tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post1241880454875807807..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Get Serious (But Not Too Serious): Why Serious Books Need Humor and Levity to Work Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-25607659547879868482020-03-31T20:49:52.693-04:002020-03-31T20:49:52.693-04:00Thank you for the great article! The balance betwe...Thank you for the great article! The balance between the humorous and the serious is a challenge that I have been tackling as I prepare to write a short story. I go in with the intent to write something humorous, but I often find myself needing to compromise humor for the sake of the reader's ability to relate to the character. I think what you wrote about contrast is a great thing to keep in mind, and that the need for contrast feeds into the reader's ability to root for the protagonist. If I have a character who only suffers or fails, not only will the sadness and turmoil of the character fall flat, but the reader would have no cause to support them when they know they won't rise to the occasion. It is that balance of light and dark that breeds intrigue in the reader. We want to see that the character can laugh so that the sorrow has more impact. Thanks again.<br />Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08216788056035394018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-65097844233069433642013-03-15T16:59:43.107-04:002013-03-15T16:59:43.107-04:00This is SUCH a great post, Sarah. It's somethi...This is SUCH a great post, Sarah. It's something I've been thinking about lately, and you really articulated why this lightness and humor is SO necessary in darker/sadder works.<br /><br />Brilliant stuff!Chelsea Pitcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16301150715189103602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20693349450284421212013-03-14T23:21:01.635-04:002013-03-14T23:21:01.635-04:00Very helpful post Sarah. BTW, I loved Wonder and ...Very helpful post Sarah. BTW, I loved Wonder and laughed right along side my 10 year old as we read the bit about the farting nurse. Your book sounds great, I'll have to check it out!<br />Thanks!BSBRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02520510454417941553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-62055059775121592712013-03-14T13:24:42.411-04:002013-03-14T13:24:42.411-04:00I've read many stories that have turned me off...I've read many stories that have turned me off due to the bleakness. A little light in the darkness goes a long way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-61167760996802788052013-03-14T09:35:52.719-04:002013-03-14T09:35:52.719-04:00This is hard for me to deal with, either as a read...This is hard for me to deal with, either as a reader or a writer, because some things just AREN'T "Funny."<br /><br />I applaud those who can face this, they deserve props for that, no matter how badly written (In the worst case scenario) it still has to be researched and thought about. However rough the early drafts are.<br /><br />Plus, since I'm not adept at humor (Even though I don't write Ellen Hopkins-type novels) <br /><br />My stories, even when dealing with serious issues, come from a more lighthearted place than say, the first paragraph of "The Outsiders." Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-72115880278244129022013-03-13T21:06:28.497-04:002013-03-13T21:06:28.497-04:00I wholeheartedly agree!
A few years ago, I read a...I wholeheartedly agree!<br /><br />A few years ago, I read a biography of a Tibetan monk who was unrelentingly pursued, jailed and tortured by the Chinese. I hesitated to read it due to the depressing nature of the work, BUT it was my bookclub's choice for the month, so off I went. And I loved it! <br /><br />I dont think he minimized any of the terrible things he endured, yet he was able to infuse humour through his observations of the little things in his life that still brought him joy. It made him such a fuller character, and the nature of his tribulations so much more real.<br /><br />Wish I could remember the title ;)Jo-Ann Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18027989147411624378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-73276398797190926952013-03-13T20:39:44.789-04:002013-03-13T20:39:44.789-04:00Such great advice! You know that line, "Aw, c...Such great advice! You know that line, "Aw, come on!" ?? My sister blurted that out loud (pretty darn loud, I might add) during the climax scene of the first Mission Impossible movie. She'd had it up to "here" with all the bad, unbelievable stuff that kept happening.<br /><br />Sarah is a dear person, one of my writing friends, and I'm so excited about her book. I got my copy the other night :)Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-68706814362774524372013-03-13T19:19:17.286-04:002013-03-13T19:19:17.286-04:00Good food for thought! I'm not good at the dar...Good food for thought! I'm not good at the darker scenes, so maybe I need to use this advice in reverse. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-42544948937939373642013-03-13T17:52:10.685-04:002013-03-13T17:52:10.685-04:00Shakespeare certainly understood this. After the ...Shakespeare certainly understood this. After the horrific murder of the king in MACBETH, he has the comic drunken porter (gatekeeper) scene. He uses comic moments like this in all of his tragedies. AND dark moments in his comedies.<br /><br />I'm also a believer in not having absolutely everything going against a main character because a constant barrage of bad luck is depressing and unrealistic. <br /><br />In other words, the good guy will find a great parking space on his way to having his butt handed to him by the bad guys.Marilynn Byerlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16720129999636676998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66127185049415610192013-03-13T15:48:48.211-04:002013-03-13T15:48:48.211-04:00Thank you for this! I totally agree that some lig...Thank you for this! I totally agree that some lighter moments really help a tense story. I'm a Terry Pratchett fan. Some of his stories (I'm thinking of Nightwatch in particular) get pretty dark. That he leavens it out with humor make the dark and sad parts strike harder, because you care so much about the characters.Chicoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16504144663440678542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-48232769202187498412013-03-13T09:57:50.017-04:002013-03-13T09:57:50.017-04:00Maybe *that's* why I dislike Ernest Hemingway&...Maybe *that's* why I dislike Ernest Hemingway's work! Very helpful, Ms. Sarah, thank you! <br /><br />More personally, I have at least one idea that I've been hesitant about due to its depressing nature. Maybe if I can figure out a little humor...Rachel6https://www.blogger.com/profile/15138745237488029817noreply@blogger.com