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I think it's truly one of the highest compliments you can pay someone to say that they're funny. Many people have a great sense of humor, but to be able to engage people with wit and make them laugh (especially in writing) – that's a special quality.<\/p>\n
I don't want to toot my own horn or anything, but I've been told a time or two that I'm a humorous writer. Sometimes I even make myself laugh a little with the things I write. Writing comes naturally to me, especially the kind of writing that allows me to speak as myself, like blogging for IFB, ESD and my personal blog. I do it so much that it's practically second nature, and what bubbles up on these pages is more-or-less exactly what would come out of my mouth (with some streamlined editing, of course).<\/p>\n
Some people are just naturally funny; born with the gene that gives them a comedic sense of timing and the ability to tell stories that end with a punch. Many people are not. And in fact, learning to write with humor and lightness can be one of the toughest skills to master as a writer or blogger – but one of the most powerful too!<\/p>\n
Even if you're not a natural-born Tina Fey or David Sedaris, there are a few practices you can employ to shake out the stiffness, find the joy and even stir up a few giggles with your writing. I'm no expert to be sure, but here's what I do to find inspiration, loosen up and funnel my best and most humorous self into my posts.<\/p>\n
Read, read, read! And then read some more.<\/strong><\/p>\n Watch sitcoms (without laugh tracks).<\/strong><\/p>\n Hang out with the guys.<\/strong><\/p>\n Think of your writing like a conversation.<\/strong><\/p>\n Read your writing back to yourself (out loud).<\/strong><\/p>\n Put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, as it were).<\/strong><\/p>\n Seriously? Relax.<\/strong><\/p>\n *Bonus tip: <\/em>For those who are serious about uping their writing game, pick up a copy of the book\u00a0On Writing Well<\/a><\/strong>, by William Zinsser. A friend gave me this book a few years ago and I come back to it time and time again to center myself, refresh on the basics and get inspired. It's an easy read and one that will help your writing immensely, especially if you didn't study journalism or writing in school.<\/p>\n\n
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