How do you write a funny (but mature) novel?

[DokiDokiTsuna]

A question I probably should have asked a long time ago...

I've tried recently to turn some of my comic ideas into novels, and it's been really hard, much harder than writing a novel from scratch.

And I think part of the reason why they suffer is because I have a...tone when I write comics that just doesn't work in prose. At least, not in the same way.

When I write comics, I do it under the impression that I'll have my drawings to say all the things the characters aren't saying. Then when I have to write all that stuff out myself, I get lost, I get frustrated; in the end it just doesn't "feel" right and I want to quit.

I can totally write something that's 90% mature, 10% funny (my only finished novels have been like that). But the 60% mature, 40% funny ratio that I usually write is starting to feel impossible to reproduce in prose: the unfinished Word Docs just keep piling up...

[LadyN]

I wouldn’t know much about making novels with humor but it really depends on the area that they’re in, and their age. To balance out humor in a mature novel (let’s say a murder mystery for example) make the characters act their age. If it’s a character who is kind of pervy, make the character say dirty minded comments. People find that stuff funny I guess (I do but I’m not everybody)

This is mostly a debatable situation though so I can’t really give my input into this.

[darthmongoose]

They're really two completely different media in terms of writing style, so there's no shame in being good at one but not so great at another. I've seen really famous novelists try their hand at "graphic novels" and produce work that largely ranges from bad to mediocre with only a few exceptions. Comics, you can use beats for timing, you can just rely on the expression or reaction, but novels, everything is in the words you use and how you imply meaning with the words, it's just totally different.

My advice for writing funny novels is to read some funny novels aimed at an adult audience. Like maybe The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, or some Terry Pratchett Discworld books, Good Omens or Bridget Jones' Diary. (Okay I admit, I don't know loads of funny novels). Or also listen to funny podcasts like Welcome to Nightvale. You can get a lot of mileage in a novel out of describing really strange scenarios that would be hard or impossible to draw or depict visually.

[Lazu]

I would suggest you go and give this one a read by @DogshitJay as I feel it kind of has what you might be going for(And a good example of the kind), and take inspiration from that^^

Kiss It Better | Tapas

But comedy and humor is the text is more often how the writer portrays a situation, than the situation itself.
Althought, the situations of course can be funny in themselves, a really funny scene that's been illustrated will almost never work when it's described.

So maybe try to practice that humorus writing tone some more, with different settings ^^

[NickRowler]

How would you define mature and how to you define funny?

I don't really see them as opposites. I dunno if you mean to say "serious topic" vs "comedy", because that might depend how far you go with either. It can be done but if you go to an extreme with both, you could have whiplash or having your work come off as distasteful.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

How would you define mature and how to you define funny?

Funny: Lighthearted, humorous, possibly containing jokes or gags
Mature: Engaging for older readers, exploring serious themes like death, violence, political contention.

...So yeah, I don't see them as opposites either. But most of the funny novels I've read aren't very mature; they're either explicitly aimed at children or could easily be read by children without much difference in their impact.

It can be done but if you go to an extreme with both, you could have whiplash or having your work come off as distasteful.

That's the line I usually walk, yes. ^^ It's just so much more difficult with novels for some reason.

[NickRowler]

Is there a serious topic that you are considering?

But most of the funny novels I've read aren't very mature; they're either explicitly aimed at children or could easily be read by children without much difference in their impact.

I have come across books and film which are labelled as dark comedies or are serious topics with comedy elements. Some of which I would never show a child because it might traumatize them.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

Is there a serious topic that you are considering?

I mean, the most accurate answer is 'always'...serious topics usually work their way into whatever I write. Whether or not a child could read them without being "traumatized" really depends on the execution.

Regardless, I think most of my ideas, despite being violent, are accessible to 10- or 13-year-olds. I don't dive headfirst into super-heavy topics like war or genocide or abuse, but if you read my stuff you should be prepared to see them mentioned.

[GesuGesu]

I would say that if you (and the characters within the novel) can acknowledge whatever they say as shitty or morally ugh, but still laugh it off, it should be fine?

Maturity can't really be measured, but if characters (and writer) can acknowledge that whatever they're trying to make funny isn't gonna work for everyone, might offend some people, and still stick to their guns in the name of comedy, that's pretty mature.

[k5rakitan]

A lot of humor is found in breaking social norms. Many people find my work funny even though I wasn't really trying to make it funny. A lot of it is based on my experiences as a polyamorous woman, so feel free to check it out if you'd like to see what I mean:

Kaiba's Prostitute | Tapas

[queen_of_spades]

Hi... I try to introduce some humour and some mature in my novel... it doesn't seem like that in the first chapter... I agree with @noros0617 - it depends on the age or type of character. I'm leaving here the link of my novel if any of you want to read... thank you in advance

Delilah, forever | Tapas

[snowy]

"Funny but mature"......Have you heard of Sir Terry Pratchett ?

Terry Pratchett