Humor ~ the secret ingredient that keeps kids reading

16 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Humor, Writing

Tags

Comedy, Ghost Buddy, Hank Zipzer, Henry Winkler, Humor, Lin Oliver, Marvin Terban, SCBWI, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Writing

If something is fun, we want to repeat the experience as much as possible. Reading is no different. It’s no surprise that for young readers, the key to keeping them reading is humor.

Marvin Terban, master of children’s wordplay and author of over 35 humorous books for young readers, explained the science of reading fun to a packed house at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Summer Conference in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Terban was a school teacher for decades, learning first-hand how to capture children’s interest and keep them engaged. He was adamant:

“It’s no laughing matter if there’s no laughing matter.”

When children were asked what books they liked to read, this is what they said:

My favorite books are the ones I pick myself.
I like books make me laugh.

Recipes for laughter

“That’s great,” you say, “but what’s the secret to making children laugh?” You’re in luck! Terban shared a few of the ingredients from his recipe for humor:

Use funny names, like Ralph Puken or Bob Booggensnot.
Use funny words. Apparently the funniest words for young readers are: fart, poop, and underpants. In that order.
Kids (and adults) laugh the hardest at the unexpected.
The funniest scenes contain an element of sorrow.

Lin Oliver and Henry Winkler are also masters of writing comedy for young readers. Kids of all ages love their Hank Zipzer: World’s Greatest Underachiever series and Ghost Buddy series. At a past SCBWI conference, this awesome writing team shared a few of their secrets for writing comedy:

Write what makes you laugh. If you think something is funny, someone else will think so too. Young readers know when humor is not authentic.
Write from your own “most embarrassing” moments.
You have to love the character you’re putting in comedic jeopardy, or else it comes off as being mean. You want your audience to laugh with the character, not at him.
Specific details are almost always funnier than generalizations. For example: Principal Zumba has a mole. Or… Principal Zumba has a mole shaped like the statue of liberty that looks like it’s doing the hula whenever he talks.

“Comedy Comes From the Heart” & Other Tips From the Fabulously Funny

06 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Fiction, Humor, SCBWI, Writing

≈ 15 Comments

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Comedy, Ghost Buddy, Hank Zipzer, Henry Winkler, Humor, LA13SCBWI, Lin Oliver, SCBWI, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Writing

A Workshop with Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

This year’s SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles (August 1-5) was the ultimate blend of inspiration, guidance, and professional advice for children’s authors and illustrators. All the workshops were amazing, but one was particularly memorable for its advice and inspiration: Comedy Comes from the Heart, with Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver.

Henry Winkler is an actor, producer and director, who is best known for his role as “the Fonz” in the 1970’s television series “Happy Days”. Though he is quick to tell you that he’s most proud of writing books for young readers.
Lin Oliver is the co-founder of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a long-time television writer, and a well published children’s author.

Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver are two of the funniest people on the planet. Put them together in the same room and it’s no wonder things spiral virally into the hilarious.

This dynamic duo teamed up to write 17 books in the Hank Zipzer: World’s Greatest Underachiever series, and have completed four books in the Ghost Buddy series. They are both are hilarious, and they know how to translate that humor onto the written page. You can read my review of Ghost Buddy ~ Zero to Hero here.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing Comedy

Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver earned their Fabulously Funny street creds on the page as well as the screen. They know what works, and what doesn’t, when it comes to comedy. Here are some of the comedic secrets they shared with us:

Write what makes you laugh. If you think something is funny, someone else will think so too.
Write what you know is true. Don’t try to write what you think will be funny for a particular audience. Young readers know when humor is not authentic.
There are different types of humor, such as character humor, physical humor, observational humor. Write the type of humor that works for you, what you think is funny.
What makes you laugh the most, also makes you cry the most. Good comedy always has a cringe-worthy (pathos) moment.
Write from your own experience. Mine your own life for “most embarrassing” moments.
You have to love the character you’re putting in comedic jeopardy, or else it comes off as being mean. You want your audience to laugh with the character, not at him.
Good comedy must have tension, just like good drama.
Specific details are almost always funnier than generalizations. For example: Principal Zumba has a mole. Or… Principal Zumba has a mole shaped like the statue of liberty that looks like it’s doing the hula whenever he talks.
Don’t edit yourself on the first draft. Go with your first impulses. Craft the humor afterward.
Use improv to get into the character’s voice. Henry Winkler showed us how a slouch and a tilt of the head, brought out “the Fonz” in his voice.
Titles are very important to young readers. Take the time to craft a terrific title.
“Trying” to be funny is a formula for death. Write down 25 things that made you laugh, then analyze each instance for the elements that made it funny.