It occurred to me today, after watching a long round of The Big Bang Theory, that I have no sense of humor. Oh, I appreciate watching it and reading it when someone else does it for me to enjoy. I can laugh at a good joke, and crack a few good ones myself. But if you ask me to write humor? Nope. I didn’t get on that DNA line before I entered this world.
It’s been said that comedy is tragedy plus time, and I gotta tell you that the best comedies shove characters into odd situations that push buttons but that also get laughs. Think Lucille Ball raising chickens, and all those eggs tucked “safely” in her shirt while Ricky practices their tango routine, only to end up crushing the eggs into a huge, messy goo. Or Stephanie Plum blowing up yet another car, or burning her hair. Or Sheldon’s “Bazinga, Punk” Zombie moment when he finally figures how to retaliate against Leonard’s pranks.
copyright Red Studios – Hollywood
They say you should write out of your comfort zone if you’re to grow as a writer. Yeah, well, I’m here to say that this particular adage only goes so far. You don’t want me writing humor. Really, you don’t. And I don’t believe a writer should push so far out of their comfort zone if they already know their limitations. Is that the equivalent of being a wuss? Nope. I think that’s accepting yourself as you are and, in all seriousness, saving the public from a pain they shouldn’t have to endure.
Copyright CBS
This is, in a way, also the equivalent of writing to the trends. Worst mistake to make ever. The moral of the story here? Write what you know, write what you love, and write what turns you on. Sure, you can push your limitations along the way as long as they’re reasonable pushes. Readers will be grateful for it.
And so will you because it takes the pressure off. No one should tell you what you should write, or how you should write it. Comfort zone or not.
___________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012-2015 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Terri Herman-Ponce 
I second Penn’s recommendation of Blackadder. So fabulous.
Sometimes humor crops up in my stories, but I can’t force it. For me, writing outside my comfort zone means dealing with emotions and issues that are very personal, even if I’ve put them into a fictional context. It means exposing something of myself by putting those intense, sometimes scary, sometimes embarrassing feelings into a character. I found it hard at first, but the more I write, the easier it is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous words of wisdom, Barbara. And so very true. Thanks for stopping by and giving us all a great reminder.
LikeLike
I’ve incorporated humor into my novels, but in small doses – usually just before something horrible or dangerous happens. It’s a way of keeping the reader on his or her toes, so to speak, in that they don’t know what’s hit ’em as things take a dastardly turn. Thanks for fostering such an interesting discussion, Terri.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep. I love throwing in humorous moments too. In suspense or mystery or a heavy scene, it’s almost needed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Terri,
Humor, now that’s a tough one. I’ve been hosting authors on my blog for several months to talk about what’s so funny about murder. I like your perspective and can appreciate your indicating that humor is not something you can write. It’s hard to analyze how to create humor and not everyone can or likes to write it nor does everyone like to read it especially in a mystery. I can’t imagine a writer deciding to sit down and write a humorous mystery. That sounds forced and, as one of my authors said on the blog, it must be organic, natural and not forced. I do write humrous cozy mysteries perhaps because my protagonists are such in-your-face gals. It just seems to spill out on the page.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Writing humor is a quality I envy. Enjoy the process and I wish you much luck! Now I’m off to amazon to check out your author page. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your only redemption is to sit down and watch the Blackadder series 2,3 and 4 to appreciate intelligent humour. If I could devise a Blackadder type character, I would try my hand at humour.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hmm never heard of it. Where does the show originate?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Britain of course. You know me – I can only watch UK humour and US drama.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I think that writing outside of your comfort zone simply means that we, as writers, have to perfect what we do, and that we must, constantly, question our own ideas, our style, our beliefs. As for humor, it’s a very odd thing. How often do we sit there bored and/or irritated by jokes or comedies that have the person next to us falling about on the floor with uncontrolled hysterical laughter. Humor is such a personal thing. For some, it means mocking others, jeering, feeling superior, or roaring at folks slipping on banana peels. For others, it’s the clever way ideas and words can be twisted into a new way of seeing. Humor also means being able to laugh at oneself and, dear Terri, just by saying you have no sense of humor shows us that, ideed, you do.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, I think I’ve got a sense of humor, Arlene. Just not one I can write about!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We all need to challenge ourselves, or else we’ll never develop, but sometimes we need to be able to realise that whatever it is that seems to be eluding us just won’t come. We’re only here a short time – and a writer, even less, or so it seems. I’m all for pushing my limits though; the things I’ve done in the name of research, I’d blush to share sometimes, so I’d never say never, so I feel it has to be very much up to the individual. Myself, I’m a man who writes mostly through a womans’ POV, and I’ll give anything a try. At least once or twice.
However, if the writing is so difficult that it feels like you’re pushing a London bus up-hill against the wind on an icy road, with the brakes on, then you should give it up. If you’re hating it, you could be doing something much better with your time. And your readers will thank you for it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So very true, Mark! I’ll never give up writing, but along the way I discovered that I prefer to write from a man’s pov. Seems you and I have a few (reverse) things in common. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
And how many years did it take me to convince you of that? ::roll eyes::
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uh oh. No offense but I just checked it out. It’s a BBC show. Um, I don’t do well with Brit humor. 🙂
LikeLike
It never occurred to me to study humor, though I can definitely see the appeal in learning something new. Not sure I’ll add it any time soon to my bucket list, but it’s something I may consider down the road. 🙂
LikeLike
I once took a class in writing humor at the local community college, and while writing is a skill that can be taught, humor is a particularly difficult aspect to pin down in a classroom. I think it’s worth studying, however, because it adds another tool in my box – not something I’m going to build my reputation on, but a way of adding color to certain moments in a piece.
(And boy did that sound ponderous. Sheesh.)
LikeLiked by 1 person