This week: It Was An Inside Job Edited by: GeminiGem🐾  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
| ASIN: 1542722411 |
|
Amazon's Price: $ 12.99
|
|
It Was An Inside Job
According to Merriam-Webster: The meaning of INSIDE JOKE is a joke that is understood only by people with special knowledge about something.
Can we use inside jokes in our writing? The short answer is, I don't know. I'm not a writing expert, and I especially am an amateur when it comes to writing comedy. Let's look into this, though. I mean, why not? I've got nothing better to do.
Lately, I've been thinking about inside jokes. I have also been thinking about how some random stranger in China knew that if they made a little cast-iron bird with comically large feet and shipped it clear across the world, I would happily spend my hard-earned money to buy it. I've been wondering why they work and how they come into being. Inside jokes, that is, not little Chinese cast-iron birds with comically large feet.
I decided that Merrimam-Webster is correct, this type of joke comes out of a shared experience or knowledge. To have the joke be ongoing, the people involved have to have some sort of relationship. The next requirement is that the joke isn't funny at all to anyone outside of the first two requirements, even if the joke is explained.
Jokes are rarely funny if they need to be explained, in my opinion. Annoying, yes. Funny, no. Don't believe me? Next time you don't get a joke, ask someone to explain it. Trust me, the humor will instantly get sucked right out of it.
The intensity of the humor of an inside joke varies, of course. It may be something that will set the participants to laugh hysterically or something that is fun and mildly amusing. Either way, the result is a shared bonding within the group.
I have inside jokes with family members, friends, and co-workers. It is the source of a lot of my humor, which is why people who first meet me generally think I am a complete dud. Sometimes that opinion will even change later as they get to know me.
Here's an example of a long-running inside joke. My husband and I will go to Walmart when it is actively snowing. The first one of us to spot someone there wearing shorts, flip flops, spaghetti-strap tank tops, or any other inappropriate snow wear gets a high five. Colorado weather is volatile, but not THAT volatile. How do people get caught out with summer clothing on when snow was predicted...in January? We get a laugh out of it every time. (See? I told you inside jokes aren't funny when explained.)
The bonding experience of the inside joke is very relatable. Try to bring the humor of it to your readers. It will help them bond with your characters and with you as the writer. |
| | Contest Clues (E)
List of WdC Writing Contests, Challenges, Activities. Clues To What's Open, What's Closed!
#2221492 by GeminiGem🐾 |
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: B07P4NVL51 |
Product Type: Toys & Games
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
|
|
DO YOU HAVE ITEMS IN YOUR PORT THAT ARE FUNNY OR CONTAIN HUMOR? Are they items that have been written or revised fairly recently?
I would like to find these items and consider them for inclusion in my EDITOR'S PICKS. I am one of the regular COMEDY NEWSLETTER editors, and I have the hardest time finding items to include!
How can you help? So glad you asked!
Go into editing mode of your humorous item. Make sure one of the item's genres is set to COMEDY.
That will help me find your item when I do a search! DO IT NOW. I'll be watching for you.
 |
| ASIN: B004PICKDS |
Product Type: Toys & Games
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
Comedy: June 01, 2022 Issue [#11381]
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
