Writing Comedy

How To Write Comedy

People are always asking me how I write comedy. I just peck C..O..M..E..D..Y out on the keyboard. It’s really easy. Nope, I haven’t had coffee yet.

Writing comedy is difficult for me if I’m trying to write it. I can’t force comedy. That’s kind of like me telling a joke. I tell a joke and people stare at me waiting for the punch line. It’s the same when I get up in front of a crowd to do a workshop. I am not a stand-up comedienne. Although if Karl is with me he does tell me I look pretty funny standing at the front of the room twisting my fingers until they look kind of gnarled.

I think you need the right storyline. Say for instance, a serial killer plot probably wouldn’t cut it if you want to write comedy. Now, if say the serial killer is going around to Wal*Marts stealing boxes of Cocoa Puffs, then stabbing the box and spilling poor Cocoa’s puffs all over the street, well, then you might have an easier time writing a cereal killer as a comedy.

In How To Seduce A Texan, my June release, I used a fish out of water plot. I took a city girl and put her in the country. I grew up on a farm so it was easy to write, and there’s even a ghost. Yes, I do believe in ghosts. I think the best comedy comes from one’s own experiences, then sort of blow them out of proportion.

I’ve never actually met an alien, though. But what if one came to earth looking for a man because there are no men on her planet. Can you imagine what she would think about Earth? Our customs? The men? And speaking of my Planet Nerak books, Cosmic Sex took First Place in the Paranormal category of The Lories Best Published Contest!!! Woo-hoo!!! I just found out Friday so I’m still riding the high

Okay, gotta run, but remember, laughter is contagious and it’s fun to spread it around.
Karen Kelley

She needs a place to hide
He needs a ghost exterminator
What could possibly go wrong?
MY FAVORITE PHANTOM
JANUARY 2009
www.authorkarenkelley.com