Writing humour even if you don't want to
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Writing humour even if you don't want to
Whenever I try to write fiction, humour comes out. Even when I was kid and would try to write an adventure story it would end up being lighthearted and silly. Anyone else have this problem?
This is my first NaNoWriMo and my strategy is to go with the flow, so if humour comes out then that's fine. But I'm secretly hoping that it all pours out of me so that I can eventually write something serious.
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
I found that happening to me a lot as well. So, I just decided to embrace it. I like to find humor just about everywhere, so of course it must find its way into my stories.
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
That's seems like a good attitude to have about this. Thanks.
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
God same here. Here's something that works for me:
Most times I just go with the flow but when I really can't use the lighthearted and silly part of a scene I didn't want to be lighthearted and silly I set out to write the same scene multiple times.
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
Absolutely. Last year I wanted to write a gripping, bloody murder story. Instead, it degenerated into a farce. Like you, this has been a recurring pattern, even whilst writing school assignments. But you know what? It was hilarious, and my own words made me laugh as I was writing them.
This year, I've completely given in; I can't help but write a sequel in the same style. I'd rather be unable to write straight fiction than unable to write comedy, to be honest. (Although my criteria for success is 1. Do I like it? 2. Am I constantly smiling as I write it? and not 1. Do other people like it? 2. Will it sell? so you may not want to listen to me.)
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
I have similar problems. I start with this dark, deep plot and before long everyone's off doing zany things.
This doesn't always happen - some of my stuff stays serious. And a lot of what I write zig zags between silly and serious. But, yeah...I've written more than a few stories that were meant to be 100% serious just to watch them get goofy.
But, you know, that's okay. I think people prefer them when they're silly, and I'm content with them being that way.
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
I like the zig zag concept. I've intentionally shifted my story back into serious mode and maybe it will shift out again later. I think if I do it right it could actually be enjoyable for the reader (which will just be me).
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
I was going to write serious fiction this year. I was. Then at midnight I panicked and my dirty, dirty, sense of humor came out and now my story is apparently hilarious. Which, I suppose is good, because usually when I write it's so depressing. Still, I wanted Adrian (main character) to actually struggle with his powers... instead he is drawing bits of the male anatomy on the Mona Lisa.
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
Always happens to me. I have to consciously reign myself in to write serious fiction and that, obviously, takes longer and requires more concentration.
So this year I said 'fuck it' and decided to write about a mad scientist. ;)
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
Me too! Or more accurately about the sapient insect creations of a mad scientist!
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
I wanted to write something normal for once but my brain obviously didn't listen as when I read it back I was surprised to find that I had blown up a science lab and wirtten every teacher as a raging drunk or a total perv. This was suposed to be my serious "what a world we live in!" story too! Damn... ;)
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
For some reason, I'm having the opposite problem. I prepped myself by reading such gold as Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and Jasper Fforde to get myself into the mindset.
I had the concept in my head for over a week. You take a racist-towards-vampires man, and force them into being a dentist-for-vampires.
And then I sit down and I start writing, and I cannot for the life of me get a quip or joke or anything humorous in there.
It's reverse writinghumourevenifyoudon'twanttoitis
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
Hey, maybe you've come up with a solution to my problem. Next time I'll try hard to write humour and something else will come out.
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
Interesting point... I had no intention of writing satire when I started this 3 days ago, but it just started rolling yesterday, and it made the writing itself so much more enjoyable ...
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
I started to write horror this year. Ended up scrapping it for humour. Also all my stories seem to have some light element to them.
Apparently that's just the fiction I'm drawn to.
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
A novel can be humorous with some seriousness mixed in! That's how mine is coming along. It's amusing because the two talking ferrets add a lot of comedic relief, but serious at the same time as my MMC is an alcoholic and currently going through a divorce.
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
My story is a pretty serious story, which is why I populate it with random funny moments and WAY too many running gags, just to ruin the serious atmosphere. That's just the way I write: serious plot, ridiculous characters and lines.
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
I'm feeling it. I set out to write a serious work of visionary / metaphysical fiction ala The Alchemist or the Celestine Prophecy and now it feels like I'm writing a parody of paranormal romance. ;) Sigh.
Re: Writing humour even if you don't want to
This happens to me all the time! My stories are very realistic, meaning the plot is often on the slightly darker, grittier side of things. Yet humor always sneaks in. I've learned to embrace it, though, and find a balance between seriousness and humor. It's what makes me different as a writer, and that's not a bad thing :) I can't force comedy, though. If I try to be funny, it never works, I just have to write what feels natural.