Writing and marketing humor essays

[determined2finish]

Hello everyone,
I have a few questions for anyone writing humor essays:
1. Do you write them in advance or do you tailor them to meet the needs of specific markets?
2. When querying humor markets should I submit pieces already written or write new pieces entirely with their demographics in mind? I worry that writing for a demographic might inhibit the creative ability to be funny.
3. Am I thinking too much about this???

[mommie4a]

You aren't thinking too much. (I always hate when people tell me that, so it's a
pleasure to tell someone else not to worry about doing it.)

1. I do both. I write them in advance (as in, if something strikes me and I just HAVE to get it out, then look for a market) and I tailor to markets that buy them.
2. I think the industry standard with humor is to send entire manuscripts because humor is so subjective. So...if you're going to send a manuscript, you wouldn't send it to a market that isn't interested in the type of piece you're sending, right? I wouldn't worry so much about the demographics etc. Be more concerned about what the tone of the market is and the audience, in general.

Good luck.

[aka eraser]

Hello everyone,
I have a few questions for anyone writing humor essays:
1. Do you write them in advance or do you tailor them to meet the needs of specific markets?
2. When querying humor markets should I submit pieces already written or write new pieces entirely with their demographics in mind? I worry that writing for a demographic might inhibit the creative ability to be funny.
3. Am I thinking too much about this???

1- I write by far the majority in advance and then try to find a home for them. A couple of times an editor has asked for "500 words on a Dad-thing" but that's as specific as it's gotten with me.

2- See my answer to 1, although it certainly makes sense to tweak a piece to make it a better fit with a particular pub.

3- Probably. But it's what we do. Neuroses and angst are two of our muses. ;)

[batyler65]

I have to echo Frank on this one to an extent. I tend to write my first drafts without a market in mind. Of course, my first drafts tend to be a bit of a brain dump anyway, and as such not particularly marketable. Once the thing is on paper, I look at the idea and then think about markets. That way, when I'm working on my second draft, I can start tailoring it to fit where I think it might eventually sell.

As for thinking too much... I'd rather think too much than too little. But, yeah, we all do it. Take a deep breath. Let it out. Just remember to have fun with what you are doing. The rest will follow.

Barb

[determined2finish]

You aren't thinking too much. (I always hate when people tell me that, so it's a
pleasure to tell someone else not to worry about doing it.)


Good luck.

Thanks for the reassurance (LOL). Good advice to focus on the audience tone in general.

[determined2finish]

1- I write by far the majority in advance and then try to find a home for them. A couple of times an editor has asked for "500 words on a Dad-thing" but that's as specific as it's gotten with me.

2- See my answer to 1, although it certainly makes sense to tweak a piece to make it a better fit with a particular pub.

3- Probably. But it's what we do. Neuroses and angst are two of our muses. ;)

How many essays do you generally have on hand? Do you focus on specific topics (i.e. parenting, etc.) or just write what comes to mind? Do you have regular markets that you contribute to? I love that I can ask all these questions!!!

[determined2finish]

I have to echo Frank on this one to an extent. I tend to write my first drafts without a market in mind. Of course, my first drafts tend to be a bit of a brain dump anyway, and as such not particularly marketable. Once the thing is on paper, I look at the idea and then think about markets. That way, when I'm working on my second draft, I can start tailoring it to fit where I think it might eventually sell.

As for thinking too much... I'd rather think too much than too little. But, yeah, we all do it. Take a deep breath. Let it out. Just remember to have fun with what you are doing. The rest will follow.

Barb

Barb, I feel like most of my work is based on brain dumping. That is probably why I'm frustrated with what to do with it. I have done some researching on pubs that are accepting humor, so my next goal is to start honing the brain dumps into marketable masterpieces. Hmmmm...I am starting to sound more like a mad scientist than anything. I think it is time for me to turn off the computer and get some sleep ;)

[mommie4a]

How many essays do you generally have on hand? Do you focus on specific topics (i.e. parenting, etc.) or just write what comes to mind? Do you have regular markets that you contribute to? I love that I can ask all these questions!!!

I couldn't tell you how many essays I have on hand. Completed or started, but it's a lot - more than 30, less than 200. Probably around...60?80?100?

I write both specific topics and what comes to mind. For instance, I had a hellacious (sp?) experience in the post office a few months ago and HAD to write it down when I got home. Don't know yet what I'm going to do with it, but I know it will fit somewhere if I toy with it. Same thing regarding a fender bender I had last fall. On the other hand, I have a bimonthly column and I look to the month when it will be published to get ideas. Feb - romantic love slipping away as a result of having kids, April - the looniness of summer camp registration competition, June - fathers and father's day etc.

As for markets, the only regular one I contribute to is the one for which I do my column. There is a Chicago magazine editor who calls me every couple of months and asks me to do something for her - that's happened four or five times now (and they only publish quarterly). The rest are queries or submissions, online and in print. I have a longterm freelance gig that takes up most of my writing time, so for now, I don't solicit work usually. I don't have enough time.

[Sonya]

I also write things down that happen because I never know when I might be able to use that material.

Though there are some things that are so humiliating I don't know if I could ever send it in...like the good looking doctor/ big headed mom incident...I don't think my daughter will ever let me live that down. : 0 )

Sonya

[batyler65]

Sonya,
Journaling is a great way to keep ideas flowing. We all have those embarrassing moments, or cute occurences. Writing them down as they happen helps to "save" them for later.

I have a file on my computer called "comedy central" and every time I have a little snippet of something from my life that is funny, into the file it goes. Some of them may never amount to anything, but reading them can often spark whole new ideas.

Barb

[Sonya]

Comedy central --LOL. I like that! I never thought of grouping it all together but that's a great idea. I'll use the idea.


Sonya

[batyler65]

Go for it! Hope it works as well for you as it does for me.

:)

[rich]

Just keep in mind, Sonya, that Barb is equipped with a whip and a taser at all times. When she tells us to laugh, ain't much else we can do.