Make 'Em Laugh! Quick Writing Exercises to Infuse Your Picture Book Manuscript with Humor

There's nothing like a silly twist or funny side-kick to bring a picture book to life. But, writing humor is not always a laugh. Here are a few 15-minute exercises that I use with clients who need help brainstorming humorous twists:

• Try a bit of prop comedy. This exercise is best for writers who have a full draft of a story. Select an object from the list below. Then, starting from page 1 of your story, weave that object into the tale. The object could become a "security blanket" for one of your characters, or it could show up in an unexpected place. Maybe the object is the secret solution to your protagonist's problem! Who knows! Be creative. Set a timer for 15 minutes and play--no need to make things perfect, the idea here is to get ideas flowing and break you out of your rut. Ideas for objects: a rubber chicken or rubber ducky a banana peel a whisk a kazoo a bagpipe a houseplant a rain boot a snorkel a marshmallow (insert your goofy object here!)

• Put your characters into an unexpected setting. This exercise is great for writers who are working on a first draft, or who are wanting to revise major plot elements in their story. Set a timer for 15 minutes and try sticking your main character(s) into a different setting. What if your protagonist was dropped onto the deck of a pirate ship? Onto the subway in New York? Into a fairytale castle? Pick a new setting and freewrite; don't edit yourself as you go, just write until the timer runs out and see what happens.

• Exaggerate. This exercise is suitable for writers at any stage in the writing process. Set a timer for 15 minutes, then pick a mundane detail from your story. Exaggerate it to absurd proportions, then see how it changes things. For instance, if a character hiccups in your story, imagine what would happen if their hiccup was big enough to set off an earthquake.