Search This Blog

April 17, 2014

#PlottingPrincesses # @VickiBatman - A Laugh a Minute


Laugh a Minute

You may have noticed my tagline: Vicki Batman, sassy writer of sexy and funny fiction.

I never thought of myself as being funny until a friend said something. I was like me? Really? I'd always appreciated books with humor.  And when another friend pressed in my arms #4 Janet Evanovich, I sighed with contentment after I read it, thinking someone who wrote what I liked to read. Naturally, I gobbled all of them up.

When I began writing, I noticed funny words crept in my work. And so did creepy witty dialogue. And I played havoc with internal dialogue. And found smiley faces in the edits.

After several of my short fictions were published in the True magazines, I let my girlfriends read them and watched and listened for their reactions. I saw smiles, snorts, giggles, ha's, etc. I knew then I'd done my job and done it right.

Finding a good funny word doesn't usually come through on my first draft. I have to work it-work it-work it. And when I go back later on and read what is there and it makes me smile--even after multiple thousands a gazillion passes—then I know all was done correctly.

So here's a treat from my funny romantic suspense/mystery, Temporarily Employed (coming soon!).
My heroine Hattie, another sassy gal, is eyeing a guy with suspicion after he asks her out to dinner:

No frisking and no arrests were—so far, in my book—a good thing. Knowing he was Sarah Anne’s older brother, I found eliminating him from the stalker, murderer, and rapist categories easy. The something in the truck line sounded similar to approaches used in past dating experiences. For instance:

“Want to come up and look at my etchings?”

Translated: A roll in the hay.

Or the ever popular “Would you like to meet Mr. Lizard?”

Translated: Mr. Wiggly Worm.

“How about coming to my place for a drink?”

Translated: To ply me with multiple drinks and the requisite roll in the hay.

I hadn’t fallen for those then and wouldn’t be a sucker now.

He stuck his hands on his hips. “I know what you’re thinking. I’m not a stalker, murderer, or rapist." 

Apparently, he could read minds. "Just a minute." I closed the door enough to release the chain, then opened it. “Why can’t you just tell me whatever it is?”

“No. I want to show you—-”

“Not a Picasso?” I asked.

“No.”

“Not an iguana?”

A perplexed expression crossed his face. “A what?”

“Not your pet worm?”

“What pet worm?”

“Not—”

“Look, I don’t know what you’re thinking. The only worms I know about are for fishing."


*I have to add that I was once asked to "come up and see my hamster"—lolol.

How did I do?  Do you like to read funny books?


23 comments:

Sylvia said...

Vicki, I love your sense of humor and I always laugh when I read your books!!

Ashantay said...

I love reading humor - life is too damn silly not to laugh! Thanks for adding to the "plus" column of books.

pastprimetravelers said...

I enjoyed reading and put myself in your place, laughed and passed it on to other friends.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Sylvia! Thank you so much. Life should be filled with fun and laughter-right?

Hi, Ashantay! I'm so pleased you could visit me at the PP today and appreciate being a "plus." Hugs.

Hi, Maria! LOL. We've all been in those shoes. It was too good of an opportunity not to include the stereotypical lines. Thanks for sharing too. Hugs!

Melissa Keir said...

What a fun post! I love funny in books. Maybe it's because life has too much drama and it's nice to have some levity!

All the best with your latest!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Melissa! We are bombarded with bad news via the news reports. Have you noticed what gets lots of looks on FB? The silly pet videos, the 80 year old dancer--all things that make us feel better. They say laughter is the best medicine!

Unknown said...

Funny and entertaining as usual.
A huggy Easter to you.

Pamela Stone said...

Hi Vicki,

Like you, I love humor in books, and movies, and life. That said, I don't typically care for comedians or slap happy humor.

But what I relish are those phrases that sneak up on me and make me laugh out loud. My favorite is a dry wit that hides in the drama and catches me off guard with some funny, perfect line of dialogue. It's magic.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Rayne! Thank you so much for the loverly compliment. I honestly don't hear that every day and it means bunches.

Hi, Pam! I'm with you. Sometimes, the random off-beat things can be the funniest. Like Handsome when asked why he couldn't kill a big bug, "Bug guts everywhere."

fOIS In The City said...

Thanks for the laughs, Vicki. You have a well developed funny bone and great taste in handbags :)

Sydell Voeller said...

Vicky, thanks for sharing this fun post. You indeed have a gift for humor!

Kathleen Baldwin said...

Funny! This is almost a who's on first routine. Cute. I always enjoy your fun stories.

Thanks for the chuckle. Needed it I'm fighting the flu.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Florence! A double compliment!!!! I'm over the moon.

Hi, Sydell! So glad you liked the excerpt. I've waited a long time for this baby.

Hi, Kat! The flu? Girl, get well soon and am glad my fun stuff helped. Hugs.

Lani said...

I love reading funny books! That was a great excerpt and I can't wait for it to come out!

Patricia said...

This is most definitely a funny excerpt. I'm off to purchase it.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Lani! I like funny too. And mysterious and a really great romance--I like a really great book.

Hi, Patti! NOT YET!! The book is in edits now. I'll let the whole world know soon. Hugs.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Vicki! I think everyone likes a chance to laugh, and you manage to provide plenty of those in your writing!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Anonymous/friend Norma! Wow, all of you nice people have made my day. I just might get teary-eyed. thank you!

Angela Adams said...

I love reading everything you write!!!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Vicki! Your books always make me laugh! I'm really looking forward to reading this one!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Angela! You do??? That's so wonderful to hear. Last week, I found some ratings that bothered me greatly. Mostly because they didn't like how short they were even though I said short stories. Geez! But they did say I was funny.

Hi, Karilyn! Thank you so longer. It's 75,000 words. Quite lengthy for me. Hugs!

Unknown said...

Sweet and funny! Thanks for sharing that snippet.

(Sending love from London!)

Cheers, EE

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Thanks, Ms. Essex! and missing you. Hugs