How to Use Humor to Write More Effectively
You're on stage. You speak. Cue laughter. Every comedian wants to see the crowd laughing uncontrollably upon their every word. The reality of that happening is saved for rare and crowning moments.Comedy is big business. You can channel comedy to make writing any assignment more interesting, entertaining and more easy to identify with and read. Here are some easy ways to make it part of your writing routine.
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Instructions
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The first step to writing comedy is the most simple and most important: Write often. Writing frequently lets you find out your own sense of humor in writing, and it can sneak in at the most unexpected of times. Bring along a miniature notebook and write any time you have spare moments, are bored, or are particularly inspired. You'd be surprised at what is in there when you look back on it. You'll discover thoughts you don't remember having, ideas you wouldn't have remembered, and jokes that are funny as heck!
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Dissect the pattern of a joke. A joke is sandwiched in a story, at the meeting of two ideas told consecutively (the joke being in the middle). That's the formula, but think outside the lines. Compose your own jokes that adhere to tradition, and go your own way with it. Experimenting will lead you to your own path to laughter, and inspiring it in others. You have to know the rules in order to successfully break them, though!
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Consume comedy! Listen to comedians, choose which ones make you laugh the most, and study them. How do they do it? What is it that is so funny about them? How are they so repeatedly successful? Figure out what you like about them, and what you wish to bring to your own style that is so special about them. You can discover your own path to comedy once you know your own sense of humor.
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Learn comedic timing. When incorporating all you've learned and mastered about comedy into your writing, timing is a must. You don't want to make a humorous allusion when you are suppose to state your thesis. Comedic timing is as important in writing as it is on stage. Comedic timing can be learned through trial and error when speaking with others, when performing, or in studying the timing of the greats.
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Practice incorporating comedy into your writing a bit at a time. Start with a casual assignment, get the reaction of others, and change what didn't work. Make up a short writing assignment that incorporates just a bit of humor, and get feedback from family and friends. Switching and adapting your humor to your audience will come in time. At first, make sure what you are writing can be universally funny.
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Have fun! Comedy is meant for fun. Laugh, enjoy yourself, and you will cultivate that environment around you.
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Tips & Warnings
Read articles by funny people such as Steve Martin. He writes hilarious articles. Learning how great humorists master jokes on the page can inspire you to do the same.
Don't imitate, but investigate the patterns of humor. What works and what doesn't will soon be discovered if you listen to successful comedians, then to ones who may often fail at delivering a great punchline.
Practice adding humor to your writing as often as you can.
Don't use comedy at inappropriate times and places in a paper.
Know your audience. Some professors will not appreciate a joke. Know when to bow out!
