How to Write a Parody of a Novel

How to Write a Parody of a Novel thumbnail
Write a Parody of a Novel

There is nothing quite like the affection a reader has for his or her favorite novel. You may have had a close relationship with a work of fiction for many years but at the same time have an overwhelming desire to make fun of it. If writing the Great American Novel has somehow eluded you, why not write a parody of a novel? If you know your treasured book well and have a sense of humor, writing a parody of a novel may be a worthy pursuit.

Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure that your parody will not infringe copyright. Although you may be writing a parody of a novel for fun, you might just want to publish it, so you should ensure that you will be allowed to do so.

    • 2

      Base the novel on a minor character. A common technique for parody is to make a minor character the main character and vice versa. The humor will hinge on the change of focus.

    • 3

      Make puns on character and place names. It can be great fun to come up with humorous monikers.

    • 4

      Poke fun at the writer's style. If he is very terse, make your sentences ridiculously short, or if she enjoys using purple prose, be generous with the arcane and redundant adjectives.

    • 5

      Identify the most crucial moments and lines in the novel. Focus on these and make them humorous.

    • 6

      Add anachronisms to older novels. For instance, a Victorian character may get a call on a cell phone. Make sure such moments are unexpected.

    • 7

      Shorten the novel. Usually a parody of a novel is much shorter than the original version.

    • 8

      Get feedback to see if your parody is actually funny. Humor is often in the eye of the beholder, but something that is truly funny is enjoyed by all.

Tips & Warnings

  • Avoid litigation. Discuss your plans with a lawyer to protect yourself against lawsuits.

Related Searches:

Comments

You May Also Like

  • How to Write a Parody Poem

    The parody poem is a humorous form of imitation that seeks to entertain the audience. Parodies are also apt to make people...

  • How to Write a Parody

    To write a parody, take a piece of literature or theater and rework it so it's ridiculously overly-exaggerated to make it funny....

  • How to Write a Parody Poem

    A parody poem makes fun of other poems, but is still written as well as a poem with serious intentions. Write a...

  • How to Write a Book Report

    Writing a good book report requires summarizing a lot of information in a very small space. Your job is to extract the...

  • How to Write a Romance Novel

    "Know the romance market," says Sheri McGregor, author of "Under One Roof." Romance novels made up more than 50 percent of mass...

  • How to Write a Funny Script

    Getting people to break into giggles is no easy task. The reason is that comedy is a subjective medium, influenced by age...

  • How to Write a Fantasy Novel

    Although fantasy novels often make relaxing, easy reading, writing them is a different thing altogether. Writing a good fantasy novel requires deliberate...

  • How to Write & Copyright a Music Parody

    Making a music parody is an entertaining way to poke fun at your favorite songs by putting your own comedic twists on...

  • How to Parody a Song

    Decide what subject you want to cover in your parody. For example, if you are writing about Captain Kirk of "Star Trek,"...

  • How Do You Write a Simile Poem?

    A simile is a literary device that uses the words "like" or "as" when comparing two seemingly unlike objects. Similes are the...

  • What is Parody?

    Parody is a specific form of comedy, used to satirize, mock or poke fun at a particular piece of work. It emphasizes...

  • How to Make a Graphic Novel

    Making a graphic novel is a truly epic project. It takes a firm commitment. You can break up the planning, writing and...

  • How to Write a Summary of a Book Chapter

    A summary of a book chapter is a condensed form of the chapter itself. Whether the chapter is 100 words or 3,000,...

  • How to Create a Parody

    A parody is any song that has the words changed in it to create a very funny song. There is one musician...

  • How to Write a Book Review

    A good book review provides readers with enough information to determine whether the book is one that they want to read. It...

  • How to Write a Poem

    Poetry is an interesting form of writing. It is very free, has few restrictions and can be a great way to express...

Related Ads

Featured