Monday, November 24, 2014

Humor? What's That?



Let me begin by saying I hope you all have extraordinary Thanksgiving celebrations and that you come away with some funny stories. Sometimes holidays are the funniest times of the year.


 A few years ago I did a presentation at a library in California and when it was over a young college student approached me. He was a foreign student and I’m sure the idea of humor changes from country to country, and he had a question – a tough question. “What is humor? You say your stories are humorous, but what does that mean? What is humor?” What surprised me was that he was serious. Hadn’t anything ever made this young man laugh?

However, it was an excellent question, and I’m sure there are multiple answers, depending on who you ask. We sat down and had a chat. I’ve thought about his interest in humor for a long time.

To me humor means something that makes you laugh, or smile, or simply feel better than you did thirty seconds ago. It lifts you up and makes you feel good.

What may be humorous to one person might seem silly or corny to someone else. Actually, sometimes there’s no humor in what can make an individual laugh. I have a friend who laughs hysterically in an emergency, even knowing that what’s happening isn’t funny. She’ll react to the problem, but laugh until she cries while doing it. It’s nervous laughter and a release for her.


 I once saw my ex-husband walk into an orange tree and almost knock himself out because he wasn’t looking in the direction he was walking. He was too busy saying something sarcastic to me. Now that made me laugh until I cried. While is wasn’t really funny… Well, I guess you had to be there.

Some people find physical humor uproarious. Watch someone stumble down a step in a crowd and see how many people laugh. Have you seen a sitcom where someone walked into a door or a wall? Humor. Personally, I love a dry wit – the understated humor – and yet I thoroughly enjoy Abbott and Costello. Go figure.

Marley, of Marley and Me fame (John Grogan), had me falling off my seat while I read the book about his life. (For those who haven’t read the book, Marley was a dog; a Yellow Lab.) I have to admit I shed a tear a few times while reading the book. Even after reading about this incorrigible dog, what did my husband and I do? We brought two Yellow Labrador Retrievers into our home and family. They’ve created havoc from time to time, but in the end it’s easy to laugh about.

The one thing I can say for sure is that humor keeps me going. If at all possible, when something goes wrong I try to find a funny side to it. Sometimes it may be six months or more before I can see the humor in a bad situation, but it’s usually there if you look for it. And it’s in the telling. Some people are natural born comedians when telling a story.

In the telling? My books tell stories and they have some humor in them. Hopefully you’ll read one, and even more hopefully, it will brighten your day.

I’ve mentioned this before and I think it’s time to mention it again. There’s truly nothing funny about murder and I won’t write humor into the crime. However, the people solving the crime, and circumstances, can often lead to humor. A victim will just lie there, but the living character can create outrageous scenarios.

What makes you laugh? Anything in particular? The Labs make me laugh almost on a daily basis. My husband has his moments, too.

Until next time, I hope your week is silly and corny and full of laughter. You deserve to feel good about life from time to time and humor will send you in the right direction.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website
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A Well-Kept Family Secret (Sandi Webster Mystery) is now available in audio book format.

18 comments:

  1. Ii don't put humor in my mysteries on purpose--but when I first realize something is funny is when I'm reading a chapter to my critique group and the giggle. And I love it when that happens.

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    1. I'm with you, Marilyn. Humor adds a special element to a story. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  2. I admit to sometimes laughing at dark humor, when it seems inappropriate. I think it's a defense mechanism to cope with the dark side of life. Other times, I never know what the secret ingredient is to make me laugh. It just happens.

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    1. Ah, yes, Morgan, the dark side. Sometimes we have to laugh at that whether we want to or not. You're right. Most times it just happens, and it sure makes one feel good. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  3. Marja, what an excellent post! I know I laugh at things others don't, and the reverse. I like what I call witty humor, play on words. Also humor that plays on the silliness-es of others--not mine, of course!

    Madeline

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    1. Thank you, Madeline. Usually when I make people laugh, it's an accident. But I sure feel good when I see the laughter. : ) Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  4. Marja,
    Your books always put a smile on my face and often make me laugh out loud. They've cheered me up on more than one occasion. Thank you!
    Like Madeline, I prefer witty humor that plays on words and humor that plays on people's silliness.
    I don't laugh at America's Funniest Videos. My mother loves the show but I don't see the humor in it - most of the time. Someone getting hit on the head with a baseball isn't funny to me. I know the person isn't seriously injured and that they lived to tell the tale but still . . . doesn't make me laugh. I guess, in that case, one woman's humor is another woman's chance to flip the channel. :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Pat. I very seldom laugh at that show, but then I don't watch it anymore. I agree that I don't find it funny when people are injured, even if they live through it. Clumsiness can make me laugh, sometimes. Not if it embarrasses anyone. Loved your "flip the channel" comment. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  5. Varies. I have a twisted side so anything is game. I also lived in the UK for several years, which alter my sense of humor. I hope your week has some unexpected moments of giggles as well.

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    1. Thank you, Brenda. I've already had a few unexpected giggles. I have to admit, I have a twisted side, too. Sometimes I see newspaper articles that just crack me up. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  6. I have never tried to write humor but sometimes it just comes out anyway. Also, I have a very dark sense of humor that many people don't understand and I have to be careful how I say things. Good post, Marja.

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    1. Thank you, Pat. Sometimes the dark things are the funniest. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  7. Someone commentedd that funny man Robin Williams hid his pain behind humor. I think there's something to that. One of the first stories I wrote was based upon my experience having periodontal surgery. I converted stress and physical pain into humor although I think some of the pain came through. It's also true that everyone's taste in humor is different, and it's one of the reasons why the audience for humorous mysteries is smaller than for traditional mysteries. I think there's something a bit odd about those of us like you and me, Marja, who find murder and mirth fit together somehow. BTW, that has been the topic of my blog for the past several months, and it seems every mystery writer has a different view of pairing the two.

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    1. I agree with you, Lesley. Pain is often behind humor. In today's world, doesn't it seem like more people should be looking for humorous mysteries? I'd rather be entertained than depressed when I put a book down. I stop in at your blog from time to time and always enjoy what you have to say. Love your books, too. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  8. This is a great post, Marja. I was discussing humor in writing with my students last week. One guy thinks he's funny, but he writes mean, cruel, and to shock. We see it, but he doesn't. He's in his late 60s, so I doubt he ever will. I've taught humor writing classes but you really can't teach humor. You can read samples from humorists, create situations that may, hopefully, get a humorous reaction -- in discussion or in writing. When it comes out in my writing, or anyone else's, I love it! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.

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    1. You're so right, Eileen. Humor can't be taught. And when writing, moving from drama and back to humor is the hardest part, at least for me. Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, too.

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  9. You have a great sense of humor which is greatly appreciated. Best funny was dogs in kitchen in your book. Still laugh every time I think about story. (pause to wipe tears from my eyes) Enjoyed another interesting blog.

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    1. Thank you, Jake. If I can make you laugh, I've fulfilled my desire. : ) Thank you so much for stopping in!

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