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Writers Retreat > Student Talk > Course Lessons > Questions about humor
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Ambidextrous
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« on: November 06, 2008, 03:41:50 PM »
Hello--
This past year has mostly been spent extending my deadline. I've had a horiffic writer's block.
I knew I had to keep writing, however, and began writing to humorous essays as a way to keep the writing juices from evaporating. Everyone I showed them to, including a real-life humor columnist I was pleased to meet, seemed to think they were funny.
I'm a recent high-school graduate who was homeschooled. The humor columnist thought there my experiences might be a selling point because it wasn't mainstream. My essays about learning at home after the primary grades might be interesting, she said, especially in a large extended family that grew berries and made a variety breads and homeade remedies might sell, the economy being the way it is.
I think she was thinking a humor column for a newspaper, which I'm not brave enough to emark on yet. I love writing humor, though. Do you guys think a humorous personal exerience essay about being home-schooled would actually sell for my 8th assignment?
Is there even a place for selling personal experience humourous essays in the magazine children's market? They seem ridiculously easy and fun to write.
Thanks for your replies,
J
« Last Edit: November 06, 2008, 04:03:16 PM by stjohn » Logged
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« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2008, 07:25:58 PM »
This is a though one........... a lot of children magazines are looking for humor, especially for younger readers. I think it whould be a great idea especially about the home-schooling, but write it in 3rd person, not first, I think then you will have a better chance to sell it. I am also trying to write humor, and I study a lot of magazines that do accept humor, but I haven't yet submit any humor pieces to editors.

Good luck. Give it a try for assignment 8, and then you can get good feedback from your instructor. I am also on Assignment 8
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AlaskanRC
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« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2008, 07:55:49 PM »
I'm not sure how marketable humor essays are but but I'd assume it's like most other markets. Selling any article or story is difficult you just have to find the magazine that needs it. Reciently I've seen quite a few magazines saying they need humorous articles and story.

I like the idea of humorous essays based on being homeschooled. I think it's a great idea. I am currently a home schooled high school senior.

As to sending in a humor essay for you 8th assignment I second Carina. Go for it. Now would be a great time to find out if it's a sellable idea since you got your instructors input.

Good luck and keep writing,
RC
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Ambidextrous
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« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2008, 11:00:57 PM »
Yes, I'm asking because earlier this year I realized I didn't like selling children's articles about the birds of Paradise or Ralph's exciting adventure in the woods. (One of my stories was accepted in "Stories for Children" earlier this year, incidentally about Ralph's adventure in the woods.)
That explained my writer's block.
So I guess I should clarify:
Could I sell personal experience humorous essays alone as non-fiction articles for kids?
Thanks again,
J
P.s. I, too, have found several magazines requesting humorous pieces, but about every-day humor? Is that marketable? Thus I'm asking.
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« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2008, 12:29:12 AM »
I have never tried to write humor, but I do consider humor to be one of those subjective things.  I think it's easier for children, since they are not jaded and find joy more easily in the simple things.  So yes, I would think everday things would be taken well.  After all, let any little boy slip, fart, peek over something, etc, and see how much they like to laugh...

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« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2008, 09:42:08 AM »
Okay, we have two things working here.

1. By lesson eight, you should have tracked down and read several children's magazines. Did you see any humorous essays? If so, those would be good markets. Now, since I've read a lot of children's magazines I can share that they sell best to religious markets -- mostly to teen religious markets. Those are the only places *I've* seen them. If you want to see examples of humorous essays in print in magazines for young people, you could check out the focus on the family magazines for kids -- Clubhouse, Brio, and Breakaway all run them. Equally, some online magazines might do them...I am not as familiar with those. But since researching online magazines doesn't involve actual money (like buying issues), it should definitely be in your "research things to do" list.

2. For humorous essays, it will be a bizillion times easier to sell them to a newspaper than to a magazine. Newspapers like essays and they're pretty hungry for upbeat/funny pieces for publication. And today, many newspapers are expanding their online presence and are looking for humorous bloggers for the newspaper -- which would be a great gig for your essays. But honestly, I've written for newspapers, magazines for grown-ups and magazines for kids. Newspapers are the easiest to get in to. So if you're hesitancy is because you think it's the toughest market to break into...it's actually the easiest.

3. Some parenting magazines take humorous essays and might be open to ones on homeschooling...again, knowing the magazines helps. Many many of the parenting publications of america magazines have an online presence where you can read content and see which seems like a good fit. For a list of websites for these regional parenting magazines, check out
http://www.parentingpublications.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ShowPage&PageID=155

4. Market research is not the most fun part of being a writer, but it is an essential part of being a writer who sells stuff. And the best way to do market research is to...well...do it. Track down magazine websites and look to see if they have content like what you want to sell. Read sample issues. Research takes time but the amount you sell is going to be in direct ratio to the amount you know about the markets.

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Ambidextrous
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« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2008, 12:09:38 PM »
Thanks for the tips, Jan--
Probably an insanely stupid question, but I can't list my local newspaper as a conceivable market in assignment numero 8, can I?
Before I brand myself forever as an idiot for asking that question, let me explain: a year or two ago a personal experience humor piece of mine was accepted in the Columbus Dispatch. It's not so much that I feel I don't have the guts to submit to a local newspaper as I'm afraid it would be a bunny trail, distracting me from the Real Goal: Submitting To a Kid's Magazine. (Blech.)
Or would it be a bunny trail?
Don't kill me, just asking.
J
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« Reply #7 on: November 07, 2008, 09:49:07 PM »
You can list the paper as a market. One of my students has has huge success in the local paper with her stories (they run stories as well as articles) and it's made her a minor celebrity. Everyone's publishing path is different even when your eventual publishing goal might be the same. I started in newspapers, moved to magazines for grown-ups, then to kid's magazines. Then I did work for hire picture books for a toy company and a kid's novel for a packager. A very weird journey but it's the one I found myself on. So don't worry. If you love doing the essays and you have a ready market -- go for it. Many children's writers write for a variety of markets and audiences. It's all good.
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« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2008, 09:40:17 AM »
Humor whats not to love go for it stjohn! Did you home school? I home schooled three of my kids up until they were in the third grade it made a humongous difference in their math, and reading abilities.
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« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2008, 07:25:00 PM »
Not yet, round, but I'm a recent homeschool graduate. It does make a big difference. People tell me I did better on my SAT and GED then most.
(Go figure. I didn't even like the crummy problems.)
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« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2008, 10:19:52 AM »
One of mine just graduated from Grad school he now clerks for one of the top judges in our judical courts here. A full blown Lawyer! Grin
I am one of those that believes that the education curiculum needs an overhall. (Incidently he is the lefty!)
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« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2008, 10:36:15 AM »
Quote from: stjohn on November 19, 2008, 07:25:00 PM
Not yet, round, but I'm a recent homeschool graduate. It does make a big difference. People tell me I did better on my SAT and GED then most.
(Go figure. I didn't even like the crummy problems.)

 Lol. I can't say I know anyone who *does* like the problems. Even those who like school!

Sandy
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« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2008, 11:55:39 AM »
Good luck with the humor essay!

E H R ~
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