The Writing Life How to write humour - with Caimh McDonnell
35 snips
Jan 24, 2023 Comedian and writer Caimh McDonnell shares insights on writing humor, discussing his book 'The Stranger Times' set in a weird Manchester world. The conversation covers characters, dialogue, conflict, genre, and inversion of expectation. McDonnell's journey from comedy to successful author is explored, offering valuable tips for incorporating humor into storytelling.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Cut Obscure References Early
- Avoid obscure references; if two readers say they don't understand a reference, change it.
- Use broad cultural touchstones so American or international readers still get the joke.
Remove Jokes That Undercut Tension
- Prioritise story stakes over jokes; remove funny lines that undercut dramatic jeopardy.
- Scott Pack told McDonnell to delete jokes at a climax because readers must care for characters in danger.
Let Dialogue Carry The Comedy
- Lean on dialogue to reveal characters and humour rather than long descriptions.
- McDonnell admits he's poor at clothing/building description, so he uses sharp conversations to show character and generate laughs.