Humor
Posted: Feb 01, 2011 7:24 am
This isn't really a Dramatica question, but I can't think of a better place to pose it.
I am working on a fantasy novel (wizards, that kind of thing). I wrote an "author's introduction", which is itself complete fiction, introducing the story as if it were real history and providing some back-story. I shared this intro with a couple of people whose opinions I respect, and was very happy when they both expressed great interest in reading the rest of the story.
Now, I intended the introduction to be witty in a certain way -- an academic who studies these ancient people has decided to write a novel about them. But both my friends reacted to a couple of passages in the intro with explosive guffaws -- "That's hilarious!! This is going to be great!"
My concern is that I am setting up the expectation in this intro for a laugh-fest, and that is not my intention. The story is actually quite dark. There are some opportunities in the story for a few witty red herrings and I fully intend to use them when the mood needs to be lightened up. But I'm almost inclined at this point to tone down the introduction a bit.
Just wondering what thoughts anyone else has on this.
Jeff
I am working on a fantasy novel (wizards, that kind of thing). I wrote an "author's introduction", which is itself complete fiction, introducing the story as if it were real history and providing some back-story. I shared this intro with a couple of people whose opinions I respect, and was very happy when they both expressed great interest in reading the rest of the story.
Now, I intended the introduction to be witty in a certain way -- an academic who studies these ancient people has decided to write a novel about them. But both my friends reacted to a couple of passages in the intro with explosive guffaws -- "That's hilarious!! This is going to be great!"
My concern is that I am setting up the expectation in this intro for a laugh-fest, and that is not my intention. The story is actually quite dark. There are some opportunities in the story for a few witty red herrings and I fully intend to use them when the mood needs to be lightened up. But I'm almost inclined at this point to tone down the introduction a bit.
Just wondering what thoughts anyone else has on this.
Jeff