tickle me writing ho - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T14:28:24Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:114815?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A114883&feed=yes&xn_auth=noFor me, humor has to match ch…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-17:537324:Comment:1158752008-01-17T19:10:33.797ZGerald Sohttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/gerald986
For me, humor has to match character. If a character isn't funny by nature, he shouldn't force it. The Sarah Connor Chronicles pilot had nothing to vary its dark tone and relentless pace. A little humor, IMO, would have helped me empathize with the characters. Unfortunately they all seemed single-minded and driven, i.e. flat.
For me, humor has to match character. If a character isn't funny by nature, he shouldn't force it. The Sarah Connor Chronicles pilot had nothing to vary its dark tone and relentless pace. A little humor, IMO, would have helped me empathize with the characters. Unfortunately they all seemed single-minded and driven, i.e. flat. Someone already mentioned Car…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-17:537324:Comment:1156502008-01-17T05:52:46.687ZTinahttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Tina11
Someone already mentioned Carl Hiessen and he has to be the funniest writer I have read in a long time. His characters are outrageous with some of the oddest quirks. I have to admit to attempting to write more humor into my current novel. If nothing else I am enjoying it immensely. The humor is more situational rather than dialogue based and as mentioned above, it is not during serious/dark points in the story. Hopefully I am not the only one that will find it amusing, but so far it has felt…
Someone already mentioned Carl Hiessen and he has to be the funniest writer I have read in a long time. His characters are outrageous with some of the oddest quirks. I have to admit to attempting to write more humor into my current novel. If nothing else I am enjoying it immensely. The humor is more situational rather than dialogue based and as mentioned above, it is not during serious/dark points in the story. Hopefully I am not the only one that will find it amusing, but so far it has felt right for the current story. It is a "fish out of water" theme and that lends itself well to humor. Or maybe I've watched to many sitcoms over the years... As has been pointed out, humo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-17:537324:Comment:1156402008-01-17T03:58:45.645ZLinda L. Richardshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/lrichards
As has been pointed out, humor is in the eye of the beholder. I know, for instance, that if a book is labeled "funny" I probably will not find it all that funny. It's a personal thing, I know.<br />
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I really enjoy the humor in the everyday. I mean, people are funny, life is funny. And the darkest, bleakest moments seem to have a humor all their own. Salman Rushdie tickles me incredibly. He has this wonderfully well developed sense of the ridiculous. I can't think of anyone who even comes close.
As has been pointed out, humor is in the eye of the beholder. I know, for instance, that if a book is labeled "funny" I probably will not find it all that funny. It's a personal thing, I know.<br />
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I really enjoy the humor in the everyday. I mean, people are funny, life is funny. And the darkest, bleakest moments seem to have a humor all their own. Salman Rushdie tickles me incredibly. He has this wonderfully well developed sense of the ridiculous. I can't think of anyone who even comes close. There are books with serial k…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-15:537324:Comment:1150082008-01-15T06:33:50.913ZDonna Moorehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DonnaMoore
There are books with serial killers in which have a good vein of humour running through and, as a couple of people have said, it has to be appropriate to the book. Mark Billingham for instance - his books are serious, but he uses humour really well. It lightens the atmosphere and tells you things about the characters. My taste in humour runs the gamut. I love the laugh out loud stuff but also the subtle 'less is more' approach that Jordan mentioned. J A Konrath is one who DOESN'T work for me.
There are books with serial killers in which have a good vein of humour running through and, as a couple of people have said, it has to be appropriate to the book. Mark Billingham for instance - his books are serious, but he uses humour really well. It lightens the atmosphere and tells you things about the characters. My taste in humour runs the gamut. I love the laugh out loud stuff but also the subtle 'less is more' approach that Jordan mentioned. J A Konrath is one who DOESN'T work for me. If the humor doesn't work, bl…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-15:537324:Comment:1149782008-01-15T04:32:21.215ZJordan Danehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JordanDane
If the humor doesn't work, blame the character. Works for me.
If the humor doesn't work, blame the character. Works for me. thanks for all of the great c…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-15:537324:Comment:1149752008-01-15T04:28:30.594ZAnne Frasierhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/annefrasier
thanks for all of the great comments! i can see i need to do some shopping!<br />
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donna, i agree that most serial killer books and psychological suspense tends to be pretty serious. one exception i can think of is JA Konrath.<br />
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jordan, i find i often remove the humor during editing because it just doesn't work. like my topic title. so bad. :D :D
thanks for all of the great comments! i can see i need to do some shopping!<br />
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donna, i agree that most serial killer books and psychological suspense tends to be pretty serious. one exception i can think of is JA Konrath.<br />
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jordan, i find i often remove the humor during editing because it just doesn't work. like my topic title. so bad. :D :D Dean Koontz Odd Thomas series…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-15:537324:Comment:1149702008-01-15T03:45:22.934ZJordan Danehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JordanDane
Dean Koontz Odd Thomas series is fun too. He really gets into the head of his 21-yr old short order cook who sees dead people. What a charming character.
Dean Koontz Odd Thomas series is fun too. He really gets into the head of his 21-yr old short order cook who sees dead people. What a charming character. Elmore Leonard is the master…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-15:537324:Comment:1149672008-01-15T03:34:38.932ZDana Kinghttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
Elmore Leonard is the master of letting the humor come naturally to the scene; so was Ed McBain. Chandler was funny, as are Robert Crais, John Connolly, Robert B. Parker (more so in his earlier books.) Of course there's Carl Hiaasen, but many may consider him a humor writer who uses crime than a crime writer who uses humor.<br />
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I agree with a couple of comments, humor is a part of life, it needs to be in there to lend verisimilitude to the writing. Two caveats: it has to be appropriate. There's…
Elmore Leonard is the master of letting the humor come naturally to the scene; so was Ed McBain. Chandler was funny, as are Robert Crais, John Connolly, Robert B. Parker (more so in his earlier books.) Of course there's Carl Hiaasen, but many may consider him a humor writer who uses crime than a crime writer who uses humor.<br />
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I agree with a couple of comments, humor is a part of life, it needs to be in there to lend verisimilitude to the writing. Two caveats: it has to be appropriate. There's only so much cracking wise in the face of death anyone can tolerate. And, often overlooked, if you're going to add humor, it actually has to be funny. It's a killer to read something, then sit back and think, "I'll bet the author thought that was funny." Chris Grabenstein writes thri…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-15:537324:Comment:1149442008-01-15T02:14:21.932ZNeil Plakcyhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/neilplakcy
Chris Grabenstein writes thrilling mysteries with a lot of humor. Craig Johnson's books have a very dry sense of humor that I find really enjoyable.
Chris Grabenstein writes thrilling mysteries with a lot of humor. Craig Johnson's books have a very dry sense of humor that I find really enjoyable. I write crime fiction--and ad…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-14:537324:Comment:1149092008-01-14T23:36:09.008ZJordan Danehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JordanDane
I write crime fiction--and adding more of the thriller slant in this next series. I find that I can't do without humor because it's so much a part of everyday life...and part of me. Take time to listen to everyday conversation and people can be downright funny, especially if they're unguarded.<br />
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And crime scenes can be full of cynical humor to allow cops to deal with what they see. Since I use humor as a defense mechanism when things get tough personally, I write characters who do the same. My…
I write crime fiction--and adding more of the thriller slant in this next series. I find that I can't do without humor because it's so much a part of everyday life...and part of me. Take time to listen to everyday conversation and people can be downright funny, especially if they're unguarded.<br />
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And crime scenes can be full of cynical humor to allow cops to deal with what they see. Since I use humor as a defense mechanism when things get tough personally, I write characters who do the same. My agent just read my first book in this new series and made a specific comment that she loved the humor. I had used humor in my other books, but ramped it up in this newest one and it seemed to work for this group of characters. I was glad she noticed it.<br />
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Having said that, I think you have to really edit yourself. Some humor doesn't make the edit cut. You have to remember that your character's personalities are reflected in this humor so if they seem callous or too flip to the reader, that will be a detriment. I use a subtle brand of humor in unexpected spots and find that "less is more" and timing is everything. Sometimes it's actions, sometimes it's dialogue between two characters that have great chemistry. I'm not after the laugh out loud Janet Evanovich stuff, but rather the soft chuckle of a well-delivered simple line from Robert Crais works for me.