Is it that time of the month already? I'm talking about this month's meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, of course. If you had any other thoughts about that statement . . . well geez, look at the top of my post!
Anyway, Alex J. Cavanaugh is our esteemed leader, and this month Stephen Tremp and Julie Flanders are his funky cool co-hosts! Let's give them a hand!
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| Source: RGBStock User Coscurro |
I know. It's a lame joke, but it made me laugh a little.
That leads me in to my insecurity for the month. I like to inject a little humor into my stories. Not all of them by any means, but I feel like a little humor can help many stories strike a balance between dark and light. Humor can make a story feel more warm, more human.
Even so, I often wonder how much is too much? When is a joke appropriate? When is humor best left out? For some reason I find myself pondering this question right now. I write what comes naturally to me, and jokes slip into the dialogue along with the happy and the sad. Should I trust my instincts?
See how insecure I am? There are far too many questions marks this post.
Or are there?
Any thoughts on this topic? Do you like to use a little humor in your writing?
I love using humor too; even if I'm the only one laughing :D
ReplyDeleteI like humor and often jokes come to me when I am writing a certain scene. The way I decide whether I should include it or not is thinking what kind of effect I want said scene to have?
ReplyDeleteI love to use humor too. I'm not always sure readers will get the joke, but it doesn't stop me from using it. Feedback from a beta reader later on might talk me out of using it, but you don't know until you try.
ReplyDeleteI think you should definitely trust your instincts.
Humor is a part of life, so I see no reason why it shouldn't be a part of the stories we tell. Some of my favorite authors know how to infuse a little humor into even the darkest tales. So I say go for it!
ReplyDeleteJ.W. Alden, stopping by for IWSG
I'm insecure about humor-- I never get it right in my writing! :)
ReplyDeleteI love humor, and I love putting it my writing. My real test is my eleven year old. If it passes her bar without any eye-rolling, I know it's good.
ReplyDelete~Just Jill
I love humor in the stories I read and write. I'm always worried that when I write humor, it will fall flat and be lame and sad instead of funny. It's hard to know for sure!
ReplyDeleteTrust your instincts. If you're real concerned, run it by a couple critique partners. If you can infuse humor into a story though, I'd say that's a gift.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I'm also "funky" - cool!
I love humor! And yes, trust what your gut says. :)
ReplyDeleteYou should definitively follow your instincts. It is your story. Imagine you are telling a story to a friend, no one can tell it like you. It is your sensibility that makes it special, so I say go with it!
ReplyDeleteHumor - yes! As long as it isn't indecent or nasty, a little humor is nice. I always like to add some humor into what I'm writing. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm no good at humour, I tend to steer clear. I'm just not a funny person.
ReplyDeleteSome people have a natural ability to inject humor into their writing... it just flows...
ReplyDeleteIf it feels right, then I say go for it!
I love humor, but don't do it well. I think it adds to a lot of stories when done well. You're a great writer, I think if it feels right--you'll know it!
ReplyDelete