The VERB - June '08

WHAT TICKLES YOUR FUNNY BONE?

No matter the genre, or the topic, all writing can stand a sense of humor. It's a well-known fact that laughter lowers the blood pressure and lifts the spirit. It can also drive home a message quicker than a cleverly constructed sermon.

How do you know whether you've written something funny? Humor is subjective, so there's no tickling everyone. But if you laugh, chances are very good that others will laugh as well. And the type of humor that makes you laugh is probably the type in which you will excel.

Take the quiz below to find your type of humor.

1. Overworked Rick rushes to the curb to hail a cab. Another fellow reaches the cab at the same time. How do you make this funny?

      a) Rick knocks the fellow into a puddle, then climbs inside.
     b) "Move it or die, pal!"
     c) The ghost of Johnny Carson climbs up on the taxi's hood and orders all traffic to stop.
     d) Rick imitates the rude thoughts the fellow must be thinking.

2. Bride Carolyn takes her father's arm as she walks down the aisle toward a groom she doesn't love. How do you make this funny?

      a) Carolyn trips over her gown, sprains an important muscle and is rushed to the hospital, the entire wedding party following.
     b) "God help me, I'd rather marry the florist. And he's gay."
     c) Carolyn's bouquet talks to her, forcing her to run out of the church.
     d) Carolyn reaches the altar, but mimics the groom until he stops the ceremony.

3. Divorcing couple Wayne and Nicole are locked in a closet. How do you make this funny?

     a) They rattle the doorknobs, try to climb the walls and step over each other to get to the ceiling.
     b) "So, Satan, how do you propose we get out of here?"
     c) The opposite wall slides open, revealing a loud, flashing disco.
     d) Assuming the other's characteristics, they re-live the last days of their marriage.

4. Skater Katrina wakes in the hospital and learns she has a broken leg. How do you make this funny?

      a) Katrina rolls out of bed, uses her arms to scoot down the hall and orders the nurse to hand over her car keys.
     b) "I want a second opinion."
     c) Katrina's family pops out of the bathroom, yells "Surprise! We actually broke your leg so we could redecorate your kitchen!"
     d) Katrina becomes her favorite TV doctor, barking orders and overusing the word "Stat!"

5. New school bus driver Amy gets lost in downtown traffic. How do you make this funny?

     a) Amy stops the bus, leaps over vehicles and runs for her life.
     b) "Hold on, kiddies, and think of Disneyland."
     c) A nearby crane lifts the bus out of traffic and carries it back to school.
     d) Amy pretends she's Mr. Rogers, singing songs and playing games until she finds a familiar street.

Slapstick - If you chose the A answers, you enjoy physical comedy. The more your characters move, the more you laugh.

One-liners - If you chose the B answers, you enjoy quick sarcastic quips. The more your characters shoot from the hip, the more you smile.

Farce - If you chose the C answers, you enjoy absurd situations. The more your characters reach beyond the norm, the more you're on the floor.

Parody - If you chose the D answers, you enjoy imitation. The more your character mocks others, the more you double over.