Using Humor in Fiction Writing

Writers want their fiction to grab readers, to elicit a reaction or stir an emotion within them. One of the most sought-after reactions is laughter-preferably laughter caused by intentional humor. But as many writers can attest, humor is hard to achieve, especially in the form of words on a page.

In fact, in their book, "How Not to Write a Novel," authors Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman advise avoiding humor altogether if you don't have the talent for it: "A joke that falls flat is not just a joke that the reader does not laugh at; it is a drain on your supply of goodwill."

Seems harsh, yet it is a sad reality. But what if you want to add humor to your writing? Practicing doesn't hurt anyone. The next five tips will help you understand where you can successfully incorporate humor into your fiction writing.

Humor in Fiction Writing Tip 1: Dialogue and Character

Example The Princess Bride by William Goldman:

"'Wait for him behind there and crush his head like an eggshell.'

'I could do that, yes," Fezzik nodded. "It just seems not very sportsmanlike, doesn't it?'"

Dialogue is one of the easiest ways to add humor to a scene. The overall tone of the story needn't be humorous, so if you want to inject a bit levity to an otherwise serious story, it's not going to disturb the general ambience.

Sarcasm, banter, Freudian slips, exaggeration, under-exaggeration, naivety and just plain insults are all methods you can use in a humorous exchange among your characters. Humor can also come from a single character. Knowing what type of humor suits your character is of supreme importance. Is your character the type to mutter snide remarks under his breath? Or does she have a knack for blithely stating awkward observations?

Be sure, however, not to forcefully point out the humor to readers. Mittelmark and Newman warn against 1) having characters retell old jokes and 2) having character laugh uproariously at their attempts at humor.

Humor in Fiction Writing Tip 2: Description and Wordplay

Example from Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett:

"He clawed his way to the bank and pulled himself up, like some sea-dwelling lifeform that was anxious to get the whole evolution thing over in one go."

Unconventional similes, metaphors, analogies and personification can be an effective source of humor. Wordplay isn't for every story. If your piece is fairly serious, adding a humorous simile may cause readers to scratch their heads. Unless the narration has a witty tone, your readers may simply feel the humor is unintentional.

Even if your story has a humorous tone, don't equate the unconventional to plain bad. Your unusual comparisons should have some root in truth.

Humor in Fiction Writing Tip 3: Situation

Example Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling:

"'OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!'

Harry spun around. Professor Moody was limping down the marble staircase.

His wand was out and it was pointing right at a pure white ferret."

Sometimes a situation or scene in a story is simply comical. The humor could last for a brief scene, a few pages, or the entire story could be rooted in some ridiculous situation. Again, be careful when you write your characters' reactions. Laughter is certainly expected from characters sometimes, but don't overdue it, and don't have your characters laugh for the sake of signaling to your readers that something is funny.

Humor in Fiction Writing Tip 4:Subversion

Example from The Truth by Terry Pratchett:

"'Vell, you see, if I vas to say something portentous like 'zer dark eyes of zer mind' back home in Ubervald, zere would be a sudden crash of thunder,' said Otto. 'Here, alas, people just look at you in a funny vay.'"

Your work can be an entire subversion of a genre, or you can slyly poke fun at a literary trope for a sentence or two. Ever notice a common thread or plot device that annoyed you? Or just amused you by its sheer prevalence in popular culture? Get revenge by mocking it (gently of course) in your own story.

Humor in Fiction Writing 5: Pitfalls

There is some humor that simply doesn't work well in writing. Physical humor and slapstick are less effective, since the humor there is in seeing the action.

But Mittelmark and Newman warn against "size" jokes, using toilet humor, or ridiculing someone's looks. Not because Mittelmark and Newman are obsessed by political correctness, but because 1) these jokes are often too juvenile and tasteless, and 2) you never know who's reading your work. Offending an editor is never a good idea.

Sources:

Mittelmark, Howard and Sandra Newman. "How Not to Write a Novel: 200 classic mistakes and how to avoid them." New York: Collins, 2008.