As writers, we play various roles – author, editor, and number one critic. And the solitary act of writing works fine for most genres, except for humor.
Humor demands an audience, and not just any audience, but an unbiased one. And the writer certainly ain’t unbiased.
Why does humor need an audience? Simply put, funny cannot be verified in isolation.
The best option is to share your humorous content with fellow writers. Writers’ conferences are excellent places to network with like-minded professionals who can give objective feedback on your jokes. The Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop is a prime example of such an event, with an accompanying humor website to stay connected with peers.
The best way to evaluate your humor is by testing it in front of a live audience. As a college professor, I have access to a daily audience, abet a sleep-deprived one. I also field test material with friends and workers – the local Starbucks staff go on break when I walk into the store.
I don’t waste valuable class time or end relationships by doing extended pieces. I’m interested in the reaction to my funny, but I’m more attentive to how the humor “feels.” If I can’t verbalize the humor, the print version will undoubtedly bomb.
The ultimate proving ground for humor is, of course, standup. That’s why the final exam of my humor writing course is a five-minute standup routine. (I’ll explain the infamous final exam in another post.)
The mere thought of public speaking, let alone performing standup comedy, sends shivers down the spines of most writers. If the prospect of being funny in public frightens you, remember Jon Stewart’s words:
“There are a hell of a lot of jobs that are scarier than live comedy. Like standing in the operating room when a guy’s heart stops, and you’re the one who has to fix it.”
In summary, humor writing is a unique challenge, requiring an audience to validate its funniness. To refine your funny writing skills, seek feedback from fellow professionals and embrace the opportunity to test your material in front of others. Sharing your funny with others will allow you to gauge the effectiveness of your jokes and fine-tune your comedic voice.
If you want to write funny, get out of your head and share your humor with others. It’s the only way to know if your humor works or not.
