Using Humor

Why do novels rarely employ humor? I don't mean a character who's constantly cracking annoying jokes, but the humor that naturally occurs in real life. Some of my favorite lines are ones that highlight a ridiculous situation. 

I know; writing humor is difficult for most authors. I think that's because they try to force it. Occasionally I'll read someone's writing sample, which they claim is part of their "comic novel", and I think, okay, where are the funny parts? Humor is supposedly subjective, but if that's a universal truth, why are certain sitcoms so beloved? I guess humor is easy to recognize but difficult to execute. Humor helps to humanize a character. Who wants to read about someone who's constantly morose?

The best humor in a novel occurs organically. In Shadow Song my main character was hired for a job accidentally. She had applied for a position as a portrait painter, not realizing that the job had dual responsibilities ~ half painter, half carnival ride operator. Worse, she had no idea until her first day that she'd been hired to supervise a new contingent of ride operators. Her boss asked her to explain the job to the new employees encircling her. Rather than bolt for the exit right then, she decided to bluff her way through it. Her lecture was unintelligible, but those around her nodded solemnly, as if her every word made perfect sense. 

In Lies and Love the main character was making dinner for a new male friend. Possessing very few cooking skills, she settled upon something easy ~ spaghetti ~ but her nervousness resulted in a complete fiasco and a kitchen fire that her friend had to extinguish.

Nervousness can lead to a host of comedic possibilities, as can being dropped into an unexpected situation. My novels all have a serious plot to be sure, but those occasional insertions of humor show a character's vulnerability; show that she's a real person.

Dialog is another area that's ripe for humor. Whether a character misunderstands what someone is saying or whether it's just light banter between friends, sometimes more is revealed by how two people interact than by pages of narrative.

It's important to understand that there's such a thing as too much, though. If an author is going to employ humor, it needs to be lightly sprinkled or readers will quickly grow annoyed. Even if a supporting character is known for his snarky remarks, they should only be highlighted occasionally, not every time he opens his mouth. Don't go into a scene with the intention of, "Oh, this is going to be funny" unless you are one of the few authors who possess a truly comedic mind. Let the comedy unfold with the situation. Not all of my books have it, and those that do include perhaps one humorous scene. It has to feel natural.

Humor is but one aspect of character development. Done right, it enhances a story. Overdone? You'll likely get a lot of "DNF" (did not finish) reviews.