Hi to you who is reading this post,
I was working on an outline for my novel and came across a character that had shown me a cause for concern. The problem I'm talking about is that he is a humorous character and likes to joke around, he is also a leader to an organisation so he is vital to my story. Except I am no good at writing humour, in fact I would say I'm not that humorous at all. So how should I tackle this issue?
Dear David,
your question and the replies, are most interesting - after all, who's entitled to advise on humour?! My problem, is trying to ignore what I personally find amusing... (sadly,sometimes in the more serious occasions...once at a relative's funeral!) however, and personally, what may pass as my 'sense of homour' stems from many years of working among numbers of my fellow Scottish Western Highlanders - the natural humour is sometimes described as one which is: 'Dry/Sarcastic/Ironic...a range of blends from which we seem to draw from instinctively!
Furthermore, I believe we gain our attitudes from 'the school of life', and must make do with that, unless one feels the need to actively enhance/improve somehow. I wish you well in this particular matter...after all: to consciously aim for producing humour, for a character in a written piece of work, may be a challenging task indeed.
I realize that I'm making a statement, rather than helpful advice, so I beg forgiveness - I am addicted to reading/writing and an amateur typist; seems a blessing ~ sometimes, a nuisance also. Although this is my primary action in Writers & Artists, I sincerely hope to become more involved in future!
All the best,
Ewen
Read Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic ~ by Henry Bergson !
(deadpan humor)
Thank you Paul