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Lighten up! Great advice for humor writing
By Terry Loncaric
The best writing advice I ever received was from a college professor
who told me something was missing in my writing.
I had the mechanics nailed down, but I needed to put lightness
in my writing. My stories lacked humanity. All of the information
was there; it just didn't crackle.
Like so many novice writers, I used all the big words, but I
didn't know how to let the story breathe. After that, I never
looked at my writing the same. I began to write more descriptively.
I used humor to make a point. I replaced stiffness with a much more
conversational tone.
This advice became indispensable to me as a humor columnist. I
learned to become a storyteller. I developed a more snappy
delivery. I learned to deliver the punch line without stretching
the narrative.
The columns I write for magazines and daily newspapers are usually
simple observations that take a detour and somehow end up as
keen insights. The best humor columns are not just aimless rants.
They have a story, a point, and a conclusion. They are universal
experiences.
When writing humor, you don't have to search hard for inspiration.
It is all around you. It can be a news report that made you angry,
someone who ran you off the road, or a fashion trend that has you
baffled. Do you feel passionately about a certain subject? Do you
have a unique story you can't wait to share? Chances are, a column
is bubbling inside you.
If you have a distinctive voice as a writer and can mine insights
from mundane experiences, you may have what it takes to write humor.
If you write from your heart, and not just sarcasm, your humor will
stand the test of time.
Look at Mark Twain. He made us laugh about war, hypocrisy, and dirty
politicians. Syndicated columnist Dave Barry's humor may seem silly,
but it stems from his own humanity. William Shakespeare often exposed
man's flaws with his clever, sharp wit.
Writing humor is, however, a shaky roll of the dice. Everyone has a
different sense of humor. What makes one person fall on the floor
and laugh hysterically may leave someone else scratching his head
in confusion. Persuasive writing works the best when it is not forced,
and it simply flows naturally from life experiences.
Let these tips guide you in finding your sense of humor.
*Try to show your editors your sense of humor with a snappy
introductory letter. The first paragraph of your letter should read
like the lead in your story. Share snippets from your column. It's
your chance to show you have what it takes to write humor.
*Stake out your publication, and write on topics you know will
interest them. Avoid columns on subjects others have already covered.
Fresh insights -- not just original topics -- always stand out.
*Keep the tone of your humor columns conversational and chatty. Your
readers will feel like you are talking to them, not at them. The
humor in the New Yorker is certainly more worldly than it is the
Chicago Tribune. Tailor your writing, and your level of
sophistication, for the publication.
*The art of writing humor is to make it look easy. Most prose that
is seamless is the result of copious editing. Remember if readers
can't understand the humor, they're not going to get the joke.
*Read other columnists for inspiration. They have a formula that
works. See what you can do to punch up your prose. Test your
writing by reading it out loud. See if it has a steady, clear
rhythm.
*Aim for heartfelt narrative. If your humor is mean, prejudiced,
or shallow, it can backfire. Humor is the most compelling if it
stirs a memory of a common human experience. Humor that's smart
is always more lasting.
*Believe in yourself, and keep pitching your columns. If you get
discouraged, you will lose your edge, and it will affect your
writing rhythm. Just because one editor doesn't find your work
funny doesn't mean the next editor will not be rolling on the floor
laughing at your stuff.
*While it is true that selling humor is hit-or-miss, if you are
really clever, and you prevail, you will slowly crack this difficult
market. Publications are flooded with hundreds of submissions each
week from aspiring columnists, all hoping to be the next Dave
Barry. Your perspective is what sets you apart.
Fame, fortune, and syndication are the rewards we all desire. But
when I see a complete stranger pick up one of my humor columns,
and he can't stop laughing, I know that writing humor is the most
rewarding job in the universe.
BIO
Terry Loncaric, a Palatine, Ill., writer, has had articles and
opinion pieces published in the Christian Science Monitor,
Conscious Choice, the Chicago Tribune. Detroit Metro Times,
Philadelphia City Paper, and many other publications. She has
written a booklet, "The Healing Powers of Laughter" for Abbey
Press. Loncaric is a former entertainment editor in the Chicago
area. She taught a class in entertainment reporting at Columbia
College.
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