Humor writing in nonfiction articles

When do people laugh

When they are surprised

At the misfortune of others

Publications’ use of humor

Some publications specialize in humor

Some use it along with other content

Some use humor as spot features

Some as a regular item in columns

Some humor writers

Dave Barry, Calvin Trillin, Garrison Keillor, Ian Frazier, Alice Kahn, Patrick McManus, Roy Blount Jr., Al Franken, Art Buchwald, James Lileks …

Where do they write

Miami Herald, New Yorker, Time, The Nation, Arizona Republic, The Atlantic Monthly, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, Lose Angeles Times, Minneapolis Star Tribune …

Stand-up comedians/ celebs

Tim Allen, David Letterman, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Cathy Guisewite, Matt Groening, Scott Adams …

Humorous ideas

Kelso - what happens on a daily basis

Russell, Ivins, Lileks - politics

Art Buchwald - his daily newspaper

Lind - asks readers to send stories

Blum - depends on friend for ideas

Humor writer’s ability

To form images and word pictures,

Surprise or unexpected finish or resolution of the story

Build up to the end by taking a small step at a time to tell the story

Allow momentum to grow

Combination of jokes, break punch line

Four elements needed

A funny opening

Colorful narration

Colorful characters

A concise plot

What good publications avoid

Do not want off-color or sexist humor

Do not want taking shots at others

Do not want ethnic jokes

Tips for good writing

Idea should be covered by a single theme

Develop the characters in the story

List the bits of humor - the jokes

Start writing and rewriting frequently

How humor columnists make humor work

Exaggeration

Understatement

Surprise

Life’s little problems

How humor columnists make humor work

Humor in the news

Constructing a comic reality

Attractive beginnings and endings

Puns and word play

Humor writing techniques

Satire: Ridicule a subject’s vices, excesses, abuses, follies, stupidities (Britney Spears: Oops I did it again) … Dave Barry is an example

Humor writing techniques

Parody: Opportunity to imitate style of an individual, place, object or institution Must study subject well. Takes nonsensical approach. Latin playboy

Humor writing techniques

Exaggeration: Overemphasize, enlarge, distort, to make a point. Must have a reason for overstatement. Must know when to stop. (“Doing research” = flipping TV channels)

Humor writing techniques

Contrast: Incongruity. Show unreasonable & unsuitable situations. Something expected and routine becomes unexpected/ non-routine. (Planned holiday becomes a mess)

Humor writing technique

Understatement: Works to create emphasis and reaction on the part of the reader. An intentional, softer comment will draw attention when it is contrasted with the expected. (95 degree temperature: “A little warm outside”)

Humor writing techniques

Asides: Short messages in parentheses or other form to communicate on a quasi-private level. Used in acting or footnotes. Dave Barry, again, an example

Humor writing techniques

Irony: Employs contradictions through writing tone and subject. Focuses on the direct opposite of what is usual or expected. Outcome of story is different from what is expected by readers. Distance between what happened and what should have happened or what is said and what is intended.

Humor writing techniques

Grammatical and Typographic Emphasis: Intentionally overusing and abusing English grammar and over usage. !!!!! @$#$#%%

Trick draws readers’ attention to certain words and terms in an extreme fashion and help place focus where writer wants

Humor writing techniques

Puns: Play on words to provide double meaning. Unless it’s original, this doesn’t work well

Humor writing techniques

Logic and Consistency: Correct reasoning through induction or deduction. Crazy behavior and absurd conduct makes much of American humor. But humor must maintain internal logic. Continue absurd premise. Don’t change focus in middle of story