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The Importance of Being Witty |
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Why do I bother? I bet you’ve said that to yourself before, even if
you haven’t said it to someone else. So it is with humour in writing:
why bother with it?
Let’s be positive though. Why do you
bother? Why do you write? Is it to get across a point? Is it to sell
something, even if it’s only an idea and not ice to Eskimos?
If you knew how much humour helped you connect with your reader and guide what they think, you’d use it more often.
Humour has been defined as “Reality plus Distance”. It can make an
article that would not have a connection with a reader…come alive. In
articles, you don’t have much space to waste words – so don’t waste a
single one. Ram them on home with a bit of humour.
Having a
laugh is good for you. Even doctors say it and they might know
something about that. Think back to something you’ve read or heard that
made you laugh; how did that feel? Good, I bet. You probably remember
for some time to come what made you laugh or at least chuckle a little
bit. It’s that ‘feel good factor’ thing in operation. We like and
remember what makes us feel good because we want to get that feeling
again.
That makes humour a great tool for writers. If you want
to make someone identify with what you write, make them laugh; if you
want them to associate with your subject, make them laugh; if you want
someone to feel really good about any product or service you’re trying
to promote, make them laugh. Are you getting it yet? Humour connects
people and it tends to suggest that the writer is communicating
directly with their reader. A well-placed anecdote or a joke will
really focus your reader’s attention on the point you’re trying to make.
Exactly
what type of humour you use is up to you as a writer, because one
important thing is that humour has to be sincere. Not everyone will
think you’re funny; sorry to be brutal about that. But what matters is
you think it was funny and you made an honest attempt to reach out to
someone else with your humour.
I’m from Yorkshire, where the
humour is so dry it needs moisturiser. That won’t work for everyone,
but it works for me by taking a gentle dig at the things that draw us
all together as fellow human beings. You’ve got the added advantage
with dry humour that if it falls flat you can always say ‘Well, I was
trying to be serious, not funny’. Sneaky, huh? At least there is
personality and heart in the writing.
Talking of ‘dry’, humour
can make a dry topic a lot more enjoyable to read. Making it enjoyable
does – guess what? Keeps people connected to your writing! The odd joke
or two inserted into the text gives a breather to your reader, time to
digest what they have already read. Don’t let it give you indigestion!
This article is the work of Decorus Lacuna.
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