Writing Excuses Season 3 Episode 27: Mixing Humor with Drama and Horror
whatshot 12 snips
Dec 1, 2009
In this episode, the hosts delve into blending humor with drama and horror in writing. They discuss why humor and horror complement each other, how to make jokes without losing character depth, and why 'Shaun of the Dead' is a brilliant example. The episode includes a writing prompt, an audible sponsorship, and a preview of the next episode on 'The Hero with A Thousand Faces'.
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Build Drama First, Then Humor
Start by building the dramatic core of your story with key plot or character moments.
Then, strategically insert punchlines without undermining the drama, spacing humor around intense scenes.
insights INSIGHT
Drama Drives Long-Term Reading
Humor can make reading enjoyable, but drama and character depth make readers return.
Pure humor without strong characters often fails to sustain long-term interest.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Humor Can Undermine Horror Tension
Dan Wells shared revising a comedic scene in his horror book because humor diluted intended tension.
Sometimes humor must be removed to preserve fear and maintain tone.
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A Monday without Writing Excuses is kind of like a Tuesday without Writing Excuses, only far less aggravating. With Brandon once again by our side(s), we venture once more into the realm of humor: this time, specifically considering how to blend humor with decidedly unhumorous elements such as drama and horror. Why do humor and horror go so well together? How can you make something funny without losing the powerful character drama? And how did we possibly get through this episode without mentioning "Shaun of the Dead," which combines humor and horror and drama more brilliantly than anything in recent memory? Writing Prompt: Make the most inappropriate joke you can, but make it appropriate. Once again, Writing Excuses is brought to you by Audible.com, and this week we're trying something new: homework! Sometime in January we'll spend an episode examining "The Hero with A Thousand Faces," by Joseph Campbell, so this is your warning to study up. You can read your own copy, borrow one from the library, or sign up for a free trial Audible membership and get, through our special deal, an audio copy for free: http://AudiblePodcast.com/excuse.
Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/excuses * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx * Check out Talkiatry: https://talkiatry.com/wx * If you’re struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started: https://learn.nocd.com/wx
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