you. Comedy's definitely something that some people are born with, though I think if you have a little bit of it, you can work on that and strengthen it. Jessica Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09364194015783779692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-34578734365691624842015-03-23T15:42:07.124+10:002015-03-23T15:42:07.124+10:00Thanks Jeanette! Yes, pets, children, spouses, and...Thanks Jeanette! Yes, pets, children, spouses, and probably older characters too. They seem to get away with things other characters couldn't. The grandmother in Jenny B Jones' Katie Parker series is one of the funniest characters I've ever read.Jessica Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09364194015783779692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-31125251561773756482015-03-23T15:40:31.946+10:002015-03-23T15:40:31.946+10:00When I say 'insults', I'm picturing sc...When I say 'insults', I'm picturing scenes in Jenny B Jones' novels where a character will take a cheeky swipe at someone, but the other character doesn't take them seriously. <br />If it wasn't in a novel, it might be a rude thing to say, but in a rom com with fiesty characters it just seems to work. Jessica Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09364194015783779692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-43049468884554543292015-03-23T13:17:25.015+10:002015-03-23T13:17:25.015+10:00Thanks for sharing this Jessica. Humour is somethi...Thanks for sharing this Jessica. Humour is something I need to learn more about. I'll certainly follow the link to the conference teaching. Sounds awesome.<br /><br />One form of humour I quite enjoy is the deliberate taking literally of something that was clearly meant to be figurative. Like on the show Yes Minister - the character Bernard often corrects the minister when he uses a mixed metaphor by describing the outcome - which is often absurd.Adam David Collingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18072000680990534407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-27869987561646581362015-03-23T12:00:53.579+10:002015-03-23T12:00:53.579+10:00Well done Jess. You are doing very well in comedy ...Well done Jess. You are doing very well in comedy writing obviously and are setting about it the right way. You are right - writing comedy is far from easy. Although - I think for some it may be more natural than for others. Reading humour is always enjoyable as is watching it. Thanks for those welcome tips and the very best in your writing. Anusha Atukoralahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859837228901127984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-5027384241180950512015-03-23T09:23:23.943+10:002015-03-23T09:23:23.943+10:00Hi Jess, I agree that while we don't all want...Hi Jess, I agree that while we don't all want or need to write Comedy with a capital C, spicing up even the most serious book with a touch of humour helps given breath space for the reader and accentuate the tragedy. Personally, I find pets, children and husbands (spouses?) the most fertile ground for humour - though in my writing, I often use understatement, sarcasm, or ridiculous situations (if you don't laugh you'd cry minty moments). Thanks for you post.Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-4374828894755962082015-03-23T09:05:42.262+10:002015-03-23T09:05:42.262+10:00Thanks for those insights Jess. I'll have to ...Thanks for those insights Jess. I'll have to check out the conference recording you mention. Even though comedy writing isn't for everyone, I think some humour is good even in more serious books or articles, because it can give readers a breathing space and let them know it's okay to smile. It doesn't have to be side-splittingly funny, but lighter moments now and again can help. I've just finished reading the novel 'The Taliban Cricket Club' which is about a group of young people trying to escape Afghanistan during the Taliban's reign. There are a number of tense scenes in the novel that detail some of the horrors of that regime, but it's mixed with lighter moments that give hope.<br /><br />I wonder if you could comment a bit more on your Point 9 about insults. I'm just wondering how that fits in with Christian humour? I'm trying to work that out myself, as insults and sarcasm are often used in satire and parody, but it's easy to cross the line. Any thoughts?<br /><br />Thanks for sharing.Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.com