I literally stole three minutes away from my long list to skim this. Bookmarked to read in full later!
I really like your insights into the humour aspect -- although it makes sense, I didn't think of it that way. (Strange, considering that my sense of humour seems to be an acquired taste for many -- if ever. You'd think I'd be more in tune with the vagaries of writing humour...!)
I came across this post as I have long asked myself many of these questions, and have recently been thinking of doing some statistical analysis of top-rated humorous books on Goodreads versus top-rated books in other genres to see if there are any patterns (i.e. are humorous books generally lower rated, do they have more 1/2 stars than other books).
I think you're spot on with your points, particularly around the huge variance in what people find funny, and humour not necessarily travelling well beyond national/cultural boundaries, as the references can sail over the reader's head.
I also think humour writers face additional challenges that those writing for the screen, stage or even stand-up do not face. The obvious one relates to being unable to deploy facial expressions, gestures, physical comedy and props. Not so obvious, and in my view overlooked, are the issues of timing and delivery.
Jokes and humorous scenes have their own timing and beats. A performer can control that timing. A novelist relies on the reader to align with the timing they intended, which doesn't always happen. A novelist relies on the reader to hear the delivery they intended, which doesn't always happen. So, the intended humour can fall flat.
This might be why there are so few humorous books. It's bloody hard to do well, the chances of success are lower and, therefore, publishers are more reticent to take them on.
I thought I was the only person who cringes when at a lot of written humour. In real life I cringe at other people's embarassment, which may be one explanation - but often what passes for humour seems just silly or stupid to me. On the other hand I just finished reading Mark Shupe's Wish Doctor and giggled my way through it - I am not sure if that was the plan. I find Dickens tremendously funny - usually if read aloud. I like reading conversation between two funny people. I don;t kknow what makes it all tick.
My introduction to Terry's writing was The Best Laid Plans and I fell in love with his style, stoty-telling and laugh-ou-loud humour. Now I've finished A New Season and loved it, dare I say it's my favourite because it made me cry, made me laugh and was able to tap into my full palette of emotions. Thanks Terry. Cant wait for your next book. I'm confident it won't disappoint.
I mostly write mystery novels but when I decided to write a funny book called "Women 101", my wife was convinced it would destroy my reputation (but I did it anyway). Some people found it really funny, others not so much. I've now adapted it into a radio play called "Everything I Know About Women" and it seems to work much better in that format.
Here we are, or here I am, Christmas Eve morning and somewhere during the day, I will watch some Three Stooges. I always enjoyed them back in my youth, much of it misspent, and have allowed intellectual snobbery (not mine, mine is pretty mothballed) to dictate my inclination to embrace more plebeian tastes. Thanks Terry. You have liberated me. I'll hunt down No Census, No Feeling, and have a jolly, jolly holiday...
I can still hear Curly saying, “Why Coitainly!” And what a dancer he was! Thanks, Bill. Glad to know I wasn’t the only one to be entertained in my youth by the Stooges.
So true! The "hilarious" vs "cringeworthy" observation nails it. Also the Goodreads reactions. I also think it's the same for any art form - I once recommended The Princess Bride (movie) to friends; they said it was "boring and weird." So... writers should write what they write. The right readers will get it, and that makes it worthwhile. (Like you do!)
Thanks for these thoughtful observations, Terry. As you say, humour is not universal, it’s maddeningly personal. There are lines and situations in my own book that I thought were so clever they would produce Richter-scale-jarring waves of laughter, only hear the crickets chirping when I presented them at readings. I think the best we can do is to allow readers to see the humanity in our characters and trust them to take it from there. The great writers you mention here have all succeeded in that.
I literally stole three minutes away from my long list to skim this. Bookmarked to read in full later!
I really like your insights into the humour aspect -- although it makes sense, I didn't think of it that way. (Strange, considering that my sense of humour seems to be an acquired taste for many -- if ever. You'd think I'd be more in tune with the vagaries of writing humour...!)
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Terry!
Thanks, Graham. Food for thought.
I came across this post as I have long asked myself many of these questions, and have recently been thinking of doing some statistical analysis of top-rated humorous books on Goodreads versus top-rated books in other genres to see if there are any patterns (i.e. are humorous books generally lower rated, do they have more 1/2 stars than other books).
I think you're spot on with your points, particularly around the huge variance in what people find funny, and humour not necessarily travelling well beyond national/cultural boundaries, as the references can sail over the reader's head.
I also think humour writers face additional challenges that those writing for the screen, stage or even stand-up do not face. The obvious one relates to being unable to deploy facial expressions, gestures, physical comedy and props. Not so obvious, and in my view overlooked, are the issues of timing and delivery.
Jokes and humorous scenes have their own timing and beats. A performer can control that timing. A novelist relies on the reader to align with the timing they intended, which doesn't always happen. A novelist relies on the reader to hear the delivery they intended, which doesn't always happen. So, the intended humour can fall flat.
This might be why there are so few humorous books. It's bloody hard to do well, the chances of success are lower and, therefore, publishers are more reticent to take them on.
Excellent points, all, Michael, particularly with respect to timing. Many thanks.
I thought I was the only person who cringes when at a lot of written humour. In real life I cringe at other people's embarassment, which may be one explanation - but often what passes for humour seems just silly or stupid to me. On the other hand I just finished reading Mark Shupe's Wish Doctor and giggled my way through it - I am not sure if that was the plan. I find Dickens tremendously funny - usually if read aloud. I like reading conversation between two funny people. I don;t kknow what makes it all tick.
I would love to participate in your experiment.
Thanks Monica! If the focus group is ever organized, we’ll see what we can do!
My introduction to Terry's writing was The Best Laid Plans and I fell in love with his style, stoty-telling and laugh-ou-loud humour. Now I've finished A New Season and loved it, dare I say it's my favourite because it made me cry, made me laugh and was able to tap into my full palette of emotions. Thanks Terry. Cant wait for your next book. I'm confident it won't disappoint.
Many thanks for the kind words.
I mostly write mystery novels but when I decided to write a funny book called "Women 101", my wife was convinced it would destroy my reputation (but I did it anyway). Some people found it really funny, others not so much. I've now adapted it into a radio play called "Everything I Know About Women" and it seems to work much better in that format.
Always a tricky subject! Glad the play is working for you.
You're right. What some people find funny perplexes me.
What an excellent post, Terry. Fun and insightful as usual! Think I’m going to write a funny novel (if I can get the spooky out of me). Stay tuned!
Thanks, Paul.
Here we are, or here I am, Christmas Eve morning and somewhere during the day, I will watch some Three Stooges. I always enjoyed them back in my youth, much of it misspent, and have allowed intellectual snobbery (not mine, mine is pretty mothballed) to dictate my inclination to embrace more plebeian tastes. Thanks Terry. You have liberated me. I'll hunt down No Census, No Feeling, and have a jolly, jolly holiday...
I can still hear Curly saying, “Why Coitainly!” And what a dancer he was! Thanks, Bill. Glad to know I wasn’t the only one to be entertained in my youth by the Stooges.
So true! The "hilarious" vs "cringeworthy" observation nails it. Also the Goodreads reactions. I also think it's the same for any art form - I once recommended The Princess Bride (movie) to friends; they said it was "boring and weird." So... writers should write what they write. The right readers will get it, and that makes it worthwhile. (Like you do!)
You’re exactly right. Be true to thine own self, and let the chips fall where they may!
Thanks for these thoughtful observations, Terry. As you say, humour is not universal, it’s maddeningly personal. There are lines and situations in my own book that I thought were so clever they would produce Richter-scale-jarring waves of laughter, only hear the crickets chirping when I presented them at readings. I think the best we can do is to allow readers to see the humanity in our characters and trust them to take it from there. The great writers you mention here have all succeeded in that.
I couldn’t agree, more, Chris.