You Are Too Funny.

[Nihilium 7th]

In my wip I have a few characters who are basically comic relief. Two in particular serve that purpose in different ways. One is an ex bard turned bounty hunter and the other is a sullen widower who funny "by accident". The bard try's his best to be funny when the mood has gone sour and is often rebuked by the widower when he starts to be insensitive to the matter at hand which is a bit comical if you like dry humor. My question to you guy is; how much relief is acceptable in sad situations and in which situations do you guys think that comic relief should be avoided.

 

[WooHooMan]

Haven't you ever been in situations where someone makes a joke at an inappropriate time? Just use that as gauge.

Rule of thumb, I'd say that the line is whenever someone gets seriously hurt or have lost something valuable.

 

[Penpilot]

When should humor be used and when should it be avoided? It depends on the tone of your story, the personality of your characters, and what it adds to the story. And most importantly, if the joke is actually funny or not.

Everything, every word, every action, every everything should do at least one of the following, build on the world, reveal character, or advance plot. If the joke doesn't do any of those things, then it probably doesn't belong.

 

[ChasingSuns]

I completely agree with everything Penpilot said. If it doesn't mold with the story well, then it should be left out.

 

[Terry Greer]

It's just given me an idea of having a comic relief character slaughtered by one of the characters when he makes one bad/inappropriate joke too many.

 

[Snikt5]

Sometimes the comedy comes from how the straight laced characters react to the comic relief. For instance, if the bard makes an inappropriate comment at a sensitive time, have everyone turn away and leave the room leaving the bard to his embarrassment could be amusing. Or maybe, the widower merely back-hands him without looking at him.

 

[WooHooMan]

Sometimes the comedy comes from how the straight laced characters react to the comic relief. For instance, if the bard makes an inappropriate comment at a sensitive time, have everyone turn away and leave the room leaving the bard to his embarrassment could be amusing. Or maybe, the widower merely back-hands him without looking at him.

So instead of a character making a joke at an inappropriate time, the writer makes a joke at an inappropriate time.