Write Funny--You’ll Make More Money
Contributor
Written by
Susie Brown
May 2012
Contributor
Written by
Susie Brown
May 2012

Do people scratch their heads at your punch lines? Do you need to explain why the joke was funny? Do you wonder what Adam Sandler got that you ain’t got? If you adamantly answered “yes” to any of these questions, I got news for you.


You’re not funny.

The good news is that although you may never be a stand-up comedian, if you can write pretty well, you can also be funny. The reason is simple: you have all the time in the world to get to the punch line when you write, since your readers won’t know how long it took you to squeeze the funniness out of your keyboard. And if what you write the first time isn’t funny, you can always edit it.



Here are a few zinger tactics for producing funny writing…



Use Funny Words


The word “trick” is not funny, but the word “bamboozle” is. Here are a few ideas for some other word switcheroos that can add a little extra zing to your humor writing…


  • Instead of “destroy,” say “pulverize”
  • Instead of “surprised,” say “flabbergasted”
  • Instead of “bland,” say “cheesy”
  • Instead of “impractical,” say “dorky”

Timing

Before anything really funny happens, there is always what I like to call “the lull.” “The lull” is the point in time that the audience has a moment to think about whatever was just said and brace themselves. Without “the lull,” your readers just won’t be ready for your punch line...

And your delivery will suck.

In writing, you can construct an artificial lull by starting a new paragraph.



The Give and Go

Got a dumb joke that nobody will laugh at? No problem. Tell the joke, and then make fun of the joke itself--I find it hilarious when writers do that.

I would give you an example, but I can’t think of one right now. 

Is that lame or what?



Say the punch line in a foreign language

I have no idea why this always gets a laugh, but whenever I hear someone tell a joke in English and then top it off with a punch line in a language like Spanish or Yiddish, it’s always funny. 

Unfortunately, I never get those jokes. But I do laugh anyway.

Which brings me to the next example…

Make fun of yourself


Self-ridicule is almost always funny; just be sure not to make fun of yourself in a way that implies disappointment in yourself as a person. Feeling sorry for one’s self isn’t funny. Nobody wants to smell your emotional dirty laundry. The key to funny self-ridicule is confidence. Be happy with yourself. Love yourself. Don't be afraid to call yourself a dimwit, but if you do, do it proudly.

On a serious note


Even talented writers often excuse themselves from attempting to be funny simply because they think that they weren’t born with a funny bone. But learning the skill of humor writing is a lot easier than you think--and in my humble opinion, writing that can elicit a laugh is more valuable than writing that is just considered "good," because it provides an added level of enjoyment. 

I hope that you will be able to use my above wisdom to produce better and funnier content--and that you'll make more money doing it.

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Comments
  • Susie Brown

    Cindy, I love your comment, you are so right.  Life is so much better taken with a happy, smiling heart.

    Hi Caroline, I don't understand, what where young adult novelists doing hanging out in a bar?

  • Nice piece!!  I only wish I was as funny  -- but did you hear the one about the rabbi, the priest and the young adult novelists in the bar?  Truly, author of LIE.

  • Cindy Brown

    Being funny does come easily in my writing and for this I am so grateful. I love humor writing. As a teen reading Erma Bombeck, I could not have imagined at the time that I would grow up to start doing the same thing at the ripe old age of 42. I love life. Seeing the humor in it makes it much more tolerable.

  • Rachel Hoyt

    I definitely think any writing that makes you smile and laugh is worth more.  There is plenty in the world to depress you for free.  :)

  • Susie Brown

    I agree, definitely a classic picture.

  • RYCJ Revising

    Ha. Ha. Ha. Another great post. Not saying I'm funny at all, but I do laugh at myself... all the time. Thanks for the laugh, and that photo is an all-time classic. I don't know what Boris and Bill are so tickled about, but you can't help but find the humor in whatever is tickling them,too... even with no words. Imagine that!