Adding Humor to Lighten the Tone of Your Paranormal Story by Sarah Raplee

What is the difference between light and dark paranormal stories?

In my opinion, it’s mainly the tone. Lighter stories tend to include much less graphic violence, and more humor than darker stories.

I’m going to share a few tips on ways to add lighter touches to a story.

Surprise your readers

In Diana McCollum’s book, The Witch with the Trident Tattoo, her sea witch protagonist has a Familiar who is an octopus with a shoe fetish. Taking a well-known character type (witch’s familiar, usually a black cat or a raven) and turning it on its head (octopus with a shoe fetish) is funny because it’s unexpected and ironic (he has no feet.) The fetish also predictably gets him in trouble, which the reader looks forward to, expecting a funny scene or two—which the author delivers.

Relatable characters with a Paranormal twist

In Diana’s current work-in-progress, The Twilight Witch, she uses a familiar character in a less-familiar setting, namely the Overbearing Mother. Opal is a witch and a wildlife biologist working in the wilds of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Her mother has dropped in unannounced.

Opal filled the tea kettle and set it on the wood stove to heat. “I apologize for snapping at you. Okay? Now it’s your turn Mother, out with it, why come now?”

“I told you dear, I spoke with Abe and he …”

“How did Abe see you when you witch-walked? He has no magick in him, does he?” Now she was beginning to doubt what she did or didn’t know. She placed two cups on the table. “Tell me Mother, how?”

“Oh, Opal, why do you ignore your magick? As far as your friend Abe goes, I might have had a hand in him moving to these woods, and him befriending you. After all, this was your first job out of college. I wanted to be sure someone was watching over my only daughter. Goddess only knows why you chose to isolate yourself in these woods.” She stood, pushed the curtain aside and looked out the window.

“I’ve told you about my research on the coywolves, or have you forgotten?”

Opal picked up the whistling tea kettle and poured hot water into their cups, plopping a tea bag in each one.

Hespera nonchalantly picked up a spoon, adding a spoonful of sugar to her cup, and with a flick of her hand, set the spoon to stirring on its own.

Opal grabbed the spoon. “Really, Mother, you know I don’t like magick for everyday things. It only takes a few seconds to stir your own tea.”

“I was sure you would tire of that, it is so mundane, so…human.” Hespera brushed a few wolf hairs off her black cape. “Where is Bowie? I thought he was with you?”

Readers will roll their eyes along with Opal. They know this woman. She can be used for comic relief.

Kids say and do the funniest things

In my story, “Enchanted Protector”, from the anthology, Love and Magick, not-quite-eight-year-old Star has Second Sight. Prince Rolf, who has been changed into a wolf by an evil gnome, learns she can read his thoughts. She’s the only human who recognizes his true nature. Her older sister and guardian, Ruby, doesn’t know what to make of him after he saves her from an attacker and nearly dies. In this scene, the sisters are nursing him back to health.

Against all odds, Ruby cared about him. She believed him a hero. He held the knowledge of Ruby’s affection for him safe in his heart as he lapped up the bitter brew.

When he had finished, Star set the bowl aside. “I thought you would like to be Ruby’s hero,” she said. “You’re sweet on my sister, are you not?”

His tail thumped the floor like a drumstick. He could not seem to control the unruly appendage.

“Well then,” Star said in a stern tone, “you must finish your quest and return to your human form. Otherwise, how will you marry?” She began to stroke his side with her gentle little hand.

It touched him that Star trusted his intentions toward Ruby to be honorable. However, when he closed his eyes, he found himself speculating about the possibility of a wolf-human mating. He forced his heavy lids to open. He could not risk the innocent child reading those thoughts.

To distract himself, he concentrated on the Riddle of the Hoard.

A pet that is more than a pet

In my Paranormal Psychic Agents book, BLINDSIGHT, blind wedding singer Meli’s canine Guide, Freddy, is an exceptionally good communicator and problem solver. By laying the groundwork early in the story, I was able to make his character believably special throughout.

“Saying ‘that’s only a dog’ is like saying ‘Ben Franklin was just an old bald guy’,” she said. “We’re partners. Together, we can do virtually anything. Freddy’s a dog genius.”

Later, a little boy who is an Animal Telepath relays some of Freddy’s thoughts to the other characters, another opportunity for humor.

Watch your word choice

My final piece of advice is to choose specific verbs and descriptors to finesse the tone of your story.

I hope I’ve given you food for thought. Do you have any more tips to share? ~Sarah