Formatting with Footnotes?

Who knows? I wouldn't read it. I hate footnotes. They make me think of school textbooks.

I think the jumping back and forth, depending on the length of the piece, would get old really fast.

Hi Donna, great to have you over here in Humor.

First off, if you have a piece you want critiqued, be sure to post it in the Share Your Work forum under Humor, and then let us know it's there (there's a sticky thread at the top of Humor to let folks know when you need a crit).

Secondly, I'm with Ferret -- there's few people who can get away with footnotes. Terry Pratchett is a master at it, but honestly, few of us are Terry Pratchett, and if you're just beginning, you're better to figure you're not than assume you are.

There are other ways to get in snarky asides that won't give the reader a migraine. Some examples (and by no means a definitive list):

1) I walked along, singing a happy tune. (Okay, I didn't, but the wife-unit really loves people floucing along singing, like deranged parakeets.)

2) I walked along, singing a happy tune. 'Oh, this is fun. Can't wait to see if a talking bunny appears.' Things were lovely in the forest. 'Until the wolf shows up.'

3) I walked along, singing a happy tune. Have you noticed that this is just patently ridiculous? Happy tune singing while walking along, especially if you're alone? And not happy? I am so sick of the need to make the wife happy. It's my story isn't it? But, in case she's looking, happy, happy, happy!

4) I walked along, singing a happy tune. That's insane, who does this, really? The forest was lovely this time of day. If you were a wolverine.

I'd suggest experimenting with different ways of doing what you're trying to achieve within the narrative itself, not as footnotes. Footnotes are an easy crutch that won't make your piece nearly as compelling. Pratchett's footnotes can be ignored and you lose nothing of the storyline, they merely add MORE humor. Unless yours are the same, practice with other avenues.

BTW, Prof. Tex's Humor Clinic homework assignments are a great place to practice. I know you're already over there, so use them as a way to kill two birds with one stone. (Cliches...you gotta love 'em. Or go mad. )

My husband loves footnotes for things he can't fit into the main body of a story.

write your story. Then see where you need to add. Footnotes may be your way of telling rather than showing the story. Start writing and see what happens.

My recommendation? Try a chapter or about 10 pages of it one way, do the next chapter or about 10 pages of it another way, and so on. Print it out, let it sit for a few days. Go back and read them. Which one reads easiest/best? Which way stops the reading or derails it completely?

There's nothing wrong, and a lot right, about experimenting with styles or stylistic elements. There's also nothing wrong with trying something and changing your mind.