Archive for the ‘Humor’ Category

4 Keys to Using Humor in Autobiography

The BelieversPress blog features Q & A sessions with the experts we work with, answering questions that you’ve asked. Have a question? Click the link in the sidebar to submit it!

Charles Humphreys asked

How much does humor come into play in writing a nonfiction semi-autobiography?

a) Be natural. Humor comes into play exactly to the extent that it’s natural to the writer. If it’s forced or contrived or a matter of elaborate metaphors or other cerebral explorations, you probably need to save the moment for some other passage.

b) Start with yourself. Humor is a dangerous commodity, though, because it always relies, no matter how slightly, on someone’s misfortune or foolishness. The safest avenue is to be funny at one’s own expense (let the mockery or gentle amusement be self-directed).

c) Aim at culture. However, there is every reason to direct all kinds of humorous observations in all directions. The culture of any time and place is a fit subject for lampooning and has ridiculous elements that cause conundrums and pratfalls. In fact, the most sacrosanct elements of (one’s own) culture may be the most fertile ground. If the observations or events are grounded in experience, so much the better (“Sorry you’re offended, but this is how it happened to me, and nobody should have to go through that”).

d) Tread lightly. As for limits, I would suggest only protecting the feelings of those you love and respect most, especially if they are advanced in years. This means only with extreme caution should you make fun of those most dear to your eldest elders and best-loved beloveds — to say nothing of sparing those figures themselves, or treating them with utmost gentleness. Unless, of course, you have cleared your intentions with them before the writing sees print and public distribution.

Humor does not have to amount to a joke every other line or knee-slappers twice per page. It can come up unexpectedly as a twist at the end of an anecdote, which will increase the emphasis and probably make it even funnier. Perhaps the best safeguard is a trusted friend or colleague who agrees to read critically and can give you unvarnished reactions to your writing to keep you on the strai(gh)t and narrow.

Posted in Ask The Experts, Editorial, Humor, Writing | Comments Off

Turning bad reviews into good marketing

Apparently, everybody hates Brad Meltzer’s new book entitled Book of Lies.
So what can you do when all the big names in book reviews pan your book?

Well, you could wallow in shame and decide to never write again…

Or, you could enlist your little league team and some senior citizens at the local nursing home to make a hilarious spoof video out of it.

Enjoy!

Posted in Book Reviews, Engaging Culture, Humor, Marketing | Comments Off

Subject: Our Marketing Plan

Ellis Weiner posted a rousing satire of the shrinking promotional departments (and budgets) of many traditional publishers and their increasing reliance on authors to do more and more marketing for their own books.

Hi, Ellis—

Let me introduce myself. My name is Gineen Klein, and I’ve been brought on as an intern to replace the promotion department here at Propensity Books. First, let me say that I absolutely love “Clancy the Doofus Beagle: A Love Story” and have some excellent ideas for promotion.

To start: Do you blog? If not, get in touch with Kris and Christopher from our online department, although at this point I think only Christopher is left. I’ll be out of the office from tomorrow until Monday, but when I get back I’ll ask him if he spoke to you. We use CopyBuoy via Hoster Broaster, because it streams really easily into a Plaxo/LinkedIn yak-fest meld. When you register, click “Endless,” and under “Contacts” just list everyone you’ve ever met. It would be great if you could post at least six hundred words every day until further notice.

Continue Reading Subject: Our Marketing Plan at The New Yorker.

Posted in Humor, Marketing, Publicity, Publishing, Social Media, Trends | Comments Off

Avoiding Commonly Misused Words in Your Writing

Brian Clark at CopyBlogger compiled a list of 27 commonly misused words and how to use them correctly.

Poor grammar and misused words are one of the main criticisms of amateurishly published books. With this list, some diligence, and the help of a good editor, you can stand out from the crowd of poorly written/edited books in the market.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. ~Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride

It may be inconceivable for you to misuse a word, but a quick look around the web reveals plenty of people doing it. And it’s all too easy when we hear or see others use words incorrectly and parrot them without knowing it’s wrong.

So let’s take a look at 27 commonly misused words. Some are common mistakes that can cost you when trying to keep a reader’s attention. Others are more obscure and just interesting to know.

Adverse / Averse

Adverse means unfavorable. Averse means reluctant.

Afterwards

Afterwards is wrong in American English. It’s afterward.

Complement / Compliment

I see this one all the time. Complement is something that adds to or supplements something else. Compliment is something nice someone says about you.

Criteria

Criteria is plural, and the singular form is criterion. If someone tells you they have only one criteria, you can quickly interject and offer that it be they get a clue.

Farther / Further

Farther is talking about a physical distance.

“How much farther is Disney World, Daddy?”

Further is talking about an extension of time or degree.

“Take your business further by reading Copyblogger.”

Read the rest of the article here: The Inigo Montoya Guide to 27 Commonly Misused Words

Posted in Editorial, Humor, Publishing, Writing | Comments Off

How Not to Launch Your New Book

A funny take on the author who finds himself with a book… but no real plan to market it.

Posted in Humor, Marketing, Publicity, Social Media | 1 Comment »