triflesandparsnips:

Writing funny things: Nuts and bolts edition.

Previous caveats apply. Further caveat: I seriously have no idea with this stuff, people have informed me that I occasionally write funny things, so this is the junk I do when I’m trying to be amusing.

1. Having a “straight man” and a “comic”, a’la the traditional double act, actually works. Feel free to switch who’s who as need requires.

2. Having a good rhythm – and strategically breaking that rhythm – is important. Listening to a good stand-up comic’s monologue will demonstrate that, or reading any good comic writer’s work. The rhythm catches the reader, and the break makes them laugh.

3. Having mostly funny stuff and then tossing in a dollop of real-life consequences or angst will make the funny stuff funnier and the real stuff realer.

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