Do you go through your day and nobody ever says anything funny? A whole day? Not one snide remark or glib comment?
Do you go through your whole story and nobody ever says anything funny?
Why?
A Funny Thought
Posted byDan Alatorre AUTHORPosted inUncategorizedTags:better writing, click bait, fun, instructional, writing craft, writing tips
Published by Dan Alatorre AUTHOR
International bestselling author Dan Alatorre has 17 titles published in over a dozen languages. From Romance in Poggibonsi to action and adventure in the sci-fi thriller The Navigators, to comedies like Night Of The Colonoscopy: A Horror Story (Sort Of) and the heartwarming and humorous anecdotes about parenting in the popular Savvy Stories series, his knack for surprising audiences and making you laugh or cry - or hang onto the edge of your seat - has been enjoyed by audiences around the world. And you are guaranteed to get a page turner every time. “That’s my style,” Dan says. “Grab you on page one and then send you on a roller coaster ride, regardless of the story or genre.” Readers agree, making his string of #1 bestsellers popular across the globe. He will make you chuckle or shed tears, sometimes on the same page. His novels always contain twists and turns, and his nonfiction will stay in your heart forever. Dan resides in the Tampa area with his wife and daughter. You can find him blogging away almost every day on www.DanAlatorre or watch his hilarious YouTube show every week Writers Off Task With Friends. Dan’s marketing book 25 eBook Marketing Tips You Wish You Knew has been a valuable tool for new authors (it’s free if you subscribe to his newsletter) and his dedication to helping other authors is evident in his helpful blog. View more posts
Sounds like hell to me.
me too
Which part?
A day without funny remarks….or perhaps we’re just people who always see the funny side of things, even at funerals.
We definitely see the funny side of things.
Must admit I hold back the quips in posts for the sake of Anglo-American relations! Writing – that’s an interesting one … when I posted ‘Awakening’ in the early days of my WIP friends said that’s exactly you so I tuned myself out and it seems the humour too…I guess it takes a while to readjust the balance between yourself and you the writer…humour coming in my stuff…understated Brit style of course!
Think about this: the movie Jurassic Park is FULL is scary stuff. Jeff Goldblum’s character cracks jokes the whole time.
Think I’ll pass on that?
According to my mother, I have a terrible sense of humour, but she’s still cracks up at I Love Lucy reruns. Wait where was I going with this…
Be nice to your mom. Everybody thinks you have a bad sense of humor if you don’t laugh at what they think is funny.
I have to say something funny at least once a day to my co-workers.
I say funny stuff all the time, or at least sarcastic stuff. (Then you look at this reply and think, “All the time huh? This wasn’t funny.”)
Actually, I thought it was quite funny.
Well, you know my sense of humor better than most people, having read a few of my looooong stories.
I pretty much think my place in the world is to amuse.
That’s not a bad place to be.
In the process of making the potentially traumatic move from the 55-64 age group on ‘the form’ to the penultimate 65-75 group. Although this does convert me, once more to a ‘youngster’ I nonetheless realise my responsibilities to take up the role of ‘Miserable Old……’ (which I have been training for since I was 16). In consequence as part of my training I deliberately misconstrue comments as ‘not funny’ or ‘shallow’ or ‘Uhh! Heard it before’ and other such joy-sucking statements.
This I believe is an important role as it allows others to compare themselves to me and feel a sense of relief; of course as far as I am concerned, they are welcome to it (You can’t afford to slip up on this sort of training y’know; it’s never easy. We grumpy sorts are never appreciated by Society).
Ah well, can’t stop. Must work on some truly grim statements and sardonic comments to caste a cloud of gloom over the next New Year’s Eve parties.
“allows others to compare themselves to me and feel a sense of relief”
THAT may be the funniest thing I read today!
My husband, Danny, is very funny so no, I don’t get through a day without laughing. I try to be funny but my serious side overwhelms my silly side. People get bored when I tell a funny story due to all the details I think are important to the story. Its like they do that thing with their hand that says, “Get on with the story.” I am happy that I found blogging as an outlet for all that has been boiling over in me, needing an outlet.” Thanks for all that you add to the adventure.
Thank you! It’s awesome that you husband is funny and that you think so.
Interesting point: I say funny things all day (well, *I* think they’re funny) and yet yes, I write plenty of short stories that are serious from beginning to end. It’s harder with short stories, I think; you don’t have a lot of time to insert a little humor without throwing the whole mood off. In my WIP novel, I tend to have chapter after chapter of tension, guilt, and/or fear with nothing funny at all, then bring in a lighter scene to relax the mood a bit. Maybe I could add a little more sarcasm or dark humor to the serious chapters, but I want to avoid the action movie cliche where the heroes are so unflappable that they’re constantly quipping in the face of danger.
Yeah, definitely want to avoid a cliche. And some stories are sad, or dark or melancholy; there’s nothing wrong with that. But I think – I know – it doesn’t really reflect reality, and it might make our stories a tiny bit better to have a moment of levity here and there, as you point out.
I get my daily laugh on FB. Is that sad? LOL. BTW, just found your newsletter in gmail spam, wow! Lol. Loved it! FYI the share buttons below the letter (of course I was trying to share the letter) don’t share your post, rather they directed me to my own twitter and facebook page. ? 🙂
You post/repost a LOT of funny stuff on Facebook.
Glad you found the newsletter! Now I just hafta fix the buttons, huh? Back to the grindstone…
Thanks. And yes, that was weird you were in Spam, considering I get your posts – not in Spam? I’ll keep my eye on junk mail more often. 😉
Heck no. I can’t live without humor. And in a novel, it certainly goes a long way toward better enjoyment.
I agree. And in blog posts – like yours!
Ha! Why thank you very much, sir.
Oh, is this about my book?
(Sorry I haven’t been around. Too ill to focus and fever is starting to return brrrrrrrrrr.)
Well it kinda defeats the purpose of me avoiding telling who it is if you come out and say it.
Get better soon!
Oh crap, you mean It actually was?
There was me trying to joke… epic fail! See what I mean?
I can neither confirm nor deny that statement.
Forgot to say. I avoid funny stuff because nobody gets it when I try! Having to explain a joke, that’s not funny at all!
Believe it or not, THAT was the answer I expected to hear the most. It’s hard to do and easy to mess up. Which means it requires some talent and work, but mainly it requires practice, like anything else we want to learn.
Am reminded of the e-card saying: “That awkward moment when your sarcasm is so advanced that people actually think you are stupid.”
Also Dudley Moore’s character Arthur: “Sometimes I just think funny things.”
I do like to amuse myself. I’ve just gotten used to the “what the f is he giggling about?” look.
When that happens I go ahead and say something funny. I just can’t stand the tension!
Sounds like you!