Puns

black winged fighter · Mar 30, 2005

Are puns okay to use in fantasy? I try to write my characters' thoughts realistically, occasionally basing them off my own, and I admit that I like to play weird word games with myself.

I just wrote this section: "Perhaps speaking with the palace tailors was a good idea; Arnora needed looser pants that she could fight in. And some more weapons; daggers and a hunting knife won't cut it."

It took me a second to realise the pun, but when I did, I just thought, Ha, weird. It didn't strike me as out of place with Arnora's character, although she isn't really a joking type.

So, what are your thoughts on puns? If you use them, should the characters acknowledge them or find them funny? If you don't use them, why?

katiemac · Mar 30, 2005

Since "won't cut it" is such a common phrase, some people might not actually notice.

If they do, it might be more jarring than anything, and take the reader out of the story.

DeadlyAccurate · Mar 30, 2005

I agree with katiemac. Maybe you could add a reference that Arnora made the inadvertant pun and realized herself afterward.

James D. Macdonald · Mar 30, 2005

That might fall under "laughing at your own joke." No need for a laugh track in your novel.

Some writers can do punny fantasy: Piers Anthony comes to mind. Some can't (their names don't come to mind because they didn't get published). Write the story the way you want to, try it on your beta readers, see if it works.

There aren't any rules that say you can't, there aren't any rules that say you must.

Or, actually, there is one rule that says you must: You must entertain your readers.

Mistook · Mar 30, 2005

I think if it were a one-off, you could get away with it. Just let it slide and whoever picks up on it might have a chuckle.

Or, if this was an element of your style, with similar puns happening on a regular basis, and if the general tone were humorous - I imagine you could get away with it.

Anything in-between and I doubt the editors would let it get into print.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 31, 2005

black winged fighter said:
Are puns okay to use in fantasy? I try to write my characters' thoughts realistically, occasionally basing them off my own, and I admit that I like to play weird word games with myself.

I just wrote this section: "Perhaps speaking with the palace tailors was a good idea; Arnora needed looser pants that she could fight in. And some more weapons; daggers and a hunting knife won't cut it."

It took me a second to realise the pun, but when I did, I just thought, Ha, weird. It didn't strike me as out of place with Arnora's character, although she isn't really a joking type.

So, what are your thoughts on puns? If you use them, should the characters acknowledge them or find them funny? If you don't use them, why?

To be honest, this doesn't come across as a pun to me. Even though it isn't in dialogue, my editorial eye read it as more of a Tom Swiftie.

To work, I think puns have to be written intentionally as puns, they have to be there for a reason, and in one way or another, they have to be acknowledged as puns.

Puns can work, Tom Swifties usually don't.

James D. Macdonald · Mar 31, 2005

I put one Tom Swiftie in each of my Tom Swift novels.

The editors took 'em out.

rich · Mar 31, 2005

Reader's Digest loves'm.

There are a few on my site under "Halved-wits."

http://www.marinosward.com/

aka eraser · Mar 31, 2005

Heifer have to use puns, avoid milking ones about cows; they're udderly boring. No bull. Not steering you wrong. Teats the truth.

Richard · Mar 31, 2005

Pun police! Here on a steak-out!

Jamesaritchie · Mar 31, 2005

Pun

rich said:
Reader's Digest loves'm.

There are a few on my site under "Halved-wits."

http://www.marinosward.com/

I think the "couldn't get a nerd in edgewise" from the Digest site is a great example of a good pun. Good puns are nearly always intentional, and have the express goal of being funny. They are also nearly always acknowledged as puns by someone in the story.

A Tom Swiftie, on the other hand, means using a word or phrase that plays right along with what has been said or written. It is a pun, at least in a sense, but it's an unintentional one, which means the humor is the wrong kind. The reader laughs at the writer, rather than with the character.

On the other hand, various forms of puns and Tom Swifties can be much fun to look for when wading through a slush pile. It makes for quite a game when you have several people reading. Anything to pass the time.

arrowqueen · Mar 31, 2005

I must confess, I have a weakness for bad jokes and puns. I read a wonderful one today about two grandmothers fighting over a new baby: 'granny-mosity'.

arrowqueen · Mar 31, 2005

On the other hand, those ones were just plain dreadful, Frank!

:whip:

aka eraser · Mar 31, 2005

arrowqueen said:
On the other hand, those ones were just plain dreadful, Frank!

black winged fighter · Mar 31, 2005

I suppose I'll end up cutting the pun phrase, then. Thanks for the insight.

rich · Apr 3, 2005

Is that what we conveyed to you?

Puns

black winged fighter

AW Addict

katiemac

Five by Five

DeadlyAccurate

Absolutely Fazed

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Mistook

Neverending WIP

Jamesaritchie

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

rich

aka eraser

Fish Whisperer

Richard

13th Triskaidekaphobe