DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C. features over thirty (30) eclectic authors and their collective works for discriminating readers among literature and nonfiction as a small, woman-owned, traditional "Indie" book publishing house. We also feature ten Imprints that represent diverse genres.
Writing comes easy for some writers and more difficult for others; however, comedy is often felt to be difficult … it never hurts to gain how-to pointers, here are six:
Work With Others – write with a partner whenever possible. Despite the added difficulty of scheduling, teams of two or three writers spark each other’s wit and test and refine each other’s ideas. “I love working with other writers,” wrote humorist Phillip Lasker. “I have learned to appreciate surrounding myself with talent. Others may have better lines than you or better story points. You have to listen to those you respect, and it’s also fun to notice that the great writers are listening to you.”
Hire An Agent – great example of a catch-22 situation. The big agents won’t touch unknowns, but beginners can’t become known without an agent. There are many exceptions, however, and your job is to find them. Playwright Abe Burrows said he thought of his agent as family. When Burrows paid his agent 10 percent, he didn’t think of it as a commission, but as sending money home to mother.
Test, Test, Test – humor can’t be tested in a vacuum. You need an audience, and it must be an audience that’s receptive to humor. If you can’t find an audience, try your jokes out on another humor professional—writer or performer. Don’t walk up to a stranger and ask, “What d’ya think of this?” The only thing worse than that is trying your humor out on your friends, spouse, parents, or children. They are too subjective, too critical, and—instead of just relaxing and enjoying it—they turn into pseudo-analysts.
Write, write, write – writing humor is an all-day assignment, because new ideas can pop into your head anytime, anywhere. Some writers feel humor can be conceived even when they dream, so be sure to keep a notebook by your bed. Once you’ve learned the basic techniques, don’t let anybody talk you out of writing your own way. Humor styles change with each generation, and while formulas rarely vary, standard subject matter, formats, fads, and characterizations are constantly being challenged. New ideas are the lifeblood of comedy, as they are of most businesses. And most new ideas take at least several years to germinate.
In addition to luck and perseverance, your success as a humor writer depends on four things: Watching. Look for the absurdities of life. Notice the physical actions that bring a smile to people’s lips. Reading. If you read something funny, make a note of it. Notice the construction. Keep adding to your joke file. Listening. Try to remember how people phrase things; what Mel Brooks calls “the rhythm of human speech.” Things that look good on paper don’t always perform well. We don’t speak in full sentences, we often skip words, and we usually use contractions. Speaking. Do your own stand-up. Don’t hesitate to deliver your own material in a meeting, at private parties, or to dinner guests. You’ll notice how audiences differ, how your performance differs, and how important it is to have the right material for the right audience.
Urban legend claims that actor Edmund Kean uttered the following on his deathbed: “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.” It doesn’t matter whether the tale is fact or fiction—the quote is accurate. Comedy is hard, and it takes years of practice, dedication, and rejection to be a successful humor writer. Yet, life is brief, and you might as well enjoy the journey. Think funny, write funny, and have fun.
Thank you for visiting our blog … we hope to continue to bring new and useful information about comedy and satire from a writer’s and reader’s perspective as well as additional information about, “Quarantina” and “Illustrated Tales For the Easily Entertained,” by comedian – satirist Wayne Tatum.
Christian comedy . . .
Writing comes easy for some writers and more difficult for others; however, comedy is often felt to be difficult .
Even though it is technically considered covid-19, we are dealing with it in the year of 2020. This virus is affecting everyone everyday in more ways than one, whether you have it or not. It affects how you interact with one another whether it be work, socially, family, or just friendships. Lately, the way I’ve been dealing with situations has been different than the ways I normally do. Being…
Fear and loneliness are two words that are used too often today. Especially when someone has gone through a traumatic experience and feel like no one would be there for them. Or when you are used to that one person being around and suddenly they’re not around and you’re afraid of never seeing them again. It’s a feeling that can sometimes be so overwhelming, even when we are surrounded by people…
DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C. announced Diana Arco’s debut release, “The Composer and the Flycatcher,” a compelling poetry and prose novel featuring the best and worst in human emotions.
PRLog – Feb. 8, 2015 – NEW YORK — Founder-CEO of DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C., Ms. D. L. Quesinberry states, “’Siege of the Small World,’ as the first ‘History of the Small World’ series title release, delivers…
Pre-signing with my publisher, DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C. I’d sent a copy of my self-published title, “Boys of Warriors” to Kirkus for a review. And, they responded by stating, “Intense adventures that make for exciting, time read.”
My publisher states, “The Kirkus review is an excellent endorsement to this new title on DonnaInk Publications military | weaponry fiction shelf, certainly after…
IronMantle Books releases Pebbles: Love Across the Morecambe Bay, by Steven Kay
Publisher DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C. through their IronMantle Books Imprint, which is the romance novel imprint, have published Pebbles: Love Across the Morecambe Bay for immediate purchase.By: IronMantle Books Imprint, DonnaInk Publications
Pebbles: Love Across the Morecambe Bay, by Steven Kay
Whether weaving persuasive proposals, informative manuals, or captivating content, Ms. Quesinberry’s writing is a symphony of clarity and authority. Her versatility spans fiction and nonfiction, leaving an indelible impact.
themysteriousvanishingofelectra
PRLog – Feb. 8, 2015 – NEW YORK — Founder-CEO of DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C., Ms. D. L. Quesinberry states, “’Siege of the Small World,’ as the first ‘History of the Small World’ series title release, delivers…
Pre-signing with my publisher, DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C. I’d sent a copy of my self-published title, “Boys of Warriors” to Kirkus for a review. And, they responded by stating, “Intense adventures that make for exciting, time read.”