In a recent interview I was asked if I thought comedy had a place in books such
as “Quest for the Red Sapphire”. I whole-heartedly answered “Yes”.
While it is true that the meat of the book is action and adventure, it is also
very important to find places for humor. Even the most suspenseful
novels need that tension relief that comedy provides. That comedy might be
a simple line or two every so often or it might be an entire scene. It
really depends on the story and how much tension the reader has been exposed to
so far. In my book there is a segment where distressing situation after
situation keep happening. The reader is wound up from all the stress and
is ready to burst. We, as humans, cannot handle too much stress for a long
period of time. So we seek outlets for it and in this situation I
introduce the character of Newminor. This sarcastic gnome is the kind of
person who says all the things you wish you could say but are prevented by good
manners. He cares for no one other than himself and lives life to the
fullest without regard for others’ approval. Newminor takes his shots at
the characters and pretty well puts them in their respective places. He is
funny and enjoyable both to write and read. Such a scene is necessary to
relieve that tension. The reader needs that relief in order to continue on
in the book. If the suspense never let up, the book would be exhausting to
read. As a writer you know that you can’t keep your audience on the edge
of their seat for too long or else you lose them. I have read many books
that did not insert any comic relief into the storyline. I found myself
straining to finish the stories as they drained my desire to read. Each
time I picked up the book I read for shorter and shorter periods. I had to
break the cycle of stressful situations by myself. It was like reading an
instruction manual after a while. I became tuned out to the story because
the tension never relented. A good story breaks itself up for you and
gives the reader that reprieve they often need so desperately. Comedy,
even in a mild form, is a wonderful way to accomplish this and is a valuable
tool in the hands of a writer.
as “Quest for the Red Sapphire”. I whole-heartedly answered “Yes”.
While it is true that the meat of the book is action and adventure, it is also
very important to find places for humor. Even the most suspenseful
novels need that tension relief that comedy provides. That comedy might be
a simple line or two every so often or it might be an entire scene. It
really depends on the story and how much tension the reader has been exposed to
so far. In my book there is a segment where distressing situation after
situation keep happening. The reader is wound up from all the stress and
is ready to burst. We, as humans, cannot handle too much stress for a long
period of time. So we seek outlets for it and in this situation I
introduce the character of Newminor. This sarcastic gnome is the kind of
person who says all the things you wish you could say but are prevented by good
manners. He cares for no one other than himself and lives life to the
fullest without regard for others’ approval. Newminor takes his shots at
the characters and pretty well puts them in their respective places. He is
funny and enjoyable both to write and read. Such a scene is necessary to
relieve that tension. The reader needs that relief in order to continue on
in the book. If the suspense never let up, the book would be exhausting to
read. As a writer you know that you can’t keep your audience on the edge
of their seat for too long or else you lose them. I have read many books
that did not insert any comic relief into the storyline. I found myself
straining to finish the stories as they drained my desire to read. Each
time I picked up the book I read for shorter and shorter periods. I had to
break the cycle of stressful situations by myself. It was like reading an
instruction manual after a while. I became tuned out to the story because
the tension never relented. A good story breaks itself up for you and
gives the reader that reprieve they often need so desperately. Comedy,
even in a mild form, is a wonderful way to accomplish this and is a valuable
tool in the hands of a writer.
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