Make ‘em Laugh

Humour in writing? That’s a toughie, how do I know that what makes me laugh will have the same effect on you? I don’t and yet, there I am writing comedy hoping that all my readers will reach the end with a big smile on their faces. And so far, it seems to be happening.

I will NEVER forget the day I opened the very first review of my debut novel. I was making myself sick with nerves absolutely certain that I’d made a fool of myself ever thinking I could write. Then I saw the opening line of that review:

“The Mercury Travel Club is one of the funniest books I have ever read”

I tell you, I blubbed like a baby.

It’s difficult to analyse humour, you just know it when you see or hear it but I guess we all have a preference for one style over another. I don’t like slapstick at all but I absolutely love a well-placed malapropism and you’ll hear them in real life all the time.

A lady I once worked with confidently walked up to the counter at a bookstore and asked for their Self-Harm section! Of course she meant self-help but the look of horror and then sheer relief on that assistant’s face was precious and the whole episode went into the book (with her permission of course!). One of my characters tries to buy an eye-patch rather than an ipad and then decides she has to start twerking as even Stephen Fry is doing it; she googles it and is mortified to discover it’s tweeting that she should be doing. 

Misheard lyrics make me laugh too, especially the idea of someone belting them out not realising that they’re completely wrong. One of the songs commonly misquoted is Money for Nothing by Dire Straits. The actual line is “get your money for nothing and your chicks for free” and although that’s incredibly misogynist anyway, it’s often misquoted – “… your chips for free”.  It makes me laugh because my mind just wanders and takes it to the next level; I picture some mega rock star like Bono or Elton John being interviewed and asked why they became musicians then answering “Well I heard you got free chips so that sealed the deal”! 

I read widely and although I enjoy crime and thrillers, I also like something that just leaves me smiling. I generally read in bed so it’s like a little hug just before I turn in and that’s really how I wanted my readers to feel. There is a feeling that humorous or comedy writing isn’t regarded as highly in literature as it is in scriptwriting.

Tina Fey and Phoebe Waller Bridge are rightly lauded for their on screen work but you rarely hear about comedy novelists.  I always loved Sue Townsend (The Queen and I) and her ability to deliver humour with pathos – a combination that goes well together and one that I use in my work. Marina Lewycka (A Short History of Tractors in the Ukranian) is another author who makes me laugh out loud. I love the observations of life both authors use and their ability to make us laugh at ourselves.

When it comes to my own writing, my sense of humour comes from those around me – family and friends. The things they say or do often form the basis of action or a piece of dialogue. You don’t have to look very far to see who Angie’s mother is based on in The Mercury Travel Club; my own mother is partial to trying out all the free samples in supermarkets and goes past the demonstrator’s trolley several times in various disguises just to have another nibble if she can. She also made me a lovely birthday cake once, with my name emblazoned across it – the fact that she got the spelling of my name wrong (yep – she misspelt Helen), made it even more special. I cried with laughter and didn’t really want to eat the evidence. 

The key characters in my novels are fifty year old women and recently there has been a survey saying that there aren’t enough older women in fiction and when they feature, they’re simply stereotypes – the wise old woman or the tech-phobic. I hope I haven’t fallen into either of these traps but equally, we do have to be able to laugh at ourselves; I did think LOL meant lots of love until my niece pointed out I was laughing out loud at the most inappropriate of messages. 

My characters, Angie and Patty, are best friends who grew up in the 80s and loved the music of that era. When they form a tribute band, they start by playing up to people’s prejudices by walking onto stage in cardigans with Zimmer frames before casting them aside and launching into a chorus of Livin’ on a Prayer. Music was always going to form a big part of the novels as I do think that the songs you listened to in your teenage years stays with you but this is comedy and of course the characters have a wild time reliving the dances and clothes that were such a big part of that decade (I bet someone out there wore Madonna gloves or wishes they could fly across the floor Flashdance-style!)

I believe there’s an innocence to the humour in my novels; like many of us the best friends have been through birth, death and divorce together yet they’re still smiling and making others laugh. As the song goes – all the world loves a laugh – and in the crazy world we’re living in, I think raising even the slightest of chuckles from a reader is a privilege and an honour.

The Mercury Travel Club was published in 2017 by Red Door Books. 

—

THE HEAT IS ON

‘And have you booked in your vejazzler?’
‘My what?’
‘You can’t roll up with your grey wire wool when he’s expecting rhinestone!’Angie Shepherd is back and this time she means business!Life is perfect for Angie Shepherd. Her dreams of becoming an entrepreneur have come true, business is booming, and her best friend Patty is back in town. So when the opportunity of investing in a luxury hotel comes up, it seems like a no-brainer. It’s all going swimmingly until a rival travel agency opens up across the street. Before long, The Mercury Travel Club is undercut, double-crossed and in deep trouble. It’s time for Angie to up the stakes. But with costs mounting up, sales going down, and her personal life suddenly in freefall, can Angie and her friends weather the storm?

Witty and charming in equal measure, this feel-good novel shows that when the going gets tough, the tough definitely get going.

Reader reviews

‘Well written, well paced with an excellent flow and really funny characters … very highly recommended … a genuinely funny, upbeat read that had me laughing out loud … Five stars from me‘ Donna’s Book Blog

‘A fabulous book for whiling away the afternoon and one that I would definitely recommend to readers of women’s or general fiction with humorous undertones’ Me and My Books Blog

‘If you’re looking for a summer fun read, with quirky loveable characters, lots of drama and mayhem then you will absolutely love The Heat Is On!’ 5* Dash Fan Book Reviews

‘I thoroughly enjoyed this witty and charming read. It drew me in instantly and I tried my best to savour it but it was just too enjoyable’ Jolene

‘Perfect to while away a few hours by the pool and is sure to leave you smiling’ Portobello Book Blog

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips