By
Gloria
Reichert
At a recent conference,
a presenter reminded us that one way to make our picture books stand out in a
crowded market is to use humor. But how do I do that? If you, like me, are not naturally
funny, writing humor is HARD! Wanting to improve my humor writing skills led to
some research. So whether you wish to write a totally hilarious book or just
insert a small amount of humor into your story, here are some helpful hints.
1. Immerse yourself in
all things “funny.” Read the most current funny picture books. Watch comedy and
funny movies on TV. Read kids’ joke books.
2. Research humor theory
by reading books and watching webinars on the topic of what makes people laugh.
3. Most picture books are concept driven, so
develop a funny concept that appeals to kids. Remember that current funny
picture books tend to be edgier and sometimes irreverent, so thinking outside
the box can lead to much humor.
4. The characters do
NOT need to be kids. Some of the latest funny books have dragons, crayons, and
even a mutant potato as main characters. So let your imagination go crazy!
5. Be willing to take
some risks with your story structure. Many humorous books do not follow the
traditional “Rule of Three.” The Day the
Crayons Quit is told via letters. The
Book with No Pictures makes the reader the main character. Some books are
even interactive.
6. Use situational
humor by putting your characters in funny, unusual settings and create some
funny scenes as they interact with their environment and other characters.
7. You must include the
element of surprise. This is vital.
The reader must be surprised. Humor happens when one’s expectations are
violated, so set up a normal expectation for the reader and then misdirect
things so the expectation is not met.
8. Page turns can lead
to surprises, so use then thoughtfully.
9. Ramp up the humor with puns and jokes that
relate to your topic. Include recurring jokes and word play. Dialogue can
sometimes enhance the humor, as in Tammi Sauer’s Me Want Pet! Cave Boy tries
to convince his parents he needs a pet and uses short, snappy “cave language”
throughout.
10. Incorporate
figurative language – alliteration, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, exaggeration, and
rhyme. Keep a thesaurus close by and check out Rhyme Zone online.
11. Use inherently
funny words. Bungalow, pantaloons, bamboozle, kerfuffle, and catawampus are
sure to elicit some chuckles. Just hearing the word “underwear” makes kids
laugh. A great resource is the book Absurd
Words by Tara Lazar.
12. Lastly, craft a
funny ending – hopefully with a twist – and tie it back to the beginning of the
story somehow.
All of this seems
easier said than done, but if we start small, try a few tips, and see how our
sense of humor can fit in, we will be progressing and growing in our ability to
write humorous picture books which will help kids in many ways.
