Funny is hard!

[melissajm]

I'm trying to write a funny story for a project. It sounds like a really fun project, just the sort of thing I like to write, and I've been very psyched about it. But I've discovered something. When I write funny, it's usually short. I've started 3 different stories, and I have yet to finish one. The minimum length for this project is about 4-5X longer than my typical funny story. It's proving quite the challenge to write sustained humor.

Today's reason why proofreading is a Good Thing: "I'm taking this basket of teats to my grandmother," said Red.

(Grandma must be bottle-fed.)

Comments

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

Go with it. Some of my best stuff comes from typos. Remember my "wall of fir?"

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I probably should've left it in!

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

uh, yeah....good catch.

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid my typos are funnier than the story.
Either of you CL ladies want a look at the beginning?

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Can it wait until tomorrow? If so, e-mail it to me. ;o)

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Sure! No rush.

[wishwords.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean. I've got a little humorous fantasy that I need to turn in. The beginning gets snickers and knee slaps and all sorts of proper humor stuff. Then the last third dies a terrible mundane death. Wish I could just chuck it.

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

I wonder where the funny goes?

[wishwords.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it's because in the beginning we are just typing along with the funny flowing, then when we have to make the plot happen it chases the funny away?

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Yep, I can see that. Plus I think my sense of humor leans toward puns and one-liners.

[wishwords.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I think mine might be a sort of rolling slapstick...

[safewrite.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I hear you on the proofreading thing. It reminds me of when I almost called something a pubic - I mean public - service.

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

:snarf: Yeah. And I wish U, I, and O weren't so close together on the keyboard. I get paranoid about characters shutting anything, or taking shots at anything...

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Here's the real context, BTW:

“This is a basket of treats for my grandmother. The poor woman suffers from Pes Planus, and Myopia, and Logorrhea,” said Red, shuddering as she recalled the traveling physician’s list of the dreadful ailments afflicting her grandmother.