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My Review

Whew!

Somewhere in my clearly biased way of thinking is the idea that funny stuff comes from topics and subjects that are readily identifiable and yet the writer makes me see things from an angle or perspective I hadn't thought of.  Sort of like being 'knocked over with a feather.' You broke your hip but somehow you don't mind.  But the feather still needs its leverage though.  Of course, this is: If its going to humerous then it needs to meet one criteria.  It should be funny. 

Your son's ordeal is a truly universal, time honored, rite of passage, 'win one for the Gipper' kind of episode.  Since it is episodic, it could be more than one blog.  (Practice for a screen play...Act I anyone?)  This kind of subject matter can be fall down funny or fall asleep not funny.  This is a tweener.

New rule:  No preaching.  You can still tell me about your slant on grades but don't preach.  Expose yourself.  No, no keep your shirt on.  Really.  You know what I mean.  Fact is, I don't care if you paid them or not.  I don't care if you offered to take them to the Tavern On The Green and get them drunk on Pina Coladas (put the ~ in yourself) although that might have been better.   

'nother rule: use the 'new' KISS principle.  Not what you think...."Keep It SHORT Stupid."

When you rewrite this (and you should) break it up into chapters/episodes whatever.  If you need to embellish the story for the sake of humor, go ahead, lie.  Hey, you're a writer, writers make shit up.  Try using the chronological approach:

Saturday 3pm: He was now the equivalent of 100 women suffering from PMS wrapped up into one gigantic time bomb ready to blow....yada

for each major milestone.  These kind of stories 'unfold' over time and so they need to keep a fairly fast paced rythm or meter and are, I think, inherently more difficult to establish a fluid humor. 

Humor is maybe the hardest element of writing to master.  The good news is that nothing separates you from being a humorist but a keyboard and a sharp wit. 

Don't worry, some of this actually had words in it.  :-)

 

 

posted by dknowles on October 21, 2003 at 11:15 PM | link to this | reply