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WRITINGHUMOURFORCHILDREN

JoinAndyGriffithsasheshowsyouthetrickstoticklingthetiniestfunnybones!Andywillshowyoutheprinciplesofwritinghumourforkids.Throughaseriesofpracticalwritingexercises,hellexplorehowtofind,generateanddevelopideas,charactersandstorylineswithcomicpotentialforallchildren,youngandold. Bringyourplayfulself:asenseofhumourisanadvantage,butnotcompulsory.

SUCCESSFULCOMICWRITERS: Playwithwords,ideas,imagesandnarrativevoice Turntheeverydayworldupsidedown Tellthetruth(i.e.tellchildhoodasitis) Arenotafraidofthedark!(Everybodylovesagoodtrainwreck.) Arenotafraidofhardwork.Theyunderstandthateffectivecomicwriting

dependsontheirwillingnesstorewriteandreinventuntilitsright. Dontunderestimatecomedy:theyrealiseitismorecomplexthanothers

mightthink. Understandthatthemostpowerfulwaytoconnectwithreadersis

throughstory. Realisethattherearemanythingscompetingforachildsattention,and

booksareoftennotatthetopofthatlistastheyrequiremoreconcentrationthanmanyotherformsofentertainment.

Knowthatitisthewritersjobtograbandholdthereadersattentionnotthechildsjobtoseekoutthewriter.

1.WHATMAKESYOULAUGH?Exercise:Writeaboutafunnybook,movieorTVshowthatyourememberfondlyfromyourchildhood.Whydidyoulikeit?Howdiditmakeyoufeel?Didittellastory?Chancesarethatthebook/tvshow/movieyourememberwasbothfunnyANDtoldastory.Todaysworshopisnotsomuchaboutwritingjokesorgagsasitisaboutexploringusefulapproachestohelpyoudiscoveryouruniquewayofbeingfunnyonthepage.2.FASTWRITINGEXERCISES:Wheredoideascomefrom?Exercise:Chooseoneofthetopicsbelow.Writefor3minuteswithoutstopping.Dontthinkaboutwhatyourewritingortrytoeditorcontrolitinanyway.Behonest.Tappingintoyourownexperiencesandemotionswillgiveyoualltheideasyouwilleverneed.IHATE IMSCAREDOFIGETANNOYEDBY ILOVEIBELIEVE IUSEDTOBELIEVEYESTERDAY,I IWISHIWASSOEMBARRASSEDWHEN THEDUMBESTTHINGIEVERDIDWAS

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Homeworkexercise:Otherrichsourcesofideasarebooks,bothfictionandnonfiction;movies;televisionshows;newspapers,especiallylocalpapers,whichcontainmanysmallhumanintereststories.Keepingsomeformofscrapornotebook,whetherpaperorelectronic,isvital.Theinternetisalsoapotentialsourceofgoodideas,butbewareitcanalsobeanenormouswasteoftime.(Youdontneedmillionsofideastowriteastoryjustonewilldo.)NB:Copyingpassagesfromyourfavouriteauthorsintoyourwritingjournalisapowerfulwayoflearninghowwritingworks.Childrenlove:*Beingspooked SuspenseAction GhostsTreasure Chocolates,toys,moneyMagic BeingmadetogiggleNewinventions EccentricitySecretinformation MonstersTimetravel UnorthodoxmethodsSeeingthevillainmeetagrislydeath Marvellous/funny/incredibleplacesLoveaheroandloveaherotobeawinner(*AccordingtoRoaldDahlinStoryteller:TheLifeofRoaldDahlbyDonaldSturrock)ORIGINALDETAIL,ORIGINALSTORIESOriginaldetailsandoriginalstoriescomefromyourownlife,notsomemysteriousforcecalledtheimagination!Lookatthewordimagination:imagenation:Itreferstoalltheimagesandimpressionsyouhavegatheredoveryourlife.Originalitycomesfromthewayinwhichyouselectandarrangetheseimagesandideassothattheystrikethereaderinafreshandpowerfulway.Example:NAPOLEONDYNAMITEPlaythefirsttwentyminutesofNapoleonDynamite.Thenplayitagainwithcommentary:theseutterlyoriginal,compellingscenesareallbasedonincidentsfromthewriterslife.

a) catchingschoolbusb) trailingactionfiguresbehindthebusc) phoninghomeandaskingbrothertobringhimhischapstickd) yourfavouritebikee) cargopantsf) themandowntheroadwhoshotacowinfrontofabusloadofkidsg) beingtormentedbyotherstudentsbeforegymclass

Exercise:Writedowntenapparentlyunremarkable,butoriginalincidentsorexperiencesfromyourlifethatmightformthebasisforsomeofyourstories.

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Ifyoustuffyourselffullofpoems,essays,plays,stories,novels,films,comicstrips,magazines,music,youautomaticallyexplodeeverymorninglikeoldfaithful.Ihaveneverhadadryspellinmylife,mainlybecauseIfeedmyselfwell,tothepointofbursting.Iwakeearlyandhearmymorningvoicesleapingaroundinmyheadlikejumpingbeans.Igetoutofbedtotrapthembeforetheyescape.(RayBradbury)3.RULEBREAKINGExercise:a)Writedownalistofrulesthatyouhavebeentaughtthroughoutyourlife.Importantrules,sillyrules,rulesrelatingtosafety,hygiene,etiquette,whatever.Justwritethemdownastheycometomind.b)Nowchoosetheruleyouwouldmostliketobreakandwriteanimaginaryaccountofyourselfbreakingitinfirstpersonpresenttenseslowmotiondetail.Childrenshumourofteninvolvesturningtheeverydayworldupsidedown.Oneofthefastestwaystoachievethisistoshowacharacterbreakingawellestablishedruleandexploringtheconsequences.4.CHARACTERExercise1:Channelsomebodyyouknowwellintoamonologue.Selectingandexaggeratingcertainaspectsoffriends/family/acquaintancesisagreatwaytobuildconvincingcomediccharacters.Everywriterintheworldhastousecharactersthathavesomethinginterestingaboutthemandthisisevenmoretrueinchildrensbooks.Ifindthattheonlywaytomakemycharactersreallyinterestingtochildrenistoexaggeratealltheirgoodorbadqualities,andsoifapersonisnastyorbadorcruel,youmakethemverynasty,verybad,verycruel.Iftheyareugly,youmakethemextremelyugly.ThatIthinkisfunandmakesanimpact.(RoaldDahl)Exercise2:Createareallyexaggeratedcharacter.E.g.Hewasbad.HewasSObadthatShewasnice.ShewasSOnicethatHewasbossy.HewasSObossythatOtheradjectivesyoumightliketotry:SillyStupidMeanKindScaredSmartFriendlyExercise3:Whatdoesyourcharacterwant?Thinkaboutacharacterinastoryyouhavewrittenandseeifyoucandefinetheirmajoraim.Themoreclearlyyoucandefinewhatyourcharactersobjectiveisinaparticularstorytheeasieritwillbetotellthestory.Themoreclearlydefinedacharacteristheeasieritistoknowwhattheymightsayordoinanygivensituation.Comediccharactersareoftenquiteinflexibleinwhattheywantandwillgowellbeyondwhereanormalnoncomediccharacterwouldgiveup.(SeeIntheShowerwithAndyproblemsolutionoutlinebelow.)

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Charactersarefunnywhen: Theysayonethinganddoanother. Theysayexactlywhattheyrethinkingwithoutregardforsocial

conventions.(Shutup,JustStupid!) Theyactwithoutlookingaheadtotheconsequencesoftheiractions.

(IntheshowerwithAndy,JustAnnoying!) Theyactmechanicallyand/orinflexibly.(Andyinalmostanystory/The

BadBook) Theymakemountainsoutofmolehills.(Bandaid,JustStupid!) Theyhaveasimpletasktodoandendupturningitintoanepicstruggle

forsurvival.(Busting,JustStupid!)ComiccharactersdontchangeThedifferencebetweentragicandcomiccharactersisthattragicheroesundergosufferingandlearnsomethingasaresult.Comiccharactersundergosufferingandlearnnothing.5.STRUCTURINGYOURSTORYExercise:Createaproblemsolutionoutlineforoneofthefollowingscenarios(oruseyourown).

Youwanttogetoutofgoingtoschool Youjustbrokeavaluableitembelongingtoyour

mother/sister/brother/fatherandwanttohidetheevidence Youvebeenlockedoutofyourhouse Youwanttoimpresssomebodythatyouhaveacrushon

Storiesrelyondramaticstructure.Forexample,acharacterwithastrongdesireoraproblemtosolvetriestosatisfythatstrongdesireorsolvetheproblembutencountersresistance,whichrequiresevermoreheroicorinventiveactions.(Note:Intheireffortstomakethingsbettercomicheroesoftenmakethesituationmuchworse!)Example:INTHESHOWERWITHANDYproblemsolutionoutlineProblem:AndywantstofilltheshowercubiclewithwaterSolution:HeputshisfootontheplugholeProblem:ThewaterrunsoutthroughthecracksintheshowerscreenSolution:Hegetsasiliconegluegunandfillsinthecracks.(Whatif?)Problem:Hissisterwantstousetheshower.Solution:Hetellshertocomebacklater.Problem:Thewatergetssohighthatitstartsgoingoverhishead.Solution:Hetriestoturnthetapsoff.Problem:Thehottapisstuck.Solution:Hehitsthetapwiththegluegunandbreaksthehandleoff.Problem:Hesgoingtodrown.Solution:Hetriestoclimboverthetopofthescreen.Problem:Herealisesthescreengoesrighttotheroof.Solution:Hetriestobreaktheglass.

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Problem:Itstriplereinforcedsafetyglass.Solution:Hetriestodrinkthewater.Problem:Drinkingthewatermakeshimneedtopee.Solution:Heclimbsthroughtheairventintheroof.Problem:Hedropshisrubberduckonanunsupportedsectionofplaster.Solution:Hetriestorescuehisrubberduck.Problem:Hefallsthroughtheroofrightontothediningtablewherehisparents

arehostingadinnerparty.(Worstthing.)Solution:Hedecidestoactasifnothingiswrongandgetsoffthetable,informs

Jenthattheshowerisfreeandleavestheroomasfastaspossible.Notes:

Worstcasescenarios(Whatstheworstthingthatcanhappennext?) Surprisingthereader(Whatisthereaderexpectingtohappennext?What

isthereaderNOTexpectingtohappennext?E.g.babyandGodzillastory.)Oneofthewaysofkeepingareaderinterestedistokeepthemguessing.Toleadthemtothinktheyknowhowthestoryisgoingandthentodosomethingcompletelydifferenttowhattheywereexpecting.

TheBaby&GodzillastoryIf I ask children what they expect to happen if a baby and Godzilla were to meet, they usually expect that Godzilla is going to eat the baby. Then I ask them what would be the lastor oppositething that they might expect. They are very quick to realise, with delight, that it would be a situation in which the baby ate Godzilla. This instantly creates a much more interesting story for the reader, and a greater creative challenge for you as writer as you attempt to explain how a baby might actually set about killing and eating Godzilla. After weve explored various options I then invite the children to think about a range of different possibilities for when Godzilla and baby meet.

a) Godzilla adopts the baby. b) The baby adopts Godzilla. c) Godzilla and the baby fall in love, get married and have children half

baby/half monster. NB:Itsmucheasiertodemonstratethisthanitistoexplainit,andyoucanseeavideopostingofmewithGodzillaandthebabyonyoutubeathttp://andygriffiths.com.au/links/

6.STORYWRITINGPROCESSExample:IntheshowerwithAndy(JustAnnoying!)Observation:Itsfuntotrytofilluptheshowercubiclebyblockingoffthe

showerplughole(basedonpersonalexperienceplustalkingtochildrenrevealsthisisacommondesire)

Idea:AndyfillstheshowercubiclewithwaterScenario:AndyishavingashowerDefinecharactersmaindrive:TofilltheshowerDefinecharactersmainproblem:Tostopthewaterleakingoutthroughthe

cracksintheshowerDefinemymainobjectiveasauthor:TogetAndyintotheMOSTembarrassing

situationpossiblehowdoIgethimthere?

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Problemsolution(seeabove)Openingparagraph:Imintheshower.Singing.Andnotjustbecausetheecho

makesmyvoicesoundsocooleither.ImsingingbecauseImsohappy.EversinceIvebeenoldenoughtohaveshowersIvebeentryingtofindawaytofillashowercubicleupwithwater.IfIputafacewasherovertheplugholeIcangetthewaterasfarupasmyankles,butitalwaysendsupleakingoutthroughthegapsinthedoor.ButIthinkIvefinallyfoundtheanswerDadssiliconegun.

Closingparagraph:Icovermyselfwiththerubberduck,swingmylegsovertheedgeofthetableandstandup.Ibegyourpardon,Isay.Iwaslookingforthekitchen.Nobodysaysanything.Theyarealljuststaringatme,theirfacesandclotheswhitefromtheplasterdust.IheadtowardsthedoorasfastasIcan.AsImabouttoexitIturntowardsJen.Sheisstillstandingthere,eyeswide.Well,whatareyouwaitingfor?Isay.Showersfree!

Research:Standinshowercubicleandimaginewhatitwouldfeelliketobetrapped.

AttemptfirstdraftReviseproblemsolutionaccordinglyReviseopeningandclosingparagraphsAttemptseconddraftRepeatasmanytimesasnecessary(inthiscase,around2030drafts)7.FORMExercise:Retelloneofthefastwritingexercisesinadifferentform.Doesoneformhavemorecomicpotentialthananother?Forexample,WhatIlearnedontheMuseumExcursionlastTuesdayandSleepoverofDoom(JustDoomed!)werenotworkingasconventionalstoriessoIrewroteoneasanillustratedclasspresentationandtheotherasachooseyourownadventurestory.

Formstoconsider:Diagram DiaryInstructions LetterList(RuleofThree) MapPoem PosterScript ReportPowerpointpresentation Guidebook 8.EDITINGWritingcomedyisasmuchaboutwhatyoucutaswhatyouwrite.Infact,cuttingisthecomedywritersprimaryskill.Noideaisbeyondcutting.Besides,yourecreative.Theresalwaysanotherideaaroundthecorner.(TimFerguson)(Note:BewareoftheWouldntitbefunnyif?trap.)Everyjokeshouldideallybepartofthestoryeitherrevealingorconfirmingcharacterordrivingthestoryforwardinsomeway.Whetheritstartstrouble,

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deepensit,complicatesorresolvesit,agagmovestheactionwhenitcausesadegreeofchangeinthefortunesofthecharacters.(TimFerguson)Beginning:Grabyourreadersattentionwithastrongopeningimageorstatement.Filltheminonthebackstoryasnecessaryonlyasmuchasyoustrictlyneed.Manyofmystoriestake1to2pagestoreallygetgoing.Myeditor(andwife)Jillcomparesthistothewaycartooncharactersrunonthespotbeforetakingoff,andthisisusuallythestuffthatgetscutonthefirstreadthrough.(Itsokaytodoit;justremembertocutitoutlater.Youwouldbesurprisedhowmanypublishedwritersforgettodothisandendupcreatinganunnecessarybarrierforpotentialreaders.)Comedywritingeditingprinciples

Striveforclarityandsimplicity. Dontbeafraidtocutwordsandideasarecheapandplentiful. Dontoverestimateyourreader:makesuretheyknowwhatishappening. Checkyourvocab.(Thefivefingertest:youmayknowthemeaningof

thesewordsbutdoesyourintendedaudience?) Checkyourmaterialfortoomuchscaffoldingand/ordescription.Lessis

more. Readyourmaterialouttoagroupofchildren.(Checkforsignsof

boredomand/orrestlessness.) BewareofWouldntitbefunnyif?moments.(i.e.Areyourcharacters

actinginaccordwiththeirnatureorareyoumakingthemdothingsbecauseitwouldbefunny?)

Areyourcharactersdifferentenoughfromeachother?Dotheyallsoundthesame?Havethesametypesofreactions?Allsoundlikethewriter?

Isyourstoryrelateablei.e.wouldkidscareaboutit? Doyouhaveatitlethatgrabsthereadersattentionor,evenbetter,makes

themlaugh? Doyouhaveaprovocativefirstlinethatmakesthereaderwantto

continuereading?9.WRITEYOUROWNREVIEWExercise:Writeanimaginaryreviewofafunnybookorastorythatyouwouldliketowriteinthefuture.Letyourselfgoandwriteexactlywhatyouwouldlikethereviewertosay(thisisnottheplacetobemodest.)Ifyourefindingitdifficulttogetstarted,trythefollowingexperiment:findabiographyofawriteryouadmire,oraglowingreviewofabookthatyouwouldliketohavewritten.Copythereview/biographyoutbutasyoudosochangetheauthorsnametoyourownandchangethebooktitle/titlestooriginalonesofyourown.Placetherewrittenbiographyatthefrontofyourwritingpracticefolderwhereyoullseeitonaregularbasis.Itmayseemsilly,butanexerciselikethisprovidesapowerfulcompassforguidingyouintherightdirection.Havefun!

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10.RECOMMENDEDREADING/VIEWINGWritingdownthebones,NatalieGoldberg,ShambhalaPressTheCheekyMonkey:WritingNarrativeComedy,TimFerguson,CurrencyPress

2010TheITCrowdSeries4,AGuidetoSitcomWriting(audiocommentarybywriter

GrahamLinehaninwhichheanswersallthequestionshegetsfromaspiringcomedywritersthebest2hourlectureoncomedywritingEVERandrelevanttoanymedium,notjustsitcoms.)

Everyonelovesagoodtrainwreck:Whywecantlookaway,EricGWilson,SarahCrichtonBooks,2012

Storyteller:TheLifeofRoaldDahl,DonaldSturrock,Simon&Schuster11.THEFINALWORDIfyouarewritingwithoutzest,withoutgusto,withoutlove,withoutfun,youareonlyhalfawriter.Itmeansyouaresobusykeepingoneeyeonthecommercialmarket,oroneearoutfortheavantgardecoterie,thatyouarenotbeingyourself.Youdontevenknowyourself.Forthefirstthingawritershouldbeisexcited.Heshouldbeathingoffeversandenthusiasms.Withoutsuchvigor,hemightaswellbeoutpickingpeachesordiggingditches;Godknowsitdbebetterforhishealth.(pp35TheJoyofWritingbyRayBradbury,ZenandtheArtofWriting)

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AGUIDETOANDYSBOOKSThe JUST! series (illustrated by Terry Denton) A wildly popular series of funny, fast-paced short stories told by young Andy, who considers himself the worlds greatest, craziest, most annoying, and most stupid practical joker. Just Tricking!, Just Annoying!, Just Stupid!, Just Crazy!, Just Disgusting!, Just Shocking!, Just Doomed! and Just Macbeth! (a script based on Shakespeares Macbeth, featuring the characters from the Just series) The BAD BOOKS (illustrated by Terry Denton) Packed with crazy cartoons, revolting rhymes, putrid poems, dumb drawings, bad riddles, bad jokes, cautionary tales and bad characters doing bad things, the Bad Books will catapult you into a topsy-turvy world in which everything good is bad and everything bad is VERY bad! The Bad Book, The Very Bad Book and Killer Koalas from Outer Space (an anthology of some of the least worst bits of the two Bad Books) The FLAT CAT & BIG FAT COW series (illustrated by Terry Denton) A joyously silly series propelled by kid-pleasing, tongue-tripping verse and edgy, stick-figure-filled illustrations. Ideal for beginning or reluctant readers, but will delight readers of all ages and abilities. The Cat on the Mat is Flat The Big Fat Cow that goes Kapow The 13-STOREY TREEHOUSE (illustrated by Terry Denton) An illustrated novel detailing the epic struggles of Andy and Terry as they attempt to write their latest book. Set in an amazing 13-storey treehouse complete with bowling alley, see-through swimming pool and tank full of man-eating sharks, this is a ridiculously silly adventure crammed with ridiculously silly pictures. The 13-Storey Treehouse The 26-Storey Treehouse (to be published September 2012) The SCHOOLING AROUND series A set of four novels chronicling the amazing goings on at Northwest Southeast Central School. Sure to appeal to both confident and emerging readers of all ages, they are also ideal for both parents and classroom teachers to read aloud. Treasure Fever Pencil of Doom Mascot Madness Robot Riot The BUM series The epic BUM trilogy tells the story of Zack Freeman, his crazy runaway bum, a crack bum-fighting unit called the B-team and some of the biggest, ugliest and meanest bums ever to roam the face of the Earth. The Day my Bum went Psycho Zombie Bums from Uranus Bumagedoon: the Final Pongflict

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Andy & Terry's WORLD OF STUPIDITY (illustrated by Terry Denton) Andy & Terrys World of Stupidity is a series of seriously silly, fully-illustrated 100% fact-free guide books that aim to present as much unscientific data and misinformation as its possible to cram into a series of seriously silly, fully-illustrated 100% fact-free guide books. What Bumosaur is That? What Body Part is That? The Naked Boy and the Crocodile (edited by Andy) A collection of stories written by children from remote indigenous communities in Australia. Written in simple picture book formats, these tales are surprising, funny and touching ... and sometimes true! All proceeds from the book will be donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Andypedia The Andypedia is a complete guide to every book, every story and every character in the world of Andy Griffiths books. Available as an ebook only. http://momentumbooks.com.au/books/andypedia/ Once Upon a Slime: 50 Fun Ways to Get Writing Fast! (to be published April 2013) Designed for teachers, students and young aspiring writers, Once Upon a Slime contains 50 fun writing and story-telling activities, such as lists, instructions, cartoons, letters, greeting cards, personal stories, poems and pocket-books. Examples from Andys books are used throughout to demonstrate techniques and to inspire readers to have as much fun playing with words, ideas and drawings as Andy and Terry do when they get together to create their crazy books. More information at http://www.andygriffiths.com.au